Question for You Hunters Out There?>

[Bruce Cohen]

I live in a "semi-rural type" suburb of NYC and we have quite a few deer around. This is partially due to the fact that half of the county is a State Protected Park (no huning of any kind).

Well, as usually happens, deer and cars don't mix and we occasionally see a road killed deer.

Yesterday, I saw a good sized doe dead on the side of a major local inhabited road, about 1/4 mi from most of the shopping in the county. Didn't think much about it, as more deer are killed by cars than by hunters. Well, this morning, the doe was still there (unsuall for around here, they're picked up fairly quick depending were their killed.
What was so strange was the doe was missing her head. Cut clean off.

Can't understand why anyone would do this, and the season hasn't even opened.

I used to hunt, but gave it up after I got back from S.E. Asia. Kept thinking that the deer would shoot back or I fall into a "Tiger" trap complete with pungi sticks.

I don't condem the sport as hunters serve an important part in wildlife conservation, now that we killed off all the wolfs and coyotes. In fact, I remember reading that NY State has more deer now than it had 125 years ago. It's just not something I want to do any more.

But back to the question, why would someone cut off the head of a dead doe.

Maybe some sort of spiritual offering or something.

I'm really ashamed of some of the "lowlifes that live around here.

Bruce

[cabinetman]

Could be one of dem dere trophy seekers. Could be da same people dat live out West dat crave chopped moose lips.

[Pappy]

If it was a buck with a decent rack, I would say it was a trophy 'hunter'. Could still be with a doe, just not as likely.

[Daryl]

Maybe a state wildlife official to test for CWD, or somebody wanting a skull mount of a doe. I imagine New York is like WV in that the road crews don't work on weekends. The deer probably will be picked up tomorrow.

[Hellrazor]

Bruce, that is odd. I thought about CWD too, but you would think they would have removed the carcass too. Unless its a 2nd deer and this one was a buck??

[Ed62]

Someone practicing DIY taxidermy?

Ed

[Stytooner]

Kids wanting a skull for the club house?

[sweensdv]

Probably just some kids who have some scatter brain notion that what their plans are for it will be funny. Of course, it won't be.

[ironhat]

Another option is that someone wanted a doe to mount alongside his buck mount. They could be someone who has stopped hunting themselves so this filled the bill or perhaps they are of the widely held opinion that we shouldn't kill off the does so he got a 'freebie' from his particular ethics. I didn't say that I understood it but I have heard the 'no doe-kill' argument.