Deputy puts down deer

A deer was fatally shot Thursday morning after a wildlife expert determined it was too injured for rehabilitation.

The animal was seen hanging by its hind leg from a 5-foot-high chain-link fence in the 3400 block of Saturn Road, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

The property owner used wire cutters to free the deer, but it could not walk because of the severity of its injury, deputies said.

The man called authorities after he saw the deer belly crawl into the woods 50 feet from the fence, according to an incident report.

A representative from Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation said the animal had to be euthanized.

Deputy Jeffrey Swartz contacted his sergeant, who gave him permission to shoot the deer, according to the sheriff's office.

Swartz fired two rounds from his department-issued AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle, deputies said.

A neighbor later arrived at the scene and took custody of the deer, according to the report.