using firearm to dispatch injured animal

[striker55]

Would it be legal to dispatch and injured animal on the side of a road? Specifically an injured deer hit by a car along 1960 in Houston.

[Teamless]

In a word.... No.
Doing so would be the intentional failure to conceal


Morally, I would not want the animal to be suffering, but legally, you need to contact the local PD or game warden.

[Jumping Frog]

Better get permission from a police officer or game warden first. I've heard of people being cited for violating hunting regulations when shooting a deer under those circumstances.

I've also heard of police officers giving that permission -- saves them from having to do any paperwork associated with discharging their weapon while on duty.

[Oldgringo]

If you hit the animal at night and no one was within a mile of you...maybe. Otherwise, no.

Imagine the crowd you'd draw with cell phones and cameras during rush hour. They would not be recording your humane act nor would the Houston Chronicle likely report it as such.

[RPB]

call game warden
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/warden/find ... unty.phtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
IIRC,
Game warden takes animal to be processed for Food Bank

http://www.ehow.com/deer-hunting-in-texas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
How to Donate Deer in Texas

Donating a legally harvested deer in Texas helps feed homeless and hungry people throughout the state. Buying protein-rich meat is a major expense for food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries, so donated venison eases the costs involved in providing meat to those in need. Deer meat is healthier than beef as it contains less fat and cholesterol. A participating meat processor processes a donated deer, and the processed meat ships to a food bank or soup kitchen in the local area.

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archi ... ommon.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In Texas, if you hit and kill a deer with a motor vehicle, you can't claim the animal - at least not right away.

That deer belongs to the state of Texas, and its disposal rests in the hands of the state.

The recommended course of action for someone involved in a deer/auto collision is to contact a peace officer - a game warden or someone from the local sheriff's department - to address the matter, said Wes Clogston, Houston-based regional commander for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's law enforcement division.

Much of the time, the officer will release the deceased deer to the person who hit it if that person requests it, Clogston said. A written note from the officer explaining the transfer of possession suffices.

If no one wants the deer, the officer disposes of it, often donating salvageable meat to a food bank, a shelter or some family that can put it to good use.

[AustinBoy]

Many years ago I was driving through my neighborhood and saw 2 cars stopped by the side of the road with a group of people standing around.

I slowed down and realized a deer had been hit as I drove by.

I did a u-turn and hopped out with my knife in hand. I walked up and offered to "put it out of it's missery".

I was almost lynched. Got yelled at and was walking away while they were trying to figure out how to get it to the vet.

I cant even imagine what would have happened if I had shown up with a gun!!

My answer: NO!

AB

[JJVP]

In a word.... No.
Doing so would be the intentional failure to conceal

You are assuming the firearm is a handgun where the failure to conceal could apply. If it is a rifle, then there is no such thing as failure to conceal.

[Teamless]

You are assuming the firearm is a handgun where the failure to conceal could apply

correct, but the assumption is based on the fact that this is a CHL forum, not a rifle, shotgun, or other weapon that may not fall under the "intentional failure to conceal" rule

[A-R]

Peace officers are called out to put deer out of their misery quite often - best to leave this to LEOs to handle since there's no urgency/immediacy (at least not comparable to a deadly force self defense scenario)

Call it in to police/sheriff/game warden

[anygunanywhere]

Way back a long time ago in Baytown area (Harris County) I drove up on a hit dog scene. Dog was sitting in road wobbly, blood in nose and ears. Woman who hit dog crying. I stop, asked what happened, yelled at neighbors watching if it was their dog, got yelled back that it was a stray.

I asked woman if she would take it to vet and she said no. She told me to do something, sob sob.

OK, as you wish says I.

I pulled out my 20 ga cylinder bore pump I kept in truck, shot dog in the head. Blew brains all over pavement. Woman who hit dog tossed her cookies. I put dog in my truck and took it back to Chambers Co with me and fed it to alligators that lived nearby.

This was in early 1980s. I would not do this today. Call LEO.

Anygunanywhere

[ralewis]

I've thought about this a bit myself, but with regard to my dogs. A few years ago, when my older dog was 14 and getting close to the time when we'd need to make a tough decision (fortunately, she died quietly in her sleep and never did experience significant discomfort), I contemplated what I'd do if she was in severe distress suddenly. I seriously considered that I might put her down myself. I do live in the Cedar Park ETJ, and I suppose I'd be violating a discharge of firearm ordinance of some sort. I'm not sure I'd worry about that though if my dog was suffering significantly. Never was faced with the decision fortunately. Anyone ever faced with a situation like this?

[NavAir]

I've thought about this a bit myself, but with regard to my dogs. A few years ago, when my older dog was 14 and getting close to the time when we'd need to make a tough decision (fortunately, she died quietly in her sleep and never did experience significant discomfort), I contemplated what I'd do if she was in severe distress suddenly. I seriously considered that I might put her down myself. I do live in the Cedar Park ETJ, and I suppose I'd be violating a discharge of firearm ordinance of some sort. I'm not sure I'd worry about that though if my dog was suffering significantly. Never was faced with the decision fortunately. Anyone ever faced with a situation like this?

Why would you do that? Just take the animal to a vet clinic for euthanasia...

[C-dub]

I've thought about this a bit myself, but with regard to my dogs. A few years ago, when my older dog was 14 and getting close to the time when we'd need to make a tough decision (fortunately, she died quietly in her sleep and never did experience significant discomfort), I contemplated what I'd do if she was in severe distress suddenly. I seriously considered that I might put her down myself. I do live in the Cedar Park ETJ, and I suppose I'd be violating a discharge of firearm ordinance of some sort. I'm not sure I'd worry about that though if my dog was suffering significantly. Never was faced with the decision fortunately. Anyone ever faced with a situation like this?

Why would you do that? Just take the animal to a vet clinic for euthanasia...

Some will even come to your house. Plan ahead and be prepared. Since it is legal, it's the least you can do for a friend that has given life long devotion and unconditional love.

[Stripes Dude]

I've thought about this a bit myself, but with regard to my dogs. A few years ago, when my older dog was 14 and getting close to the time when we'd need to make a tough decision (fortunately, she died quietly in her sleep and never did experience significant discomfort), I contemplated what I'd do if she was in severe distress suddenly. I seriously considered that I might put her down myself. I do live in the Cedar Park ETJ, and I suppose I'd be violating a discharge of firearm ordinance of some sort. I'm not sure I'd worry about that though if my dog was suffering significantly. Never was faced with the decision fortunately. Anyone ever faced with a situation like this?

Why would you do that? Just take the animal to a vet clinic for euthanasia...

Some will even come to your house. Plan ahead and be prepared. Since it is legal, it's the least you can do for a friend that has given life long devotion and unconditional love.

Yep, some posts seem to be a bit cold. Maybe I'm not the cowboy some folks on here pretend to be. Probably a lot of folks make their dogs sleep outside in the heat/cold/rain/snow. I tend to treat my pets like they are my kids.

[flechero]

Why would you do that? Just take the animal to a vet clinic for euthanasia...

It's not always so boxed up with a bow. Sometimes dogs get hit in the middle of the night, at least they do around here. We don't have a 24 hr vet, heck, we don't even have animal control. Even if we did, to try to move a broken up dog that's been hit isn't always possible and I have no slush fund for vet bills of stray animals. (although we have patched up a few of them over the years and kept them. I guess it's different for those of us living outside the cities and towns.

Our dog slept in our bed for the 12 years I had him... Being an animal lover only makes it harder to do it sometimes. I have shed a tear putting dogs down after being hit/run over, several times.

I'm not willing to watch one suffer for the (usual) 20 minute wait for a deputy to arrive... and that's for people problems, I assume much longer, if ever, for a stray dog.



edited to add: When our dog's time was up, we did have the vet come out to put him down... but that was planned as an earlier poster alluded to. My post is only meant to address auto/animal incident, out in the country.