Well I went out for the last day of our Wisconsin season. With an ice storm last night, the temps were supposed to be dropping into the single digits and windy all day! I thought is was gonna be good! I plan on going back to an area that I haven't been to for a few weeks. On my way to find a new tree to set up in along a small river crossing I look up the trail and see some movement, at first I'm thinking coyote, no, not a Coyote, a Deer, but is it getting eatin by a Coyote, no, it fell thru the Ice and is stuck and struggling in the water. I'm like now what, I take the stand off my back, nock an arrow and sneak over to the struggling deer trying to get out of the water, it can't. As I get closer I'm thinking I'm going to get to shoot a deer on the last hunt of the year. When I get with in 20 yards the deer stops and takes a rest, tries to get out again but can't get out from the icy water. I'm like this sucks, I go over to the bank and assess the situation, all the while the deer takes another rest. I'm like come big girl you can get out. Nope she is not gonna get out. Well I start to talk to her and try to get her fired up to free herself. I yell at her louder and she almost gets out but falls back into the water. As she gives it another go, I yell a little louder and this gets her a boost of energy, almost out, I yell some more and she just barley gets up the other side. She lays there for a second, gets up, looks at me, shakes off, looks at me again and then walks off! I could of shot her when she was in the water, when she got out and was looking at me from 5 yards but she just made it thru a life threatening struggle which would of been a painful death, I bid her goodbye and see ya next year! I think she will be fine, I know I do knowing she made it out! To me... it was a successful last deer hunt of the season helping the old girl out!! Good luck!
:clapper:
I couldn't believe It Joe when I got that text from you!! As far as I'm concerned you did everything perfect!! I would have let her go also. Pretty dang neat Joe!! :thumbsup:
Good on ya!
My hats off to you my friend, that I believe was what you where supposed to do. A great act on your behalf. I'm sure she was thankful and I'm sure you will see her again!
Awesome hunt and awesome story. And some claim that hunters don't care!
I saw a doe break through the ice on a stream a couple years ago. She struggled for a couple minutes, repeatedly falling through. Finally made it out. I was worried about her being all wet and it being so cold out as to how she was going to fair.
Turned my stomach to watch her struggle though, even though it's part of nature.
Way to go! A truley successful day in the wods!
:clapper:
Fair chase is the only way to hunt.
Not much to say but :clapper:
Thanks for the kind words fellas, I did what everyone else here would of done, just wanted to share the experience! with ya!
:clapper:
:notworthy: :clapper:
That is about as good as it gets. . . says something about the heart of the hunter.
Glad you let her walk, shooting a deer in the water is illegal in Michigan. Shooting her after that struggle would have just been wrong. Go get her next year. Well done.
Excellent story...kudos to you. :clapper:
Thanks for sharing your encounter Joe. That is better than shooting one. :)
I'm thankful to hear your story. Congratulations on the class you showed. Way to go!
Here's another :clapper: for you!
That was a cool thing you did. A story worth sharing with the next generation.
I know deep down inside of us when we see game in distress it hurts deep inside us even though we are predetors.
I watched a cow moose being taken down by wolves in ice and water once. She was struggling for her life and one of them had her by the neck and the others were attacking her flanks
I couldn't get close with my bow so I got my buddy to shoot her with his 7mm
She was going to die and the wolves needed to eat, but I just couldn't stand watching her suffer that kind of fate.
I know it's nature and if I don't see it I guess that's ok, but you see it happen it's completely different.
Good on you mate!
Jer Bear
That was a great story. Thanks for sharing the experience.
Getting the game is what it's all about, Right?
No, it's HOW we get the game. :wavey:
Unforgettable!
No good deed goes unanswered. ;)
Great story!!!!! That's exactly how it should have ended. Good for you.
I've said it before, and lots of people don't get it but, the most sincere animal lovers of all are HUNTERS!!!
Excellent Joe. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Ron
Great story, man.
Yeah we hunters are a different breed. We go through increadible efforts to save wildlife at all costs and measures just so we will have something to hunt in the future.
Once again, great read.
Todd
You did the right thing. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by just_a_hunter:
Great story, man.
Yeah we hunters are a different breed. We go through increadible efforts to save wildlife at all costs and measures just so we will have something to hunt in the future.
Once again, great read.
Todd
Todd, you don't really think that Joe saved this deer and let it walk away just so he could kill it later?
Ron
That shows yourself that your a hunter not a killer.Glad you had the experience and Im sure youll remember that for a longtime. :notworthy:
QuoteOriginally posted by Sharpster:
QuoteOriginally posted by just_a_hunter:
Great story, man.
Yeah we hunters are a different breed. We go through increadible efforts to save wildlife at all costs and measures just so we will have something to hunt in the future.
Once again, great read.
Todd
Todd, you don't really think that Joe saved this deer and let it walk away just so he could kill it later?
Ron [/b]
Hey Ron,
You'll notice in my post I used the word "hunt" and not "kill". There is a big difference between killing an animal that fell through the ice, and killing an animal you hunted. So, to answer your question, yes, I do think he let this doe go so he could
HUNT this deer and it's offspring in the future.
Once again, what a great story.
Happy hunting to all
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go Joe. I'd have done the same. Your one of the good guy's ! :clapper:
Super Joe,that is what fair chase is all about,congrats on a successful adventure :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Thanks for being You!
... mike ...
That is comendable sir!!I would have done the same thing.Fair play and good sportsmanship is what its all about. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Well done Sir!
:thumbsup: :notworthy: :clapper:
There are really 2 ways to look at this. My personal preference is to say that when I go out to hunt I am going out to see what I can experience in my day (or hours) in the woods. I would rather see a deer and get a shot, but I have an awful lot of interesting experiences and memories that keep me enjoying the experience of just bing out there. This story is one of those experiences which not too many others will have. There is of course the other approach that you are there purely for the reason of taking and animal at any cost. Hunting after all does have one specific objective. I would think that for those who are not subsistance hunters that the inclination is to go with the first option but I wouldn't object to the second: nature is a cruel teacher after all.
That's a great end to the season.