Ethics…..

Stupid question, and maybe I didn’t see it in all the writing………….

But, did your brother just explain the situation to the neighbor and ask for the antlers?????

A couple years ago, a buddy and I were doing a late season float down a river shootin geese (great way to get an easy limit by the way )……well, about half way through the float, we find a DANDY 11pt buck lying dead in the river. It didn’t have a whole lot of mass, but the tine length and spread were INCREDIABLE!!! I’ve never seen a MN buck with such long brow tines

But anywho, The deer had obvoiusly been there a little while, but still had most of it’s hair and color too it. Well, to make a long story short, there was no way my buddy was leaving this thing there…….so we ended up tieing the bucks antlers to the canoe with his gun case and floatin the thing behind the canoe the rest of the way (HUGE PAIN!!!). Then we went and got a saw from his house to cut the head off. My buddy ended up boiling the skull (his ma was not to impressed when he told her what he used her large pot for ). It was a lot of hard work to get that thing lookin nice, but it turned out AWESOME!!!

Well, about a week later I talk to a landowner from around that area and he tells me about this huge 10pt buck his neighbor had shot, but lost on opening day of doe season (5 days prior to the day we found the deer). There’s no doubt in my mind that it was the buck we found, but there was no way I was mentioning that to him. I did tell my buddy about the conversasion, but he had no intention to giving the beast away.

so……moral of this story……if you shoot a big buck, make sure you shoot it dead, or find it quick…..cause you never no when two punk kids are going to float through your property and paddle away with our trophy

A couple years ago, a buddy and I were doing a late season float down a river shootin geese (great way to get an easy limit by the way )……well, about half way through the float, we find a DANDY 11pt buck lying dead in the river. It didn’t have a whole lot of mass, but the tine length and spread were INCREDIABLE!!! I’ve never seen a MN buck with such long brow tines

But anywho, The deer had obvoiusly been there a little while, but still had most of it’s hair and color too it. Well, to make a long story short, there was no way my buddy was leaving this thing there…….so we ended up tieing the bucks antlers to the canoe with his gun case and floatin the thing behind the canoe the rest of the way (HUGE PAIN!!!). Then we went and got a saw from his house to cut the head off. My buddy ended up boiling the skull (his ma was not to impressed when he told her what he used her large pot for ). It was a lot of hard work to get that thing lookin nice, but it turned out AWESOME!!!

Well, about a week later I talk to a landowner from around that area and he tells me about this huge 10pt buck his neighbor had shot, but lost on opening day of doe season (5 days prior to the day we found the deer). There’s no doubt in my mind that it was the buck we found, but there was no way I was mentioning that to him. I did tell my buddy about the conversasion, but he had no intention to giving the beast away.

so……moral of this story……if you shoot a big buck, make sure you shoot it dead, or find it quick…..cause you never no when two punk kids are going to float through your property and paddle away with our trophy

That’s a great story Jake, I have herd of floating a river for deer hunting too and it can be very effective. Did you guys try putting the buck in the canoe instead of floating it behind the canoe or was the canoe to small for that. Deer will often head to water after being shot so if you lose the trail of a shot deer and there is water near by take the shortest path to the water and chances are good that you will find the deer. Getting back to the original question on this post, what would I do if I found the rack? First I have to ask myself if I was the one who lost the buck would I want the person who found the deer to return it too me?
So yes if I knew who shot the deer I would give it to them as the deer would mean a whole lot more to them than it would to me.

That’s a great story Jake, I have herd of floating a river for deer hunting too and it can be very effective. Did you guys try putting the buck in the canoe instead of floating it behind the canoe or was the canoe to small for that. Deer will often head to water after being shot so if you lose the trail of a shot deer and there is water near by take the shortest path to the water and chances are good that you will find the deer. Getting back to the original question on this post, what would I do if I found the rack? First I have to ask myself if I was the one who lost the buck would I want the person who found the deer to return it too me?
So yes if I knew who shot the deer I would give it to them as the deer would mean a whole lot more to them than it would to me.

I have had somewhat similar experiance with a poor shot and difficult tracking. After the first day of searching for this deer, I went to the adjoining landowner and told him that it may have gone onto his property. While we dont have the greatest relationship to begin with, he did let us go onto his property to search the following day. We did not find it that day either and I let the landowner know we had not found it. I also left my number in case he came across it or saw it still alive. He called a few days later to tell me it was in his cornfield when they were harvesting. He wasnt very happy, but I did tag it with my tag and removed the deer. So…long story made shorter, I would be in contact with neighbors in the future in case any trouble arises.

I have had somewhat similar experiance with a poor shot and difficult tracking. After the first day of searching for this deer, I went to the adjoining landowner and told him that it may have gone onto his property. While we dont have the greatest relationship to begin with, he did let us go onto his property to search the following day. We did not find it that day either and I let the landowner know we had not found it. I also left my number in case he came across it or saw it still alive. He called a few days later to tell me it was in his cornfield when they were harvesting. He wasnt very happy, but I did tag it with my tag and removed the deer. So…long story made shorter, I would be in contact with neighbors in the future in case any trouble arises.

Jake,

Never met you yet, but for some strange reason, I have no doubt about your story…

Jake,

Never met you yet, but for some strange reason, I have no doubt about your story…

Great Post Nubby!

Some great information and tips from all above. Makes you think a little more doesn’t it.

Nubby, I agree with someone earlier, unless there is more to the story. Sounds like your brother had the yardage right, just happeneded to be a little behind?? Perhaps the shot was out of your brothers comfort range? What ever the reason, I’m sure the lesson was learned (the hard way). Everyone can miss and not make the best of decisions, especially when a trophy buck is mixed into the equation. I’ve seen it a ton of times, the so called “PRO’s” missing or taking a poor shot. If you have bow hunted for any amount of time, it is bound to happen from time to time. The key is to eliminate as many reasons as possible:ie practice, proper shot selection, proper shot placement, etc.

We all know how tricky and smart theses mature whitetails can be both before the shot and after the shot. In the future I would also take the advice of an earlier post and knock on the adjacent land owners door to let them know a deer has been hit and leave your number in case they come across it and are willing to call you.

As far as ethics are concerned, here is my $.02.

There is a big difference in some cases between ethics and what is legal.

Ethically, if I found that deer on my property and somebody came up to me and could describe the buck and prove it was his arrow in the buck, I would with out a doubt give the buck to him. Legally do I have to??? No. I have every right to keep this deer, found on my property.

Are ethics are tested much more than most of us relaize. Most of us here are tested each and every time we are in the field or on the water. We just simply pass things off cause it is the right thing to do. Being courteous, not giving away someones spot, catching & releasing fish, etc are all ethics that are challenged every time out. For the most part these ethics are not laws, but simple guidleines that us true sportsmen abide by. Could you legally keep 4 walleyes under 22″ on Mille Lacs right now, sure you can. But is keeping 4 – 21.5″ Walleyes ethical?????? Most of the time, probably not.

Great thread Nubby! Good Luck to all, only 10 more days!

Great Post Nubby!

Some great information and tips from all above. Makes you think a little more doesn’t it.

Nubby, I agree with someone earlier, unless there is more to the story. Sounds like your brother had the yardage right, just happeneded to be a little behind?? Perhaps the shot was out of your brothers comfort range? What ever the reason, I’m sure the lesson was learned (the hard way). Everyone can miss and not make the best of decisions, especially when a trophy buck is mixed into the equation. I’ve seen it a ton of times, the so called “PRO’s” missing or taking a poor shot. If you have bow hunted for any amount of time, it is bound to happen from time to time. The key is to eliminate as many reasons as possible:ie practice, proper shot selection, proper shot placement, etc.

We all know how tricky and smart theses mature whitetails can be both before the shot and after the shot. In the future I would also take the advice of an earlier post and knock on the adjacent land owners door to let them know a deer has been hit and leave your number in case they come across it and are willing to call you.

As far as ethics are concerned, here is my $.02.

There is a big difference in some cases between ethics and what is legal.

Ethically, if I found that deer on my property and somebody came up to me and could describe the buck and prove it was his arrow in the buck, I would with out a doubt give the buck to him. Legally do I have to??? No. I have every right to keep this deer, found on my property.

Are ethics are tested much more than most of us relaize. Most of us here are tested each and every time we are in the field or on the water. We just simply pass things off cause it is the right thing to do. Being courteous, not giving away someones spot, catching & releasing fish, etc are all ethics that are challenged every time out. For the most part these ethics are not laws, but simple guidleines that us true sportsmen abide by. Could you legally keep 4 walleyes under 22″ on Mille Lacs right now, sure you can. But is keeping 4 – 21.5″ Walleyes ethical?????? Most of the time, probably not.

Great thread Nubby! Good Luck to all, only 10 more days!