Last year in Wi, in the area that I hunt it was 'earn a buck', which for those not familiar with it simply means that for every doe you shoot, you get a buck tag. Now a 'doe' in WI is ANY antlerless deer, or ANY deer with antlers 3 inches or LESS.

Ok, now the story....

A friend of mine was hunting with a slug gun, open sights, with no binocs. Saw a doe (standing broadside, with ears perked, so he saw no antlers) about 100 - 110 yards away, in open field, drew his shotgun, and dropped the doe in her tracks. Went to retrieve the deer, and saw that it was a spike buck, that had antlers measuring 3 1/4 inches. He did the right thing, called the local game warden, and explained what happened. Game warden told him to stay there, and he would come out with a tag for the buck (my buddy had not yet earned a buck tag). Game warden got there, tagged the deer, handed my buddy a ticket for almost $1200.00 for POACHING, and said that since he was honest, would not have his hunting rights revoked. Then took the animal from him on top of it. I understand, law is law, but come on, he could have just thrown that buck in his truck, and ANY registration station would have turned a cheek on 1/4 of an inch. Sometimes doing the right thing, is not doing the right thing. It sure tought me that doing 56 in a 55 mph zone is still breaking the law, but you shouldnt turn yourself in everytime you do it.