Who’s Deer?
 

Who’s Deer ?

This is a question that sometimes comes up and I was wondering how others here handle this problem.

If a Hunter hit’s deer but does managers to keep it down and runs into another hunters area . With the second person finally drops this animal, who has bragging rights ?

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

the person with the killing shot of course. it says so in the hunting regs book... but in less words....

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

On our club, whoever's shot kills the deer, gets gutting, dragging, cooling, butchering and baloney making for the entire club chores.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

In our group the guy that puts the first hit on it gets the deer and really regardless of that hit. We all share the workload and help each other out, it all works very well and equal in the end. I am just as happy gutting a partners animals as if I were my own and visa v.

However I assume your talking about different hunting parties, then I'd lean towards the first vital hit gets the animal...but how does one determine this for sure without going CSI! Most likely the hunter who gets to the animal first will win the right wether warranted ot not. I am glad this isn't an issue for my areas and if it were I certainly wouldn't claim or shoot another hunters animal, if I did and he established it was wounded when I fired than I wouldn't argue, most likely ask him if he needs a hand(either dragging or at the range;)). Why fight over a dead animal when many others are still on the hoof? Arguing would just waste time, effort and energy - most likely not resulting in a very good feeling regardless of the outcome. If the killing is your only reason than quite simply your are missing a boatlaod when it comes to hunting! It is reward that isn't required in my mind to thoroughly enjoy myself. However being in a company of a$$hole$ who would, I'd hit the dusty trial for greener pastures very quickly as this wouldn't make me feel very satisfied!

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

I agree with skeeter, so long as it's from our group. It has happened in the past and never has there been a question. Now if it involves a total stranger, everything can change. It happened to my buddy a few yrs back. He has shot a small buck (4 pointer, about 135 pounds dressed) with his 30/06 from his treestand. The deer was hit good and ran about 30 yds when he heard another shot. By the time he got down and approached the other hunter, he was putting his tag on it. My buddy's shot had gone right through the lung and heart area and the deer was dead before it ran. The evidence was clear that the second shot was never needed. Massive blood trail from the initial shot. Sooooo, the other hunter got the deer and legally, it may be the case, but there is also something called integrity. In essence, my opinion, the other hunter legally stole someone else's deer. My buddy kept saying.."It ain't right"....and he said he would not have done that to any hunter.......There are many situations and scenerios that must be addressed on it's own merit, but this was blatant.....Use common sense and in almost all cases the right thing will be done. If a hunter shoots a deer, hits it and it still runs to the next county before another hunter drops it, then the situation is conmpletetly different...

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Next time shoot it in the head . It won't run at all and nobody else could possibly say that they shot it . ;)

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Jimmy, as I stated I think this will usually be the case in a crowded hunting area and not always will it be fair but really what do you do! Any guy who would tag another's animal is better off out of the woods and especially after he heard the shot so close...at 30 yards I am not sure I would have picked the pine needles out of my teeth yet from hitting the dirt much less shoot at a deer![:o] It does suck and may happen but I wouldn't let some idiot ruin my trip or fun, just move on and not dwell on it is my suggestion. I have seen where this will fester and ruin a whole trip, last year we got flagged in elk season the other party setup while we were calling and they botched our setup on a herd with their stupidity and greed. Some were absolutely fuming in our group calling them every name in the book and really screwed those guys for the rest of the day, funny though 2 of us took it in stride and dealt with it, sure we were pissed off but really what can you do after the fact....nothing! That evening the 2 of us set up and were able to draw out a 6x6 that was the other guys first elk. Mentally we never let a bad experience take advantage of us, we just started over and it resulted in an animal on the ground. You have 2 choices worry about what you can't change or actually go out and change the history, even if you don't connect my bet is you'll feel much better than stewing over spilled milk!

Kevin, I ceratinily hope your comment was with sarcism, telling a hunter to aim for the head vs the vitals is not the right answer here. I have seen way to many botched head/neck shots to even suggest one attempt to take them much less not knowing that person's ability or shooting skill level!

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Skeeter, I could not agree with you more....not to let it ruin your hunting trip because of the actions of others...But it is hard to not let it bother you....We hunt NH and the area has low deer density, so if you miss the oppirtunuty to tag, or decide to let a legal deer walk in hopes of gettin' the big guy, you may not get another chance during the rest of the season....The question is that deer that my buddy lost to another hunter was a small, young buck. Some other hunters would have done the same thing, but what happens when someone tries to put their tag on the biggest buck of your life......That may be a scary situation.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Jimmy regardless of the animals headgear it sucks and ain't right. Of course it bothers you but the difference is what you do following an encounter that you really can't change, is all I am saying. I would expect most could deal with a situation like an adult but know that isn't the case, so instead of playground tatics I choose the other option walk away holding my head high. Trophy buck of lifetime might hurt more but really what the he!! is a guy going to do? Shoot the guy or beat him up ain't an option, let the bullheaded @#$%* have my deer staring at him, maybe one day it will fall off the wall and gorge him or something unfortunate like that[8D].

Thankfully in my case I hunt in areas very few others will be, so not really a concern of mine. If it ever did I would try and reason but failing that just walk away(wouldn't offer my assistance, except for him/her to take a course in ethics). It ain't b/c I am scared or small, it is I see no point in fighting over an animal that can be replaced..I maybe the minority here it is up to each individual to decide what is best for them. Been in a share of fights as a young chap and never did I leave feeling to good, regardless of if I won or lost I guess it is how I am wired you could say.

Plain old sucks in any fashion, I hope you or your buddy don't have to face it again.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Thanks everyone for responding!

The old-timers used to say probably for the most part because they were hunting on state game lands , if the first person wasn’t marksmen enough to drop the deer in its tracks and finally was dropped by another hunter . The closest shooter at its final dropping had bragging rights. If some Hunter came back to camp claiming he had missed one , tradition was his shirttail got cut off and hung on the cabin walls.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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 .

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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!!!:D

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

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 .

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

NO! It's not a "regional thing"! I was taught that whoever shot it first has rights to the animal. It's just plain hunting ethics!

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Jimmy, I agree with you. I won't take someone elses deer if they made a good shot and I happened to finish it. As a matter of fact I did finish a deer once that was hit in the heart, but stopped in front of me....I didn't see it was hit....I dropped it with a neck shot. That young man trailed his deer with his dad and arrived about 5 minutes after I had gotten to the deer. After seeing the blood trail and inspecting the wounds I new that deer was dead before I shot. When they got there I congratulated him on his first buck and went on my way out the ridge. The look of gratitude on his dad's face was evident and all three of us were happy.

All that said, ethics are a big part of hunting and unfortunately in this great state of PA we have many guys that take to the woods with no ethics at all!:([:@] I had my first buck taken from me by none other than my uncle. It was a spike that I put a shot through the lungs....it stopped 50 yards after the shot then a barage of fire followed. I picked up the blood from were I hit him and followed to my unlce standing over that deer. I was 13 he was 47 and put one round in the deer after it had fallen to 'finish it' as it was still breathing. I was devasted that my own uncle would do that to a kid, but looking back it made me stronger....that and knowing it was only the second deer he had ever shot in 35 years of hunting. I've since killed seven bucks and countless doe in my measly 12 years hunting. The first story only happend about 3 years ago, and I was happier than all get out to see that kid take his first deer with a great shot.


It does no good to the sport to be like that, but many guys don't give a rip about anyone else as long as they got their buck. I've killed some good ones and some scrubs, but I refuse to stoop so low as to take a great memory away form someone only because of my own greed....that little incident of mine may have burned that into me. My uncle has never killed another deer and has given up hunting since.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

well, this happend to me this past season, i hit a small buck,lung/heartshot, a nice blood trail a blind person could have followed for about 100 yrds, i heard another shot and i just kept following the trail, i get over top of the hill and theres a guy standing there with his knife out, my stepdad knew the elderly gentleman and the older guy goes is this yours? i was like ya ," i saw it limpin this way so i finished it off and slit is neck for ya. and then he jumped back over the fence and continued hunting on his property and let me have it.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

It is very rare for me to see another hunter during season where I hunt. However I think whoever makes the final and killing shot has first pick.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

The closest I have ever come to this situation was a couple of years ago, a guy from a neighboring club came to our deer camp, looking for a deer he had shot. As it turned out there were people cutting timber in the area, that picked up the deer! We never heard anything more about it.
As to the post of the guy losing a deer to another hunter 30 yards away, that is hunting awfully close to someone else! That is why I have not hunted public land in many years!
On our property, there is a 300 yard minimum, between stands rule! In the thickets of East Texas this is plenty of distance between hunters. If any deer that I shot ran 300+ yards to another hunter, I don't deserve the deer!

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Jag...My buddy was set up (in his self climber) totally unaware there was another hunter within 100yds. Not hard to do in the thick woods in NH. That second shot was fired at the deer within 30 yds of my buddy...I guess neither would have been there had they known another hunter was close by....I also agree with you about not deserving a deer that runs 300 yds. We hunt totally different terraine, New England vs East Texas and I can understand your being at least 300 yds from the next hunter. I see your deer woods each and every year as I travel to visit my wife's family in East Texas. If I'm not mistaken I go thru your town while driving from Houston to Lufkin on Rt 59. My wife went to SFA and I actually got married in Nacogdoches.....Never hunted in your fine state tho!

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

I've seen it happen that deer were wounded only to be killed by another hunter. Mostly it's common sense that prevails.

If I hunt in an area that has lots of hunters, and I have plenty of time to make a shot, I shoot through, rather than behind the shoulder. They drop faster, often instantly. Doesn't work with archery though.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Jimmy,
you are passing through my hunting territory on US 59, near Woodville! Port Neches is southeast of I-10, I'm about an hour and a half away from my hunting area!
I hope your wife's family can line you up with a good Texas hunt one of these days!
I understand the difference of terrains, but our lack of hunting problems is because I am hunting private land.
Years back, I hunted on some public lands, (there are good public lands too) and had people that were way too close for my comfort! Thats why I only hunt on clubs or leases now!

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Jag...I visited the hunting property where my wife's family hunts. All private land and I saw more deer that day than I have ever seen in New England for one day. I was impressed at how clean the setup is. They had a sign in sheet where you would mark the tree stand (tower) that you would be at and the time and date. There was also a sheet that had the harvest info, date/time/sex/# points etc....You could see at a glance what stands were occupied and which ones have been successful over the course of the season...Very cool....I will say this, those East Texas deer don't come as big as the deer we have up north, but those racks are what dreams are made of....who knows Jag, I may take the folks up and spend some time deer hunting down in those Piney Woods of East Texas...

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

Ever who draws first blood gets the deer. In ND it is illegal to finish off another persons deer. We can only shoot one per tag. I have let many wounded deer walk by followed by a hunter bloodtrailing it. I would never do anything to take away from another persons hunt/experience including gutting, hahaha it's part of the hunt too.

RE: Who’s Deer?
 

The way I understand it, under ethics, it is the person who gets the first mortal wound shot.

However, if an argument ensues, and you both have guns...well, let the other person have it. It just isn't worth it and you get to hunt more.