shootgun Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I've been asked the other day to go out and try and shoot an orphaned calf. The doe was shot a week ago by someone and the the calf had to be culled as is a really struggle for an orphaned calv to make it through the winter alone. I found him after an hour, wandering around, alone and confused and after 20 minutes or so of observation i was 100% positive that is the one i'm looking for and i took the shot. Dropped on the spot, job done, and the best venison i ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fse10 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 A job well done . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Someone got to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 As you say job done. I had the chase one once, the hind had been shot and the calf hadn't, it approached another hind and was rejected. We <literally> ran up and own hills for about a mile, and then I had to calm down and take the shot. It wasn't routine but it was one of the shots that still gave me the most relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew f Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I've been asked the other day to go out and try and shoot an orphaned calf. The doe was shot a week ago by someone and the the calf had to be culled as is a really struggle for an orphaned calv to make it through the winter alone. I found him after an hour, wandering around, alone and confused and after 20 minutes or so of observation i was 100% positive that is the one i'm looking for and i took the shot. Dropped on the spot, job done, and the best venison i ever had. Cant see why you shoot a doe with a calf that cant look after its self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sian Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I too would like to understand the rationale behind the original taking the doe. Is this usual or was it an error? I ask because I don't know anything about hunting of deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Cant see why you shoot a doe with a calf that cant look after its self I too would like to understand the rationale behind the original taking the doe. Is this usual or was it an error? I ask because I don't know anything about hunting of deer. I did said the doe was shot by someone else. I just been asked to finish the job and put the calf out of its misery and i did exactly that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Whilst not a pleasant job its best to take the calf/fawn first , the doe will often come back or stop to look which gives the opportunity to take it as well ..never my favourite job but if you are culling it comes with the territory ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sian Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I did said the doe was shot by someone else. I just been asked to finish the job and put the calf out of its misery and i did exactly that. I know we are typing and it's hard to tell sometimes how someone is feeling when they are responding but you sound defensive. It is not my intention to have a go at you. I simply wanted to understand how deer culling worked. I know nothing about it and with my lack of knowledge thought perhaps male deer or older deer were culled. I did not realise mothers with young were culled and whilst I personally find that upsetting as I'm quite sensitive, I make no judgment on what has to be done. I thought this was a place to learn from others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I know we are typing and it's hard to tell sometimes how someone is feeling when they are responding but you sound defensive. It is not my intention to have a go at you. I simply wanted to understand how deer culling worked. I know nothing about it and with my lack of knowledge thought perhaps male deer or older deer were culled. I did not realise mothers with young were culled and whilst I personally find that upsetting as I'm quite sensitive, I make no judgment on what has to be done. I thought this was a place to learn from others. You asked a legitimate question without malice bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sian Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Thank you Moose man now I understand a bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I have no reason to be defensive, i was just stating the facts, as you asked the question if it was an error or not. I do not know the answer, maybe the person who shot the doe had good intention and tried to cull the calf as well, but is not always possible. Personally i wouldn't cull a doe with a dependent calf if there is other choice present, but each with their own, As Moose Man said, is not a pleasant job, but it got to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sian Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Thank you now you have added to my knowledge. I now know it is a choice the person undertaking the cull makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 My first thought after reading the OP was the same as andrew f and Sian. I would have thought that a doe with a young calf would not be an appropriate shot to take. Maybe the calf wasn't in the vicinity when the original shot was taken. We will never know that as the person who took that shot is unknown. Shootgun well done on a difficult shot to take and clear up someone's shortcomings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Its quite common practice to take does and fawns when culling numbers. The fallow fawns should be able to survive without their mother by the time the doe season starts, in theory anyway, they will be eating rather than surviving on milk. The mother could have been involved in an RTA and not shot. Not nice though shooting a young one but the venison is the best you'll get, no different morally than eating lamb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teddy boy Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 the whole episode, plus pics. was totally inappropriate in my opinion to be put on an open forum. we all know what had to be done, but others may not. the shooting of the doe was at best questionable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Definitely something I could not bring myself to do or want to do. But each to their own sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 the whole episode, plus pics. was totally inappropriate in my opinion to be put on an open forum. we all know what had to be done, but others may not. the shooting of the doe was at best questionable. Is totally appropriate to be put on an open forum, for ''the others'' so they will know what have to be done. This is a shooting forum,not a legs waxing forum, everyone knows what to expect when they're joining. The action was perfectly legal, in line with the DMQ recomandations, as stated in the DSC manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 thanks for the info I found it most interesting. It's a fact of land management as said it's something that had to be done and as op said not the best job. nice to know that people have feelings for what they do (properly) once the resect and feeling have gone it's just killing. thanks again for the insight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Top stuff fella and a relief to get the calf before worse weather comes.Contrary to some folks beliefs on this thread it is very common to take both hind/calf,doe/kid out for your cull plan but taking the follower first is the best route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) I know we are typing and it's hard to tell sometimes how someone is feeling when they are responding but you sound defensive. It is not my intention to have a go at you. I simply wanted to understand how deer culling worked. I know nothing about it and with my lack of knowledge thought perhaps male deer or older deer were culled. I did not realise mothers with young were culled and whilst I personally find that upsetting as I'm quite sensitive, I make no judgment on what has to be done. I thought this was a place to learn from others. Sian , when culling the idea is to keep a balance of all ages in the deer , during the first part of my season (fallow) its the young bucks that I want , unless it has an exceptional head it would be culled , later on i'll look at what big bucks are about with regards to quality heads , anything that is really good or has potential , & we are talking wild deer as opposed to park animals , gets left .There are so many poor quality animals that taking anything decent is a futile exercise .When the doe season starts in November its the yearlings doe's & any poor or small fawns that look like they will struggle to get through winter that are next .If possible I leave the mature doe's till mid December , that way the fawns have had an extra six weeks feeding on them & should in theory be able to survive our not to harsh southeast winter. Although the season for Doe's goes on till the end of march my preference is to finish at the end of feb , which leaves me march & April on the bucks , adding that any poor bucks/prickets that I come across during the season would have been taken at the time ... Whilst you always try not to leave a dependent fawn /calf its never guaranteed you wont .hope this helps explain .. Edited November 21, 2014 by moose man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 This forum does still manage to surprise me and the attitude of some in the world of shooting, maybe I should remember that some on here will only be on the rifle range or the clay ground and just glanced across to the stalking/game shooting posts. How could this post or the actions possible be offensive in anyway, have you not heard the melancholic bellow of a diary cow who's calf has been removed ( and often just ended up as dog food) so we can have milk in our coffee. The distress of animals 'smelling' the death of the slaughter house as it approaches. Little lambs frolic in the spring sunshine but never enjoy much more. Fox cubs get shot and I don't remember checking on a rabbits age before I shot it, maybe its just a bit of 'bambi' syndrome but one thing is for sure, a young fallow like that will be the best eating out there. Many hinds along with young calves will be shot to control deer numbers as the wolves and tigers are on holiday right now, better ending than a slow cold and hungry death on the side of a barren windswept hill in the dark of winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 culling is a important part of wildlife conservation all understood.however would it not make more sense to take the young first as shooting the doe could cause the young to run off in panic leaving it to die a slow agonising death.at least the doe would survive without any ill effects until the next shot.a friend of mine who culls on a large estate will spend weeks watching to see which to cull so he also knows the stage that the calfs are at.perhaps whoever shot this ones mother did no preparatuion or just did not care.we will never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumpy69 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 This forum does still manage to surprise me and the attitude of some in the world of shooting, I could not agree more with your post above. Reactions like som of those on here always remind me of an opinionated lady who I served once whilst working in a restaurant. She told me that she was disgusted we were serving veal, I wen on to explain about rose veal but she was not having any of it and insisted her opinion was they had not had a long enough life in the field for her to be comfortable eating it....... what did she order..... Spring lamb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 This forum does still manage to surprise me and the attitude of some in the world of shooting, maybe I should remember that some on here will only be on the rifle range or the clay ground and just glanced across to the stalking/game shooting posts. How could this post or the actions possible be offensive in anyway, have you not heard the melancholic bellow of a diary cow who's calf has been removed ( and often just ended up as dog food) so we can have milk in our coffee. The distress of animals 'smelling' the death of the slaughter house as it approaches. Little lambs frolic in the spring sunshine but never enjoy much more. Fox cubs get shot and I don't remember checking on a rabbits age before I shot it, maybe its just a bit of 'bambi' syndrome but one thing is for sure, a young fallow like that will be the best eating out there. Many hinds along with young calves will be shot to control deer numbers as the wolves and tigers are on holiday right now, better ending than a slow cold and hungry death on the side of a barren windswept hill in the dark of winter. I couldn't say it better. Thanks for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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