Snarlingiron
Member
I just got back from a fun but challenging hunt. It was on Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area near Palestine, Texas. Weird weather, lots of wind. some sleet, some snow, no dear movement. After 2 days of seeing nothing but two running bucks (man did I see them, they ran about 15 yards in front of my pop up blind), and this was a management hunt so only antlerless deer of either sex could be harvested. I decided that the deer weren't going to come to me, so I had to go to them. I hiked out to the road, and walked down to a wooded area and began to slow stalk. A couple hundred yards into the area I saw what I thought was a deer's hind quarters sticking out from behind a tree. I froze, brought my rifle up and waited for it to move so I could see if it had any antlers. When it came out from behind the tree, I could see that it was doe, but it began to bolt. I took the shot. It was not an instant kill. She went down instantly, to be sure, and it was evident that she wasnt't going anywhere. I hit her slightly high and just behind the shoulders just below her spine. Her hindquarters were not working. I waited about 5 minutes, but it became obvious to me that she wasn't going to die soon. Maybe I am soft hearted, but I don't like to see the animal suffer. I placed a second shot in her neck just below the skull, and she died instantly. I have had this happen 4 or 5 times over the years, and I have always taken the second shot to kill the animal. What are the thoughts on this? Should you put the animal out of its misery, or just wait for nature to take its course?
