This deer, a young button buck, walked up to the feeder in our yard about noon today. Look at the back left leg. It hobbled around, it ate some corn and came back later for more corn. Do you think it is suffering? Would you allow it to live or put it out of its misery? I almost got sick when I first saw it!
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff176/srtaphotos/WoundeddeerA.jpg)
He probably would not have a chance running away from predators and might have a problem getting around in deep snow.
Looks like he is recovering well to me. He will probably loose the leg below the tendon but seems to be fairly healthy otherwise.
He looks healthy enough as far as body weight and such. I doubt he is pain now, as it looks like everything is healed as well. I would have to observe him some to be able to decide, I know if I was missing an arm and 3 fingers, I doubt I would want ya to shoot me, he may feel the same. Shawn
I saw a 3 legged doe years ago in deep snow and she could motor really well. It looked clumsy but her balance was actually very good. Just as a side note. Keep an eye on that little guy, if he makes it till next fall. Would be interesting to see what kind of headgear he comes up with.
I don't think "deep snow" will ever be a problem for this deer. Remember gang, John is in Alabama.
He also looks to be recovering to me. His overall body looks pretty good (not thin), I agree with Ron about losing everything below the tendon. There was a three legged doe near were I grew up We used to see her all the time I know she was without the leg for at least 3 years. She had fawns all three years and could run very well. In fact when she was running you would think she had all 4 legs, but when she was just easeing around feeding she looked very clumbsy! We always watched for her and had many theories and "what if's" about how she lost it. I think he will recover just fine and make an interesting deer to watch!
Yeah, But the Rut sure is going to be FRUSTRATING for him :readit: :goldtooth:
If he is brown he is goin down... ;)
Paul
Deer are very tough critters and he looks like he is doing OK. If I was hunting, had a tag and he offered a good shot, I'd probably take him, but I wouldn't put him down outside of that.
I killed a 3 leg buck a few years ago that was running on one front leg. He was doing fine til he met my WW.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff176/srtaphotos/Woundeddeer.jpg)
Animals function a whole lot better than we do if missing a limb.....a friend of mine had a three legged rotweiller once...believe me, he could still hold his own.
As far as killing him, I'd leave him alone. Let mother nature take care of it...
I agree with above, fatest dog I ever seen had three legs and when people say, oh it must of been a front one that was missing I just smile and say, nope the whole hind leg. This dog escaped from a kennel and we needed a car to catch him with a noose. Shawn
Shawn's right - but make it 4 fingers and we might have to reconsider :) .
Steve
I dont think wild things feel sorry for themselves,its a purely human emotion for me.They just keep on living.Just a thought.
Gil
Hard to tell from the pictures, but that looks pretty mangled. They are tough, though. Wish I thought to take better pictures, but this buck I shot had a bad back right leg. If you look closely, you can see a big lump on the joint - right at the does tail. His ham was smaller (atrophied?) and the lower leg was turned out almost 90 degrees and skinny from little use.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/SOS_321/DSCN2600.jpg)
He was moving so hard on the trail of the doe, I didn't know he had a bad leg until I was ready to field dress him....so, long story short, hopefully he'll be alright.
I had a three legged doe on my property for two or three years. I watched her with one fawn one year and two the next. She made it just fine. They are some tough critters....
Should be ok til the yotes get him but thats just nature at its purest.
Long way to go for this deer.
Dry necrosis at heel but knee look ok.
Natural amputation are not often .It is very easy to break her right leg ,if so ,time is count.
i saw a specal on tv once about a two legged dog, one front on one side and one back on the other. That dog ran around all over the place. When it wanted to stop it would run up and lean against somthing. It was the darndest think i ever saw. it didnt slow him down a bit.
wow - I'd kill it if given the chance
There is a doe that has three legs that has been living well, and has had fawns for the past three summers, right up the road from were i live. Some how nature provides for them and they survive and in some cases thrive.
The body weight looks great and judging from the size of the leg it looks like an old injury that has since healed up. Although looks like it has stopped the growth of the leg and if it dies he will most likely chew it off. (I've seen dogs do this) I'd leave him be, he looks to be doing just fine.
We had a buck who lost his back leg at a young age and lived to be a nice 11 pointer at the age of 5. We never shot him to see how big a wounded deer would get.He ended up getting poached. But he ran right with the rest of the herd.
I think if season were still open, i'd have to use a tag on him, more to ease my suffering and wondering about how his health is.
I agree that he looks like he has recovered from the injury.
If season is already closed, I think he will be around till next season, and then i'd take him out. It's hard to see an animal that looks like that and not want to put them down. I think this is because we care so much for these animals, we don't want to see them hurting or struggling.
sammy
It wasn't his time once, I'd let him and nature decide when his time comes to an end..unless it was hunting season, whitetails and coyotes are two of the toughest animals animals I have seen survive things like this.
We had a doe get hit by a car 3 years ago after dropping twin fawns, she got busted up bad and couldn't run. She made it through 2 years, having fawns ever year and still making through hunting season, surviving predators, and the stray dogs.
I've seen more than one deer caught in barb wire fences that have died and been eaten by yokes. Looks like a barb wire injury, but that is pure speculation. Ask your local game warden what he thinks, since the season is closed. Like others, I think it would be interesting to watch him over the next few months especially the development of his headgear. Nature has its own way of dealing with this sort of thing. Keep the feeder full this winter and the camera on standby. Myself and others would sure like to be kept abreast of his development. :campfire:
If season were open and I needed the meat and I had a tag left, then I would take that deer.
Season is open in AL. till 1-31 I think.
Looks okay to me, he healed so some time has past and he looks plump enough. If he hits the corn feeder more he may fall over form being too fat 8^)
You are in Alabama.....Send the picture to one of the veterinary professors at Auburn. They can tell you.
if it were me i would put it down and stick it on the bbq.
He'll be fine. Every few years we will watch a three-legged fawn grow into adulthood. Can't say for sure, but because we always notice these fawns shortly after the first hay cutting, I speculate that they are injured by farm equipment.
Body condition looks good and he will likely be around a long time. It's better to lose a back leg than a front one. He will adjust IMO. I'm a Vet.
they learn to adapt especially the young ones
He is feeding, he appears healthy, and he's not dead yet. He's a survivor. Let him live.
he's fine.....looks like a fence got him.
Trapper
QuoteOriginally posted by Eastern fisher:
might have a problem getting around in deep snow.
now if alabama gets a deep snow i dont think anyone down there will be able to get around :biglaugh: