Ethics question: No wrong answer

[hickslawns]

Here is the scenario: My son and I were driving down the road tonight. I see a rabbit which was obviously hit by a car but suffering. It made it to the edge of the road but was only able to pull with it's front legs a little. Really not moving much but quite clearly struggling and suffering.

My son is 9. He has been hunting with me and has hunted himself as well but yet to draw blood.

What would you do?

 

[Jackalope]

Flop flop.

 

[Johnch]

I would do WHAT I feel is right and put the poor critter out of it's pain

But using a CCW pistol IMO is the wrong way

John

 

[Gordo]

Kill it

 

[Dannmann801]

Tire iron. Or step on it's head
Not legal to discharge firearm within certain range of road.
Cops told me NOT to shoot a deer I hit when I called them.

 

[Riverdude]

I would and have put the rabbit or any animal out of its misery / suffering. A rabbit is pretty easy. Just my 2 cents.

 

[hickslawns]

Maybe I should admit, the CCW option was put in there as a reminder to us: Not an option.

Last thing I needed was to be seen beating an animal to it's death in a lettered company vehicle.

I could have driven on and he would have never known. What can I say? I am a softie. I turned around. Flop flop. Opened up a discussion with my son about ethics and our obligation to put down a suffering animal. I told him I wasn't feeling "happy" about killing the rabbit but I was thankful I was able to end the rabbit's suffering. I then proceeded to tell my son it is our duty as sportsmen to make good shots and kill animals in the quickest, most humane way possible. Told him I was sad for the rabbit but if it lay there suffering that would be more sad. Told him it could have suffered for hours. . . . blah blah. . . .I don't know. Might have died 30sec later or might have suffered all night.

Long story short- even a drive around the block road scouting for deer can be an opportunity to teach life lessons to your kids. Some of life's lessons aren't fun to teach or talk about but I feel my son needs to be exposed to the good and the bad parts of life.

 

[hickslawns]

I would and have put the rabbit or any animal out of its misery / suffering. A rabbit is pretty easy. Just my 2 cents.

True. If it were a deer or someone's dog it would have been different for sure. No doubt about it. Still a life lesson to be learned, but different options at that point. Sorry I couldn't give you a tougher choice Jeffie. Just what we happened to see tonight. lol

 

[Archertl]

I think you did the right thing.

 

[finelyshedded]

I'd put it out of its misery and try my best to explain how it was suffering.

 

[Mike]

Put'er down.

 

["J"]

I usually just pick them up and twist the head a time or two... Quick and they're out of their misery.... It was probably in shock and didn't really know what was going on......

But on the road and depending on amount of traffic flop flop is always an option.....

What would you have done if it were a skunk Phil?

 

[Ricer2231]

I think you handled the situation perfectly Phil. The animals suffering was quickly ended and an explanation/conversation about the situation was taken up with your son. In my opinion the explanation/conversation was almost, if not as, important as the dispatching of the critter.

 

[Huckleberry Finn]

What would you have done if it were a skunk Phil?

:smiley_clap:

 

[Curran]

What would you have done if it were a skunk Phil?

It is a good question though... is our obligation only to game animals & pets, or all living critters including skunks?

One more steps beyond that... what if there is a do-gooder behind you that saw the same animal, and is coming back to try and rescue it for rehabilitation? Then you run it over on purpose right in from of them, causing instant PETA rage, that makes them call the local news on you after they write down your plates & follow you home?

 

[bowhunter1023]

Like a few others stated, I would have just ran it over. The right thing to do is kill an animal that is suffering and there are always a few ways to accomplish that. Getting out of the AC and grabbing a stinky rabbit wouldn't be my first choice when I drive a full size truck with meat eaters on it! lmao

 

[bowhunter1023]

It is a good question though... is our obligation only to game animals & pets, or all living critters including skunks?

One more steps beyond that... what if there is a do-gooder behind you that saw the same animal, and is coming back to try and rescue it for rehabilitation? Then you run it over on purpose right in from of them, causing instant PETA rage, that makes them call the local news on you after they write down your plates & follow you home?

I'd be beating some PETA ass...

 

[Dannmann801]

Jesse - meat eaters....rotflmao

 

["J"]

I'd be beating some PETA ass...

You'd have too pry open he door of the Prius first.... Be like separating a turtle from the shell Jesse.... rotflmao

 

[hickslawns]

What would you have done if it were a skunk Phil?

You dirty dog J! Nice twist you added. lmao

Speaking of twist, would you twist the head on the skunk? haha