Sunday, August 22, 2010

Murder in the Meadow



My early Sunday morning was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.  Answering it I found Willard on the other end informing me that he had just discovered a nice buck lying dead in the creek bottom meadow.  Although I had observed this buck numerous times I had yet to encounter him in a good photographic situation.  Now all hope of a future encounter was dashed.

The arrow points to the dead whitetail lying in the field.  The killing shot was delivered from near the camera position.  As can be easily discerned, the house in the background could easily have been in the line of fire.  This building is a hunting camp and during the summer members use it as a country getaway with families vacationing here, and that was the case last night when the thoughtless predators unleashed their deadly projectile into the darkness.


The buck lies in the meadow; an unnecessary wasted life. 


My finger points to where the bullet entered the buck's skull.  With no obvious signs of injury I had to look closely to discover the tiny spot of blood at the base of the bucks left antler.  Pressing my finger into the area forced blood and brain material from the tiny hole where the bullet had passed through.

Undoubtedly the buck collapsed instantly upon impact, the result of massive brain trauma, as the wildlife criminals watched while illuminating him with their powerful spotlight.  Moments after the shot they drove off without any attempt to retrieve their kill. 

The unsettling images posted here are the result of Thrill Killers; criminals who maim and kill wildlife simply for the excitement of watching a creature suffer or die.  People who perpetrate these crimes have no appreciation or concern for nature and her wild creatures; and very little for their fellow humans that they share this planet with. 

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16 comments:

Chris said...

I have no words for that Coy! This is just disgusting, and unfortunately so true! Shame on these guys!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I think you have said it very well.People who do things like this cannot appreciate nature,or for that matter much of anything.This is a sad end to a beautiful animal.
Blessings,Ruth

Dominic Gendron said...

Very sad and discuting story!Poachers...have no respect!

Gretchen said...

There should be much stronger punishments for those who poach or just murder, as the fools who did this. I believe in hunting if the meat with be used. I see no "sport" in killing just for the fun of it and then letting the prize rot. It truly makes me ill.

Montanagirl said...

I can't stand this sort of thing - Some kids in our area did the same to a nice Bull Elk several years ago, shot it in the dark, removed the antlers, and left him lay where they shot him. Disgusting.

Meggie said...

There are no words to express my disgust at such an incident. It's hard to imagine that human beings derive pleasure from such despicable actions.

Dave Cawkwell said...

Thank you for highlighting this terrible practice. Nothing can warrant the indiscriminate killing of wildlife for pleasure. I hope they get caught though sadly I am sure that may not be the case in lots of instances.

Elaine said...

There really is no excuse for shooting an animal just for the thrill, and to do so in an area where people are living is even worse. People that will do that lack any respect for life and the beauty of nature.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Coy, what a despicable group of people that would do such a criminal thing to a deer, especially if they were not hunting for food consumption. A very tragic story a very tragic waste~

??? said...

This is sad. I understand hunting for food, but just for trophies or for the kill, I really don't get that. Poor guy.

Peggy said...

Disgusting! Thanks for showing a very real side of life and death.

photowannabe said...

Sickening....
beyond my comprehension.
WHY???

Glen Webber (Wildlife Photography) said...

I always think its worth while posting this sort of thing when you see it. Well done for posting Coy.

FAB said...

Thoughtless desecration of wildlife ... Well done Coy for posting this insane act of barbarism.

Lúcia said...

And they're called "human beings"...
So sad.

Misty DawnS said...

Breaks my heart and makes me absolutely sick! How can some people be so evil?