Mercy Kills - Legality?

CCooper

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Sep 14, 2017
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Western OR
I watched a blacktail doe get struck by a passenger car on the highway where I live one morning while I was getting ready to pull out of my driveway headed to work. It bedded down on the centerline with its head up on a pretty bad corner. I called the county Sheriff's office and asked the dispatcher if they would like me to take care of it, as it was in a really bad spot. I was told under no circumstance to dispatch the animal, that they would send someone out. It bothered me to let it sit there, and potentially cause a pretty bad accident, but no good deed goes unpunished. My luck they would have thrown the book at me, and I would have been sitting it out for a few seasons. You can however salvage an animal here but must fill out the proper paperwork and turn in any antlers.
 
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
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2,956
Interesting to see so many folks willing to risk the forfeiture of their hunting privileges, or worse, to do something they believe to be "right" while potentially being "wrong" from a criminal law perspective.
 

Laramie

WKR
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Apr 17, 2020
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2,636
Was raised to mind my own business and I do it pretty well.
As you judge and offer your opinion on a public forum... lol.

Just to make sure I understand you, you are against the public turning in hunting violations but you are ok with the public judging how another hunter posts a picture on a forum?
 

Colterw

FNG
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
95
A few years ago we saw a mule deer buck stuck next to a hiway fence hunched up and in obviously bad shape. It had been hit by a car and couldn't make it over the fence.

He stood there all day and let one of my coworkers approach within a few feet to where he was able to prod it with a stick. The buck stayed in the same spot, moving only enough to stay upright - dead on its feet. We called it in to the state patrol and tried fish and game.

The deer stayed there all day without moving. (8+ hours) State patrol was no help and we weren't able to get a warden on the phone. Finally when we were going home one of my coworkers put the deer down, no doubt in my mind that he did the right thing.
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
13,120
Location
Eastern Utah
Last winter I watched hundreds of deer slowly starve to death. Lay under a tree unable to get back up eating everything in a circle as far as thier necks could reach. After a few days they could barely lift thier heads, until the point came where they couldn't even do that. Super depressing to witness.

What's my point? Nature can be a cruel bitch, you have to accept that's just how it was meant to be.

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KenLee

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Jun 9, 2021
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South Carolina
Interesting to see so many folks willing to risk the forfeiture of their hunting privileges, or worse, to do something they believe to be "right" while potentially being "wrong" from a criminal law perspective.
Jury has to tell me I'm "wrong", not the man with the ticket book. You think 6 or 12 members of the community will do that for finishing off a whitetail with 2, 3, or 4 broken legs?
 

swavescatter

Pain in the butt!
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Apr 3, 2021
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Juries are not instructed to pass judgement based on moral high grounds. They are supposed to simply decide whether or not a law was broken. If it's illegal to euthanize a wild animal and you did so without express permission from state authorities...
 

KenLee

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Jun 9, 2021
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South Carolina
Juries are not instructed to pass judgement based on moral high grounds. They are supposed to simply decide whether or not a law was broken. If it's illegal to euthanize a wild animal and you did so without express permission from state authorities...
You actually think juries follow instructions? That's funny.
 
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
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Jury has to tell me I'm "wrong", not the man with the ticket book. You think 6 or 12 members of the community will do that for finishing off a whitetail with 2, 3, or 4 broken legs?

In your imaginary scenario, the individual would not know what the jury will decide (assuming it went that far).

If it were to go to trial, show the judge and jury your WKR patch and your case would be dismissed with prejudice.

End of the day, we all theoretically own our choices and actions.
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
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673
Considering you could lose hunting rights, I would do as many here did and call the authorities prior to doing anything. Too many chances someone is filming everything you are doing.

sucks, but I am sure people took advantage of mercy and the rules are now there to prevent it. People are aholes.
 

KenLee

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Jun 9, 2021
Messages
2,513
Location
South Carolina
I had to fill out a questionnaire as a potential juror.
I stated "I am a strong advocate of jury nullification".

Yeah, they didn't need me,.
Most THINK they can follow instructions. Then often they get pissed about the BS charge they are there to decide. I'm talking lower level charges like this that they get mad over.
 

KenLee

WKR
Joined
Jun 9, 2021
Messages
2,513
Location
South Carolina
In your imaginary scenario, the individual would not know what the jury will decide (assuming it went that far).

If it were to go to trial, show the judge and jury your WKR patch and your case would be dismissed with prejudice.

End of the day, we all theoretically own our choices and actions.
No card needed. Testify about what happened for the jury members you think can appreciate the gravity of a wild animal suffering. Throw in a reference to a beloved pet that needs to be euthanized for the rest.
 

7mm-08

WKR
Joined
Oct 31, 2016
Messages
830
Location
Idaho
Something of note: there is a precedent for cell phone companies aiding poaching investigations by giving law enforcement lists of folks who were active in an area during a certain period of time. Your private activities are not private.
These investigative tools used by law enforcement entities are called "geofence warrants." The folks involved in the incident at the U.S. Capital on January 6th know how these work for sure.
 

Cfriend

FNG
Joined
Jun 20, 2019
Messages
72
While I certainly agree with the point of mercy kills, I've got to say I would have a tough time deciding to burn a premier tag on one. If I used numerous points/dollars to draw a good elk tag and a small, wounded 4x4 came by, I can't say that I would shoot it and end my hunt.

Not at all saying that is the correct or moral decision, but it's likely the one I would make. The fact is, wild animals die horrible deaths every single day and I don't lose any sleep over it - am I going to ruin a once in a lifetime hunt to prevent it for this animal?

Kudos to those of you that would...

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