I've done it several times and have been kicked twice. The first time I couldn't shoot because the deer was in the roadway and it wasn't a safe shot. I was not hunting it was a car hit deer where I work as a police officer. The deer kicked me and my knife went into traffic. I ended up shooting it in the end.

The second time was this past December. I hit a doe with my muzzleloader and forgot my ramrod at the cabin. The deer seemed to be ok with letting my cut her throat until it decided it had enough. The deer whipped around incredibly fast and again kicked the knife out of my hand. It was dark and the knife flew through the air. I thought my thumb was broke and there was blood gushing from my hand. It was a bad situation. I ended up trying to jump on the deers neck and finally killed it by smashing it's head with a big rock numerous times.

I will NEVER forget my ramrod again and will NEVER try to slit a throat again. This big doe taught me a lesson by kicking my ass. I will have a scar across my hand as a reminder.

Cybersniper

That is a bad situation to be in. I know it was hard on your part but you got to do what you got to do. Is the first thing on your checklist your ramrod. :&gt

If you must finish one with a knife you better take a stick or something and knock it out first saw a guy couple of years ago tried it got kicked right in the nose got 20 stiches for his trouble you can bet he wont try it again. Don't be fooled a live deer even wounded can hurt you bad

Swamp, I'm sure some of what you say applies to some hunters. However, I would consider most on this site to take the killing of an animal seriously enough to put in the practice and effort worthy of the undertaking. In my case, the doe may have jumped a bit which caused the high shot. A few inches down and it would have been near perfect. On the other hand, the same night another hunter also got a doe (with a compound). Hit her mid section (liver?), but he was shooting for heart/lung. He has placed 2nd in state in longbow and is a year-round shooter. Even the best could have to confront finishing off a deer to no fault of their own. Also, I have lost count on the deer I have passed on due to yardage, angle, light, etc. These discussions are exactly why I visit this site daily. For everybody's valuable input, including yours. It's better to talk about different and real scenario's to help us all hunt safely and as humanely as possible.

I've never been in the situation requiring such a solution, and probably never will be.

Carry your weapon on the blood trail, duh? If a follow-up is needed with a gun, stick one in the neck, right at the base of the head, with an arrow, punch 'em through the ribs. Pretty simple and less stressful.

Tyler

I would take a second shot. I figure if I am out in the woods with a bow in my hands that is supposed to be used to kill deer then why would that not be sufficient enough to finish them off. After all that is what broadheads are designed to do.

Well I have stuck a couple of deer over the years, but they were car hit, if I have a weapon (bow or gun) that is what I will use though, a deer can rip you a new one if you are not very careful. You must have a sharp knife and know how to stick one or you are going to have one hell of a fight on your hands, if the knife is sharp and you know how to stick one it is almost painless and it is darn quick, but if you have a weapon, use it!

Back in the old days around here deer were scarce. Up until the mid 80's there were only like 200 -300 deer in the surrounding county's. So when a shot was made the old timers used to run and jump on a deers back and cut the throat. (Like killing hogs.)
Well, old habits die hard and they did that until they were too old to do so.
Nowadays the guns/bows/ML's are much better.

But to just outright answer the question, Yes I would and have. It is much quicker than another arrow shot, but you must make sure you cut the wind pipe and not just the skin. I can't stand to see an injured deer suffer. Cut the throat and within 2 -3 minutes it's over.

IMO it's just not worth the risk. Finish the job with the tool you started with....

I have enough trouble ringing a little bitty quail or dove's neck when "winged"...ain't no way I'm slitting a deer's throat. My brother-in-law did that once and he was successful in killing the deer but he also sunk the blade of his knife deep into his leg requiring a trip to the emergency room and lots of stitches...I helped him drag the carcass out the next day and I saw the job he did on the doe...he nearly cut her head off.