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.    

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