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Ethical question

In Mississippi a buck must have 4 points or more and a 12" spread. You can shoot a doe as long as it doesn't have spots. This brings me to my question.

You are out hunting on private property. You do not have to tag your deer after you kill it. You see a nice sized doe out about 50 yards. You wait for a bit to see if she comes in. After several minutes she comes in to 27 yards and stands perfectly broadside. You stand up, draw back your bow, and shoot. You hit her perfectly. She runs about 15 yards and piles up. You go down to retrieve your doe. You notice that it is a button buck. The antlers are just poking up through the skin. You did not now that is was a buck when you shot. Do you report the button buck or do you sneak it out of the woods? If you get caught shooting a button buck you get a hefty fine and you can't hunt the next year.

I would report it and tell them it was an accident. There may be a chance they would let you off. If not I would take the heat. How about you guys?

RE: Ethical question

I personally would just say it was an accident but we dont have that problem here in Illinois:D

RE: Ethical question

Quote:

ORIGINAL: bwhunter501

I personally would just say it was an accident but we dont have that problem here in Illinois:D

But think about the question. Say it was illegal. Oh wait, I forgot Bw. You wouldn't have even hit the deer!:D

RE: Ethical question

Quote:

ORIGINAL: zak123

Quote:

ORIGINAL: bwhunter501

I personally would just say it was an accident but we dont have that problem here in Illinois:D

But think about the question. Say it was illegal. Oh wait, I forgot Bw. You wouldn't have even hit the deer!:D

ahhh come on now zak dont lie to yourself you know i could outshoot you anyday[8D]

RE: Ethical question

I have to admit I would be way more careful if that rule was implemented in Michigan. I have made the mistake before, but they were far away and shot with a gun. Now I consider myself an ethical hunter but I'm not sure if I would risk my hunting rights for the next year. I just love hunting too much. So what I would probably do is go home and get a tarp and do the best in-field butchering job I could do then bring the meat out in plastic bags stored in a backpack.

I would also rip up my doe tag and go buy another if possible, otherwise I wouldn't shoot anymore does that year.

RE: Ethical question

I would not have shot ,stould have looked under it .
That said I would report it.

Here in Ohio the spikes must be 3" to be a buck.
Less than that it is a antlerless deer ( doe or duck ,it dose not matter)

RE: Ethical question

Honestly I can't see myself shooting a BB in archery season. My shots are always close and I carry a pair of binos to ID my deer.

RE: Ethical question

Quote:

ORIGINAL: zak123

In Mississippi a buck must have 4 points or more and a 12" spread. You can shoot a doe as long as it doesn't have spots. This brings me to my question.

You are out hunting on private property. You do not have to tag your deer after you kill it. You see a nice sized doe out about 50 yards. You wait for a bit to see if she comes in. After several minutes she comes in to 27 yards and stands perfectly broadside. You stand up, draw back your bow, and shoot. You hit her perfectly. She runs about 15 yards and piles up. You go down to retrieve your doe. You notice that it is a button buck. The antlers are just poking up through the skin. You did not now that is was a buck when you shot. Do you report the button buck or do you sneak it out of the woods? If you get caught shooting a button buck you get a hefty fine and you can't hunt the next year.

I would report it and tell them it was an accident. There may be a chance they would let you off. If not I would take the heat. How about you guys?

Chances are regulations state that the deer must have four points and at least a 12-inch spread or it must be antlerless. The State Wildlife Departments know that accidents like this are more common than most people would like to admit, it's even happened to me. Saying "antlerless" rather than doe makes up for this.

In Washington a deer must have three points on one side or the other or must be antlerless. If you can not SEE the antlers above the hairline then it is considered and antlerless deer.

Side note: The shot I made on the button buck I mentioned was at about 175 yards with a rifle with no deer around to compare it to. For all I knew it was a doe. During archery season however you're going to notice whether the deer is big or small. I don't see how you could "accidentally" shoot a button buck or a fawn just out of spots at 20-30 yards.

RE: Ethical question

Come on Zak,

We don't shoot button bucks.;)
Really, there is no good reson for shooting a button. If you can't identify your target (and a button is pretty easy to distinguish from a doe fawn) then you don't belong in the woods the following season.

If it were to happen then it's time to step forward and admit the mistake, it may be hard but IMO must be done.

It would surprise me if the laws were righten as such though. Both states I hunt have seasons for antlered deer (antlers of 3" or more) or antlerless deer(antlerless beig having antlers of 3" or less).

RE: Ethical question

i would report it, if you didn't see the buttons, you didn't see the buttons. I don't know a single person that would honestly look for the "junk" that a male deer is going to carry to identify it. I'm sure the authorities are going to understand, "$h!t happens!"