Colorado Division of Wildlife officers continued their pursuit of a wounded doe in Elbert County on Wednesday but weren’t able to get close enough to catch or tranquilize the animal.
The animal has an arrow through its nose, throat and neck after an archer’s shot failed to bring it down.
“We don’t know how long she’s been injured, but she’s pretty mobile,” said Jennifer Churchill, the hunter agency’s spokeswoman. “Our officers just haven’t been able to get close enough.”
Deer are legal game, and the fall bow season is still in effect in Elbert County.
The national Animal Rights Coalition, which opposes bowhunting, argues a hunter must be within 30 yards to have a good chance of a clean kill and 54 percent of hit animals escape wounded, which activists characterize as animal torture.
Paul Navarre, the 2,500-member Colorado Bowhunters Association’s liaison to the Division of Wildlife board, said the issue, notably the photo of the injured deer, is being sensationalized.
Studies he is familiar with indicate about 10 percent of wounded deer escape their hunter.
“It’s very unfortunate,” Navarre said. “But things happen that all of us wish hadn’t happened, but how often do you drive by and see a deer in the ditch hit by a car? That’s unfortunate too.
“The thing is, all these animals are consumed. It’s my experience that very few deer wander away, but when they do, they’re quickly absorbed by nature; other animals consume the carcass. Nothing is wasted.”
