I would certainly agree with the majority here. It is definitely A's deer.
B wouldn't be there to "help" without a phone call from "A"

Couldn't have said it better myself! I couldn't imagine hunting with anyone who takes a deer after I called him to help me find my buck. Any hunting group that thinks its deer is hunter B is a hunting group I wouldn't want to be a part of. Hunting is suppose to be fun, not start arguements amonst friends!

Simple, but straight to the point. VAbyrd, Im with you as well!! Im glad I don't hunt with people like that as well!!

Let me preface my post by saying that if I was hunter B and I was there and shot and killed the deer, I would give it to my friend, Hunter A.

However, in most states, the hunter the kills the deer (which Hunter B did) has a legal obligation to tag the animal. Sure there is no CO around to see who killed and who tagged the deer, and hunter B could easily ignore his legal obligation and not tag the deer, but I remember post after post after post from members in this thread that said the true measure of a man/hunter is doing what is right when no one is looking. What is right is for B to tag the deer, even if he was just helping track the deer.

As I said, I would give the deer to A, but I can do so and not lose cred because I don't come on here saying that breaking any hunting law that is minusha (stupid) still makes you a poacher.

Good points.

A.............

The hunter who places a vital kill shot keeps the deer.

This happened to me this year during the muzzleloader season with a good friend. My friend took a head on shot at 80 yards, hitting the deer in the bridge of the nose, about 10 mins later the deer slowly walks towards me, I didn't know the deer was hit until he got within 20 yards of me, he showed no sign of being hit, and at 20 yards I didn't have a good shot angle, he got within 10 yards and I had the perfect shot and took it, I dropped the deer in his tracks, and I clamied the deer

Hunter A gave Hunter B the deer
 

Unlike some answers the two are best of friends and would never let a deer end that.In matter of fact A was so upset about the poor shot he told B the buck was his.It was a 12 pt. that scored somewhere in the 140's.Was just curious as to what the rest of the hunting forum would do in that situation.The answer among the rest of my hunting friends is also A deer.But it took more sportsmanship to do what he did.P.S. we all got together and had a few cold ones.....

Hunter A could have told hunter B the buck was his, but if hunter B actually took the buck, then he's(B) not having any "cold ones" with me... as I would have DECLINED. To even accept the buck under those conditions is blasphemy.

I suppose since everyone still got along, that's better than what the outcome could have been. Regardless, if I would have taken the buck, I'd feel like ***T!

iSnipe

Ditto isnipe!

Yea, i have to agree that a best friend would see it as "A's" deer. No matter what A said. B was there helping him find a wounded deer. But as long as they walked away happy thats all that counts.

Agreed, I would have in no way excepted that deer if I was hunter B. Hunter B should have refused that deer. I don't know of anyone in any of my hunting parties that would have excepted that deer, cold ones or not. Even if it was a great big buck that was mountable I could never look at that deer and be proud of it. Thats just me I guess.

It was A's deer, he could give it to anybody he wants to, IMHO.

Yet another reason not to take head shots. Hope your buddy learns how to shoot.

Holy Crap, you guy still wankin on this?

When I was younger - a verteran at our hunting camp had wounded a buck. And after following and jumping it a couple times - it went into a thick swamp. He came back to camp at lunch and several of us decided to set up on the swamp and try to drive this wounded deer in front of a stander. Well as it worked out - I was about as far from the action as could be - and the buck slipped through the setup, until he came by me at the end of the swamp. I made good on the deer, a running shot - and he was a nice older deer - 176 lbs dressed 6 point. I was thrilled to get the shot - but had never considered it was "my deer". (we always split all the meat in our camp evenly back then). Well the Veteran hunter was happy too - and he insisted that I kept the rack, I was surprised and happy - I tagged the deer, and still have the antlers. I keep a picture of both of us with that deer in my hunting room.

I don't think there is a cut and dry "A" or "B' answer on a post like this - too many variables.

FH

I would hope A gets it.

we always hunted in a gang that said "kill shot gets the deer, not the first shot"

A and some meat(if he wants it)for B.

hunter A for sure

share the meat 50/50 and lets move on ...can't eat antlers...if A wants the antlers and B also toss a coin ...

I would say hunter A for sure. :deer:

this thread is going no where ..good-by ..

Who is bigger, A or B?

Hunter A without a doubt..IMO

to me, finishing shot tags it....

when me and my buddies are tracking deer, we make it clear whose claiming it and whose finishing it if its found alive...



think of the same situation but they arent friends and arent tracking together.....a stranger hunting in the same area shoots the deer....it was still alive...he put the final bullet in it...its HIS deer..end of story...

you make a bad shot, expect your deer to be gone....i hunt PA...we have a ton of hunters here...used to be over 1 million 10 years ago...if your deer goes over 100yds you almost have to expect it to get whacked by someone else...even over 50yds you can have other hunters that you arent hunting with close enough to put a final shot in it....(blew the heart out of a doe one year...she went MAYBE 30-40yds tops..death run...honestly running into trees and all that..had another hunter come over when i was gutting and say "oh i was pulling on the trigger when she fell over!") i looked at him like he was nuts...blood pouring out of her...her legs were RED...running into trees the entire way...and he was pulling the trigger.....that made me start breakin shoulders and aiming a bit higher in the lungs to "shock" the spine and drop them...

ive finished off 1 deer for a buddy...we were flintlock hunting and he hit a doe a bit back...we tracked her in the snow and i put him off to the side of the trail while i tracked...i found her bedded but her head was up....i told him to sneak into position and finish her...he missed...i asked if he wanted me to finish her he said ya...after he shot she was jumping and i missed...i was reloaded before he was and he told me to finish her...

i had no problems finishing that deer for him and he claimed the deer...if we would had rifles, or i would have let him finish reloading, he would finished her...wasnt an issue...we just both didnt want her to suffer or go any farther...

but thats something that needs worked out before it happens...

alot of hunters believe in first blood...but reality of it is, they only believe in it when someone is claiming their deer..and reality is that if not finished by someone else, the initial shooter usually doesnt find the deer...

ive learned to anchor them with a hard hitting shot when possible and practical...and learned to keep shootin till it falls if its safe and available...i dont spray and pray...but if i can get another round in a deer, im going to try my best to do so...

I'm going A as well. In the same situation I would hope whoever I had helping would shoot the deer given the chance and I would hope they would let me tag it. I'd do the same for them.

Nothing more to add.