When do ethics out weigh the law

[canadaman30]

Sure a bad shot can happen, but guys that shoot deer in the back end because that's all they can see don't have much respect, so I wouldn't think they'd put much effort into going after a deer they shot as such..

[oaknut]

I was talking with a fellow hunter at breakfast this morning. He was telling me that they had wounded a deer, it was hit in the hips, when they got to the deer it was 20 minutes after legal light, they said that becuase it was after legal shooting time they had to let it go...
I say BS, and was literally pissed to teh point that I could not finnish eating and had to leave or my mouth would of got me in trouble.

Was I wrong?
Am I the only one that would have put the deer out of misery....
To leave this deer with basically a broken hip is not only unethical but it is that kind of stuff that gets the antis ammunition ...

I am actually not even sure what the law is in a case like this..

What are your thoughts, should I have said OH great job ....I even asked if they at least went out this am to see if they could track and finnish and reply, "sure the yotes got to it"

You were most definitely not wrong.
If it were me and it was the only way to finish the animal I would have risked the charge. If I made the bad shot, I would deal with the consequences. I would argue a charge based on taking all conceivable actions to retrieve wounded game.

An axe works, blunt end down between the lookers.

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[fishfood]

Either way more than one offense happened. Leaving the deer to rot I bet is a worse charge then discharging a firearm after dark.

[fishfood]

Well if you can call the c.o. and report your case he / she may turn a blind eye to the shot if reported .

This would of totally been acceptable.

Calling the mnr to report it might have been ok. If they didn't turn a blind eye they may have sent someone if they had a resource nearby. Hopefully they would understand the situation.

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[hockeymjt]

Im surprized more people woukd not just walk up and shoot it..I know thats what I would have done....hell I hit a coon or groundhog I back up if I see it not dead and run iver again buts me...

[fishfood]

Im surprized more people woukd not just walk up and shoot it..I know thats what I would have done....hell I hit a coon or groundhog I back up if I see it not dead and run iver again buts me...

You are right it still should of been taken .
But calling to report if first could save alot of hassle if the ministry or cops show up.
I'm sure they would tell you to take the shot .

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[punkrockerpj]

when you get to ethics that is exactly it-- it often transcends the letter of the written law.
sometimes the most ethical thing to do means rebellion.

If I shot a deer, knew where it was and it was only an hour past legal shooting time, and it was on property where I had permission, I'd go ahead get the OK from the landowner and put it out of it's misery.

I'm sure folks on here have done it and just wont want the internet police showing up at their door.

[longpointer]

This kind of scenario just should not happen. The crew I run have orders … We quit at sunset. Gives them time to climb down from their stand and exit the woods with enough light to see by. We do not use buckshot only slugs or sabots are allowed. I was with a crew many years ago that made those mistakes and swore that when I ran my own gang that it would be done right or not at all. To date we have never lost a deer, nobody got hurt aside from egos or liver damage and everyone has fun. As for that situation … I would have shot it and argue the point later.

[JUDGE]

Sorry but the law is the law . The co's don't give a dam about your ethics or mine.
A firearm not in a gun case after dark you will be charged.

[G.S.]

The cell phone # of my local CO is on my contacts list to cover such (and more) situations that can and do happen in real life.
I trust he would have found a good way to avoid both the waste of the deer, and also having to explain to a judge why the right moral/ethical action was taken.