Moose first victim of armed border guards [Canada]

THE CANADIAN PRESS ^ | November 14, 2009 | Dean Beeby

[Daffynition]

OTTAWA — Canada’s newly armed border guards have claimed their first victim: a hapless moose.

The creature was felled by the duty sidearm of a border officer in late August, newly disclosed documents show.

The incident — marking the first time a border-guard sidearm has been discharged on duty — occurred about 25 kilometres west of Creston, B.C., as an unidentified intelligence officer with the Canada Border Services Agency was driving on official business to Nelson, B.C.

The officer was behind an RCMP vehicle when both drivers spotted an injured moose struggling in the westbound lane of Highway 3.

The animal had suffered serious injuries to the rear legs and pelvis, and was crawling forward into the eastbound lane using its front legs.

The RCMP constable decided to put the moose out of its misery and prevent a possible highway accident, say documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

The constable discharged his pistol twice into the moose’s head, which brought the animal to a stop but did not kill it.

The Mountie “then requested that (the) CBSA intelligence officer ... euthanize the moose based on his known familiarity with livestock,” says an official report into the incident.

The border services officer “discharged one round from his CBSA duty pistol into the head of the moose, resulting in the death of the animal.”

The carcass was then removed from the flow of traffic.

An internal review of the Aug. 26 incident, required whenever a sidearm is even drawn, absolved the officer of any wrongdoing, noting that he was requested by a police officer to assist and that the injured moose was a serious threat to traffic.

“The drawing, pointing and discharge of the duty firearm by officer ... was justified,” the review concluded.

[snip]

[MediaMole]

So, it would be better to leave an injured moose to die in agony than put the thing out of its misery.

The only issue here is the failure of the first officer to properly dispatch the injured animal.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

I have a very bold bull who insists on scratching his antlers against the front porch. I'm glad I don't see him during rut. He might be unpredictable.

[SunkenCiv]

Antler moral of the story is...

[Daffynition]

How would I know? I'm blond and wear too much moose in my hair.

[NVDave]

The moose was no doubt flailing around, not holding still for a properly placed shot.

When one is going to humanely dispatch a horse, cow or other large animal, shot placement into the brain is critical. If you miss a bit onto either side, even on a head shot, a .44Mag won’t kill it instantly. When you’re right on the target, a .22LR hollow point will kill the animal so quickly it will be dead before it hits the ground.

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

Good Morning!

[JoeProBono]

GM

[a fool in paradise]

MOOSE PING!

[Slings and Arrows]

Sarah Palin missed one?

[Slings and Arrows]

[Springman]

Ping.

[fanfan]

It's good to have armed border guards.

Thanks for the pings, SlingsandArrows, and Springman.

[Slings and Arrows]

Sleep well; no moose shall molest thee.

[fanfan]

Better not, unless he’s cute.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

[Slings and Arrows]

See post #57.

[Daffynition]