How to put down an injured animal?

[Tim K]

I drove past a deer that had been hit the other day. It was mortally injured but not dead. I couldn't figure out how to end it's suffering without going to jail. Anyone have any experience with this?

As I understand the law, shooting something on a road is illegal anywhere and regardless of the situation due to the rule about being 100ft from a roadway. (or whatever the actual distance is)

[ray1970]

Just like hunting... bleed it out. If you're the kind of guy that carries a firearm you probably have a knife of some sort too. Just cut it's throat.

[motorep]

I've done it. Just wait until there's no traffic. A round in the ear then pull it off the road.

[Redwoods]

Call 911 and tell them there is an injured deer just off the roadway. Law enforcement will put it down (shoot it). If you say that it is still alive and may try to walk back on the road, it would be a safety hazard and they will definately respond.

[ray1970]

Call 911 and tell them there is an injured deer just off the roadway. Law enforcement will put it down (shoot it). If you say that it is still alive and may try to walk back on the road, it would be a safety hazard and they will definately respond.

This works too. But the last time I did it they didn't show for nearly 20 minutes. I know I wouldn't want to be suffering for that long.

[BuffCyclist]

I've often wondered this too, especially because my drive in to work is 16miles of twisty mountain roads and I encounter deer and elk everyday. The thing that bugs me the most is there is no cell reception anywhere on my drive in (actually I don't even get reception at work either), so if I came across an elk writhing around on the side of the road, I wouldn't be able to alert anyone for a while.

And don't even get me started on if I get in a car crash and am injured on the side of the road...

[kidicarus13]

Just use common sense... wait until there is no traffic, know what is beyond your target (safety rule), shoot in head, drag off road, contact law enforcement as soon as there is cell service.

[Mtn.man]

As said 1 round even from a 22 in the ear, law enforcement has no idea how to put them down. If they are suffering end it no need to call anyone or. Then take the meat that isn't damaged no le will cause a problem, we used to stock the freezer with roadkill deer, elk.

[alxone]

As said 1 round even from a 22 in the ear, law enforcement has no idea how to put them down. If they are suffering end it no need to call anyone or. Then take the meat that isn't damaged no le will cause a problem, we used to stock the freezer with roadkill deer, elk.
for me putting it down aint the problem, but what to do with the kill . is there a place you can take the kill to have it processed ?

[SuperiorDG]

for me putting it down aint the problem, but what to do with the kill . is there a place you can take the kill to have it processed ?

My house, for a small fee.

[Zundfolge]

Just keep in mind that in Colorado, if you're not a hunter with a license and appropriate tag, a veterinarian or working in a slaughter house or acting in self defense, killing an animal can be construed as "aggravated animal cruelty" and that's a felony here.

Also if the game wardon catches you you might get a poaching charge.


No, one shouldn't expect logic or reason from the law.

[alxone]

My house, for a small fee.ill keep that in mind [Coffee]

[Mtn.man]

Zund there ain't no prblem with a roadkilled animal put down blah blah. Done it so many times can't remember. When T was on our side of the county (CHP) he would call at us to see if we wanted a fresh kill.

[Tim K]

Just keep in mind that in Colorado, if you're not a hunter with a license and appropriate tag, a veterinarian or working in a slaughter house or acting in self defense, killing an animal can be construed as "aggravated animal cruelty" and that's a felony here.

Also if the game wardon catches you you might get a poaching charge.


No, one shouldn't expect logic or reason from the law.

This kind of thing is precisely why I've never put one down with a firearm. I like the throat slitting idea, but I've seem some bucks down that were thrashing around pretty good. No way I'm getting close enough to flying antlers to do the job with a knife.

The story about the guy getting charged for killing the grizzly is exactly the kind of stupid scenario I can envision happening. With my luck, a cop would pull up just as I was holstering and getting ready to drag the thing from traffic. I have no doubt that some in law enforcement would see the sense in putting an animal down safely, but I can guarantee that there are a whole bunch of others who would just as soon see you in jail.

[Ronin13]

This kind of thing is precisely why I've never put one down with a firearm. I like the throat slitting idea, but I've seem some bucks down that were thrashing around pretty good. No way I'm getting close enough to flying antlers to do the job with a knife.

The story about the guy getting charged for killing the grizzly is exactly the kind of stupid scenario I can envision happening. With my luck, a cop would pull up just as I was holstering and getting ready to drag the thing from traffic. I have no doubt that some in law enforcement would see the sense in putting an animal down safely, but I can guarantee that there are a whole bunch of others who would just as soon see you in jail.

This. It's usually an unfortunate situation, I've had friends in it, luckily Johnny Law didn't get involved until after the fact and they were Park County so they understood- I doubt Jeffco would be so cool about it considering we've seen them put down an elk after a vs. SUV incident and he loaded a 12GA slug and went for the heart... then he had the gall to get mad at me when I said "You should use your pistol and put a round into the brain stem, the slug to the heart isn't nearly as effective." Whatever... 90% of the JCSO Deputies up here are rookies.

[PSS]

If you want to do it the right way just call the dow within 48 hours and they will give you a donation tag or whatever they call it.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/RulesRegs/Regulations/Ch00.pdf


A. Except as otherwise provided, each Regional Manager or his designee shall be responsible
for the disposition of all wildlife confiscated or otherwise obtained by Division personnel within
his region and shall keep storage reports, correspondence, and other records necessary to
document compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
B. Each person who receives wildlife under provisions of this Chapter shall receive a receipt or a
donation certificate evidencing its lawful possession and designating the conditions under
which the wildlife may be used, and if necessary, establishing a limit for such use.
C. Any person desiring to possess edible portions of road-killed wildlife from any road in the state
of Colorado is permitted to do so, provided that he/she possesses one of the following:
1. A prior letter of authorization from the Division of Wildlife.
a. Letters of authorization shall be available by the Director or his designee to any
person or entity which commits to putting such wildlife to a beneficial use (e.g.,
providing for its consumption by humans or captive animals), or
2. A valid scientific collecting permit for the specific species, or
3. A donation certificate or tag issued by the Division of Wildlife or any entity authorized by
the Division of Wildlife. A person must notify the Division of Wildlife or other authorized
agency within 48 hours of taking possession of the animal to obtain a donation certificate.
The person requesting the certificate may have to present the animal for inspection, to
verify its possession meets the criteria of this regulation.

[Mtn.man]

This. It's usually an unfortunate situation, I've had friends in it, luckily Johnny Law didn't get involved until after the fact and they were Park County so they understood- I doubt Jeffco would be so cool about it considering we've seen them put down an elk after a vs. SUV incident and he loaded a 12GA slug and went for the heart... then he had the gall to get mad at me when I said "You should use your pistol and put a round into the brain stem, the slug to the heart isn't nearly as effective." Whatever... 90% of the JCSO Deputies up here are rookies.

That's what I meant by LEO have no idea how to put them down. and the JEFFCO deps up here near us at least aren't at all worried if you want to take the animal for meat.

[hollohas]

If you want to do it the right way just call the dow within 48 hours and they will give you a donation tag or whatever they call it.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/RulesRegs/Regulations/Ch00.pdf

Beat me to it PSS. This is the 100% legal way to keep the meat.

[Ronin13]

That's what I meant by LEO have no idea how to put them down. and the JEFFCO deps up here near us at least aren't at all worried if you want to take the animal for meat.

Oh most of them don't give two shits if you take the meat. We found a dead cow (elk) over by my friends house a couple years back and called Jeffco to ask if we could take it, they said it was fine but we should contact DOW, and they sent a guy out (within about 20 min) who noted the location for his report and said "Enjoy, but not sure how good the meat will be since it was struck by a car." Only 3 broken ribs and a lacerated heart, the meat tasted pretty good once we got her skinned and quartered.

[mcantar18c]

Just use common sense... wait until there is no traffic, know what is beyond your target (safety rule), shoot in head, drag off road, contact law enforcement as soon as there is cell service.

This is what I've always done.

[cstone]

Must be some softball or baseball players around here. Doesn't everybody have a bat or maybe a tire iron in their vehicle?

There should be an exception in the law, but I'm not aware of one.

[Limited GM]

Depending on their size, just putting your weight on their lungs will do it pretty easily.

*If anyone cares to try this with a bear, please record it. [Tooth]

[Zundfolge]

Most of the cops I've met and talked to around here are from places like Chicago, New Jersey, Detroit, etc. City boys from seriously anti gun places.

I, for one, ain't planning on taking chances that one of them is going to understand putting an animal out of its misery and since one is risking their second amendment rights I'm just going to have to live with an animal dying horribly on their own.

Now if I lived in a more rural county with officers/deputies that are farm bred local boys, I'd be more willing to take care of an animal.

[TDO]

When I was a kid, I was getting a ride from my best friends dad from football practice through evergreen and we saw a deer get hit by a car. The cops came and refused to put it down, so my friends dad told me to hold it down while he cut it's throat. Don't call the police, they won't do shit. Just take care Of it yourself.