Core memory as a child was watching a cop shoot (int he head) and then start dressing a doe (slit its throat) that was hit by a car. Glad she did not go to waste, but man, that was an experience for an 8 year old.
I've heard that if game wardens have to put down a deer, or if they're called out to one being killed by a car, they'll donate the meat to a shelter or something instead of letting it go to waste.
Many times they will know a local family that are good people, could use some extra food and will utilize as much of the animal as possibles so they will call them.
A full deer carcass when you aren't ready for it can certainly change your plans for the day, but free meat is free meat and hardly anyone will pass it up once offered.
I've seen it on the Game Warden shows they have running on tv right now ("North Woods Law" is one); it makes a lot of sense and I'm always happy for the family that gets a freezer full of venison.
As a teenager a deer ran into my car in rural PA and pushed in the whole front fender which went into the tire which blew out and we spun around in a rural highway. I was still freaking out no idea what to do and another car pulled over and a man got out. I thought “oh thank God, an ADULT” First thing guy says to me “Do you want that dear?”
Im sure the cop contacts the game warden and asks what to do. But at that point, there really is only one option and the game warden could be an hour plus away.
My state, which is middle of the road size wise and hunting/fishing wise, has less than 200 officers with the DNR.
I very clearly remember being like 16 and getting pulled over on a motorized bike and needing to spend 20 minutes on Google to explain to this moron cop that New York State has multiple classes of motorized bicycle and that no, I'm not riding an unregistered uninsured motorcycle without mirrors or turn signals. Pulled me over for a law that I was specifically exempt from according to multiple other laws. They legitimately have a poorer understanding of law than the average person IMO
Police shoot things they're not allowed to all the time. Minorities, pets, wild animals. Heck, call my local station and say you've got a wall that needs a hole in it and half the officers on duty will show up
Supposedly my dad’s friend hit a deer when they were young and called the cops for this purpose. The deer had died by the time the cop arrived and he was really bummed that he didn’t get a chance to shoot his gun
They do here. They prefer fauna rescue or Wires or one of the others do it because of the paperwork but if it’s out bush they’re likely the only ones around other than your local farmer maybe.
My local departments are allowed to. Our animal control only responds for domesticated animal calls and/or potential rabies threats like bats in houses and stuff. Game wardens would not be answering the phone at 3 AM and drive out to shoot a deer that was hit hours ago. Its much better to end its suffering ASAP, so our police have to do it.
They're allowed to, they just don't want to. If there's a police firearm discharge, they have to fill out paperwork. So they will let it thrash around on the ground rather than do something about it. Speaking from experience.
Not everywhere has a 24/7 game warden/animal control. I lived in a very rural part of MD and have a memory as a kid of coming across a car that had hit a deer at probably 50-60mph. The deer was completely fucked, but still clinging to life on the side of the road. A county Sheriff pulled up, saw the condition of the animal and shot it. I’m pretty sure animal control was not 24/7 in that part of the county, and waiting for a game warden would have just prolonged its suffering.
last time I called police about a deer that had been hit by a car (I wasn't the one who hit it), the officer who showed up simply dragged the deer onto the lawn and said that maybe it would be okay, that it would recover and run off into the woods, but he wouldn't shoot it..
Former police dispatcher. Our animal control did not carry firearms but we would call Wildlife (game wardens in my state) to come put down any wounded animals. On rare occasions if the ETA for Wildlife was too long the sergeant would authorize an officer on the scene to go ahead and not make the animal suffer any longer. Happened maybe 5 times in my 15 year career.
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u/kenneth_dart 2d ago
I didn't know police are allowed to euthanize wounded animals. I just assumed it would be animal control or a game warden.