As morally & ethically correct as we all feel it would be (myself included) to put the deer down you would be surprise to know that in most states the conservation authorities may have a different opinion, as hard as that may be to believe. If you read your rule books (in some states) if you find a wounded or dead deer you are to contact a game officer. They are to decided what is the right course of action...not us as hunters! If a game warden had witness this happening from a far (like they do) it would have been in his authority to issue a citation if he felt like it.

Just something to think about for next time.