What to do?

[texastrophies]

Sunday afternoon, Jake & I were in the stand at my parents place in Colorado county, which has the antler restrictions in place. We had a nice looking buck come out with his right side to us, looked to be a 9 pointer with a tall rack, when he turned his head toward us, it looked to me like the width did not meet the 13" requirement to be legal.

When he finally turned his body around, what did we see, but an arrow sticking out of him. It looked like it was right at the end of his rib cage, with about 16" of arrow showing. The way it was flopping around, I think just the broadhead or whatever was in his body and the rest was sticking out. Did not see any blood on or around the arrow, which makes me think it has been in there for a little while. He did not appear to have any complications from the arrow, walked, ate corn and eventually ran without any signs of an injury.

This deer, if it survives, will be a real nice buck next year, if the wound does not affect the antler growth. I really do not think it is legal to take this year, and since it does not appear to have any negative side affects from the arrow, I am thinking that we should just let him be. The only thing I am worried about is if the wound becomes infected, I would hate to see him suffer, when we could probably very easily put him down mercifully.

We will be back out there in a couple of weeks, and maybe at that time we will be able to tell a little more about his condition.

What do you think we should do?

[Hoyt03]

I would have put an arrow in him and finished him off

[AaronS]

I'd let him walk. It sounds as if he's doing fine. If he doesn't make it.....Josey Wales put it pretty well....buzzards gotta' eat, same as worms.

[ladydiehard]

I'd get the opinion of a warden.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd get the opinion of a warden.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to contact him, here's the number.
979-968-2612

[puffy]

Good call! Let us know how it goes if you see him again.

[GoodOlMossyHorns]

keep us posted on what you do.

[Cutter]

Finish it!

[wtnhunt]

Would also probably check with the warden.

[James7xChamp3]

[ QUOTE ]
Would also probably check with the warden.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, good advice. At least you'll know if that's an option or not.

[6sixpoint_nobrows]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd get the opinion of a warden.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to contact him, here's the number.
979-968-2612

[/ QUOTE ]

...you know exactly what he'll say "if your not for sure, dont take the risk''....lol...good luck

[tyshe17]

I would check with the warden as well.

[joebobhunter4]

id put it out of his misery... i think the game wardens would understand unless the game warden was an ... you konw