In PA it's law that the hunter that puts the finishing shot in the deer is the owner.

Jason, I agree and it probably is the case in most states/provinces. Hunter ethics does play a big part here, if I know someone fired a fatal shot at a deer and it ran by me , if I put the animal down and it was still alive when I went up to it, by law, the deer is mine. It don't make it right because that first shot was all that was needed. The other hunter knows it and more importantly, I know it...I would do one other thing.....congratulate him/her and offer to lend a hand.

Why would anyone want a deer that someone else had shot? If it's an absoutely superificial wound the MAYBE, I would claim it. You're just admitting that you are not only second fiddle to that guy but that you weren't good enough to figure out where the deer was going to be and that you can't kill a deer without someone else wounding it to slow it down for you. Sometimes deer are dead on their feet but still running. What did you do to shoot again? You killed a deer that was already dying. You're just a deer thief as far as I am concerned. That finishing shot crap is a bunch of bull. It may be the law but it's definitely not what a gentleman or a sportsman would do. Anyone that would want to claim a deer like that needs to re-evaluate why they are hunting. If someone else shoots a deer first, they were the better man that day. Be a man and congradulate them and tell them so.

It would be intersting to see if the "I shot it last, it's mine" mindset is also a regional thing. I can't ever remember this issue coming up in the south.

Skeeter ,
no sarcasm was intended . I happen to be a fine shot and trust my marksmanship without reservation . I'll put one in their brain without a second thought . It has never caused a problem . I wouldn't have said that if I thought that Jimmy was a lousy shot .

Your last sentence said it all , some folks belong at the range , not the woods . I personally feel that all states should test your marksmanship as well as your knowledge before allowing you to have a hunting license . Imagine how many lives it would save .

Kevin my point is how do you know Jimmy is as qualified as you or further more anybody else reading your post to take that shot? If you have the ability than shoot where ever you want, I will never question someones ability and assume they make choices based on their ability. However I stand by my statement of "shooting an animal in the head is not the right answer" it can not be blanketed as the solution for all and obviously by your response you agree, some qualification or stipulation should be made with required skill.

It doesn't make sense to me, to aim for the head as a primary target. To each his/her own I guess, but I cannot think of reading, watching or hearing anyone with experience, recommend this.

Last season, my brother-in-law took aim at a buck. He didn't hear it approach, but when he saw it, it was wobbling. Anyway, he took aim, and the thing keeled over before he could squeeze the trigger!

He went up to the deer, and it had been hit a couple times. Well, he waited about a half hour, nobody showed up. He dressed it out -- for the other hunter -- nobody showed up. After a total of one hour, he tagged it and took it home! Not the most exciting hunt, but he gets a few deer each year, with bow and gun, and he's more of a meat hunter than a trophey hunter, so he was more than happy to take it. He didn't fire a shot, didn;t need to clean his gun!!!

Another example of slob hunting. No one showed up even looking for the deer? Good lord does that sort of stuff get my blood boiling!! Atleast the deer happened to go by your brother-in-law and he was able to tag it and make use of the meat.

Skeeter ,
I probably should have asked Jimmy how his shooting was first , this is what happens when you assume .

Jimmy ,
stick with shots that you know you can handle . Meat hunters like me sometimes forget that taking a trophy without a hole in it is important to other hunters . My only purpose in reccomending that shot was to address the topic , don't try it unless you know you can do it .