I found a deer hung up in a fence along the roadway once. I cut a strand of fence to release it, only to realize that it had fought so hard that it's back was broken. It lounged away, headed over the hill directly toward the interstate dragging itself with front legs only. I sure didn't want it to cause a traffic accident, so I ran and circled ahead of it. I had a pocket knife with me, but chose a stout pole instead. One swift stroke right behind the ears dispatched it cleanly.