Dillema

[Skbengal]

Ehunter. There is a good chance that if you shoot him, his whole shoulder will be gangrene. I don't know how it works in your state, but up here DNR will issue you a new tag if the animal is unfit for consumption. Gangrene poisons the blood, and the whole animal. Then, depending on the officer, he may or may not let you keep the rack. Even if they take it, our officers usually get trophy animals mounted and display them in their own offices. Anyway, good luck with your choice!

[droppixel]

Dad says he's limping badly enough, he has to be living in misery. He's also getting near the end of his prime. Thankfully, he has at least 5 offspring that dad has seen in his yard. One, is virtually identical in every aspect.

Answers your question. If the animal has been wounded prior, I would feel it is necessary as a hunter to do the animal justice and take him if he was living a life of pain. Take the limp, the fact that he is going into people's yards ... he is still a whitetail and look at this as another step in doing your part as a hunter to manage the population and put some meat on your table. There are deer all over that go into people's yards and snack on their bird feeders, you just may not know it.

[Ehunter]

Sk, in Kansas, once you shoot a deer, that's it. Doesn't matter if it's edible or not. Either way, I can always buy a couple doe tags for meat.
Thanks to everyone that's replied. I have decided that I am going to go ahead and try to take this deer when season opens. I was out there this past weekend, and I can see where his trail goes right past a stand I put up about 8 years ago back in the brush. Really think I'd be doing what's best for the deer, so that's what I'm going to do.

[elkslayer4x5]

Sure does'nt hurt that he's a good looking buck, either.

[Ehunter]

Very true ES4X5, but I have also shot small bucks that have been hurt in the past, as well as burned a buck tag on a wounded doe once. Him being a nice buck just helps take the sting out of spending a tag. Personally, it's more about the hunt than the harvest to me. Good thing the girlfriend is bowhunting this year. I can take her out and hunt with her.