What would you do?

[Clay Showalter]

Ok so what you you do, what is right, what is ethical?

During short gun season, the guy that shot and injured the big deer that everyone has been after for years, stopped by to introduce himself and talk about the deer.

He told me he shot it the Tuesday before gun week, it was from about 30’ feet up and about 15’ out. He said it was a shot he had taken and killed deer with many times. He said he knew when he didn’t find the arrow it was bad. He looked for it for several days.

He ask if he could look for it after muzzey season. I have looked for it some and I am going to look for it some more before I head home.

So my question is if I find the deer do I keep it and do a skull mount or give it to the guy? I have my opinion But wondering you guys thoughts.

 

[Jamie]

that would depend on how much I like the guy, and if he is a good neighbor. if he's an ass clown and a douchy neighbor, then fuck him, I'd keep it. If he's a good dude, I'd probably give it to him if he did not kill another buck and he wanted to put a tag on it. if he can't tag it, I'd keep it.

 

[Hedgelj]

I'd give it to him if you know its the one. Unless I harvested the animal it wouldn't mean much tom me.

 

[Sgt Fury]

I lost a good buck once and a friend found it. He didn’t offer it to me so I asked to buy it from him. The deer meant something to me as I passed it the year before and the following year was glad I did...he had put on around 25”. I was happy to get it and my friend was happy for the cash. Win-win. If he had declined, I wouldn’t have held it against him. Friendship with a good person is more important than a rack. I’d say that the rack would mean more to the guy that shot it than to you...but if you find it...it belongs to you, your decision.

 

[at1010]

Because he came over (I am assuming was respectful) and introduces himself. Owned up to the shot. Etc. I would 100% give him the buck.

There will always be more bucks. Good neighbors and people are hard to come by and he seems to me like a decent person based on the little bit of context you have shared.

I’ll mention that had you not had that dialog and found deer, then heard the story - that would be a hard buck head to hand over.

 

[giles]

What if you need to retrieve one from his land some day?

 

[Cogz]

I’d give it to him. It’s good to have and be good neighbors.

 

[Fletch]

Like Jamie said, depends what kind of a person this guy is... You gotta be the judge here... If the shoe was on the other foot and you shot and lost this buck, would he give it to you??? I'm not sure Id mount it if I found it as I didn't harvest it.... So I guess if the guys a decent guy, give it to him, if he's a douche, F him...

 

[Hunter II]

I lost a good buck once and a friend found it. He didn’t offer it to me so I asked to buy it from him. The deer meant something to me as I passed it the year before and the following year was glad I did...he had put on around 25”. I was happy to get it and my friend was happy for the cash. Win-win. If he had declined, I wouldn’t have held it against him. Friendship with a good person is more important than a rack. I’d say that the rack would mean more to the guy that shot it than to you...but if you find it...it belongs to you, your decision.

What was he going to do with a deer that he had found dead that was so important that he wouldn’t give it to his friend who had killed it?


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[Fletch]

Oh I think I'd have a little talk with him about hunting 30 ft up... Kind of extreme... The higher you go, the more deer your bound to lose... Just my opinion ..

 

[jagermeister]

Is he an alright guy or not? That’s all this boils down to. Shouldn’t be a big debate. If he’s an okay dude, let him look for it or give it to him if you find it. It’s just a deer.

The way you’re describing his hunting scenario makes me think you don’t like the guy. Who cares what the shot angle was. Did he do anything illegal?

 

[giles]

Do you like squated trucks?

 

[Sgt Fury]

What was he going to do with a deer that he had found dead that was so important that he wouldn’t give it to his friend who had killed it?


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He told me he found it and hung it in his barn. I figured he wasn’t going to offer it to me if he had gone through the trouble of hanging it up. It was a huge deer, and I guess upon seeing the rack, decided to keep it. He knew I had shot it and called me when he had found it...sent me pics of the coyote ravaged carcass. It had been dead for a couple of months. I was surprised when he didn’t offer it to me but I’ve seen people do strange things when big racks are involved. I felt funny asking him for it as I was pretty sure he wanted the rack, or he would’ve offered it to me....so I figured I’d offer cash and make us both happy. I’m just happy to have gotten it, but if I ever find a rack of a buck that he lost, I’d expect a cash offer! I kid of course...I’d just give it to him. Hopefully set a precedence.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I share the same opinion as Jamie and JB.

 

[Wildlife]

I just wouldn't feel right about taking/claiming a deer that someone else shot, wounded and/or killed, unless no one at all claimed it, despite the size of the deer. I will never let a deer suffer though. If I have the opportunity to put a wounded deer down, I will.

If someone asked me about tracking or trying to find a deer in the area I have access to, or my property, not only would I'd be okay with him to go get it, I'd even help him to try to find it. It's just a deer. Now, if the shoe was on the other foot, hopefully that person or whomever would do the same, but I would not necessarily expect it.

That's what I would do but, I'm not expecting anyone to follow.

 

[Jackalope]

I lost a good buck once and a friend found it. He didn’t offer it to me so I asked to buy it from him. The deer meant something to me as I passed it the year before and the following year was glad I did...he had put on around 25”. I was happy to get it and my friend was happy for the cash. Win-win. If he had declined, I wouldn’t have held it against him. Friendship with a good person is more important than a rack. I’d say that the rack would mean more to the guy that shot it than to you...but if you find it...it belongs to you, your decision.

Sorry to tell you but that guy was never a friend.

 

[at1010]

Is he an alright guy or not? That’s all this boils down to. Shouldn’t be a big debate. If he’s an okay dude, let him look for it or give it to him if you find it. It’s just a deer.

The way you’re describing his hunting scenario makes me think you don’t like the guy. Who cares what the shot angle was. Did he do anything illegal?

Yep. Also tree stand heights are like buck score. Often slightly exaggerated.

 

[Sgt Fury]

Sorry to tell you but that guy was never a friend.

Yeah he is, he’s done ALOT for me over the years. I’ve seen many friendships ruined over a deer. Not worth it to me.

 

[Clay Showalter]

Yea I am of the same opinion as your guys, he is a nice guy, came over talked about the deer. He said he was tempted to shoot a buck if he saw another one, but didn’t want to incase he found this deer. That alone tells me he is a stand up guy, because a douche bag slob hunter would kill another buck if he could and then try to find this one later and use a carcass permit.

I try to build relationships with the people around here because I live out of state and I figure the better relationships I have with guys, the better they will look out for my property and me.

The only way I would keep the deer is if I saw him alive and shot and killed him.

 

[Hoytmania]

I always try to live by The Golden Rule.