Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

I saw "Cherokee Outfitters" post the idea of "if you draw blood, then your tag is considered filled --- whether the animal is found or not" and it was received with a bit of uproar. After thinking about it, I kinda like the idea, it seems quite ethical and "clean cut" to me. For me, it could also serve to get some of the folks that "volunteer" to join our elk camp to leave their "pop guns" at home and "sharpen up" with something comenserate to the game we hunt.

Personally, if I wound a big game animal and it gets away, then I am sick with guilt and self-disgust and have little inclination to "run right out" and "claim" another when I already have one that is out there in the process of dying somewhere. Though its happened twice in 40 years of hunting, each time is burned in my mind as though it was yesterday. Granted it could be a tough pill to swallow on a high dollar once in a lifetime hunt and would indeed test ones ethics; however, I see it as a better overall alternative to the common default setting of "keep shooting until you put one down."

What Works For You?

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

I believe that such a policy would reduce the chances of people taking low percentage shots for fear of wounding an animal.A little common sense has to be used though.If it can be determined that the injury is a minor one that will not likely cause any long term harm the hunter should be allowed to hunt other animals.If the wound is determined to be serious or the severity can not be determined the hunter should hunt the wounded animal for the balance of his hunt.

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

I know that a lot of African outfitters use that policy for your safety as well as their's, but that is not our problem here. I think that if you are taking shots that wound it, you should consider you tag filled and concentrate on that animal only.

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

I was on a $1250 lease in south Texas that allowed me to take only one buck. Fired what I knew was a fatal shot at a nice 10 pointer, but took it right at dark just before a blue norther brought a big rainstorm. Didn't find him that night or the next day. As far as I was concerned, my tag was filled. Even though the lease allowed me to take another buck, I just couldn't bring myself to keep hunting. Found the rack several weeks later. I have it nailed to the barn in an out of the way place, but all it reminds me of is my failure as a hunter. I get no pleasure from the nice rack.

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

Although I feel bad as you all mentioned wounding an animal and not recovering it, by the way, if it hasn't happened, great, but it probably will sad to say. :(

But if I wound one, and I have, I'll keep on hunting. My reason for hunting is to fill the freezer. I refuse to be bummed so badly that I beat myself up over it. I'm not an inconsiderate hunter, but crap happens, especially bowhunting. Fortunately I've taken way more animals than I've wounded and do every thing I can to put myself in position to keep it that way. Just my personal feelings on the matter. thanks, elknut1

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

elknut,

It does happen regretfully and it happens more in the bowhunting world usually. But from what i'm seeing in todays sportsmen it doesn't matter wether its bow or rifle. They just are not practicing enough. But we all have wounded at one time or another. It don't sit well when it happens but your right you can't be yourself up forever. In my business after so many animals get wounded you have to put a limit on it. And it does make a hunter concentrate better on his shot.

I respect your statement about filling a freezer, its alot different than someone just trying to hang one on a wall.

I heard a story one time from arkansas I believe where a hunter told me he ran into a guy hunting with a crossbow. The hunter asked the crossbow guy if he had anyluck that day. And the guys reply was yeah I've hit four today. And of course he hadn't recovered a single one. That's my point on putting a limit on wounding. Animals especially the bigger ones soughtout for a wall hanger take quite some years to grow. It makes me ill to my stomache to see one get away wounded. But even sicker to hear something like the crossbow guy who doesn't even care.

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

I am luckier than most. I can still shoot 3 does/year for meat.

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

In Alaska, if you wound an animal and do not recover it, you are required by law to stop hunting because you have filled that tag. It is a very difficult regulation to enforce, and only on rare occasion has it been, usually in the guiding industry, with loudmouthed clients telling people what happened on their hunt, and the client and guide end up getting in trouble.

When I first started bowhunting, I managed to get on a grizzly bear that I shot 5 days before the end of the spring season. The shot was low and through the brisket, and I know it did not kill him. I spent the rest of my season going after that bear, and actually passing up three other bears because of it. I did not know at the time of the legal implications if I had shot one of the other bears. I actually managed to get on that bear twice more in the next 5 days, but could never close into 30 yards or less to get another shot. This is a little different than meat hunting, but I would hope that most other hunters would do the same if they had wounded an animal.

Trying to fill the freezer is another thing. Fortunately we have enough family members that hunt, so we hardly ever run out of wild game and fish.

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

Cherokee

I totally agree with your thoughts. I'm not a guide professionaly, but have taken many folks out over the years. Have never put a limit on wounded critters, mostly because it hasn't been an issue. But do respect where you're coming from.

EKM
On the other hand, I'll never agree having more firepower on poor shots will remedy a bad choice of pulling the trigger. A .270 or 30/06 is plenty for any elk, because you use a bigger caliber doesn't make up for poor shooting. :) I'm not suggesting a 30/30.[8D] elknut1

RE: Poll: Draw Blood = Filled Tag
 

Ditto to Stubblejumper!!

If you make it bleed then it's your responsibilty to track and finnish the animal off as humane as possible.

and i agree it would stop alot of people from taking "pot shots" at game to far out of the shooting abililty.

my 2 cents anyway
Al