Very intersting debate and topic.

If said deer was gut shot on yourlandand bedded within range on posted land, would you shoot across the line for a sympathy kill? Potentially leaving your arrow on private land.

It all comes down to physically being placed in the situation, not hypothetically. A live, but certain to be dead deer, would probably have different results in the poll. Yet, the same criteria by definition of posted land is the same. As BigJ stated, everyone hopes they could make that "moral" decision of obeying the law. Yet, as Quik has posted, written law can be construed and twisted to manipulate other law. I think in this case it would come down to a conscience rule and as long as no malicious intent was done to retrieve the animal, a minimal fine might be the worst of it. I would think they would have to show an intent to trespass, shooting said animal across the line, rather than physical trespass on recovery. Don't cut the fence, tear up the land with a 4-wheeler or stop for a glass of wine in a cabin and I doubt you would face any conviction of trespass.

As for the questions at hand. I would not shoot the deer on posted land. I'd see it as more of a test for the other land owner when he sees that buck the next season on my side of the line. But I guarantee I would recover the animal, in this case a deer, I shot on legal groundthat crossed onto privatized land.Until the point of thatanimal crossing the line their is nothing wrong with my actions, I took it legally and I'll recover it wherever it lays rest. I can choose its demise, but I cannotpredetermine it's instincts of flight. As for my question, I would shoot a mortally wounded deer on private land that I initially shot on permissable land, I'd have to finalize what I started.

The sad part is, with the commercialization of hunting and the direct management of wild animals for private enterprise it's only going to get worse.