Ethical Question

[NYGOOSEHUNTER]

Fellow Waterfowlers,

I was making my scouting rounds today and noticed at one spot for the 3rd week in a row a Canada with a bum wing. Obviously this bird can't fly but is making out alright. Here's the question...I NEVER shoot geese on the ground( unless finishing off wounded birds) and was wondering if this bird is still there in 2 weeks should I kill it to be humane, or should I let it be??? Part of me says let it wander around and act like a living Deke, but I don't like to see any Bird suffer. I am interested in hearing your comments.

[firefighter520]

Had a similar situation and all the duck did was waste away over time. You could do two things, 1) call a game and fish officer and report it or something like that 2) just take care of it yourself or hope some animal does.

[waterfowler9]

I wouldn't suggest using it as a "living deek", I am sure you are aware but there is laws against that. I wouldn't have any problem shooting it off the ground. I think the ethical question is do you shoot it to save it from possibly starving and suffering or letting it live with the hope that it will survive. Chances either you or a coyotee will make a meal out of the goose.

[NYGOOSEHUNTER]

I wouldn't suggest using it as a "living deek", I am sure you are aware but there is laws against that.

yes very aware....what I was referring to is its presence around the area would be like a living deke( it would be illegal if I owned the bird and tethered it out there as a decoy). This bird seems totally healthy just got a bum wing....with all the coyotes we have here its a miracle that he made it 3 weeks so far.

[BrettO]

I would shoot it and stop its suffering. After all it wont be able migrate south and probably wont survive the winter.

[flyfisher76544]

I would shoot it and stop its suffering. After all it wont be able migrate south and probably wont survive the winter.

Same here, especially up in NY.

[corybdesign]

same. finish it off.

[alanv315]

i would shoot it

[bmf93]

Like the others said, i would probably jsut take it out of its misery. Good luck.

[BadCaller]

Mother Nature at her best and you all want to take the bird out. I am sure some coon, fox or coyote will make it a meal in short order. How many other critters are in the same boat right now.

To top that off guys don't pattern there guns, buy the cheapest shells, sky bust causing cripples and worry about a bird that ma nature is going to deal with. She is cruel but we need to understand that is nature. What we can do is use the best tools that we have and our very best judgement not to cause anymore of it.

[WaterDog]

let it be. either it will get along just fine or some critter will come along that is hungry and will have a wonderful meal.

[Gary]

i say it probably will get eatin up by then but if not , i'd add it to my bag limit ..............

[Goose4280]

whack him!

[pete/pmr]

I think if it was still there when the opener comes,you should see how the bird is doing,try to push it off the spot,see if it has made any improvements, animals adapt to injuries rather well,but the reality is only one of two things,it either survives or dies! I would try to force the bird to fly now,and then when the season opens try again,if it does not look like it has made any improvements,shoot it!DEC is either going to shoot it or let it go, and check in on it at a later date,then maybe shoot it!You can do that yourself!Or try a local vet,or animal resque,Me I think I would try to take it alive myself and keep it on the farm for a training aid!That is how I learned to call turkeys! Use to sit inside a old rusted out car on a milk crate and called tom too me, then slapped him in the head to make him run off,then call him back,got harder everytime!

[kc outdoorsman]

let a kid shoot it

[MudNinja]

First of all hello guys, my first post here but anyway here goes: The first thing that comes to mind is a couple years back my dog was searching for a duck that went down in some really thick stuff and brought back another hunter's cripple that had been there for quite awhile. This thing was a pitiful sight and was just skin and bones! I believe that any waterfowl that can not fly and is not hand fed like a pet would eventually wind up like that when times get hard. Then there is the very real possibility that a predator will get it and put it out of it's misery...but every time I go hunting I take on the role of predator just like a coyote, fox, etc. It might as well be me. What's the difference? I would rather spare it a lingering death and eat it myself. Just my .02

[Twisted]

i would leave some feed for it every week and see if it heals up on its own. then if it doesnt take it.

or take it home and feed it and keep it as a pet. geese make pretty good watch dogs!!

[NealinMO]

I would shoot it and stop its suffering. After all it wont be able migrate south and probably wont survive the winter.

We have a goose with a broken on our city lake that I saw back in january when the lake was froze over and some how it has made it.. i saw it out and about with a several other geese over the weekend.

If I had a shot at it I would put it out of it's misery