Originally Posted by turkey guide

If there were a problem with a deer shortage I have confidence that the biologist who set the seasons and limits would handle it by changing the seasons methods and limits. Until then who cares how many deer are killed by say cars, or bobcats or bad shots? If you can't stand the thought of wounding a deer and imagining it suffering, don't shoot, and don't drive! Maybe you should stay indoors to lessen your impact on the world. I used to worry about such things too, and I don't go around trying to cause undue suffering, and I do believe you should know your weapon and how to use it. But once I was upset about losing a doe that I knew I made a good shot on but couldn't find and someone said, well coyotes gotta eat too.
I had never thought of it that way before, but it's true. Nothing in nature goes to waste that deer that you didn't find will be a welcome find for all kinds of creatures who could use an easy meal once in a while. Think of it as feeding bobcats. It's not wasted at all, it's just lost to you. Oh well, too bad, try and kill another one. The conservation dept. will let us all know if there is a negative impact, and until then don't feel bad about it. Sometimes top predators only wound and lose their prey, it's a fact of life , and something hunters can live with.
Besides there are a ton of nonhunters out there wounding and killing deer with sports cars and shutting down hunting seasons causing untold animal death from overpopulation and disease, and human deaths by car vs animal crashes and they probably think they are doing something good for the cuddly critters.