View Full Version : Use of deadly force question
So this weekend our neighbor came by and we were talking about how aggressive the elk have been acting this year, more so than any previous year- even the cows are a little too aggressive. Then he showed us a picture of one of our other neighbors' car that got attacked by a bull elk as they were driving out of their driveway. The back end is pretty messed up and there is a hole in the rear quarterpanel from the elk's antlers. The person was scared to death during this incident. So I ask, if an elk is attacking your car, while you're in it, and you legitimately fear for your life, are you allowed to use deadly force against the animal to protect yourself? I am never leaving home without my gun ever again, especially during this mating season.
RCCrawler
10-01-2012, 09:43
Are you suggesting that if you are in your car and in fear for your life that it's a better idea to get out of your car and try to shoot the elk rather than just drive away?
Great-Kazoo
10-01-2012, 09:46
DOW has all the answers to wildlife concerns.
Remember Fight or FLIGHT
If there was a threat from a 2 legged creature would you flee in your car or get out?
If the ans is #2 you need to attend any quality CCW class.
KevDen2005
10-01-2012, 09:49
I believe all you have to do is yell, "It's coming right for us." Then shoot.
spqrzilla
10-01-2012, 09:50
So I ask, if an elk is attacking your car, while you're in it, and you legitimately fear for your life, are you allowed to use deadly force against the animal to protect yourself?
Its pretty unlikely that an elk can attack a car with sufficient force to harm someone inside but the response is to drive away.
In some sort of weird situation where you'd lost the car glass and the vehicle was inoperative, sure - shoot the elk. But you better have a good set of evidence to back up your story because no DOW officer is going to believe.
Are you suggesting that if you are in your car and in fear for your life that it's a better idea to get out of your car and try to shoot the elk rather than just drive away?
Not saying get out- I mean from the car- say if the elk is on the driver side and trying to turn your car into swiss cheese and there is not much option to drive away, are you allowed to open fire?
Teufelhund
10-01-2012, 09:55
lol @ "not much option to drive away." If you run across one big and bad enough to disable your car, let us know. I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who would like to come hunt down an animal that size.
Jim you forget who is asking this question.. it would mess up a BMW and that is just unacceptable.
If at first asking the elk to stop smashing your BMW does not work, you should push the panic button inside the car.. Don't have one? You should have gotten a Mercedes.
Drive away..it's why you have insurance..but you know that seeing as you work for you dad and complain about the fat lady enough.
Should the elk continue to pursue after your attempt to out run him at 65+ mph, hopefully you don't become further infuriated by the people doing the speed limit while the elk is still keeping pace and attacking your vehicle, obviously preventing you from eluding the elk.
Then.. I think you could shoot. Just hang out the car window, drive w/ your feet and blast away. I do hope that you aren't carrying a 9mm though, we know that won't stop an enraged elk.. studies have shown. [Coffee]
Take one for the team!!
If some suffers minor injury then you may be able to convince the DOW it was necessary.
Better idea check for private land cow tags for Units 394 and 461 which are unlimited. Shot elk, tag it, problem solved with lots of elk steak to boot.
If too many people close and cannot shot use archery equipment.
Make sure to follow all laws.
Jim you forget who is asking this question.. it would mess up a BMW and that is just unacceptable.
If at first asking the elk to stop smashing your BMW does not work, you should push the panic button inside the car.. Don't have one? You should have gotten a Mercedes.
Drive away..it's why you have insurance..but you know that seeing as you work for you dad and complain about the fat lady enough.
Should the elk continue to pursue after your attempt to out run him at 65+ mph, hopefully you don't become further infuriated by the people doing the speed limit while the elk is still keeping pace and attacking your vehicle, obviously preventing you from eluding the elk.
Then.. I think you could shoot. Just hang out the car window, drive w/ your feet and blast away. I do hope that you aren't carrying a 9mm though, we know that won't stop an enraged elk.. studies have shown. [Coffee]
[ROFL1][ROFL2][ROFL3] so much win in this post!
Scanker19
10-01-2012, 10:31
Just get a drop gun. You know those elk will pull the species card every time.
I believe all you have to do is yell, "It's coming right for us." Then shoot.
this is what I was going to say.
you could also rip the back side of your pants and tell them the bull was mounting you? post pics for hilarity[ROFL1]
StagLefty
10-01-2012, 10:43
Why do I open these threads ? [Coffee]
Not saying get out- I mean from the car- say if the elk is on the driver side and trying to turn your car into swiss cheese and there is not much option to drive away, are you allowed to open fire?
Sure you can open fire. But you have to live with the outcome. Was your car disabled? Were antlers coming near you or someone in the car? What caused the animal to attack your vehicle?
Best bet is to buy a license, or let me come hunt on any property you or your scared friends have access to and let me help thin out the population. that will decrease the number of elk in the area that could pose a threat to you and your BMW. WIN-WIN. I'll even give you some elk steak!
Don't you wish this option was available for liberals? well...besides the elk steaks.
dwalker460
10-01-2012, 10:46
Has anyone ever been killed by an elk attack? I think there have been a couple of people hurt by whitetail deer, but cant recall anyone being killed by one.
spqrzilla
10-01-2012, 10:57
Whitetail deer kill more than a hundred people every year.
They do it by jumping into the windshield of a moving car. AlQueda Deer.
Zundfolge
10-01-2012, 11:06
Clearly you can shoot an elk in self defense, the big question is do you get to keep the meat?
I seem to recall reading about folk in Alaska that always made sure they had a bear tag, not because they hunted bear but because if they had to take a bear in self defense they wanted to be able to keep the meat and pelt. Granted that's internet rumor and also Alaska, but I wonder the same thing here.
Clearly you can shoot an elk in self defense, the big question is do you get to keep the meat?
I seem to recall reading about folk in Alaska that always made sure they had a bear tag, not because they hunted bear but because if they had to take a bear in self defense they wanted to be able to keep the meat and pelt. Granted that's internet rumor and also Alaska, but I wonder the same thing here.
That's partly what I'm wondering- I know you can keep the meat if you hit it with your car (on accident)... but if you are defending yourself can you keep it? I guess these are things I can pose to DOW.
BPTactical
10-01-2012, 11:28
Jim you forget who is asking this question.. it would mess up a BMW and that is just unacceptable.
If at first asking the elk to stop smashing your BMW does not work, you should push the panic button inside the car.. Don't have one? You should have gotten a Mercedes.
Drive away..it's why you have insurance..but you know that seeing as you work for you dad and complain about the fat lady enough.
Should the elk continue to pursue after your attempt to out run him at 65+ mph, hopefully you don't become further infuriated by the people doing the speed limit while the elk is still keeping pace and attacking your vehicle, obviously preventing you from eluding the elk.
Then.. I think you could shoot. Just hang out the car window, drive w/ your feet and blast away. I do hope that you aren't carrying a 9mm though, we know that won't stop an enraged elk.. studies have shown. [Coffee]
Forgot to mention the Elk was overweight and had crappy taste in music.
StagLefty
10-01-2012, 11:40
Forgot to mention the Elk was overweight and had crappy taste in music.
[ROFL1][ROFL3][ROFL2]
you could also rip the back side of your pants and tell them the bull was mounting you? [ROFL1]
Not so sure he'd try to resist being mounted.. he has an aversion to cows but not to bulls I'd guess.
Forgot to mention the Elk was overweight and had crappy taste in music.
Lol
That's partly what I'm wondering- I know you can keep the meat if you hit it with your car (on accident)... but if you are defending yourself can you keep it? I guess these are things I can pose to DOW.
what you know is wrong.
you don't get the meat without a hunting tag and hunting it properly . don't try it. ask the assistant head of wy dow. he got nailed for killing it with a car and then using his deer tag...
I don't think you get to keep meat or anything if you hit an animal with your vehicle. now if you don't say anything and throw it in the bed of your pickup and get away with it, then I guess you get to keep it...but you also risk being called a poacher, getting fined etc.
I don't think you get to keep meat or anything if you hit an animal with your vehicle. now if you don't say anything and throw it in the bed of your pickup and get away with it, then I guess you get to keep it...but you also risk being called a poacher, getting fined etc.
Not true- we've done it on a few occasions, called DOW after finding an elk dead from elk vs car on the road, asked if we can take the carcass, they were happy to allow it... less work for them! [Beer]
DD977GM2
10-01-2012, 13:04
Tell your worthless secretary to shoot it since her music lured the elk near your BMW [ROFL1][ROFL2][ROFL3][LOL]
Thank you all!
This thread was almost as funny as an episode of South Park. [Beer]
Now where is the video of the road kill deer that was only stunned and awoke inside the motorists vehicle. [LOL]
GoldFinger
10-01-2012, 14:39
Make sure you kill it; don't want it testifying against you in court.
buffalobo
10-01-2012, 14:54
All you gotta do is convince DOW that you had no choice but to shoot him.
If DOW thinks the story and circumstances are legit they will not hold you responsible and in many cases allow you to take the carcass.
bigun1962
10-01-2012, 15:57
If you can articulate your fear that life will be lost you can kill it. Keep in mind, most sidearms that are CCW type may have difficulty producing death on an Elk. At least before the Elk really gets pissed off. In the scenario you presented I think driving away is the best option. Let your insurance person deal with it.
Why do I open these threads ? [Coffee]
For the impending beat down
hghclsswhitetrsh
10-02-2012, 06:48
Maybe ronin is onto something...
4_RqF4YYQLE
DD977GM2
10-02-2012, 07:19
If the person pulled out their CCW piece and shot into their yard in the ground
to scare off the elk, would they have gotten in trouble for discharge in city limits?
Great-Kazoo
10-02-2012, 07:44
If the person pulled out their CCW piece and shot into their yard in the ground
to scare off the elk, would they have gotten in trouble for discharge in city limits?
Admit nothing DENY EVERYTHING
StagLefty
10-02-2012, 08:30
If the person pulled out their CCW piece and shot into their yard in the ground
to scare off the elk, would they have gotten in trouble for discharge in city limits?
Depends on the type of discharge [ROFL1]
BPTactical
10-02-2012, 09:19
Depends on the type of discharge [ROFL1]
They have an ointment for that..........
They have an ointment for that..........
Some you have to take a pill for... [ROFL1]
Whitetail deer kill more than a hundred people every year.
They do it by jumping into the windshield of a moving car. AlQueda Deer.
They have an air force as well:
http://s1.hubimg.com/u/783936_f520.jpg
If the person pulled out their CCW piece and shot into their yard in the ground
to scare off the elk, would they have gotten in trouble for discharge in city limits?
what type of "gun" are they discharging? You know how some mountain people get lonely....
Not true- we've done it on a few occasions, called DOW after finding an elk dead from elk vs car on the road, asked if we can take the carcass, they were happy to allow it... less work for them! [Beer]
I just hope they were fresh[Help]
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