What would you do?

[WHALE]

Was driving home from work today and saw a coues buck and started thinking about last year's rifle tag. Thought I would post my little story. I drew a October whitetail tag a had settled on a spot for opening day. Opening morning came and I had shot and lost a decent 3x3. Hoping I would see him again I sat in the same area the rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Monday I was back in there before light when 8:30 rolled around and I had not seen him so I decided to walk through where the buck had last been seen. Well I get half way over there and hear two quick shots on other side of ridge. I keep going and there at about 100 yds. is a 3x3 standing looking at me. I shoot, buck is down for the count and here comes a lady over the ridge. She had shot at the buck and hit it once on the back. We observe the buck, snap some pictures and try to decide what to do with the buck we had both just shot. This was the first time I had come across this so I called a buddy who had. After talking with him I decided to let her have the buck, which is now her first coues deer. It wasn't easy since I have only killed three prier to this, but it sure made her year.

[RoughCut]

I personally think you did just right. It can be a tough thing, but what you did should really make you feel good. I think it's great that it was a female hunter as well, I bet she was pretty high to have a great buck. I think it's great when women get out there and get dirty. You will be blessed with the deer gods this year because of it.

[Rio]

My Dad had similar experience when he was a young'un, but there was only 1 bullet hole in it. Since he saw that his shot downed the buck, the argument went something like "if you can find another bullet wound I'll let you have it". I think you were very generous in letting her have it, if it were me, I would not have felt like the kill was mine if you had seen that your shot dropped the buck and the only other wound was a grazing shot.

[TAM]

I believe the law states that the person who kills the deer is supposed to tag the deer. If your shot killed the buck the way I understand the law you are required to tag it.

 

I never understood why anyone would want a buck that someone else killed anyway?

[Packer]

TAM,

You are correct. That is how I read the law as well.

 

Aaron

[Hunterdan]

I personally think you did just right. It can be a tough thing, but what you did should really make you feel good. I think it's great that it was a female hunter as well, I bet she was pretty high to have a great buck. I think it's great when women get out there and get dirty. You will be blessed with the deer gods this year because of it.

 

What you did was a great act of kindness and I am sure you will be blessed for down the road in your life. Good for you!

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

 

John, Buddy, I still think you did the right thing. One of things I think you forgot to mention is how happy you made that lady and that, I believe you told me, it was her first deer hunt? You potentially turned an ugly memory into a great first deer story. Your actions may have actually kept a new woman hunter in the woods for many future hunts.... although not all situations are the same.... in this case, I think you were Spot On! I always make it a point to yeild to woman and kid hunters whenever I can.... Their quality of hunt is far more important than a guy's hunt because we (guys) are coming back for more no matter what happens, but with women and kids one really bad incident and they may not want to do it again. Kuddos, Johnny!

[TLH]

The law is vague at best. I had an older gentleman shoot at a big bull elk a few years ago--he was 79 years old back then and his name was Jack Royal--he actually hit the bull my Dad shot but he thought he shot the 350" bull that i had busted. When we got to the bull i could see the old fella thought his bullet killed the bull and here he is with boogers flowing out of his nose, tears in his eye's shaking like a 12 year old kid and telling me how he would really rub it in to the two grandson's he sent into the canyon--what the heck could i do? I told him congrats on a great bull--helped him gut it, cut it up and pack it out--i know i killed the bull but he didn't--he truly thought he had killed it.

 

Now to your question--you absolutely did the correct thing-maybe not by the law or how it is interpreted but the hunter law that we all live by you followed to the letter. Good job!

[tjhunt2]

Whale......If I was in the girls spot I would not have wanted the buck after you had shot it. With that said I would have done as you did, knowing after the fact that she had hit it and was tracking it I assume, I would have let her have it. I also agree with Roughcut that you will be blessed by the deer Gods as well. What goes around comes around. You are a better man for your act of unselfishness.

 

IMO.......The law may state that whoever kills the deer is required to tag it but just because it is the law doesn't always mean it is the right and ethical thing to do.

 

Tam......I'm with you on why anyone would want a buck that someone else had killed. And may I add as well, another buck that someone else had already shot and hadn't recovered yet.

 

There will be some different of opions I'm sure.

 

TJ

 

 

[TAM]

Just to clarify my previous post. I didn't mean to insinuate that you or anyone else was breaking the law. I was just trying to identify my understanding of the law.

 

I think you did the noble thing by letting her keep the buck.

 

However, I've also seen a situation where two friends are hunting and one guy shoots and wounds a buck. The other friend who was nearby sees the wounded buck and finishes it off. When they both get to the deer, which isn't very big, they both think the other guy should tag it.

 

This has always been an interesting topic, because most hunters seem to live by the rule that "if you draw first blood it's your deer". But on the flip side of that the law says something totally different.

 

 

[WHALE]

thanks for the replies and I thought most would do they same as I did that day. The disappointment on her face was more than this father with daughters of his own could take. She sure was happy when I told her she could have the buck.

[AZWildcat]

You made the right choice and I am sure it was a little painful, but maybe the deer gods will shine on you later!!

[catclaw]

A few years ago my son shot a nice 6x6 and it turns out that another hunter had also shot it (with a 25-06). I tracked it down and both boys followed me. When I found it the bull was still very much alive. I got it to stand up and both boys shot it again- probably twice each. I called a cease-fire and the bull finally fell over for good. The question becomes, "who killed it"? My buddy on the spotting scope said that he saw blood on the bull's flank when it was standing in a saddle just before my son shot it (I watched it shudder and almost fall over at his shot).

 

We discussed it and let the other hunter tag it but we didn't help him with the dressing chores, but went right back to our glassing spot and found another 6x6. He stalked and shot this one and didn't have to share it with anyone else. I think he was very gratified about his decision to let the other hunter have the first bull.

 

I have seen many elk shot by two hunters at near the same time and the bull runs of and dies with two potentially fatal holes in it. I don't think the intent of the law is to distinguish between close shots, but rather to keep folks from putting a tag on something they didn't shoot.

 

I never had a similar situation with deer though. I think if she wanted it that bad and had in fact hit it before, you made a good call. I don't think they are worth fighting over.