I went out after dinner to shoot my new Savage. It was a beautiful, cool evening with the sun setting behind the trees. I had just finished up my last group and started packing my things. I went to head downrange to grab my target stand, look up and see three whitetail deer staring back at me, one of which was a buck. They were nearly in-line with my 100 yard target stand.
In the few minutes I had stopped shooting, they must have wandered onto the range. I stood there, amazed and slightly confused...they were looking right back at me saying -----> I walked back to my seat, sat down at my rifle, and sighted the deer using my scope.
At this point, I suppose it depends on what kind of a person you are that determines the decision you make. Luckily for them I suppose, I'm not much of a hunter, and all of my ammo had been put up already. So I sat and watched them, while they watched me. One by one, they slowly walked from one side of the range to the other, before disappearing out sight. Just as the last deer was home-free, out come another two does, trotting along as if they were catching up. So I eagerly watched them frolic through the grass to join their friends.
It was quite the scene, especially considering the irony of the situation. Is this common for anyone else? This actually isn't the first time I've seen deer at the range, just hanging out... I'm sure there are some of you who think I'm an idiot for not taking a shot, and I'm sure there are an equal amount of you who would tear me down for doing such a thing. Any thoughts about this? Sorry for the long rant...hours after coming home I'm still thinking about it.
To keep it THR....what are some of the ethical decisions here? I'm at the range, by myself, and out come a few deer. They were all average size...animals that could feed my family and I for many, many months. Who's gonna know? Heck, maybe you can get 2 of 'em! But I'm at the range...and I don't know how to properly handle a deer once it's been downed (hunt pheasant/quail if I do hunt). Nor do I have any way to get it home. These were some of the things going through my head.
In the few minutes I had stopped shooting, they must have wandered onto the range. I stood there, amazed and slightly confused...they were looking right back at me saying -----> I walked back to my seat, sat down at my rifle, and sighted the deer using my scope.
At this point, I suppose it depends on what kind of a person you are that determines the decision you make. Luckily for them I suppose, I'm not much of a hunter, and all of my ammo had been put up already. So I sat and watched them, while they watched me. One by one, they slowly walked from one side of the range to the other, before disappearing out sight. Just as the last deer was home-free, out come another two does, trotting along as if they were catching up. So I eagerly watched them frolic through the grass to join their friends.
It was quite the scene, especially considering the irony of the situation. Is this common for anyone else? This actually isn't the first time I've seen deer at the range, just hanging out... I'm sure there are some of you who think I'm an idiot for not taking a shot, and I'm sure there are an equal amount of you who would tear me down for doing such a thing. Any thoughts about this? Sorry for the long rant...hours after coming home I'm still thinking about it.
To keep it THR....what are some of the ethical decisions here? I'm at the range, by myself, and out come a few deer. They were all average size...animals that could feed my family and I for many, many months. Who's gonna know? Heck, maybe you can get 2 of 'em! But I'm at the range...and I don't know how to properly handle a deer once it's been downed (hunt pheasant/quail if I do hunt). Nor do I have any way to get it home. These were some of the things going through my head.