This is the moment a terrified young deer buck is shot with a tranquilliser dart and rescued from an abandoned concrete water tank.

The incident took place near the city of Hailey, in the US state of Idaho.

The footage shows the terrified buck frantically trying to escape from the water tower before Fish and Game officers shoot it with the tranquiliser gun before covering his eyes so it would stay calm and hoisting it out of the water tank using ladders.

They can be seen taking it downhill before releasing it after reversing the effects of the drugs.

Newsflash obtained a statement and images from the Idaho Fish and Game dated Friday, 2nd December and saying: “In mid-November, conservation officers from the Magic Valley Region received a report of a mule deer buck that had become trapped after falling into an abandoned water storage tank outside of Hailey.

“It is unknown how long the deer had been trapped after falling into the deep concrete storage tank. The tank is thought to have been the water storage tank for the old Hawatha Hotel in Hailey that was built in the late 1800s.

“The tank is approximately 12 feet deep, making the effort to free the deer challenging.

“Ultimately, the deer was darted with anesthetizing drugs that allowed Fish and Game staff to securely wrap the deer in a sling and safely hoist it out of the deep tank.

“Before release, the deer received a green ear tag to indicate it had been darted with anesthetizing drugs and for future identification purposes, and it had its vitals checked. After receiving a clean assessment the anesthetizing drugs were reversed.

“In the end, the deer quickly ran away from the Fish and Game team, with no effects of the fall into the tank.” (sic)