Unusual situation...what would you do?
 

A few weeks ago I was with my uncle track a deer he shot the night before when found a dead doe. This doe was obviously shot with a 4 blade broadhead and had died recently, still warm. The shot was high in the chest and did not go completley through. It had been raining throught the night and into the morning so there was no blood trail to back track to the stand or person who shot it.

We both decied we didnt want to let it go to waste...but we didnt want to seal someone elses deer. I field dressed it and we waited over an hour for any signs of someone to be tracking it. After waiting we drug it to a pipe line and took a break. Shortly afterwards here comes a hunter to claim his doe.

As it turns out he didnt see the doe drop from his stand but was able to see us standing around where he last saw her but couldnt tell what we were doing. He didnt want to come down while we were in the area but when he saw us dragging it he knew he better get there quick. There was no confrontation of any type, we were happy he found us to get his deer, he was happy we found it...and gutted it. My uncle returned to the search and I helped him finish the drag to his truck.

What would you guys do in this situation?

I'd give the guy his deer.

What ELSE would anyone do?

i would give it back as well i think you did the right thing

Same here. Did your uncle ever find his deer?

fer real...wheres the pics of unc's deer...gaaaa leee

I wasnt so much asking if I should give it back or not, but if anybody else would take a deer that they found and thought that wouldnt be found. Should have made that more clear before.

As for my uncle's deer, unfortunately we werent able to find it. At the point we found the doe we were doing grid searches throught the woods with no luck.

Ur a good guy I had a big 10 or twelve jacked from me this year

U done great!!! I would have been greatful to have had someone do this for me. I would have at least propped it open to cool and then helped take up trail on your deer to help you as well. Least I could have done!!!
Next time I shoot a deer a deer I will call you and point you in its direction and come find you after you have it dressed and then help you drag it out to my truck!!!! LOL!!!! Have a great season and sorry your uncle did not find his deer.

I would've done the same exact thing you did

I wouldn't have touched the deer. You didn't kill it, it's not a waste if nobody finds it, nature will take care of it and you never know the situation.

here's what i think... if i came up on a deer that had obviously been there all night i would've cleaned it and waited for ONE hour. if i came up on one still warm, i would do the same as you. if i noticed the deer was gutshot i would clean it right away, but i might hang out for a min if not. but you are a kind person. i had a nice buck jacked from me. i shot him and lost sight of him right as he went over the hill and i heard him fall so i waited about 2 hours for him to die went back to the truck called my buddy and ate a sandwich. when i went back to get him i followed the blood trail to where i saw him last then i couldnt believe it. right where i hear him crash he had been dressed out, loaded on a 4 wheeler and was gone. i know because there where tracks and his entrails where attempted to be covered by leaves. was about 80-100 yards from my stand just over the hill.

Just curious, but if you heard him crash, why wait two hours?

I would give it back. You never know when a hunter might come across one of your deer. You would want them to give you your deer.

all i can say is...wow!

If I was the shooter, I would have let you and your uncle drag the deer clear out to the road and then told you it was mine...lol

Haha I like the way you think. We were dragging it the opposite way from where he parked or maybe he would have.

I have found a doe before. I waited a few minutes, than I checked her out. She was still fairly warm, and pliable. I hadn't heard any shots that morning.
So i didn't know if she had been shot that morning or the previous day.
Though there was evidence that she had been shot. There was damage to her right hind quarter and high on her right shoulder. I think someone saw her running and winged a couple after her, not knowing they hit her or ho badly.
There was no blood trail to back track, and it had snowed the night before. There was no snow on her either.
I cleaner her out, tagged her and took her home.