I just stumbled on to this sight and your post. It brought back some
memories. Ten years ago, or there abouts, on the second day of the season, I
listened to the shooting coming from the East. The shooting would hault, and then
someone would open up again. I wish I had counted the shots because there were way
too many for this to continue. But what I was sure was a buck was still going, and
the shots were getting close to my area. Then things got quiet. About 10 minutes
had passed when I saw him coming my way, waited for the shot, and dropped him.

I took a look at the deer, one gut shot, and went back to my stand in case
something else mightbe moving, 'cause I knew the B.I.L. hadn't shot. Fifteen
minutes later I figured it was time to tag and dress. When I started to work on
the deer, a guy saw what I was doing, and came running, along with his thirteen
year old son. The father was like a used car salesman on crack. He spit out lie
after lie why this was the kids deer. The kid was as stiff as a board, and shaking
like a leaf. I felt sorry for the kid. He might be loosing his first deer, and,
he was taking in all the crap his father was dishing. It was a deer. It was not
worth getting nuts over, and pa was nuts. I said that they could take the deer,
and headed up the ridge to the brother in law's stand, and told him the story.

He wanted to see the buck, so I led the way back. When we got there, the father
was sitting on the deer, like it was a horse, holding the rack up, saying he had
never seen a bigger deer in this area. Okay. I had gotten bigger bucks, but I had
really worked for them. This is a easy come, easy go. Every deer is a gift. You
are free to do as you wish with your gift. I hope we both made the correct
decision. We did not make the situation worse, and you have to feel good for
taking the high road, even though it might not feel like it right now.