Mercy Kill
 

I was walking to the tree I use on some property this past saturday morning, and when I got about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way there I saw some eyes looking at me about 10 yds away. I couldn't really tell what it was with the low beam red light on my head lamp. I switched to the high beam white light and saw that it was a bedded down deer looking straight at me. I think it tried to stand up once but didn't. I wasn't sure if it could or not or was really trying the "maybe if I don't move he won't see me" act. I was pretty sure something was wrong though. It was still dark and not legal shooting hours yet and I couldn't really tell what was going on with that deer. I decided to keep going and get up in my tree and see if I could tell after it got light. My tree was only 50yds away. After it got light I saw the deer attempt to get up a couple times but did not. I then saw some other deer across the field so I waited to see if they were going to come my way. I had a buck sneak in on my from where the other deer were and got within 20yds before I saw him. I haven't shot any does yet, so he got a pass for that but he was young with 4 on one side and two funky little points on the other. He milled about and then a fox came in and started circling the bedded deer. He then moved off and a few minutes later the buck spooked for one reason or another. I decided to get down and get a better look at the bedded deer. I thought it was a large doe, but as I got closer I could see it's pedicles. There was an area about 6-7 yds wide where it had been moving around a little with 7-8 distinct beds and looked like it had been there at least a couple days. I still couldn't really tell what was wrong other than it couldn't get up. Since it was an antlerless buck and need to be put down I put it out of it's misery. After the shot I could tell that it had been hit by a car and both it's hind legs were broken. It amazed me that the deer made it 100yds from the road. I dressed the deer and decided it would be worth seeing if there was any useable meat. I took it to the proccessor and they said pretty much all but the one severly damaged hind quarter could be used. Not how I would have like the hunt to go, but at least I was able to put him out of his misery. It is late bow season here in MD by the way so I couldn't just shoot it from my stand as it was at least 50yds and with the deer laying down and not going anywhere I could take a much more ethical shot up close.

Good Job...

Responsible and ethical. Too bad more hunters don't follow your lead and just do the right thing.

well done, that good deed will payoff for you in the woods one day!!!

Agreed........

+1. Good job.

good job, a few years ago i had about the same thing when i was already in my stand, i kept seeing something that i thought was a deer moving in some thick stuff but it never came out, i didnt think about it again till the next time i was in the stand and smelled something dead, when i went to take a look i realized it was the deer that never came out of the thick stuff from 2 days before, it was gut shot. To this day i kick myself for not simply walking over to it to see what was going on. So again you did the rite thing and will have no regrets.

Good job.. it didnt deserve to suffer

I believe you did the right thing. Thank you!

It also sounds like you had an eventful day, seeing the other deer and fox. It's not every day I see a fox, but more so than bobcats and coyote. I see fisher the most.

iSnipe

That's part of the deal.