In the Suburbs, What to Do About a Deer

Washington Post ^ | September 12, 2002 | Bob Levey

[SJackson]

It was a Friday evening, and Cynthia Fain was off to do an errand. As she came out of her apartment complex in Gaithersburg, "I saw a deer lying on the side of the road," Cynthia says. "I realized he had just been hit by a motorist."

Cynthia approached the obviously dying animal "to see what help I could offer." Meanwhile, a security guard called Montgomery County police, and a crowd (including several children) began to gather.

"I sat on the curb and stroked the deer's head," Cynthia writes. "He responded by opening his eyes and putting his head in my hands. . . . I wished that everyone could feel what I felt at that moment."

One man very clearly did not.

Even though the deer was not yet dead, the man told the crowd that he would "take care of it." Cynthia and the security guard asked him what he meant. He said he would drag the deer off to a grassy patch nearby and butcher it.

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[Destructor]

"I sat on the curb and stroked the deer's head," Cynthia writes. "He responded by opening his eyes and putting his head in my hands. . . . I wished that everyone could feel what I felt at that moment."

"Yeah, people as stupid as you usually end up in the hospital or even the morgue. An injured wild animal is dangerous."

I blame Walt Disney, and that damnable cartoon "Bambi." That on cartoon film is responsible for instilling this notion of wild animals as pets in people! Personally, I would like to see that film banned.

[ZULU]

Sometimes I wonder about people.

I have no problem with hunting, I hunt myself, and I like to eat meat. But having comapssion and feeling for a suffering animal is a normal human reaction. There's a big difference between shooting a deer on a hunt and killing it quickly, and having an animal suffer in pain like this.

If people were allowed to carry firearms, some good Samaritan could have put the poor creature out of its misery. I don't think slitting its throat is such a humane way to do it. A bullet in the brain is faster and more painless.

[AUgrad]

It's almost hunting season bump!

Yep, got my .223 out and gave it a good cleaning the other day. All of my hunting gear is next. I can't wait. Fresh backstrap on the grill!

[AppyPappy]

"Cynthia approached the obviously dying animal "to see what help I could offer." Meanwhile, a security guard called Montgomery County police, and a crowd (including several children) began to gather." And she softly said to the injured deer "Now calm down or you'll taste gamey".

[dd5339]

Hey!

Tomorrow is front stuffer season in Kansas. Can't wait to be out hiding in the bushes with my muzzle loader in the morning. Just waiting for Bambi to wander up so I can blow a nice large hole through her, (I shoot the does).

We've got a great meat locker in town that makes some of the best summer sausage around.

With any luck my wife and I are hoping to put several of the pests in the freezer this year.

Semper Fi

[Protagoras]

Personally, I would like to see that film banned.

Any books you want burned while you're at it?

[mountaineer]

some good Samaritan could have put the poor creature out of its misery

Reminds me of a police report I read. A car had struck a deer and the cops were called to the scene, where an officer finished off the creature with his pistol. However, the report was written - tongue in cheek - as though the deer were being executed as a death row inmate, and I laughed out loud as I read that "the suspect was executed, and justice prevailed."

[AUgrad]

"Now calm down or you'll taste gamey

All of that unburned lactic acid in the muscle makes the meat tough as well.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Fresh backstrap on the grill!

I'm a shotgunner: getting ready for the pheasant, grouse, and wookcock in the October New England woods. Nothing better.

[Area51]

If it was up to these Cement grass raised Yuppies with "feelings" all these precious things would be left along to breed like Humans from some South African Country.

Over populate, over graze then die by mass starvation or something Like CWD will spread thru them and they all die. Then these weenies will demand that Big Brother "Do Soemthing" to save the poor things. Anyone remember the Overpopulation of the Rocky Mountain Elk Herd 10 years or so ago? Damned Tree Hungers out prodding Rifle hunters with Ski Poles while they were trying to thin out the herd.

The things one misses by being raised by a bunch of Bambi loving, Tree Hungers. 3/4 of em would either have a nervous breakdown or require severe Mental help had any of them spent a week on a working Dairy/Beef/Crop farm. They would commit suicide if they had to experience a slaughter house.

[Faeroe]

True Story: When I was in the army, there were always lots of deer on my base. Everywhere. One night a buck was hit by a car near my company HQ. A guy in a neighboring company went over to it and tried to grab the antlers. Theoretically as a precursor to putting it out of its misery, I guess.

Well the obvious happened. The deer thrashed and ended up goring him in the groin. The guy lost a testicle. This was someone who I had been in basic with, so when I ran into him later, I asked hiim if it were true. He admitted it very sheepishly. When I asked him what the hell he was thinkiing, all he could do was shake his head.

[John O]

Over populate, over graze then die by mass starvation or something Like CWD will spread thru them and they all die.

There is a state park near here that did not hold it's hunting season for several years a while back. The deer had lost their fear of man and were greatly overpopulated. You could drive through the park at 2:00 in the afternoon, following a caravan of twenty or thirty cars and count over 150 deer. They had eaten every green thing within reach and were destroying trees left and right (eating the bark) The whole park was in danger of ecological collapse. Lost most of its small critters and native plant life.

Finally scheduled a hunt after trying to relocate and/or sterilize the deer didn't work. Harvested 1500 or so and the park is returning back to normal.

Treehuggers never learn, the sportsmen have managed the wioldlife in this country for 200 years. The hunters know what they are doing.

GSA(P)

[Destructor]

"Fresh Venison served up."

"Don't you have to age venison just like beef? At least bleed the carcass and let it hang for a while."

Hanging the meat allows the enzymes to start breaking it down, which effectively tenderizes the meat. Just don't let it hang too long if you live in one of the Southern States. The meat will spoil. If you live it the South you can get away with haning it overnight, but that's about it. Otherwise you get that so-called "wild" taste.

So hang it overnight, then get it on ice early the next day.

[pgkdan]

Yummm Yummm. Deer barbeque is delicious!! I love venison in most forms. It would be far kinder to shoot the poor thing and then eat it then to sit there stroking it's head while it lies there probably in agony.

[Destructor]

"Personally, I would like to see that film banned."

"Any books you want burned while you're at it?"

Boy, you don't miss a beat do you? Since YOU asked, I can think of two: "It Takes A Village" by Hillary Clinton, and "Earth In The Balance" by Al Gore.

If that makes me a bad American in your opinion, well, then I don't have to tell you what you can do with your opinion!

[Protagoras]

If that makes me a bad American in your opinion, well, then I don't have to tell you what you can do with your opinion!

Yes, banning books you don't agree with makes you a dumb American, maybe bad too. And it never occurred to me that you valued my opinion.

But it doesn't keep me from pointing out tyranny everywhere I see it.

[Protagoras]

Treehuggers never learn, the sportsmen have managed the wioldlife in this country for 200 years. The hunters know what they are doing.

I agreed with all your points on that post til this one, then ya lost me. I can think of a few times when the "managing" was not too good. Can you?

[Destructor]

"Yes, banning books you don't agree with makes you a dumb American, maybe bad too. And it never occurred to me that you valued my opinion."

"But it doesn't keep me from pointing out tyranny everywhere I see it."

You're easily amused! I'd tear into you, but I have this strong feeling that a paper tiger like you is no stranger to the abuse button!! Consider yourself ignored, Tommy!!!

[CollegeRepublican]

And she softly said to the injured deer "Now calm down or you'll taste gamey".

Now you just got me to shoot Coke out of my nose. It burns. It burns.

[wardaddy]

I did exactly what you describe last year in my suburban neighborhood with a doe that had been mangled by a car. I warned the crowd of soccer mommies that it would not be pleasant but it was best for the struggling deer with one leg torn off. I also asked if any objected. None did...this is Nashville not Massachusetts. I happened to have my .50 muzzleloader primed in the back from hunting the day before. I dispatched the doe with one swift headshot and some nearby residential construction workers took the deer for meat.

Some of the mommies were teary and others were shocked, but it had to be done. I left quickly not wishing to explain my actions to Joe LEO when or if he arrived.