Went fishing Friday on a pristine lake in the heart of the Shawnee National forest. While working the shorline, I heard crying from across the cove. It  sounded like a baby in distress. There is so much wildlife in that forest I really didn't know what to think.

After several minutes I went to investigate. I beached my boat, grabbed a big stick (just in case)...and my camera...and followed the sound.

Through the trees I saw the markings of a newborn fawn, losing a battle with a small grey animal. At first I thought coyote, then maybe a bobcat. I beat my stick against the tree and the animal looked up. It was a Go@#$amn raccoon! Taking out a baby deer! The 'coon ran off when he saw me, but it was too late for Bambi. The raccoon had destroyed her hind-quarters, and she was bleeding from her mouth. Momma was nowhere in site.

I wish I would have had a gun to put her out of her misery. Perhaps I could have finished the job with my stick, but I was too much of a coward. Instead I went back to the boat and let nature take it's course.

I didn't have the heart to take pictures.

A few minutes later I was back on the water, focused on fishing, almost forgetting what I had just witnessed. Then the crying started again. I dropped my head in shame. I should have finished off that poor fawn.

I had no idea raccoons were capable of this.

WHOA!!! Man, thats not an everyday thing haha. How'd your fishing day end up?

At one time or another we all wish we would have done things differently.

racoons can and will drown dogs too if chased in water

I more than likely would have done the exact same thing as you. Unless I had my gun, which 99% of the time I do.

WHOA!!! Man, thats not an everyday thing haha. How'd your fishing day end up?

This reminds me of a classic joke..."Other than that, did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"

The fishing was pretty good. Probably caught close to 20, the biggest was just under 4 pounds.

Wow!  Racoons are bad Muthas!  I can understand your consternation.  I don't suppose there were any big rocks laying around that you could have used instead of the stick?  

I more than likely would have done the exact same thing as you. Unless I had my gun, which 99% of the time I do.

I'm never without one. I keep a .45 in my boat bag as my designated boat gun. I have a ccw permit and normally carry either a S&W model 59 ,9mm or a S&W model 629, 4" 44mag.      Happier fishing in the future to you.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~

Wow! Racoons are bad Muthas! I can understand your consternation. I don't suppose there were any big rocks laying around that you could have used instead of the stick?

I can only imagine the story I'd have to tell my wife "Yep, the bass were really biting...oh and I smashed Bambi's skull with a rock. What's for dinner?"

I can understand your feelings.

Like you said, you allowed nature to take its course.  

Instead I went back to the boat and let nature take it's course.

Letting the raccoon kill the fawn would of been letting nature takes it's course.

Just saying...

I love watching kingsnakes eat water snakes twice there own size. nature  is wonderful ,i got my 1 and half yr old daughter into the nature thing she very rarely watches TV would rather look/be outside lookin for birds,turtles, snakes ,insects BTW she can spot buzzards miles away just a hint of a dark objects circling

That racoon probably didn't take the fawn down. Deer are born scentless and when they give birth the doe will leave the fawn for a day or two so they both have a chance to recouperate. The 'coon most likely stumbled across it and had an easy meal.

There was a rumor around here that the raccoons were killing off the neighborhood cats.

Now I'm starting to believe this rumor....Holy smokes,i didn't think raccoons were that capable.  

There was a rumor around here that the raccoons were killing off the neighborhood cats.

Now I'm starting to believe this rumor....Holy smokes,i didn't think raccoons were that capable.

Yup they are  and im glad. Tired of seeing baby rabbits killed for fun at least a coon will eat a baby rabbit if it caught it .I hate ppl that say o its natural for cats to kill birds,rabbits and what not i say there aint no natural wild cats around here all these are house cats of course there are a few wild ones .I go on to say yup its natural for rotties,pits,shepards,labs,and other dogs to naturally pooop your cat out also  ;D stupid ppl

I've heard of raccoons killing cats in many places but a deer is pretty impressive...

I would not mess with raccoons. They are capable of doing a lot of damage.

Instead I went back to the boat and let nature take it's course.

Letting the raccoon kill the fawn would of been letting nature takes it's course.

Just saying...

You are right. By getting involved I only prolonged that fawn's agony. I will not make that mistake again.

:-/

Instead I went back to the boat and let nature take it's course.

Letting the raccoon kill the fawn would of been letting nature takes it's course.

Just saying...

You are right. By getting involved I only prolonged that fawn's agony. I will not make that mistake again.

:-/

actually that might not be the case. have you ever watched the discovery channel where a lion immobilizes its prey and then eats while its still alive?

you did the right thing. dont let it get you down.