that is a stretch calling someone a poacher in this case. that word shouldn't be thrown out so loosely.

Sometimes things just happen so why not be a little supportive and constructive and mabey the next time this kid might do something a little different.

Tag or not to tag??? There are enough POACHERS around doing it all the time so back off and leave the kid alone.

chuck7.. man i tried that line before about every hunter.... illegal yada yada yada and it turned into quite the argument. I am surprised more people didn't bite on that and I agree with you.

Tersec & ipscshooter. So let me get this right. either one of you 2 shoot a deer and don't find it for a week lets say. So, you 2 save that tag all season just incase you find it?

Here we get 1 buck tag for gun. If I hit a buck and can't find it on opening day I should not hunt the rest of the season just incase someone finds it? What happens if I do hunt and kill a buck and then find the first one? Am I a poacher?

The dude shot the deer and found it the next day. If he doesn't tag it, I would bet he's violating a game law in pretty much every state. Even the guys coming to his defense about "spoiled" deer" are in jurisdictions where you have to tag it, and then apply to the warden for a replacement tag. Maybe "poacher" isn't exactly the right word, but, I'm not sure what you call it when someone doesn't tag his deer.

Well said!!! anyone have any idea how many deer are left to rot by some of the archery hunters out there??? and these are (supposable) knowledgeable hunters!!!! cut the kid some slack, he came here for some advise, I think we should make it constructive, and calling him a poacher is not the right thing to do, sounds like a good guy to me, owned up to a mistake, how many of you can say the same??? Doc

dont think anyone was being hard on the kid,
nor did they call him a poacher,
think the reaction was more against those telling him not to tag it,
saving a tag for a more favorable animal is poaching,

I thought I'd post a legal definition:





My original comment was in response to a gentleman who said "don't tag the deer." I said, if you killed it, and you found it, you have to tag it or you're no better than a poacher. And, "poacher" fits nicely within the legal definition, i.e. a harvest made without complying with the regulations for legal harvest. I wasn't being hard on the original poster, unless he decided not to comply with the laws of his state regarding the tagging of a deer that he shot, and that he found only 100 yards away, the next day.

well i just think this kid was made to feel worse than he was when he posted. and we don't know if he tagged it, he never said. It just seemed like the main focus here turned into tagging or not tagging issue rather than hey it happens and try this next time. Which is what he was looking for I think to begin with.

And as far as the definition of poaching goes. This kid nothing illegal so quit looking for something that isn't there. And so I don't get beat up to bad I will say that if he took the head he should tag it.

am I missing something but no where did i read next day. he said last Wednesday he shot it the found it yesterday. well yesterday was monday. and by the way congratulations u just made this form unenjoyable for another person, u think this kid will want to post again? im sick and tired of reading all the posts with more people being ******* then helping someone out.

Once again, my comments were really directed to the guy who said "don't tag the deer." If the OP followed that advice and he didn't tag it then he's likely violating a game law, and I wouldn't want the him getting cited for something like that. Maybe it came out wrong. As regards the dates... You're right it wasn't the next day. He shot on Wednesday, posted on Sunday, so he found it Saturday.

Wardens here understand people eat the deer and want you to have meat in the freezer. Makes their job easier if I tag one legally instead of hunting them in July. If a deer was not found for a few days I honestly do not think they would expect you to tag it unless you wanted to keep the head or something. Times are hard guys and some really need the meat not a tag filled with spoiled meat.