my uncle hit a deer called the cops they said "we have real problems to worry about" "some animal is not a top priority right now" so he went to get his knofe only to find that it was still at home so he walked to the neighbors house to ask for a gun the lady said "what do you think we are some hillbillies we aint got no guns" <--ironiic isnt it) so he walked back the deers back was broken about half way back and both the front legs so he dispatched the deer with the only thing he could find which unfortunately was a screw driver which he drove right behind the ear with a hammer it killed the deer instanly since it hit the brain but he was pretty shaken up about it and pretty sad but you gotta do what you gotta do i guess

Wow. I can't believe this thread. Last nite I got my first bow kill. A doe at about 28 yards. High shot hit her spine, paralyzing from shoulders back. She was kicking her front legs pretty good and thrashing around. I went through a bunch of scenarios - jump on her back and cut her throat, shoot her in the heart or neck, get a big stick and try to break her neck.... I figured the hoofs seemed a bit risky - wouldn't do either of us any good for both of us to be maimed. When I'd get in front of her she would start flailing about so I decided to shoot her in the neck/head from behind. I don't know if this was good or not but I did it. First shot to neck just below head didn't put her down. Second shot didn't break her neck but must have hit an artery. She died in about 30 seconds. It was a bittersweet moment. The exhileration of my first bow kill against the suffering of an animal. Hope I don't have to make that decision again, but I did the best I could as fast as I could so I can live with it. This is a GREAT site to learn from some great people and what I consider some great hunters. Thanks to all and Happy New Year.

I have before, but hopefully I won't be in a situation to have to do it again.

Well, that would be the first mistake. You should approacher her from her back/side as she lays on the ground. In the case of a buck the nicest way would be to grab a horn and pull him up and back if you can straddling a small tree with his rack. Works like a champ. BUT, if you're going to shoot, why not just pick the biggest target and run one right through the rib cage. You hit it you got deer even if it comes back to life and takes off running.

bogobble,

You got any proof to support that?

I don't normally cut their throats but I have when the situation required. Two different times come to mind. Once was a couple of years ago, I took my nephew black powder hunting and he shot a decent 8 pt in the spine pretty far back. The buck hit the and then took off at a pretty good clip. I actually had to run him down and jump on his back (he was quite lively) and cut his throat. The other was a similar circumstance with a doe.

I did approach from the back but moved around to possibly shoot in heart. That's when she would flail about. From the back, the best angle was a shot to the head/neck. Sorry, but last resort would be to grab ahold of a live, injured animal. Like I said, what good would it be for both of us to be injured/dead.

I haven't done it, but have uncles who have.

When I asked how they do it to avoid injury, they said with a doe, you step on it's ear, buck on an antler.

Obviously...I can think of animals where getting my foot into position would be very difficult, but more often then not...the deer I'd consider this on were spined anyway and aren't going to be kicking.

I''m probably going to step on some toes with this one. But I am alarmed at how many deer are not finished off with one arrow. I am nowhere near the perfect archer, however, I have never had a deer run more than 20 yards after the shot. And they all have died within 10-15 minutes max. Having said that, I also am the guy who puts alot of time and energy into this sport and practices year round. So when the season comes, I put myself in a position to make a perfect shot 9 times out of 10. IMO, the only reason these deer are not killed quicker is for bad shot placement. After reading all of these posts about wounded deer, there are obviously alot of shots that should have not been taken in the first place, and hunters who should practice more often than they do. We owe it to the animals we hunt.

Can say I have done it once myself. Was the worst experience ever. Heard the animal belowing and blood spewing everywhere. Made me feel savage like. Definetely finish it off with another arrow!!!!!

Well I wouldn't put myself in the situation in the first place. I do understand that it can't be helped sometimes. I believe in clean shots. I ordered a bow and hunting season for deer bow hunting opens again in a month. I will practice all I can knowing that I will end up waiting for the October-November season. If I was put in the situation of cutting the deer's throat I would say I would but that would just be talk. Right now I have the confidence to do it. In the field I would put another shot into it. I would panic. I once went squirrel hunting. Shot my first squirrel but aimed way to the side. Only a few pellets hit him. I pulled out my knife and saw him standing on a log. I felt sorry for it and didn't want it to have to go through the throat slitting. I put some more shot into it. So the answer to the question would be I probably wouldn't. I would carry a pistol for that.