Injured deer... what would you do?

An hour ago, I noticed a young deer (fawned this year, probably) eating my rose bushes. I got my camera to try to take a pic out the front window.

Then I realized that it had a flail fracture of the front leg. The hoof and pastern were held onto the leg by a thread of hide, and were obviously frozen solid and dead.

My best friend is a vet. I know these can't be fixed; I know that deer almost invariably die even when they treat them for tiny injuries because of the stress.

I called the sheriff to come shoot it. He got here reasonably quickly... only to tell me they weren't allowed to shoot deer unless they were in the road and a hazard to traffic. He cared, but he couldn't do anything.

My only neighbor who hunts is on vacation. None of the local humane societies will come for deer.

So what's next? What would you do?

2016-01-04T11:32:01Z

I put this question in Horses because the people here are more likely to live in rural areas and understand the problem. Please stop moving it to politics and the like.

2016-01-04T18:20:26Z

This is Ohio. Deer are so plentiful that it's still hunting season through February. They are considered nuisance animals.

Wildlife Centers are not legally allowed to rehabilitate deer. They can only euthanize them, and they'll only do that if you take the deer to them. They advise against trying to catch one, as they can eviscerate you with a single kick.

2016-01-04T18:29:04Z

Animal control only handles dogs. They're not going to come out for a deer; their budget can hardly handle the dogs.

The ASPCA ditto. They won't even take abandoned kittens most of the time.

The sheriff has been out. There are no other local police.

I have now tried all these things, thanks to suggestions on here.

2016-01-05T09:42:41Z

Thanks to everyone who replied! I'm glad so many people care about this poor deer, even though we couldn't come up with help for it.

I followed his tracks away from my house this morning for quite a ways, until they disappeared on a deer trail into underbrush and woods. If I see him again, I'll try again.

Hopefully the cold of the snow is at least acting like an ice pack for the pain.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions. I followed up on many of them.

2016-01-09T15:20:55Z

Saw the deer again this morning, but from a distance. Couldn't tell how it was doing.

Sometimes we have to accept things we can't help. Serenity.

Snezzy2016-01-04T12:17:42Z

Favorite Answer

I'd take it out with a shotgun. But you have to have one, and you have to run the risk that someone will find out that you killed a deer out of season.

Other than that, you just leave it and busy yourself with things that are more within human capability. If you are religious you can tell yourself, "The Lord will provide." You are correct not to touch the deer. They are incredibly powerful.

Deer are more than plentiful in many areas, even inside cities.

11

Amazing Grace2016-01-05T05:07:09Z

If you have a appropriately sized dog crate (not a wire cage) it is possible to capture and put a small young deer into a dog box.
Hint: immediately putting a dark rag over the deer's eyes will calm it. So if you have a large dark blanket you could just throw the blanket over and scoop it up.
Once in the dog, box head to the wildlife people who will euthanize the deer.
You say they will not come out so you must go to them.

This is not that difficult, my neighbor raised exotics and had White tailed deer that "hung around" they got out from time to time and were a problem. We would catch a full grown doe, stuff her in a dog box and release her back where deer belong.

Hint 2: Yes a full grown doe can kick like he77 but a baby is much more likely to lay down and be still if it is covered up.

01

Finley2016-01-04T17:59:36Z

I'd call a Wild Life Refuge. They take deer.
This deer can be rehabbed by them and gentled by people so he or she can then serve as an ambassador for kids at schools.
They use injured animals who can't go back to the wild.

I wouldn't just kill the deer. If it's eating, it wants to live.

20

leahgrey2016-01-07T09:03:43Z

Contact Bruckner nature center near Troy Ohio. They have w with a deer refuge for 3 legged deer. Thank you for caring. I have also seen deer in the wild with three legs doing well except for crossing icy roads. I have personally taken several deer on different occasions to them. You can usually get a farm vet to give you some help to sedate the animal for transport. Good luck!

20

partly cloudy2016-01-04T13:11:12Z

put an ad on craigslist, post to you face book.....one of your friends or a friend of a friend might have a husband that hunts. The SPCA wont come, nor will any Police Officer shoot it...they have to account for every bullet and deer shooting is not what they do. If you ost to FB now and CL you should have a good response by morning. That is really sad and hopefully someone around will be able t put it out of its misery. It wont "live again". we all know that to be rubbish. I thought it was deer season. I know you are a deer lubber. I would just have it shot ...perhaps a crossbow, and let it finally find peace. No one can hear an arrow. I feel your frustration and hope it works out very soon.
ps. cross bows are lethal, accurate, and quiet.

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