ethics question

is it ok to shoot a deer that is bedded down durring the day?

Is it okay to shoot a deer eating corn? Chasing a doe? Drinking water? Walking down a known trail?

I think there is nothing wrong with it. Fire at will.

That's actually a good question....a buddy of mine saw a huge doe bedded down one afternoon and could not bring himself to shoot it....is it any less ethical than shooting a buck that's chasing a doe trying to breed, or to shoot any deer that's eating under a feeder? As long as it's legal, it should totally be up to the hunter's discretion on whether or not it's ethical to take. In other words, could that hunter live with the decision?

x2

but to shoot a deer that is asleep just seems kind of unsportsman-like. i hardly shoot deer from a stand. ill feed an area for a few days then hunker down by a tree in the brush. i have been foiled a few times because of it. dont think that i am against shooting from a stand at deer under a feeder, i just havnt done it much.

It's all in a personal ethical code. I personally wouldn't do it but I also don't shoot does that have their fawns with them. Some stuff like that I just don't feel right doing but that's just me.

Confusious say deer sleeping is deer not running. Shoot.

I don't think it makes one iota of difference. The end result will be the same. The deer will be just as dead whether he's standing or sleeping.

do deer ever actually sleep?

While laying down I would not shoot. I'd probably make just a little noise and wait until it stands. I know there is no difference really but, that's just my personal view.

SHOOT........

Being that it ain't easy to sneak up on a bedded deer, I don't see it as unethical from a "free chase" perspective.

The only thing unethical about it is not having good access to a vital area of the deer and shooting anyway. If you have a good, quick killing shot, shoot the sucker.

Good point. Chance shots are NEVER ethical.

Have their faws with them as in right next to them or have a fawn? If you wont shoot a doe that has a fawn, you will only be shooting yearlings and ones too old to breed, and we dont see too many of those we have one that is ancient, getting skinny and still has a fawn every year.

To the OP I say shoot away. Oh and trwoing corn for a few days and then hunting it works just like a blind and feeder to me, althou better. Deer at feeders get acustomed to the blind being there. I had an old blind at my last lease, built a new one but left the old one up. If you would make noise in the new blind the deer would still look at the old one, only worked for about a season though.

I would shoot her in the melon and post her headless pics here on the forum.

My buddy and I watched 3 enormous bucks sprint by during the rut one year and then actually walked up on a big bruiser laying under a giant oak. He wasn't asleep - his head was upright and he was looking around. He looked beautiful there - one with nature and completely at peace and unaware of our existence. It was tough, but I feel like we did the "right" thing.

And turned him into sausage and hung his giant rack on the wall. Shoot away if you've got a good shot.

What Dan said:

1) Sneaking up on a bedded deer is usually very difficult and therefore very sporting

2) Unethical if you can't get a good shot

I would probably make a noise to get the deer to raise its head, or else just plan on a long wait for it to stand up.

If deer are like horses, then they need some deep sleep each day, lying down. They also can sleep lightly standing up.

We all only have 5 tags. as long as they are filled legally, I don't see what the problem is.

SHOOT IT IN THE FACE!!!!

No. But if you ever get to tranquilize one, they're some snoring fools. I wish I had shot video, it was a hoot!

Yes sir!

Wow! I am surprised/ shocked at some of the comments on this post. What ever happened to the thrill of the hunt? Would you hit a guy with his back turned? How bout getting whacked in the head with a 2x4 while your sleeping? At least wait till he stands. It's post like some of these that give hunters a bad name. I can see this going over real well at home..."Yeah son, I popped him at 200 yds. while he was sleeping." Just my $.02

Personaly I dont see the problem with it. Its not like when they are awake you chase them down and bite them on the neck. If you sneak in and are able to take the shot go for it. This doesnt even touch on the topic of ethics to me. I would do it in a heart beat.

X2...

X2 If you are good enough to sneak up on a bedded deer then I would say yes it is ethical to take the shot if it is a good shot. I have seen deer sleep before but from what I have been told they rarely if ever do. They looked like they were dead but did get up and haul butt when I spooked them.

All the time, why?

I mean if the fawn is with it at the time. I had a mature doe come in this weekend but had two yearling with her so I didn't shoot. There are plenty of other mature does that don't have fawns with them to shoot.

x2

Uhhhhh, seriously? Do you announce your presence every time you go deer hunting, or are you quiet so the deer doesn't hear you? SERIOUSLY?!

I bet he usually says, yeah son, I shot him with my .270 at 200 yards while he had his head down eating corn that my tailgate feeder threw out there 2 hours before...

BTW, nothing wrong with guns or tailgate feeders...I use both.

yes and he uses a loin cloth and only very primative spears..LMAO


I'm not a sportmans for the record and I not in to primative stuff.. i just perfer corning a road and playing sniper vs hostage/bad guy while filling MLD doe tags via called head shots and I useually don't wear camo either.

I asked this question earlier in the year and got some interesting replies. I've changed my my mind and will shoot a doe with a fawn.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...ion#Post1164619

I dont see much difference in shooting a deer that is eating and shooting one that is bedded down, once the crosshairs are put on the deer, there really isnt much chance for it either way. On the "ethics scale", baiting to me seems to get closer to being unethical than the situation of shooting a bedded down deer. There are even some states that dont allow hunters to bait for deer, and I don't think any states have outlawed shooting sleeping deer (I'm not saying that I think using bait is unethical, just seems more to the unethical side than the bedded down deer scenario. I hunt over a feeder that throws corn. Just want to make that clear)

to me any law against baiting is stupid..makes no sense... You can hunt pesimmon trees with fruit, alfafa, corn, soybean, clover ect but can't put corn on the ground..LMAO makes no sense

i'm out for meat. i see a big ole doe down snoozing, i'm taking here. might just make her stand & pop her but still, i'll pop one.

Interesting question. I shot a sow that was snoring away and felt zero remorse. She hung out at my feeder for about to weeks and was well fed. I felt her time had come. However, I don't shoot ducks sitting on the water. Deer sleeping I don't know. You guys have me all conflicted now. 'preciate it.

Pigs are another story, NO mercy whatsoever on them/for them They die in any/all ways possible...asleep or on the run.

Let the first shot spook the ducks off the water

ya, u get three shots lol!

X2

Seriously...

I'll agree with that.

Unlike deer, pigs sleep soundly. We walked up on 2 of them snoring once (literally), shot 1 in the head, and the other one only sort of woke up in a confused state. At which point we shot it as well.

Agreed. As the case when killing cockroaches, just about anything goes when it comes to killing feral hogs.

I agree, check this out. Hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ElEesvNRn8