Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave R
I certainly would not enjoy watching the deer struggle, but I think a well-placed 30-06 round, fired from the safety of shore, would have been a better choice than to risk human life to relocate a dying deer from the ice to the shore. I imagine the deer in question did not see the approaching rescuers as saviors; more likely they added to the shock since the poor thing probably thought they were coming to eat it. Its last moments alive were probably just awful.
I'm not a hunter and don't own a gun, if it matters.
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Dave, You are exactly right. Anytime an animal is stuck out on the ice like that it is mother nature playing her game. The proof is in the pudding, the deer died regardless of the efforts. Nature is a vicious thing, and we as humans have to learn that not every animal is meant to be recued.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnipesaukee
Dave R,
Since you aren't a hunter and don't own a gun, I'll let you off the hook.  Firing any gun onto the ice (and toward the opposite shoreline) is almost ALWAYS a horrible idea, for the reason that a bullet may end up missing the target and hitting a house, person, etc. Never do that!!  |
Winnipesaukee, you are exactly correct as well. That is way we have sharp shooters. At a minimum a sharp shooter / SWAT officer from the NH state police should be available, that could come and take the dear out. Even though you can never take the risk completely away of a ricochet shot, if a sharp shooter was taking the shot, I would be willing to stand on the other side of the bay.
In short your average Joe, shouldn't attempt to make a shot like that to put the deer out of it suffering. But if a qualified marksman is available I would prefer to see it done over sending humans out onto the ice. Going out for a kid or an adult person is one thing, and I am glad there are people willing to do it. But going after a wild animal is something that the Fire dept. should never feel like they are being forced into doing, expecially when they feel the ice is not safe enough.