Disturbing roadkill

catman529 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 04:47 PM

On my way to school today (freshman in college) there was a cop pulled over on the side of the road, with no real room to pull over so everyone had to drive around him slowly. Found out he was sitting there next to a deer in the grass by the road that had obviously been hit, and was still alive. It was a doe and looked in a lot of pain...even looked like it was convulsing some. But alive enough to keep its head up....I felt terrible that the cop hadn't just shot it in the head or something...he was sitting in his car filling out paperwork.

Maybe has something do do with not shooting a firearm by the road? I dont know but common sense says put it out of its misery, I hated to see it suffering like that. Would have been good meat too....

Hunting Man · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 05:21 PM

Some states probably require a DNR person to dispatch game animals? police really have to account for every shot fired and I'm sure a whole lot of paperwork to file. It doesn't due the animal any good but I understand some of it. Hopefully someone came out fairly quickly to do the job.

catman529 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:22 PM

Well the deer was gone on my way home but that was 10 hours later...hopefully someone put it out soon after we saw it. Too much legal crap that sometimes gets in the way of common sense and basic ethics.

Whitetail_predator · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:25 PM

I understand how anyone would want to put it out of its misery, but hunting man is right. due to safety the cop couldn't shoot it on the side of the road. It is concidered a safety issue as well as mountains of paper-work.

BruceBruce1959 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:25 PM

I had this happen to me once, A doe was hit by a truck two vehicles in front of me,,, A game warden was called, after approx. 35 minutes the game warden hadn't arrived yet, I couldn't watch the doe suffer any longer she obviously had a broken back with internal injuries, I knew she wasn't going to make it, I used my knife and ended her suffering. The Warden arrived after about 50 minutes and thanked me for ending her suffering however I don't know if all wardens would be so understanding, SO it's best to let them do their job.

su106 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:38 PM

we have deer hit in front of our home all the time the cops come and talk about whos job it is to kill it and then they shoot it with a shotgun that has 6 shot in it so the deer dies but not real quick to get a pa game officer here would take time theirs not alot of them here but if i was to end the suffering i'd get a fine for poaching or shooting after hours

Joe7137 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 07:07 PM

I shot a coon within city limits once. I was on my way home from work and the coon was in the middle of the road looking right at me. I got out of the car to see why it was just sitting there. The whole lower half of its body was crushed. With no cell phone on my and no cars on the road I shot it in the head with my pistol, went home and called the Dispatch center. She tried to give me grief (the Dispatcher) I told her to tell it to the coon and if she felt so inclined to go ahead and send an officer to my address. No one showed up and Nothing more happened. I wasnt going to let the coon suffer like that though.

catman529 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 08:25 PM

Yeah if I had a good knife and came across a suffering deer with no officers to dispatch it, I'd go out of the way of regulations a bit to end its suffering. I might have a bit more respect for the wildlife than for the legal issues that would cause unnecessary suffering. But then...deer get torn apart by coyotes and that's natural and doesn't bother me....maybe it's the fact that it was a road hit and the deer just sits there, not the meal of coyotes but a helpless suffering deer that should be shot and dressed for the freezer.

I wonder if someone took that deer home to eat. I hear does are especially good eating. I haven't yet tried venison, I cant wait till I get the opportunity.

timberghost · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 08:46 PM

Out here in rural farm country who ever shows up first can dispatch the animal because the Erie County Sheriffs actually carry game tags to tag/report the deer after it has expired. Not sure if the villages, towns, State Police, or other county sheriff depts do that but I'd imagine it's straight across the board here in this wonderful state. Hey catman, does are very nice to eat. I call it sweet meat. Nice and tender.

tator · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 08:29 AM

catman- next time, if you have a knife, pull over and offer to put the doe out of it's misery. you'd be surprised what officers will let you do... I would bet that he'd let you go ahead and end it for her. He might've even let you take it once the Conservation Dept was contacted...