RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

We just talked on the phone and you didn't ask me this one and it's only my thoughts on my feelings but this is the reason I said what I said and it was posed as I'm not sure which is better,

For me and my feelings, It would sadden me more to know this is the outcome of my shot vs him walking still. In all tense and purposes, (Other than wildlife usage), it's been wasted. I'd do what I could, (Euro mount) to "honor" the animal but in telling the story, it would be factual. I'd sooner see him (my animal) walking then find him in that manner but I'd rather find him than never know. Just my feelings, neither is wrong nor right.

As far as ethic police, I couldn't nor would tag him and under PA law and my own ethics I wouldn't be legally bound to either. It's no different than finding a shed at that point and I would keep hunting. It is what it is and you did everything in your power to find him and more than most and I applaud that. Shooting another buck would not be wrong in the least.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Amazing creatures those whitetail are. Always seem to circle back to the shooter.. or back where they came.

It would be a safe bet that it's your buck Jeff.

As far as tagging him.. that would depend on the state in which you live.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I think you are doing right by the law Jeff. I can't tell you about the ethics of it, because thats all on you. I'm sure you'll do whats right by you.

By the letter of most states game laws, you have to tag an animal before you remove it from where you shotor recovered it... having the head of the thing with you kinda requires that you have a tag for it... now, most GWs unless they had an axe to grind wouldn't fool with you over that... but... they could. The got afew guys from our hunt club for not having atag notched and having drug their deer out to the road on Thanksgiving day. Granted they had the tags... but... there again.. you can get a ticket for going 56 in a 55 too.

Its good you called the GW, he will probably give you a tag for it and let you keep it... I don't know how your part of NC is... but in my part of VA riding around with or having a set of buck horns in your vehical and not having a tag or a check # for it is asking for trouble.

I found two big 8s locked up and dead last October... I called the GW, he gave me possession tags for them... no problem. Last thing I wanted to be accused of was poaching.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Since you went public with this and you don't tag it there might be some law on the books that you need some kind of tag for the head. As for it it is your deer and what you should do I think it is your deer and I remember the story If it was me I would tag it. Your lucky enough to get 2 buck tags. I know you want to keep hunting but why get greedy? You shot 2 now move on. Just my opinion.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I'm late to this, but I'll still offer my opinion. Honestly I don't think there is any accepted protocol in a situation like this and the ethics police and take a flying leap. (Which, fortunately I don;t think any have really showed up here anyways).
I'd guess that this is very likely the buck you shot. Bummer you didn't find him in a timely fashion, but getting closure helps a lot. Your decidion from here on out to do whatever you wish as far as tagging and the rack & stuff, can only be made by you. Don't get yourself in too much an ethical dilemma as like I said htis situation doesn't realy have a right or wrong answer.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

You can never be 100% technically sure it's your deer, hence I wouldn't tag it. Just as I wouldn't tag a deer someone else killed. I would however "honor" the animal by doing something with the found rack of a animal I think I shot or "would've" shot given the oportunity.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

i dont really understand the whole taggin the deer part.. ... so say it is your deer....maybe your wound wasnt the factor of its death.. its a goodchance but theres so many other things that could happen... is there roads near, maybe he got hit by a car that caused his death, maybe he got in a fight with another buck they got tangled up broke his neck the other one got loose .... i know theres alot of MAYBESthere but thatswhy i would NOT tag him... how canyou be 100% you killed him..........but i know logical thinkin says why he died..... to each his is own though... its your tag you spend it the way you see fit

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Exactly what I would do.

Congrats on finding your buck:), sorry about the circumstances. Not much more you can do, glad you found him.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I agree with this also and this Is exactly what I would of done.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Go back and cut that sucker open man. If that head is in there, and there would be a great chance that it is, you would have a definate answer. Put a mask on and some laytex gloves and dig in. If the rage is in there then you have the right to put that sucker on the wall and be just as proud as anyone else. Lots of guys find there deer days later with the meat ruined and put them on the wall. If you don't find the head then there is no way you can be 100% sure. My thinking is that is the buck you shot.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I would have to agree with the Euro mount. You can never be 100% sure its yours, just mount it and tell people the story. It leaves for a good open ending for them to make their own conclusions.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I think you are worrying to much about what everyone else thinks and not about what you think.

If I was 100% certain that was my buck I would have it mounted, as you killed it and later found it.

If I was not 100% sure it was my buck it would go inwith myshed / skull "trophies".

And I am talking 100% not a doubt, not maybe, or pretty sure or anything else under certain....

In either instance after a month had gone by I would not tag the animal as a bow kill. I would call the game warden for a possession tag.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

they say a lot of the time a gut shot deer will loop back or back track

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Jeff,

This happened to me with the very first deer I ever arrowed. I found it days ( not a month) later. The meat was a total loss. I tagged the deer even though by law I was not required to do so. I killed it, it was my deer-no doubt whatsoever. I would have hated myself had I not tagged it. I would have hated myself even more if I would have been responsible for the demise of more than one deer that year ( I think the conservationist in me was whispering in my ear). With that said, I think in your situation there is reasonable doubt. Sure, some clues have bearing, but are they conclusive? You, and only you,are the judge and jury here. Follow your heart... use your head.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Me Personally I would not tag it. I like the antlers, but ultimately I hunt for the meat. You were not able to partake in any part of the animal so I'd save my tag for an animal that I could put in the freezer. Ethical or not I'm gonna hold out for something I can eat.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Agree a 1000%

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I'm just wondering how killing the deer isn't "taking" him? The deer was removed from the herd. Whether it's in your freezer or not, it's dead and as such, the tag should be punched.

If you even touch a brown bear up here with a bullet or arrow, your tag is punched even if it's not a mortal wound. For all other species: "Your harvest ticket(s) must be carried in the field and must be validated by cutting out the month and day immediately upon killing game." Pretty simple, if you killed it you punch your tag.

We can't decide morals for you Jeff, they're a personal thing. You're the only one that knows whether or not you killed him. You'll have to wrestle with that one on your own but I, for one, amnot going to pass any kind of judgements one way or the other.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Tag it or don't tag it; claim it or don't claim it. I like the idea about the Euro mount and tell the story and use as a reminder to practice. I would like to hear more about what mistake was made. From what you said, it is hard for me to believe that this deer went this distance. Was is high and missed the vitals? I really want to hear what the mistake was.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Mistake? I dunno. I'm not ashamed of the shot. I hit where I was aiming. I'm all ears.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

So, what you're saying is that if you were to hit a deer with your truck you'd tag the deer and you'd be done hunting?

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

He made his decision so he must go with what his heart says...if it were me, I would not tag him, it's been a freakin month, yep, he was probably the buck that Jeff shot, but there is still a 1% chance that it wasn't, I go with doing euro mount and calling it a day...I mean the GW told him not to tag it!! Go after that buck Jeff!!

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I'm not gonna say 100% .....and I shouldn't have. Chris said he'd give me a possession permit for it....and that "he" wouldn't tag it. He said if I thought I'd killed it though....I mean REALLY thought this was the buck.....I should tag it.

I just don't know. I'm sorry to air this....as I just wanted some direction on protocol. I'll make a decision and I'll let this die. I'd just hate to put that rack in my office and not feel good about saying I took him....even though I'd give full disclosure. Doesn't seem fair.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

No Simpvehicle removals are figured into the modeling for takes seperately from hunting removals. On top of that, vehicle killed deer are property of the state.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Lost deer are also figured in here in Ky.


Jeff,I think it would be safe to assume that MOST bowhunters would not tag this animal,that to me would be the protocall but you do what YOU feel you need to.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Wow, i just seen this Jeff. If it were me, I would tag it only if I knew for 100% it was mine. You dont know, So I wouldnt tag it. I wouldnt lose sleep over it either.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Jeff, this deer is yours. I would almost bet it was. ;)

1) He's just as you described him to be
2) He's in the same general area
3) He has a wound exactly where you thought you hit
4) There's about a 3" gash, and you were using a Rage 2 blade
5) He looks like he's been dead a little while

Honestly, what MORE would you need to confirm it's yours? You're arrow? Broadhead? Time of death?

I just can't see why you WOULDN'T think it was yours. Just me though.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

One thing I just thought of Jeff.....

Aren't you the only person that bowhunts anywhere around this area? You said the knife was hard to push into the hole, But that could be decomp.

Jeff, the more I think about it, If I were you, I would take the "think" out of the title.

But like I said, if your not 100% sure yourself... dont tag it.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Get your behind back out there and open that deer up wuss.:D

J/K Jeff, but wouldn't you feel better if you opened him up and found half of your arrow and/or broadhead?

LT

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Sorry to keep pointlessly posting... but yeh, I would put a Bio suit on and start digging.... That would tell the tale.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Guys he already posted. He talked with his GW...Hes keeping the buck but continueing hunting with his 2nd tag.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Doesnt seem like he knows for sure what he's doing yet....

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

The post I cited was AFTER the Post you Cited:eek:

Just sayin....[8D]

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Well I can't help he has second doubts after making his mind up.:D

I would do exactly as he is. Get a possession tag issued from GW, and then continue to hunt with my 2nd buck tag. This deer should be treated (legally speaking, not trophywise) just as any dead found deer....get the permit from the GW, get it cleaned up, and move on. If he finds closure that it is 100% his, display it as one of his trophies...if not, just keep it as a cool buck skull.

I would have to check the requirements to even see if it is legal to use a tag on a deer found nearly a month later in KY....I know one can easily call the GW, have him come out to the spot with you and issue a possession tag for you to keep the deer though. My buddy had the GW on speedial last year when EHD hit hard[8D]:eek:[&:][&o][:'(]

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

You say this is just "any dead found deer".....and I shouldn't treat it like one I took? Is that what you're saying? Just asking.

I've already talked to Chris (GW). He told me to do whatever I wanted to. If I wanted to tag it.....tag it. If I didn't.....he'd issue me a posession permit.

I suppose another 100" 8 pointer ......shot in the same place.....with no other bowhunters around (nobody bowhunts the property I was looking on.....160acres)......"could have" died 60-70yds from the point I shot the one I did. I mean......it's possible, right?

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Now your getting it...[8D]I honestly think you've found your deer, Jeff.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

Just as far as how you "tag" it(the legal part)...IMO, it should be issued a possession permit. Whether or not you display it as your kill is up to how certain you are in your mind.(the trophy part)IMO, it is your buck without a doubt. A noseplug, shoulder length gloves, and a knife would prove this Im betting....you would find that Rage.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

I'm gonna keep an eye on the carcass. I drug the whole thing down to a lower spot. When I tell you it was rancid.....I mean it was bad (the smell). I just couldn't do it.[:'(]

There's one other guy that bowhunts the land I do....and he didn't take a buck with his bow (he's actually never hunted that ridge, either). The 100 acres to the East are the 100 I just picked up (that nobody's hunted, lately). The 160 to the south and east.....nobody bowhunts.

It's just too strong a coincidence in my book. Anyone asks the story.....I'll tell 'em.....but I plan to euro mount the skull and display it with the others I've taken.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

exactly as I would do. Congrats on finally finding him.

RE: I think I just found my Halloween buck!
 

It seems pretty black and white.......you have the means right in front of you to determine if it's your buck and end the rather pointless discussionbut you lack the stomach to find out. ;):D
(I say pointless because we, you ,and everyone up to the GW is trying to offer suggestions on what to do without knowing if the buck is "yours")

Remember Richard Dryfuss and the scene in jaws when they cut open the shark looking for the kid's body? Suck it up and get in there.[:o] Drag it on a tarp so you don't lose anything and root around. Vick's 'Vaporub' and those shoulder length gloves and you can have peace of mind instead of wondering??
The ferrule is aluminum so it should still be pretty shiny and visible.

I know it stinks, but stink washes off.............peace of mind is worth a little slop if you ask me.:eek: