Hunting Situation #5

[musketman]

You are deer hunting and shoot a deer with a patched roundball from a period correct longrifle, it runs about 20 yards and you hear another shot from another hunter that was walking towards you, the deer is dead...

You both shot the same deer, how do you both figure out who's shot killed the deer without getting into a gunfight?

 

[Rebel]

Well obviously his shot killed it. It wouldn't have needed to be shot again if it was still alive now would it. But then there could still be a gunfight over it. After all, it was your shot that slowed it down enough for him to hit it wasn't it? ::

 

[roundball]

Deer belongs to the second hunter if he shot it while it was still on it's feet

 

[RussB]

Deer belongs to the second hunter if he shot it while it was still on it's feet

Roundball...Is there any chance that you are in politics?
Just kidding. I do like your thinking. I have witnessed this before, and it got pretty ugly.
I'm not sure, but I think, here in Washington State it's the shooter who "tags", the animal, or arrives at the animal first.
Never got that excited myself.....yet. Hope I can avoid this for the years I do have left.
Russ

 

[Stumpkiller]

The hunter that stopped it makes the call.

I have had some hairy moments in such situations (one reason I don't deer hunt state lands - I like to have some idea of who's around). I once a shot deer that ran through a stand of small pines. I heard three shots right after it entered. When I arrived, there was a teenager yelling for his father. One hole in the deer's chest. We all backtracked to my stump and I pointed to the scattered deer hair just beyond where my shot had connected, 20 yards from my seat, and the blood trail lead right to the deer. The kid was disappointed, but there was just no two ways about it. Probably a more generous guy would have given the kid the deer, and I might of if he'd put a shot into the vitals.

If it got into a heated contest of who's shot was more lethal, I would just back down and walk away. It's not worth getting shot in the back while dragging out a deer. Now, if I had a Boone & Crockett trophy I was sure was mine it might be different. For the little critters I usually stumble into it's just not worth it.

I have also watched deer run past after hearing close-in shots, and if I notice any sign of damage in the deer's side or gait, I watch them pass and note their course. My favorite "tactic" is to sit in heavy cover and wait for other hunters to drive the deer in. Opening day I see lots of spooked deer. I've helped many guys find their deer. I had one with a front leg shot most away run past that I dropped and let the original shooter take (It was antlerless and I still had my tag). Hunters are supposed to take the injured and the weak. That's our job. That one could have been argued either way. If the deer looks unharmed and acceptable I'll shoot it and hope for a favorable result should mine not be the only hole in it.

It's just so nice when they stumble and collapse where they're hit.

 

[bob1961]

i had a guy that wasn't aloud to be on the property he was on and i saw him take a shot at some deer and not even follow up with the shot on that deer that i saw it's bowls hanging out of it's side....well i dropped it on the spot and looked to the hunter that was lining up a shot at a second deer that was between us and you guessed it BANG :curse: ....well i followed that deer and it didn't looked hurt so i nailed and it slid back down the hill it went up....well he came down that hill and wanted to know why i shot his deer :: :what: :huh: :curse:....well i told him that his deer he blew the guts out of and laided down and i finished for him was down there and that i was going to go get my deer up there....which was twice the size his yearling was....then asked him who he was and if he had permission to be here cause i know lenny don't let many people there to hunt....well he went and took his deer and left fast and i went to get my deer which was a 180 lb dressed doe with one hole it it and was from my side of the deer going in...............................bob

 

[Randal Zartman]

MM, Who said I hit that deer. I missed it intentionally. It was only a 70 pound yearling. I was just trying to help the other guy by scaring it in his direction. :haha: :haha:
Zman

 

[musketman]

MM, Who said I hit that deer. I missed it intentionally. It was only a 70 pound yearling. I was just trying to help the other guy by scaring it in his direction. :haha: :haha:
Zman

Well, that be right neighborly of ya ZMAN...

You can go hunting with me... :thumbsup:

 

[Randal Zartman]

MM, Done. Now that's the first invitation that I have had since joining this forum. Thanks.
Zman

 

[roundball]

It's just so nice when they stumble and collapse where they're hit.

And that's really the key...to take that time and put that ball right where it needs to be...if we do it right, they'll drop where they stand or bolt 25yds and collapse in sight

 

[musketman]

Great ZMAN, you can wear the hat with the antlers and snort (deer call), I'll even lend you an old red stained brown shirt... :thumbsup:

"Do you freeze up in headlights?"

 

[Randal Zartman]

 

[54JNoll]

Depends on where you are from. Some places it is first shot that would have killed the animal and thers it is the shot that puts the animal down. If there are two holes in the vitals I might point out my blood trail and the hole and if the other guy insists I would let them have it no matter what the law says. No deer is worth fighting over.

I have pointed out deer to others when they did not see them so they could get their first, I have pushed deer to other in order for them to get a deer, and I have let others claim deer that I hit.

 

Legally, HERE, the last bullet into a live animal, is the one that killed it, even if it is a hoof hit, while the first, lung hit, your's, actually killed the animal. Many guys here have lost their licences and guns, for being the last one to put a bullet into a moose and not being the one to cancel the tag. The game branch used to spot for this, using powerful spotting scopes, over game runs and logging slashes, from up to 1,000 yards away- they always get convictions - go figure. The minimum is $1,000 fine and loss of gun and/or vehicle + 5 years loss of licence. No wonder there is so much poaching going on here. No wonder some hunters can gut a bull moose in 10 min. or less.
Legally, in most areas, I think, it is the other hunter's deer- which is why guys do it, even though they may know it has been shot already. This is what the hunting rags say, anyway.
: Next time, in those tight hunting conditions, drop the deer on the spot or face the possibility of this secnario happening to you.

 

[JerryToth]

My dad taught me that the animal belonged to the man who's shot knocked it down. I don't know if that was the law way back then or just his habit.

Myself, I enjoy being in the woods. I'd definitely let the other guy have the deer. I truthfully only want one deer a year and this way I get to keep hunting.

Again, I'd talk his ear off about my personal passion, the 1760's era flintlock! Always trying to make a "convert"!

Regards,

Jerry.