To shoot or not to shoot? Unethical?

[Casem4]

So I am hoping to collect some opinions here. It came to my attention recently that while it is perfectly legal in my state to shoot a bedded deer it seems that everyone I ask is of a different opinion on this subject. I am an avid spot and stalk/ still hunter. It is not uncommon for me to walk up on a bedded deer. People seem amazed and I assure them it's just a developed skill. However it never occurred that this could be an ethical issue. It seems both sides have valid points so I would love to see what this wonderful forum has to say on this matter. Shoot or don't shoot

 

[Juice Jaws]

I see nothing wrong with it. Laying down or standing still is the same to me. Less chance of wounding one that way than trying to hit one running for its life. We shoot squirrels sitting in trees eating a nut, or shoot a turkey a few yards away thinking he is going to meet a lady friend. Just my two cents worth.

 

[FishDFly]

A bedded deer presents a smaller kill zone to aim at unless you are neck or head shooting.

To me, shooting a bedded deer is like shooting ducks on the water.

 

[Mad Professor]

That's the sign of a careful stalk.

What I think is unethical is sitting in a tree fort over a feeder.

 

[azmntman]

A bedded deer presents a smaller kill zone to aim at unless you are neck or head shooting.

To me, shooting a bedded deer is like shooting ducks on the water.

Well, from a meat hunters view....It's great that you can HUNT your way to a bedded deer and I would certainly harvest a bedded deer. The deer is totally relaxed, unlikely to go far if anywhere and the meat will be the best due to no adrenaline pumping through. Gotta have that sure shot and certain of a humane hit, just like they were up and browsing.

Dutch a few months back posed the scenario of a mating pair? A few responses leaned toward "that's how I'd wanna go out"

Much depends on WHY your stalking this deer. Head hunters would likely shoot if it's a trophy, and then some share your (very valid) opinion that it's not sporting or "fair" I have twice shot ducks on the water just because I really wanted a duck in the crock pot. My normal stance is I won't do it, I hunt over decoys and wait until the duck has entered the "point of no return" while flapping back to land. At this point they are near stationary, easy to make a clean kill and yet still in the air.

A great thread and look forward to others positions.

 

[Christophero]

You hunted, successfully stalked a deer and then shot it. Isn't this what we as Hunter do? If that is unethical then those who sit 23 feet up a tree to slay a deer whilst it unsuspectingly saunters past have somehow crossed an unforgivable line. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a belly button, too.
Be proud of your accomplishments and let no one take them away from you.

 

[BrownBear]

For me shooting a bedded deer is the ultimate achievement. If I'm good enough to get that close without alerting the deer, it's a pretty fair bet that I'm a good enough shot to put the ball where it belongs.

This whole topic smells to me of anti-hunting logic, a seed planted among hunters by folks who don't want us hunting. Sheesh.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I used to jump shoot ducks on the old creek that ran up the valley from the old farm house I lived in at the time, I prefered to belly crawl through the tangle of cane and briars to shoot them on the water if possible, often lining up more than one. A full afternoon of hunting would usually result in two or three ducks total but many miles of enjoyable travel with my dog, possibly an encounter with a covey of quail or a rabbit or squirrel. I call it farm boy hunting, some of the best days of my life.

That said, I also hunted ducks over a ful raft of decoys on duck management areas of flooded grain with my highly trained lab.

I would shoot a bedded deer in a heartbeat if I was good enough to get up on it without it seeing me. So far the only bedded deer I have shot were wounded ones I put a finishing shot in.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

That's the sign of a careful stalk.

What I think is unethical is sitting in a tree fort over a feeder.

YES! MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!

 

[smo]

So I am hoping to collect some opinions here. It came to my attention recently that while it is perfectly legal in my state to shoot a bedded deer it seems that everyone I ask is of a different opinion on this subject. I am an avid spot and stalk/ still hunter. It is not uncommon for me to walk up on a bedded deer. People seem amazed and I assure them it's just a developed skill. However it never occurred that this could be an ethical issue. It seems both sides have valid points so I would love to see what this wonderful forum has to say on this matter. Shoot or don't shoot

Booooom!
I thought that’s why it was called hunting...?

I grew up in a time when a Kid could take a shotgun out for a walk after school in the Fall,learning to spot and stalk was a major part of the game.
Concealment & Limiting Movements was another learning curve.lol

That’s what drew me into this Sport, and the challenges it presents, Hunting with a Primitive style gun or bow.... it’s just a completely different experience .

If you can stalk a muture whitetail and get within your cormfortable shooting range, then by all means Choot’ Em!

 

[Rifleman1776]

What you are doing is true hunting. I admire your skill on being able to walk up to bedded animals without alerting them. I would take the shot. OTOH, when I was in the service in Washington state we would go hiking in the mountains. The mule deer were so lazy one could almost get close enough to kick them in the rump before they would stand up and slowly walk away. For sport I would not shoot one of those. For meat I would.

 

[B.Habermehl]

If I could get that close it would be venison. For me it’s all about getting close. All the deer I’ve ever harvested were inside archery range. Part of this is necessary due to my eyesight. BJH

 

[Ames]

If you can get close without having to shoot at a running white tail, do it.
We have laws against feeders and setting out food up here in my state. Even if I could I wouldn't.
I prefer to sit and wait, myself. For hours. On the ground. Motionless as a rattler. Sat so still last week I had a Chickadee perch on the end of my barrel.

 

[Le Loup]

So I am hoping to collect some opinions here. It came to my attention recently that while it is perfectly legal in my state to shoot a bedded deer it seems that everyone I ask is of a different opinion on this subject. I am an avid spot and stalk/ still hunter. It is not uncommon for me to walk up on a bedded deer. People seem amazed and I assure them it's just a developed skill. However it never occurred that this could be an ethical issue. It seems both sides have valid points so I would love to see what this wonderful forum has to say on this matter. Shoot or don't shoot

I am not a sporting shooter, when I hunt I hunt for food. I don't care if the duck is still on the water, I am not there to be fair or sportsman like. I need to put meat on the table.
Keith.

 

[Casem4]

I forgot to mention its rifle season meaning my 270 win scope 4 12. Now it doesn't change much because no matter the season I catch sleeping. And I guess it never bothered me until someone in the hunting party said I was being unethical when I took the deer about 50 yards in bed. I asked him so what am i suppose to throw a rock at it and take a running shot? Cause that seems like a whole lot of work and patience to get that close and just wake them up taking a running shot to be ethical vs all that work to get close and without them being adrenaline filled or aware one shot and done. And today being reminded by tracking a wounded deer with a front leg flopping from a gun shot and no tag but the ability to help a friend till we hit posted land. I appreciate all the responses.

 

[BrownBear]

...someone in the hunting party said I was being unethical when I took the deer about 50 yards in bed....

Pure jealousy. He's never managed it, so everyone else is wrong.

 

[Headhunter]

Shoot.

Before he gets up and runs off with you standing there like an idjet wondering why you didn't shoot.

HH

 

[Sparkitoff]

Whomever is having this conversation with you does not understand the root of ethics. If it is legal and you are satisfied by it with no side effect it is ethical. The fact that someone else doesn't like it does not magically make it "unethical". Ethics are personal parameters within the realm of legality and logic and are slightly different from person to person. Don't let the "ethics police" get you down. You earned that deer. Long range "hunters" are pushing the limits to hundred or thousands of yards. Those animals don't have any clue the hunter is in the same County. Just because they are standing doesn't make that more or less legal, it just makes a bigger target. It's legal, it has a logical conclusion and you are satisfied - so do it and don't look back.

 

[Dave Orchard]

Like Brown Bear said: "(I'm;-)) pure jealousy".
Is it "more ethical" to shoot offhand?
I've shot a couple deer past 200 yds with a "suppository gun" (.38-55), and that was no different than shooting digger squirrels.
That was ten years ago & I have to think hard to remember the details...
The close ones 60 years ago are still fresh in my memory.
My friend, if you can put the sneak on any deer and kill it clean in it's bed, you are a HUNTER.
Your acquaintance who sneered hasn't got a clue.
(Spell-check got into my knickers again...I was trying to make a play on words, "impure" vs "pure")

I consider taking 2 ducks on the water by lining-up their heads to be a greater accomplishment than a wing shot, especially from a subsistence hunting standpoint.
As fr deer, the closer the better.
Dave

 

[tenngun]

I’ve shoot several while down. And was hiding under a cedar and shot two coming to look for shelter from the rain and snow.
I’m out for meat. I won’t starve if I don’t take a deer, but I’m in the woods for the special meat. I shoot the first one I can get a good shot at. All my trophies are in my belly.