10 pointer with a .45

[drdave514]

This is the short version.

I used to deer hunt but lost the heart for it 10 years ago.

However, on the second day of rifle season I was getting ready to take the family out for the day when we noticed our neighbors looking towards our property. There was a deer laying down, with it's head and shoulders up looking around, on the edge of our 3 acres. There is a farm behind us so we waited for awhile, expecting to see a hunter. Nobody came.

My wife decided I needed to go put it out of it's misery as we were certain it had been shot but continued to look no worse for the wear. I grabbed a .45 and walked out back. It had been shot but only half way down the back left leg. It wasn't even bleeding anymore.

When it jumped up and ran I shot it.

After looking for the hunters for an hour I called the DNR. They said 'you got a deer' and didn't want to help. In fact, the game warden was kind of a jerk about it.

A truck came by slowly on our road but I couldn't flag them down in time and lost them by the time I got in the car to follow. I called it in for a tag number and started gutting it.(there were a bunch of calls made in there but this is the short version)

Finally another truck pulled in our 400 foot drive and it was the manager of a farm 1 mile away. He thought he might know who shot it.

The deer had run a mile and jumped 3 fences before taking a break in my back yard. They said that if I had not shot it that it would have likely lived as a 3 legged deer. The farm manager said it was my deer to do with what I wanted. My father and wife wanted to keep it for the meat.

Fortunately for the bad shot guy who hit it first I followed my own personal hunters code and let him take the deer. He promised to bring us some meat.

He didn't. But I don't regret giving it to him.

I got a good story and picture.

[Stonecutter]

That kind of shot doesn't deserve a deer. Nice gesture on your part though. Good lookin little buck. Thanks for the story.

[NechesBobcat]

Originally Posted by drdave514

In fact, the game warden was kind of a jerk about it.

Tends to be the case. You would think game wardens would be the most down to earth of all law enforcement officers but it's not the case around here.