Today, Tuesday the fourth day of the wisconsin gun season. I had scouted out a nice 8 pointer on some land I had access to. Saw him on opening day, and heard another hunter saw him on Sunday. Well I went back there today, a great buck area and he was hanging real close, so I thought I'd have my chance at my first buck. But when I got up to walk around a bit after being out there 3 hours, I found him lying dead. Shot by someone in the gut and they never recovered him. Such a waste to see a nice big one like that laying dead since probably sunday afternoon.

It happen and theres not alot one can do with a gut shot deer. Theres little to no blood, also the person that shot more than likely did look for it and figured it was a good clean miss. It happens to the best of us.

If the meat had gone bad, I hope you took the antlers. They may make for some good rattling tools.

I hope you DIDN'T take the antlers. That'll land you a big violation here in WY for sure. Show up at a check station with something like that and nothing else, you're already in trouble for wasting game meat ("what, you say you found it dead already and left the carcass? - Yeah right, you're busted"), you'll probably draw even more trouble for not tagging it.

Best leave them until after hunting season is over.

Yeah... defintaley take the antlers... you were planning on taking him just be careful and get them to your home. You would be dumb not to take them... if you dont get a deer its a souvenir (sp) for the deer season atleast

you could always set up for some coyote hunting.

I would take the antlers. It would be a waste ofa great animal otherwise. And you know someone else will. My buddy is a game warden and he says if someone calls him when finding a buck, he will ask the right questions and 9 times out of 10 give then a carcass tag.

It would be nice to have the antlers but I would DEFINETLY call the DNR first. Depending on your states rules, you could get in trouble.

That's not a very good attitude to take. While finding a gut shot deer can be tough, its not a reason to dimiss it. "oh well, gut shot, I'll never find it". There should be at least some blood and hair at the impact. You can follow tracks to determine direction to search.

Too many people don't see the deer fall and think oh well I missed.