I guess being faced with a near identical situation last year I can answer what I did and would do. I first contacted the landowner about the possibility of having to retrieve game his reply was NO!!! I then contacted the CO and their reply was with their presence and evidence that it was harvetsed legally (aka on the right side of the fence) they would assist in the retrieval. When I asked if the landowner took the animal prior to their arrival what would happen. He said...you said, if legally tagged/harvested the person in possession would retain the animal. Now this was all done prior to pulling the trigger. I watched the animal and after seeing the routine I decieded against the spot as it was to risky. I know of more than one guy who thought what is a few feetonly lost the prize and privs, so I wasn't going to chance it either way. It is illegal so even if everything is done right to that point the law is black and white. To me that was the ethical choice.