In our party the guy that puts the first bullet in the deer gets the deer, no matter who finishes off, however we usually try to get the original shooter the opportunity first to finish off what he started. Many years ago when we were mule deer hunting in the flat lands of the south we spotted a large mulie buck with some does from the trail we were on, as 2 truck hit the binders 4 guys bailed out and began shooting at this buck. In the end the buck hand 4 holes in it, we had no way to tell who put it down or who' s deer it was. We decided that to flip a coin, stupid but it was the only way to solve the problem and it did. We have learned from that day to hunt on our own with ample range between others and if the chance arrives where more than one guy can shoot, the first guy to take aim gets to shoot at the deer...maybe not ideal but it saves us all the other hassle, b/c nobody wants to admit they missed!

Now if your talking a deer going to different parties, it gets much tougher then!!! I would just let the signs and situation dictate itself, I would hate to lose an animal to a j#rk but like Lee said " it ain' t worth being shot over" . If i had an animal come by that was wounded but not fatal, well I am sure I would put it down...just because I don' t like to see game suffer. If a guy showed up and claimed it, I would probably say your welcome and to get himself to the range. Hunting is my hobby, release and passion I would let some sob ruin it!!!