Heartsick

[JW_Halverson]

My last tag filled just last weekend.  I had been seeing this three legged muley doe in the backyard, the end of her right hind leg was shot completely off and the muscle on the hips had atrophied.  She didn't seem to be in a lot of distress, but she had to really work hard to stay with the rest of the herd and had horrible trouble with getting up from laying down.  I talked with the neighbors on Friday nite and they all agreed if I had a shot it would be best. 

Well, she showed up the next morning with about 6 other does and fawns, but she seemed to stay on the far side of the herd and wouldn't give me a shot.  Finally I walked thru the yard towards her and scattered the others, giving me a 12 yd shot at her broadside.  I have NEVER felt so keyed up and fevered as for that shot.  My left leg looked like it belonged to a bad Elvis impersonator the way it was shaking and trembling!  I made a bad shot, spined her, and then proceeded to drop 3 more arrows into her chest to anchor her.  Knowing that I had to kill her because of her weakness put undue pressure on me and I almost blew it.

I feel like crap, I hate the way I had to do this, and I am certainly not proud of my poor shooting.  I certainly wouldn't call it "fair chase" because it was one of "my backyard herd", but I couldn't watch her continued suffering thru what has already been a nasty and brutishly cold winter here. 

Sometimes hunting is not glorious.  Sometimes it is not pretty or picturesque.  Sometimes we hunters are called upon by our ethics to end the suffering of one of the living and we must not shrink from that duty no matter how distasteful it may be.  I have already been called to task by several "hunters" for wasting a buck tag on a crippled doe and it was all I could do to not drop kick those horn-porn idiots into next Tuesday.  I had to post this to get it out of my system, kinda like a confession or a session of therapy.  Thanks everyone for hearing me out. 

[zenmonkeyman]

Thanks for doing the right thing.  Especially since it was the hard thing to do.  I hope when I'm called to do something like that I can carry it through.

[mullet]

 I think you did a very noble thing and I applaude you for being unselfish. Some people just don't understand. I think if it was me, though, I would have just head shot her with a .22.

[Postman]

good on you for putting her down - that ain't an easy thing to do sometimes

[El Destructo]

JW...I am sorry that You had to put down a Resident Doe....it's hard to kill something that You watch and feed on a Daily Basis .... We have a Bunch that come to my Buddies Yard daily that We have a Feeder out there for...and about three year ago...I had to put down a Buck in His Back Yard that had been hit by a Car (head Hit)....and it was not what He wanted to do either...So I shot Him with a Browning Buckmark Pistol to end His misery...he was not going to make it with a Broken Jaw and blinded right eye...so it was the Humane thing to do...as was what You had to do....as for the Rack Hunters...tell them to go Piss up a rope....You did the right thing.......JMO

[hedgeapple]

JW, you did well.

[Pappy]

You did the right thing for sure,Like Mullet I would have probably used a rifle.I have had to do that before with road hit deer,it ant pretty or pleasureable but has to be done,and the right thing to do.
As for wasting a buck tag,you can't eat horns.
   Pappy

[coyote pup]

You're a good man, JW. Don't worry about your shooting. My guess is, that spine shot was probably a blessing to her because it most likely paralyzed her and she didn't feel the rest.

I believe that what you do to and for other people or other animals is not forgotten, be it good or bad. And your intentions for this animal could not have been better. The spirit of that animal thanks you.  

Coyote Pup

[Wolf Watcher]

JW:  You did the right thing.  She would have suffered much worse if the coyotes had got her.  Three years ago I could have shot a huge trophy herd bull elk, but there was a much smaller bull with a bad hind leg that was having a rough time keeping up with the herd so I shot it instead.  Could have left it for the wolves, but just thought this young fellow had suffered enough!  Drawing a bull tag in this area is very difficult and may be the last I will ever draw, but I just could not see that fellow suffering!  Had to make hamberger out of the whole carcass for fear of infection.  Last year we had the game wardens shoot a young bull moose that had a broken leg.  Could give you several more examples, but you get the point.  Just know in your heart that you made the rest of us proud!  Joe

[NOMADIC PIRATE]

My last tag filled just last weekend.  I had been seeing this three legged muley doe in the backyard, the end of her right hind leg was shot completely off and the muscle on the hips had atrophied.  She didn't seem to be in a lot of distress, but she had to really work hard to stay with the rest of the herd and had horrible trouble with getting up from laying down.  I talked with the neighbors on Friday nite and they all agreed if I had a shot it would be best. 

Well, she showed up the next morning with about 6 other does and fawns, but she seemed to stay on the far side of the herd and wouldn't give me a shot.  Finally I walked thru the yard towards her and scattered the others, giving me a 12 yd shot at her broadside.  I have NEVER felt so keyed up and fevered as for that shot.  My left leg looked like it belonged to a bad Elvis impersonator the way it was shaking and trembling!  I made a bad shot, spined her, and then proceeded to drop 3 more arrows into her chest to anchor her.  Knowing that I had to kill her because of her weakness put undue pressure on me and I almost blew it.

I feel like crap, I hate the way I had to do this, and I am certainly not proud of my poor shooting.  I certainly wouldn't call it "fair chase" because it was one of "my backyard herd", but I couldn't watch her continued suffering thru what has already been a nasty and brutishly cold winter here. 

Sometimes hunting is not glorious.  Sometimes it is not pretty or picturesque.  Sometimes we hunters are called upon by our ethics to end the suffering of one of the living and we must not shrink from that duty no matter how distasteful it may be.  I have already been called to task by several "hunters" for wasting a buck tag on a crippled doe and it was all I could do to not drop kick those horn-porn idiots into next Tuesday.  I had to post this to get it out of my system, kinda like a confession or a session of therapy.  Thanks everyone for hearing me out. 

Great post,.......I could see, feel and understand completely your trepidation approching the moment of the shot

[Kegan]

What you did was completely natural and right. You hunted the weakest of the herd. Her life was hard and if she had offspring it would have made it hard on them. A few years ago we had a wounded doe that had had her shoulder blown off by a rifle. Of course, my father didn't have a doe tag. Later on she had two fawns. She eventually died, unfortunately I think it was one of the lunatic drivers around here that finally got her, and the two yearlings, who followed her when she could never keep up with the herd, were lost. One was taken during that season and the other was, again, hit by a car.

All natural predators hunt the weakest of the herd. It's natural and most beneficial. Fools who hunt that are hell bent on bagging a big buck by any means are not hunters, they're mistakes. It's one thing to limit your selection to a big buck if you want the challenge, but to make that the entire purpose of hunting is disgusting.

[Tsalagi]

My hat is off to you, sir. You are a true hunter. I admire what you did greatly.

[PeteC]

Yes sir,you did the honorable thing.I'm sorry for the trouble you had,but,your action was right. Living around livestock, and enjoying all animals,including wildlife,I've had to deal with this same thing myself,and I feel your pain.If it happens again,it won't be any easier,but someone ,(you or me ),has to take responsibility to show true mercy. God Bless

[Dave 55]

Ya know you did the right thing not the fun thing,dont dwell on or beat your self over the shot.Who shoots well with the neighborhood watching,Dave.

[ricktrojanowski]

I feel that you did the right thing.  Maybey it wasn't glorious enough for the antler eaters, but it was the right thing to do.