A question of ethics
 

Ok what would you do in this situation? You're out hunting one day and you dont have a doe tag. Eventually this old crippled doe comes dragging herself along. Would you shoot her and put her out of her misery, or would you pass and stay within the boundaries of the law?

RE: A question of ethics
 

Pass. This is all part of nature. Don't put yourself in jeopardy
by trying to "help". Even though your intentions are good.

PKnTX

RE: A question of ethics
 

The Ethical thing to do is shoot it..But personally I'd
Pass.....Report to Officer if its in real bad shape..Let them make the decision as to shoot it or have some preditor look after it......
Happened to me moose hunting a few years ago...I jumped a cow moose out of hiding it hobbled about 25yrds and bedded down.Couldn't walk anymore..
I did think about shooting it...but figured I'd just find myself in heap load of red tape....So I reported what I saw....
Don't know what happened to it after...

RE: A question of ethics
 

Pass

RE: A question of ethics
 

Very Sad - But Legally you gotta let her walk or limp away, whatever the case might be.

I did put down a doe last year(I had doe tags) that had been shot 2-3 days prior in the jaw with a muzzleloader. Won't go into details but it was nasty. Gave the deer to a friend who was hunting that day.

RE: A question of ethics
 

If I had a buck only tag I would pass, however, here in Iowa the tags are either any sex or doe only and I usually have multiple tags so I would have put it down it then. I don't like seeing them suffer either myself, but wouldn't risk getting in a crap load of trouble as I have too much invested into this sport to mess up and get caught. JMO

RE: A question of ethics
 

Depends. A badly limping deer can be deceiving. They look a lot worse than they are. If its just a leg wound she'll be fine. Did I hear shots from the immediate direction in which she ran from? Do I know someone VERY close with a tag. In 99.9% of the cases she'd keep going, because deer are very resiliant. If I could visually see that she was very critically injured and someone had JUST shot. I might shoot and track the person down if I felt it was close enough and save them a track job. but most likely I'd hope they come along and I'd help them continue the chase.

RE: A question of ethics
 

pass, as said above all part of nature.

RE: A question of ethics
 

God, I know it sounds terrible but you have to let nature take its course. Coyotes have to eat too and besides the trouble you could get into could be some bad %#$@

RE: A question of ethics
 

Have to pass on this one.

RE: A question of ethics
 

Pass.Last year my cousin shot a spike thinking it was hurt bad,turned out it was cut by a fence or something and would have healed just fine.so I would pass.

RE: A question of ethics
 

Better not.[:@]

RE: A question of ethics
 

Pass, laws are there for a reason.

RE: A question of ethics
 

Been there, done that, a couple of times in my life.They were hurtin bad and I didn't want to see them suffer.

RE: A question of ethics
 

Dead doe!!! I came across a doe in a hedge row a few years back while rabbit hunting. She couldn't stand up. When she tried she just fell over. Hit by a car maybe or just sick I don't know... I put the gun barrel behind her ear and finished her off with a number 6... I then continued my rabbit hunt. Yes the coyotes need to eat too and they will eat her. They just wont eat her ALIVE! Thats just the way I am.... I once saw a cat get clipped by a car. I pulled over and the thing was really mangled but still alive.. It's guts were hanging out of it's belly and it was choking on it's blood so I stomped on it's head and put an end to it's suffering.... Why let the animal suffer if your sure it's a gonner anyway? A limping animal is a different story. I've seen plenty of 3 legged animals living just fine. I wouldn't mess with a limper without the proper tags.

RE: A question of ethics
 

One other thing...You say let nature take it's course ... well I consider myself a part of nature and it's a part of my nature as a human to not let the animal suffer.... We are all a part of nature...Sometimes not a good part and sometimes a great part but any way you slice it we are just another living part of this worlds nature!

RE: A question of ethics
 

Pass. Let a guy know who has one. Get one, but most likley not. Things sick.

RE: A question of ethics
 

Given the old, crippled, and draggin herself alongpart of your scenario, I would not think twice before shooting her. I am not going to argue ethics, but that is what I would do.

RE: A question of ethics
 

As ethical hunters we owe it to our survival to follow the law, regardless of how we feel. Pass on her and give her a chance to survive.