His statement: “and wild livestock” refers to cases in which camels sometimes bolt, such that a person is unable to catch them. What is to be done with such an animal? We say: its ruling is the same as that of game: it becomes lawful by wounding it anywhere on its body. The evidence for this is Allah’s saying:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.” [al-Taghabun: 16]

A camel belonging to some people once bolted while the Prophet ﷺ was with them. A man shot it with an arrow, bringing it to a halt, and the Prophet ﷺ said: “These livestock have wild tendencies like those of wild animals. So, if any of them bolts from you, deal with it in this manner.” (1)

His words, “if any of them bolts from you,” mean that it has run away such that you are unable to catch it; and “deal with it in this manner” means: shoot it with arrows. Moreover, there is consensus among the Muslims that game becomes lawful wherever it is struck, and this case is analogous to it, as the Prophet ﷺ indicated.

Thus, there are three proofs for the ruling of this issue: the Quran, the sunnah, and sound analogy based on that upon which the scholars are agreed.

His statement: “and an animal that has fallen into a well or the like” refers, for example, to one that falls into a deep place which cannot be reached—such as if it plunges from a lofty mountain. Ordinarily, we would be unable to reach it before it dies. In this case, we shoot it with an arrow anywhere on its body, and it is lawful. The reason is the inability to slaughter it in the customary manner.

Accordingly, the evidences for this issue are the preceding evidences, except that the proofs