Hurt Deer on RT 109 this morning. Question?
 

I was driving to work this morning when a deer walked across RT 109 near the Power transfer station on the Moultonborough/Tuftonboro line. Looked like his leg was broken. As it crossed the road it would try to put weight on it and would stumble and slip on the hard surface. It made it to the side of the road but did not walk off into the underbrush or anything. Just stood there. I pulled over to the side and watched as it finally tried to walk off toward the woods, crossing the cut area under the power lines that run parallel to the road. It had a real hard time. Now the thing was that I just happened to have my rifle with me. Question I have is should I or could I have taken the deer? Just wondering what the legal ramifications would have been being as I would have shot from the road to put it out of it's misery. I actually felt bad for it as I didn't think it was going to make it for long in that condition. I didn't get the rifle out as I was a bit on the nervous side. I did call it in to Fish and Game to let them know about it. I never thought about this before...why I am asking.

I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure you would have been fined a few thousand dollars. I have been told that even if you hit a deer the authorities have to take it out of its misery.

In a perfect world you should have shot the deer and called the authorities. Back in the fifties and sixties this outcome could have happened. However, the world is far from perfect these days and if you had shot the deer you likely would be facing a stiff fine and maybe even a bit of time in a holding cell. In my opinion, your mind/moral compass works well both from the fact that you strongly considered putting a wounded animal out of its misery and also from the fact that you elected not to follow this course of action for fear of the consequences of today's reality.

I agree. Maybe if you had called F&G they would have given you permission to shoot it. We had a deer go through the ice near our house and the guy asked me to call F & G for him. F&G knew who he was and told me to tell him to go ahead and shoot it. They knew he was responsible I guess. They did not come. (as usual when we call them, I hate to say).

probably in the 50's you would have just shot it but the technology didn't exist to make it a.) easier for you to contact authorities and b.) you to get caught.

I would have probably called NH Fish and Game and asked to be connected with the closest warden to you. Once you talk to this person, me probably would have tried to come out if it was close enough. I don't think he would have told you to "shoot it" but you never know. The other variable here is how close you would be to the road when you squeeze the trigger.

Sad loss given that the animal could have fed you and your family but will instead almost definitely will feed the local coyotes.

While it is sad and if a warden was around he likely would have come and put it down but fear not, the coyotes will find it quickley.

Yeah I felt bad for it, and also thought of the food-for-someone point, but I could only imagine someone coming around the corner and seeing me with a rifle....There would have been cops all over me in minutes......:eek:

Lakesrider...

Luckily you thought twice about it. You could have been the next Ward Bird!

I think it sucks that you have to watch a hurt animal suffer, for fear of going to jail!

Woodsy