Being that it ain't easy to sneak up on a bedded deer, I don't see it as unethical from a "free chase" perspective.

Would you hit a guy with his back turned?

Have their faws with them as in right next to them or have a fawn? If you wont shoot a doe that has a fawn, you will only be shooting yearlings and ones too old to breed, and we dont see too many of those we have one that is ancient, getting skinny and still has a fawn every year.

What Dan said:

1) Sneaking up on a bedded deer is usually very difficult and therefore very sporting

2) Unethical if you can't get a good shot

I would probably make a noise to get the deer to raise its head, or else just plan on a long wait for it to stand up.

If deer are like horses, then they need some deep sleep each day, lying down. They also can sleep lightly standing up.

Wow! I am surprised/ shocked at some of the comments on this post. What ever happened to the thrill of the hunt? Would you hit a guy with his back turned? How bout getting whacked in the head with a 2x4 while your sleeping? At least wait till he stands. It's post like some of these that give hunters a bad name. I can see this going over real well at home..."Yeah son, I popped him at 200 yds. while he was sleeping." Just my $.02

Uhhhhh, seriously? Do you announce your presence every time you go deer hunting, or are you quiet so the deer doesn't hear you? SERIOUSLY?!

I mean if the fawn is with it at the time. I had a mature doe come in this weekend but had two yearling with her so I didn't shoot. There are plenty of other mature does that don't have fawns with them to shoot.

yes and he uses a loin cloth and only very primative spears..LMAO


I'm not a sportmans for the record and I not in to primative stuff.. i just perfer corning a road and playing sniper vs hostage/bad guy while filling MLD doe tags via called head shots and I useually don't wear camo either.

SHOOT........

I dont see much difference in shooting a deer that is eating and shooting one that is bedded down, once the crosshairs are put on the deer, there really isnt much chance for it either way. On the "ethics scale", baiting to me seems to get closer to being unethical than the situation of shooting a bedded down deer. There are even some states that dont allow hunters to bait for deer, and I don't think any states have outlawed shooting sleeping deer (I'm not saying that I think using bait is unethical, just seems more to the unethical side than the bedded down deer scenario. I hunt over a feeder that throws corn. Just want to make that clear)

Interesting question. I shot a sow that was snoring away and felt zero remorse. She hung out at my feeder for about to weeks and was well fed. I felt her time had come. However, I don't shoot ducks sitting on the water. Deer sleeping I don't know. You guys have me all conflicted now. 'preciate it.

Let the first shot spook the ducks off the water

Pigs are another story, NO mercy whatsoever on them/for them They die in any/all ways possible...asleep or on the run.

Wow! I am surprised/ shocked at some of the comments on this post. What ever happened to the thrill of the hunt? Would you hit a guy with his back turned? How bout getting whacked in the head with a 2x4 while your sleeping? At least wait till he stands. It's post like some of these that give hunters a bad name. I can see this going over real well at home..."Yeah son, I popped him at 200 yds. while he was sleeping." Just my $.02

The only thing unethical about it is not having good access to a vital area of the deer and shooting anyway. If you have a good, quick killing shot, shoot the sucker.

Pigs are another story, NO mercy whatsoever on them/for them They die in any/all ways possible...asleep or on the run.

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