ferguson_tom Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 On my drive home yesterday someone had hit a deer very hard by the state of the deer and the car front end. It was in the outside lane and someone had stopped behind it and was directing traffic into the inside lane to stop anyone else hitting it. I stopped to see if i could help and turns out the deer was still alive but not in a fit state, with blood coming from eyes and ears she looked as though been hit at the front end. I did think about moving it but she was still alive and seemed calm layed down so didnt want to put her through any more stress if i would of known how to though i would of dispatched it as no way she was gonna survive. My route home has a lot of deer hits and i have seen this a lot before and am bound to see it again. So couple of questions. What is the most humane way to dispatch a deer without any knifes etc? Is it worth keeping a knife in my car? What is the best way to dispatch it with a knife? If i do dispatch it am i doing anything wrong or illegal? I am not talking about taking the animal away for its meat or anything just to dispatch it to put it out of its pain and get it off the road. Or am i best just to call the police and wait for them to arrive to deal with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hammer believe it or not is probably the easiest option and safest to keep in the car. Using a knife is fairly skilled and opens you right up to prosecution if you botch it. Best left to the police / experts but you have two options the easiest is pretty much cut its throat the second harder one is get the knife in the atlas joint but you don't want to do that for the first time in front of witnesses. As for keeping a knife in the car for the task well lets say keep it well concealed but its not a good reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 I asked similar back in my early days; http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/163412-hypothetical-injured-deer-how-would-you-despatch/page__hl__%2Bdeer+%2Bhumane+%2Bdispatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fo5ter Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 (edited) The police will call a 24hr vet who will take forever to come out, the police will NOT shoot it themselves. The vet takes forever to arrive and the poor animal might even die before the vet arrives. The other end of the scale is the humane killing of he deer yourself. Ask yourself what other springwatch motorists would think of a man with a gun/knife killing a deer at the side of a road - the police would arrive a lot faster! It all really boils down to who you are and why your are carrying a knife/gun on you... Humane dispatch of the occasional deer is not a valid reason for carrying a knife in your car Being a gamekeeper would be a good reason, and would be looked on better. Your best option however is to ring the BASC and ask them. While it is not illegal to humanely dispatch an injured animal, it's not the word of the law that you need to worry about, it is what the public see. On a practical note, use the tip of a good knife to separate the vertebrae where they join the skulll, there is a weak spot here, The Atlas joint. but please please please do your research first Edited June 19, 2012 by fo5ter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 If anyone thinks killing an injured deer with a knife is easy they are a little deluded. It takes knoledge and practice. If you carry such a suitable knife in your car day to day then get a good barrister on call! it is important any RTA involving deer is reported for the statistics. just put deer collisions into google. Under the circumstances i think any hunter or countryman of experiance could and should do the right thing for the animal and if you need to be told how then you probebly aint the right person, any suitable tool can be used now - but beware of Rolf Harris and his dumb friends who think you can amputate legs then release into the wild and comfort wild / terrified creatures with a good cuddle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al69ec Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Cut the heart through the soft opening where the neck meets the chest, keep it pinned down tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hit it on the head with wheel brace or something heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hit it on the head with wheel brace or something heavy. No fair, someone just hit it with a big heavy car and didn't do the job right. A wheel-brace might now be considered 'humane' even though it would probably speed the animal's demise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted June 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the responses everyone, To be honest i didnt even think about the questions asked about carrying a knife in the car I was thinking more well sharpened swiss army knife than 7" hunting knife. As mentioned by Kent having to ask means shouldn't do it and your probably right with a knife the last thing i would want to do is cause more stress and more mess. Am i right to think for me in that situation the hit on the head would be the most practical and quick way to go, I always have tools in my car. After making sure the women were alright and seeing if there was anything else i could do i left yesterday just as the police arrived so they could deal with it. Its quite a common thing on my way home and more often than not on the quieter country lanes so if i come across the same its good to know whats best to do for the animal. Edited June 19, 2012 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Its not exactly difficult,(although NOT plesant) to cut its throat. Just make sure you get the jugular. Hit on head very hard if not..both will definately work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 A swiss army knife wont be strong enough to do the atlas joint, or long enough to properly cut its throat/sever the heart arteries. a decent knife locked in the boot should cause no problems. or as said give it a bump on the head, HARD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peskyfoxs Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 I came across a deer badly hit by a car .. the occupents of the car didn't even want to get out to help, no knife to hand and when a farmer stopped he didn't have a knife to hand either. A quick look in the back of his landy and I held its head still with eyes covered and with one hit he drove a sharpended bolt straight into the brain with one hit from a lump hammer. Very humane.. 30-40 after the deer had been hit the vet turned up and tried to exmaine the deer depsite me mentioning it was 100% deceased and having 3" of bolt stuck out of its forhead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Right, trying to kill any Deer with a knife to the jugular is a retarded idea, and shouldn't be attempted by anyone, for these simple reasons. 1.) A Deer won't just sit there a let you do it, it'll thrash it's head the moment your hands get close to it's face This is dangerous both because larger deer are very powerful, but even Muntjac and CWD have fangs. (I've known of dogs being killed investigating injured Muntjac). 2.) With the Thrashing it poses a fairly serious risk to you holding a knife, if your arm gets knocked the blade can go anywhere. 3.) It's messy, again, anyone saying it's a good idea as obviously never seen somethings throat slit and I can't see why it would be considered intelligent to do in public. 4.) It's unpleasant, I've had to do this once, I wouldn't do it again, it would of been much kinder to me and the deer to of just bashed it's brains out. Keep something hefty in the car, and do it that way. If people can kill each other happily will blunt object any grown man should be able to managed a Deer. (Smaller than a Fallow Doe, anything larger and I'd SERIOUSLY recommend firearm only). Further to what people have said, the Police also have contact numbers of local stalkers (etc) who can come out and deal with this sort of thing, They take the quickest option, so It's normally sorted very quickly. Ask any Stalker worth his salt, and he'll show you the proper way of killing a deer with his knife, it's not the throat but the blade is inserted at an angle down the connection between the back of the head and the neck, This is quicker, safer, and a lot less messy BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Right, trying to kill any Deer with a knife to the jugular is a retarded idea, and shouldn't be attempted by anyone, for these simple reasons. 1.) A Deer won't just sit there a let you do it, it'll thrash it's head the moment your hands get close to it's face This is dangerous both because larger deer are very powerful, but even Muntjac and CWD have fangs. (I've known of dogs being killed investigating injured Muntjac). 2.) With the Thrashing it poses a fairly serious risk to you holding a knife, if your arm gets knocked the blade can go anywhere. 3.) It's messy, again, anyone saying it's a good idea as obviously never seen somethings throat slit and I can't see why it would be considered intelligent to do in public. 4.) It's unpleasant, I've had to do this once, I wouldn't do it again, it would of been much kinder to me and the deer to of just bashed it's brains out. Keep something hefty in the car, and do it that way. If people can kill each other happily will blunt object any grown man should be able to managed a Deer. (Smaller than a Fallow Doe, anything larger and I'd SERIOUSLY recommend firearm only). Further to what people have said, the Police also have contact numbers of local stalkers (etc) who can come out and deal with this sort of thing, They take the quickest option, so It's normally sorted very quickly. Ask any Stalker worth his salt, and he'll show you the proper way of killing a deer with his knife, it's not the throat but the blade is inserted at an angle down the connection between the back of the head and the neck, This is quicker, safer, and a lot less messy BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Well yeah the deer will thrash and it's messy. You'd need to get it pinned. Not saying its ideal but it works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Well yeah the deer will thrash and it's messy. You'd need to get it pinned. Not saying its ideal but it works So does hitting on the head, you don't need to pin it, it's not as dangerous, and frankly it's quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 RTA involving deer are on the increase and its difficult to know what to do. An experiece chap with a knife will despatch a deer very quickly and humanely, one who is not experienced will cause undue stress to the animal. A thrashing deer,especially with antlers is dangerous and sometimes its best to let it settle until help arrives.You have to assess the situation and decide what is the best and safest action for all partys and work down your options but the blunt instrument to the head will probably be the most likely option to most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 (edited) Ask any Stalker worth his salt, and he'll show you the proper way of killing a deer with his knife, it's not the throat but the blade is inserted at an angle down the connection between the back of the head and the neck, This is quicker, safer, and a lot less messy BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Actually, this is not the safest or easiest way to dispach a deer with a knife... It takes a lot of pressure to get the blade of a knife into the atlas joint. You are risking injuring yourself if the knife slips and distressing the deer if you get it wrong. It's difficult enough to break the atlas joint in the larder to remove a head let alone on the roadside where the deer could start thrashing. If you are going to get that close to a deer and intend to dispach it with a knife then a decent length sharp blade should be pushed into the 'V' at the top of the chest/bottom of the throat and moved back and forth a few times. This will sever the arteries at the top of the heart and the beast will bleed out and die VERY quickly. Best calling the police, they will have a list of Deer Wardens, Vets, Local stalkers on the call out register who will come out and deal with it. You are risking landing in trouble for all sorts of reasons if you try to take matters into your own hands! Oh... keeping a knife ANYWHERE in the car that doesn't meet the sub 3" non locking rules 'just in case' is no defence in law and you WILL get done for it! Edited June 19, 2012 by Vipa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted June 19, 2012 Report Share Posted June 19, 2012 Actually, this is not the safest or easiest way to dispach a deer with a knife... It takes a lot of pressure to get the blade of a knife into the atlas joint. You are risking injuring yourself if the knife slips and distressing the deer if you get it wrong. It's difficult enough to break the atlas joint in the larder to remove a head let alone on the roadside where the deer could start thrashing. If you are going to get that close to a deer and intend to dispach it with a knife then a decent length sharp blade should be pushed into the 'V' at the top of the chest/bottom of the throat and moved back and forth a few times. This will sever the arteries at the top of the heart and the beast will bleed out and die VERY quickly. Best calling the police, they will have a list of Deer Wardens, Vets, Local stalkers on the call out register who will come out and deal with it. You are risking landing in trouble for all sorts of reasons if you try to take matters into your own hands! Oh... keeping a knife ANYWHERE in the car that doesn't meet the sub 3" non locking rules 'just in case' is no defence in law and you WILL get done for it! for once , im with you on this . call plod , they will call a vet/reg dispatcher . simples . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 for once , im with you on this . call plod , they will call a vet/reg dispatcher . simples . For once? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Fortunately the 4 times I`ve had to do this I have been going either shooting or fishing and had reasonable excuse to have a knife. However I still carry a knife, gloves etc. in the car just in case as I feel I cannot leave one to die a horrible death at the side of the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 how would you stand if you were coming back from shooting and had a shotgun or rifle with you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 how would you stand if you were coming back from shooting and had a shotgun or rifle with you? Wouldn't bother me how bad it was, I wouldn't be using a gun at the roadside. The potential trouble isn't worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 discharging a weapon in a public place springs to mind , but if they ask via the list or a inspector i think you are covered . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 how would you stand if you were coming back from shooting and had a shotgun or rifle with you? I suppose it depends on whether or not you have permission to shoot deer on the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 how would you stand if you were coming back from shooting and had a shotgun or rifle with you? Shotgun fine, rifle would need a suitable condition. In reality it would never be in the public interest for the CPS to raise a prosecution. You could easily defend yourself using the AWA 2006. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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