Ok, I hate to have to post this, but.... I shot a doe from my blind. It was a clean hit.20 yards slightly quartering away. I saw the arrow hit. It was a straight through. I found the arrow right behind where she was standing with plenty of blood on it. I waited and then retired to the house to eat. Later my boys and I went out and searched. We have looked for over eight hours. Followed a good blood trail to a spot with two fist sized spots of blood (about 200 yards). Then, nothing. We have grid searched the entire area. Now to the tough part. About thirty yards from the last blood is a fence line. It borders about ten acres belonging to my one neighbor. I will NOT get permission from him to search his land. He has made that clear. He is an outcast from the community (after stealing from a number of non-profit groups). What do I do? I am certain at this point that the deer crossed the fence line (although a through search of the entire section shows no blood on either side). Any thoughts? It is killing me to not have recovered the body.

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I know what you mean. It has been eating me up and my wife know it. The other side of the fenceline is heavily wooded with almost no undergrowth and very few downed trees, so I can see at least 50-100 yards (depending on the spot) into the woods. No signs. There are a couple of spots the deer pass where the fence is down. They still have to jump about two feet to clear the fence. I would have thought if she went through, there would be some blood spatter from the jump. Nothing.

I'd politely ask him one more time. If he says no, I'd call the game warden. He'd most likely tell you to go get your deer. If he said no, I'd wait till about 2 am and jump the fence and find the deer.

I'd go on his property and get my deer, no questions asked.

Talked to the game warden already. He cannot force the guy to allow me on the land. He said the world is full of crummy people and I just happened to live next to one. Here is my problem with jumping the fence. The community has had issues with this guy for breaking the law (although no one has been willing to press charges yet). If I jump the fence, he can point the finger and say "now who is breaking the law". I just can't put myself in that position. And, yes, I realize we are into the "Do you break the law to do the right thing?" category. Like I said, this is a tough spot. I imagine by now the coyotes have gotten to her. There were two at the end of the field when we went out looking for her the first time.

I find this strange. Did you hit her low or high? I'm guessing low........200 yards is a long way for a deer to run with an arrow in her boiler room. I only ask because I wonder if the shot was as good as you first thought it was. I'm not doubting what you say, just what you saw. She might not be as mortally wounded as you think.

If the guys won't let you cross, IMHO, you have no option but to comply and call it a day. Tresspassing is not a game you want to get started. I'd definately keep a close eye, and if I caught him tresspassing on me to find a deer he shot, I'd have him prosecuted.


GH

Call the game warden. He should help you out.

Darrall

It sucks, but if you can not legally go there, then don't.

That's crazy. In NC you can retrieve your game no matter what. They suggest you get permission and let the landowner know what's going on but it's not necessary.