In your neck of the woods...

[bowhunter75richard]

I have heard plenty of stories about guys shooting at someone else's dog that picks up their dropped bird. Can you believe it? Why would anyone want a goose or duck that badly? "Sorry buddy, your dog picked it up so it goes in YOUR daily bag limit. One more bird I get to shoot today. Yay!" I remember having a dispute with another hunter because he didn't want to take the lung shot goose that drifted down behind me and Pearl picked up.

Last elk I killed was a raghorn bull four twits from Pennsylvania had wounded. They refused to track it down after dark so I finished the job. I had also hit it in the penis which was actually killing it quicker than their ham shot. I would never have shot at it except I saw they had butt shot it. It was too far for my 30-06 but I still managed to hit him just as he made it to the trees. They claimed it which was fine with me but I would not let the animal suffer through the night. Eventually I had to shoot or be killed. That bull almost got me.

Can’t say I blame the bull Honker ! Shoot me in the penis and I would make a strong attempt to get you too !!

[pineywoods]

That question popped up a lot back when we used to do a lot of deer drives with dogs. It was generally accepted that the last person to shoot the deer was the owner.

Once upon a time, I heard a hunter near me shoot, then saw the buck shortly thereafter come staggering through a thicket, obviously on its last legs, so I shot it just to put it down. The other hunter showed up very quickly, almost in tears because this was the best buck he had ever shot and now it was mine. I was quick to assure him that I was making no claim at all on his deer and that I had only shot to shorten the suffering. The other stander was most appreciative, even though he was willing to let me claim the deer if I'd been so inclined.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

I have heard plenty of stories about guys shooting at someone else's dog that picks up their dropped bird. Can you believe it? Why would anyone want a goose or duck that badly? "Sorry buddy, your dog picked it up so it goes in YOUR daily bag limit. One more bird I get to shoot today. Yay!" I remember having a dispute with another hunter because he didn't want to take the lung shot goose that drifted down behind me and Pearl picked up.

Last elk I killed was a raghorn bull four twits from Pennsylvania had wounded. They refused to track it down after dark so I finished the job. I had also hit it in the penis which was actually killing it quicker than their ham shot. I would never have shot at it except I saw they had butt shot it. It was too far for my 30-06 but I still managed to hit him just as he made it to the trees. They claimed it which was fine with me but I would not let the animal suffer through the night. Eventually I had to shoot or be killed. That bull almost got me.

[99explorer]

I once finished off a buck that was dragging one front hoof because the bones had been shattered by a rifle bullet.
There was no dispute because (1) the original shooter never showed up, and (2) the deer had entered onto my land.

[Milldawg]

Let's try again. I believe we have a legal statute that says its the guy who finishes it. In practice among guys in the same party, if your deer needed a follow up I don't know guys who are going to try to take it out from under you.

The reason a call on it was made as it's not uncommon for someone to poorly hit an animal, no matter how much we try and how much we like to think it doesn't. Often that animal gets shot by the next guy it passes a mile away. He's morally obligated to put down an injured animal. He's also obligated to make sure the meat doesn't go to waste. Which means if he so much as touches the animal, he has to tag it. He's not obligated to wait 6 hours while the deer bloats to see if shooter number 1 can track better than he shoots.
If you and your neighbors are shooting the same field, hopefully you can come to an agreement.
I know guys who've gotten into armed arguments with levelled guns over who shot a deer. I understand the territorial nature and ego come to the fore in such circumstances, but if you're willing to risk death or long term imprisonment over a deer, you're doing life wrong.

Got called for jury duty years ago in a case like that. Got let go because I was hunter. Easiest payed 5 days I’ve ever had off work.

[Milldawg]

Honestly around here it seems to be a matter of how big you are and how many of you : (

Sad but true.

[Treestand]

Honestly around here it seems to be a matter of how big you are and how many of you : (

WoW That's Gang mentality??

[bowhunter75richard]

Honestly around here it seems to be a matter of how big you are and how many of you : (

I think there is more truth in that issue than anything else !

[jhjimbo]

It is not unheard of for a deer or bear with a fatal wound to run 100 or more yards. I have seen this with a heart shot animal full of Adrenalin - especially a bear. In that situation, I would say there should be mutual agreement when the extent of the wound is examined. If they are hit when they are moving the tendency is for them to go further than if they are shot standing still.

[dewman]

Honestly around here it seems to be a matter of how big you are and how many of you : (

[jhjimbo]

I haven't encountered this firsthand, but the general opinion around here is that whoever put the first slug or bullet through the vitals is the owner of the deer.

I had a experience where I dropped a buck right where it stood - stone cold dead. Another hunter got to it before I could get to it and at point blank range shot the deer in the neck. He was a young inexperienced hunter and when I explained the deer was already dead he apologized. He said he shot it because he thought it might get away.

[Treestand]

The Finished Product Or Killing Shot Owne's the Game Animal, That goes for Clubs & State Land Hunters in Fl.

[Drahthaar Dan]

This hypothetical is dependent upon a number of factors and those would have a bearing on my opinion. That said, as hunters we owe our quarry the respect of being competent marksmen. I loath “hunters” that wound game and argue over ownership when the animal crosses boundaries. I understand it happens sometimes, but in that instance I’d hope we were more concerned with an ethical dispatch as opposed to arguing over ownership.

Who wants to argue that you wounded a trophy animal and therefore you should own the antlers?

[MattM37]

I haven't encountered this firsthand, but the general opinion around here is that whoever put the first slug or bullet through the vitals is the owner of the deer.

Sure, I wouldn't risk anything serious if it looked to be that kind of situation. I say it'd be my deer, but I wouldn't risk injuring someone or getting injured, or going to jail, for the deer. If that was the way things looked, like you say, I'd shrug it off, tell the belligerent SOB, okay, whatever. Possibly we might get a warden to come by and join the discussion ... but if not, so be it.

Luckily, since I mostly hunt long-established family property, it's not likely to come up. There's a good level of respect within the family hunters, and with the neighboring landowners.

Only once have I ever heard of a tense situation. One of my cousins put a slug through the vitals of a buck, just alongside the fenceline we share with the neighbors. His buck made its death-dash right across the line -- where two guys over there immediately shot four or five slugs into it (including a couple in the hindquarters). Cousin calmly walked over, pointed at the hole behind the shoulder, and said, "That's me. I killed it." Then he grabbed the buck and dragged it back over the line. He said later that he could tell they were pissed off, but they didn't say anything.

Either they knew he was right and were basically decent guys themselves; or they were ashamed of their ridiculous shooting; or maybe they figured, Why argue over a deer with its best meat all shot to hell?

[bowhunter75richard]

I haven't encountered this firsthand, but the general opinion around here is that whoever put the first slug or bullet through the vitals is the owner of the deer.

This can be a very sticky situation and in some instances even dangerous. Unless you know the character of the other person involved, I would advise moving very slowly in the handling of the issue ! To me the determining factor of ownership would be the location of the initial shot and if the animal would not be able to survive without a secondary shot. But even that sometimes will not settle who tags the deer. When guns are involved, no deer is worth getting killed for. I would retreat and just be happy to be able to make another hunt later !