Mainers have a long tradition of hunting to feed their families. I do not hunt, but I am not opposed to those who do.

On Nov. 28, I opened the drapes at dawn and saw a deer lying in open field about 200 feet from me. While watching, I saw him rise, attempt to walk, then bellyflop.

I would like to thank off-duty Warden Steve Allarie for his expeditious arrival and dispatch of a mortally wounded animal. I would like to thank emergency dispatch for the hook-up with Allarie so I could speak directly with him.

After we loaded the deer in the truck, Allarie inspected the forelegs and confirmed the buck had been running when shot. He said the Warden Service has been trying to educate hunters not to shoot running deer as this — a lost, wasted deer — was the result. .

I absolutely loathe seeing any animal suffer needlessly. I grew up on a farm and leaving animals to suffer was not done.

There was snow on the ground, so the hunter who wounded this deer just chose not to track him. I followed the deer’s tracks on Sunday morning and estimated he had traveled more than a quarter-mile while mortally wounded. The hunter did not call the Warden Service and ask for assistance, and did not follow hunting manual protocol. I wonder if some illegal activity was involved beyond letting the deer die a slow, painful death. That’s disgusting.

If hunters who practice good sportsmanship didn’t fill their freezer this year, I hope they have better luck next year.

Jill Parks

Sidney


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