Sad and frustrating...

[Bundleman]

Thanks for all your comments, (i got the joke).
To answer a few of the questions i'll go into a little more detail, which will get graphic!
The fencing was from some old enclosure that must've fallen down many years ago. Guess he was trying to push some aside or something and got one antler caught up in it. By the time we found him the wire was twisted completely around the antler and his neck, which was where the damage was.
It wasn't easy pinning him down as my partner had to hold back our dogs. But once i had i was able to push my knife between the skull and top vertebrae, this severs the spinal column and nerves to the brain. Best to cut the throat next and go under the ribcage to the heart... Most swift and humane way i know.
It was on Forestry Commision land so we called them and they came out. Should comment that the guy hadn't ever been to the clearing we were in and had no idea about the old fencing.
I'll use as much of the deer as i can but wont be eating any as i figure he was so pumped up with adrenaline it won't be any good.
He was a handsome young buck, prob about two years old. Sad and frustrating hey?!

 

[jackcbr]

Good call, hard decision. Could I have done the same? I'd like to think I would, but hope I never have to. I hate animals in distress.

We sometimes get birds flying into our building at work ( big glass thing, birds just can't see it) and I am often popping out to dispatch the poor things. They call me the bird murderer, which is a little harsh IMHO. But a bird is very quick and easy to put out of its pain. A deer is a bit tougher.

 

[Maxip]

Again - good call but with a measured approach. I don't mind shooting / fishing / etc as long as the 'game' is put to good use afterwards. Mind you, I've come from a fishing family where an annual count could be 20-30 salmon & 50-200 sea / white trout. Every single fish was eaten with joy be it fried, baked, smoked or whatever.

 

[dwardo]

Thats a rough doo and good on you for taking on the horrible task. Lucky you knew what you were doing too, i would have been no use with anything that size and the poor thing would have suffered until i called in an expert.

 

[Jaymzflood]

Well done, was probably tough. I get a bit emotional when it comes to things like that, good job.

 

[Gotte]

I admire your resolve and compassion. I imagine a lot of folk would have walked away, maybe phoned the RSPCA, and the animal would have suffered a long time more.

An interesting point you make about the adrenalin, though. Is it right it can spoil meat? I only wonder because I remember reading that in days of yore, the common practice was to tether bulls and terrify them with dogs for a while before slaughter. It was believed this made the meat more tender.

 

[21st century pict]

Yea I’ve seen that to up the hills, failed jump and hind leg twisted through wire, long time dead. I occasionally find the odd rams skull stuck in fence wire, head entangled by the horns , you know the chicken wire stuff , Poor thing must have stood there for ages starving to death.I occasionally have to put the odd maxi rabbit out of its misery, not very pleasant but if you think it was too far gone then who are we to argue, you did the right thing Bro.

 

[21st century pict]

Sorry F####d up there please ignore me, and move onto next post....