O.K., What's the Protocol? Who gets deer after it's been shot by 2 hunters?

[Aku 24]

I'm sure that this has been overly discussed ever since the beginning of tagging deer:

I hunted G-1 TWA this last weekend with my buddy who didn't get drawn. He was a non-hunter, my dog for the weekend

We hunted a canyon, me on one side, him on the other. He kicks a 3X3 out that runs up the hill above me and stops. I shoot it at 100 yards and it falls behind some brush, legs up in the air. I wait about 5 minutes. As I look through my scope, I see some movement behind the brush. He pulled himself up on his front legs and pulled himself deeper into the brush. All I can see is his head and and the top of his back. I can see that I shot it high on the back, it had a large wound, and it was bleeding. I move about 20 yards to my left to see if I can get another shot at him. I did not want this deer to suffer anymore that it already has. As I move it sees me and starts pulling itself even harder into the brush and behind a rock. I move again and see that it is now laying down, head on its side (All I really see is a small amount of it's body and the side of it's antlers). I figure great, it laid down and I'll give it 10 more minutes. I call my buddy on the radio over from the other side of the canyon. Takes him about 10 minutes to get over there. I tell him "there's the buck up the hill at about 80 yards...see the antlers?" We start smiling and laughing, all of the sudden the buck gets itself on it's feet and starts down the hill on the other side of the brush...crap I can't get a clean shot. We start tracking it and then Boom, Boom, Boom.

Some guys 200 yards from us shoot the buck. As I'm walking over to them I am thinking who's buck is this? I shot it, I wounded it, I let it lay for 15 to 20 minutes, it gets up, I started tracking it, and they shot it. As I get up to them, I tell them that I shot that buck 20 minutes earlier and was tracking it. You could clearly see the hole in it's back where I shot it. I then ask them "So what's the protocol in situations like this?"

[Common Sense]

Don't know what is right, but legally it is theirs. (Course it ain't wise to get legal advise from some slob like me on the internet.)

[Fishspanker]

who ever killed it should keep it. next time, put another round in the deer and you won't have to go through this.
when rifle hunting for deer on public land, I make sure to move on a deer I've shot and not give it time because you never know who could be hunting just over the next ridge. live and learn.

[mc2212]

It is your buck. Read Fish and Game Code 2011(b).

2011. (a) It is unlawful for any person to take, mutilate, or
destroy any bird or mammal lawfully in the possession of another.
(b) For the purpose of this section, a bird or mammal shall be
deemed in possession when it is actually reduced to physical
possession or when it is wounded or otherwise maimed and the person
who wounded or otherwise maimed it is in hot pursuit

[ZEKEDAWG]

Would never even be a question in my mind, not matter what side I was on.

All they did was put the coup de grace on YOUR deer. End of statement.

Or you could go by the law posted above.

If they shot my buck from 200 yards away, and I was only 80 yards away, we wouldn't be discussing whos buck it was, but more like whose ass i am going to kick first.(for shooting so close to me, I wasn't there though and no mention is made of it being too close for comfort) But I would be a bit torqued. Thats what sucks about TWA and G-1 too many people.

[bfishj]

First blood...it is yours...If you had smacked a horn or something then it is up for grabs but clear blood there is no question.

I always put a follow up round in a crippled buck...learned that early on the hard way when I gutshot a deer and caught up to him about an hour later...I went to lean up against the tree to get a good rest and he blew out of there and I never saw him again.

Who took the deer?

[Live2hunt]

If the buck was still able to make it 200 yards without stopping to bed down, I doubt that you would be able to find him. He would be gaining distance from you and you will loose track of him. At least that's what happened to me several times in my hunting experiences. Don't feel bad, the guy hunting 200 yards from you have every right to shoot and take the buck if the buck was walking like it was not hurt. I have shot several bucks high in the back and they would roll downhill a bit and start kicking itself up until it could fully stand on its feet and then start trotting off. I've never found any of them even after tracking them for several hours over a couple miles. I've learned over the years that you should keep shooting until the buck is down and out of misery. I would have just congrats the guy who killed it and move on. It is not a wise idea to start something that will pissed off a guy with a gun.


L2H

[dthome]

This is a tough situation. If I was in your shoes, I'd call it mine. If I was in their shoes, I'd call it mine. To avoid conflict and keep the peace, the hunter willing to compromise is likely the one that won't take the deer home. I know, it doesn't seem right. But in the end, the only way our sport will survive is if we're willing to to rise above these difficult situations and demonstrate that the most important part of hunting is that we're reasonable and we put fish and wildlife first -- above our own interests. This is especially true in the heat of the moment; it's not worth arguing, especially when both parties are armed. The last thing we need is a news story about how two hunters argued over who shot a deer and an injury resulted...

[Beastie]

The G-1 hunt straight up sucks!!!! Ive been there twice and I would never call going there a hunting trip unless seeing people all day long and things like what happened above are fun to you. There are literaly camp cities set up in areas. It really is rediculous and not to mention unsafe in many respects. But people go every year for some reason, so to each their own. In my opinion, keep going there and stay out of other areas. California hunting on public land is really crazy. I just got back from Idaho and for 5 days straight I was able to hunt in many different public land areas and not see a single person. Thats is what hunting really is.

[XDHUNTER]

Originally Posted by Live2hunt

If the buck was still able to make it 200 yards without stopping to bed down, I doubt that you would be able to find him. He would be gaining distance from you and you will loose track of him. At least that's what happened to me several times in my hunting experiences. Don't feel bad, the guy hunting 200 yards from you have every right to shoot and take the buck if the buck was walking like it was not hurt. I have shot several bucks high in the back and they would roll downhill a bit and start kicking itself up until it could fully stand on its feet and then start trotting off. I've never found any of them even after tracking them for several hours over a couple miles. I've learned over the years that you should keep shooting until the buck is down and out of misery. I would have just congrats the guy who killed it and move on. It is not a wise idea to start something that will pissed off a guy with a gun.


L2H

+1 and welcome back L2H

[bodega]

That is a brutal situation to be put in. Since you wounded the deer (MC2212 thanks for the actual reg) I would loudly claim that you shot it first and it is your deer. But as other people have mentioned, you are arguing against armed people and it might be best to walk away if they disagree with your line of logic.

[Live2hunt]

Originally Posted by Beastie

The G-1 hunt straight up sucks!!!! Ive been there twice and I would never call going there a hunting trip unless seeing people all day long and things like what happened above are fun to you. There are literaly camp cities set up in areas. It really is rediculous and not to mention unsafe in many respects. But people go every year for some reason, so to each their own. In my opinion, keep going there and stay out of other areas. California hunting on public land is really crazy. I just got back from Idaho and for 5 days straight I was able to hunt in many different public land areas and not see a single person. Thats is what hunting really is.

The G-1 hunt is only like a zoo surrounding the TWA. If you go some where else not near the TWA but still inside the C-4 zone, I guarantee you won't see so many people. I never hunt around the TWA. Only hunt inside TWA (if I had the permit) or other areas within C4. The C4 zone is pretty big and I've done just fine.


L2H

[Live2hunt]

Originally Posted by XDHUNTER

+1 and welcome back L2H

Battling cancer is not fun. Hate the side effect of chemotherapy especially the nausea and vomitting. And you know what is like when it happened on an emptied stomach as it usually does.

[Aku 24]

As many of you said above, it is not worth arguing over. I know if the roles were reversed, I would have said that "you shot him first and if you want to tag him fine. If not, I'll tag him seeing how I put him out of his misery". But that didn't happen.

At the time, I didn't hardly get the words out of my mouth to these two guys (Whats the protocol?) when my buddy says "it's their deer". I looked at him like WTF, I wanted the other two guys to give me an answer. I wanted them to have a clear opinion as to who's deer that was and put the pressure on them to do the right thing. Anyway, I said that's disappointing, good luck guys, and I moved on back down the hill. The next day I shot a forked horn about 1/4 of a mile from the same place.

BTW, all the talk about how crowded the TWA is, we only saw these two other hunters in the field, in this area. These two guys were not set up 200 yards from us they too were hiking towards the top of the canyon when this deer came up towards them. We saw plenty of other hunters on the roads, but hardly any in the field. The other two areas that we hunted, we only saw 4 hunters that were all sitting. We like to hike through long canyons and push deer, usually with 1 or 2 shooters near the bottom. We've had plenty of years where other guys have shot bucks that we kicked out...so be it. It is just disappointing not to get a buck that I shot, let lie, and was tracking. I definitely learned a good lesson about not relaxing until I'm standing over a dead deer.

[blazintowers]

that really stinks. did u smack your buddy? at least explain the situation and show them the bullet hole that u put there? at least you scored on another buck. congrats.

[coothunter]

The deer should belong to the hunter who drew first blood. However, I wouldn't fight about it. I'm glad you got your buck anyway.

[vital_kill]

I remember hunting in B-zone in 2001. I was at my usual spot when I heard a big thrashing sound from behind me. I looked over and there is this one big buck, he met face to face and he just stood there. I took one shot right into his front chest. Dropped him like a rock. I then noticed he was gut shot like 3 times. Then I heard some more thrashing towards me. Out came this elderly guy with his rifle. He looked pretty upset when he saw me holding his buck. I told him I'm just doing him a favor, he can have the buck since he shot it. I even helped dragged the buck to his truck. He invited me to dinner at his campsite that night. Later, we figured his scope was out of wack.

There's another story of my brother. He was hunting his regular grounds when he heard a shot. About 10 minutes later out comes this buck across the ravine from him about 80 yards. He took one quick shot and dropped the buck. He got to the deer and saw that the nose bridge has been nicked off by a bullet and it was bleeding fresh blood. Then came these 2 guys. All parties nicely talked it over. They agreed that if my brother never killed the buck, it would of survived. So they let my brother have at it.

If someone is gonna fight over a dead deerand get killed , HAVE AT IT. A deer is not worth your life.

[Fishspanker]

Originally Posted by Aku 24

As many of you said above, it is not worth arguing over. I know if the roles were reversed, I would have said that "you shot him first and if you want to tag him fine. If not, I'll tag him seeing how I put him out of his misery". But that didn't happen.

At the time, I didn't hardly get the words out of my mouth to these two guys (Whats the protocol?) when my buddy says "it's their deer". I looked at him like WTF, I wanted the other two guys to give me an answer. I wanted them to have a clear opinion as to who's deer that was and put the pressure on them to do the right thing. Anyway, I said that's disappointing, good luck guys, and I moved on back down the hill. The next day I shot a forked horn about 1/4 of a mile from the same place.

BTW, all the talk about how crowded the TWA is, we only saw these two other hunters in the field, in this area. These two guys were not set up 200 yards from us they too were hiking towards the top of the canyon when this deer came up towards them. We saw plenty of other hunters on the roads, but hardly any in the field. The other two areas that we hunted, we only saw 4 hunters that were all sitting. We like to hike through long canyons and push deer, usually with 1 or 2 shooters near the bottom. We've had plenty of years where other guys have shot bucks that we kicked out...so be it. It is just disappointing not to get a buck that I shot, let lie, and was tracking. I definitely learned a good lesson about not relaxing until I'm standing over a dead deer.

Glad you tagged a buck after what happened. Just put the hurt on the buck and keep doing it until the fat lady sings.
Also, I agree that TWA is not as crowded as everyone says. Its like public land hunting anywhere, the road hunters will run into the road hunters and then complain about the crowds and the guys dropping into the canyon with run into deer.

[Fishspanker]

Originally Posted by Beastie

The G-1 hunt straight up sucks!!!! Ive been there twice and I would never call going there a hunting trip unless seeing people all day long and things like what happened above are fun to you. There are literaly camp cities set up in areas. It really is rediculous and not to mention unsafe in many respects. But people go every year for some reason, so to each their own. In my opinion, keep going there and stay out of other areas. California hunting on public land is really crazy. I just got back from Idaho and for 5 days straight I was able to hunt in many different public land areas and not see a single person. Thats is what hunting really is.

Sorry to hear that G-1 one isn't going so well for you. I wish you better luck next time, and maybe you can draw another zone next year so I can have a better chance at getting G-1 on my second choice.

[Live2hunt]

BTW, all the talk about how crowded the TWA is, we only saw these two other hunters in the field, in this area.

I didn't think anyone said anything about TWA being crowded. It's the public lands (G1) around the TWA are crowded.


L2H

[Fishspanker]

Glad to see you on here again.

Originally Posted by Live2hunt

I didn't think anyone said anything about TWA being crowded. It's the public lands (G1) around the TWA are crowded.


L2H

[madmax]

First Blood!

[909srt4]

Up in D13 a couple of years ago, a similar situation happened .The game warden said who ever made the killing shot (downed the animal ) was to keep the deer .Beacuase if it wasn't for the second hunter the it would have been lost deer any ways .
In this occasion the second shooter keep the deer .(the first shooter placed a bad shot and the deer ran about 2 hills over )

[boar slayer]

first blood . shoot straight and make shure its dead get on animals quickly when shot with a rifle a buddie of mine made a head shot on a buck in x9a a few years ago shot it through the earbutt next the skull it went end over end as he got to it it got up and he had to shoot it in the chest to kill it it just got knocked out

[Kentuck]

I was archery hunting X8 a few years ago. Was working a small group of bucks that unfortunately were hanging to close to a major road. As I was making my way to the bucks, some guys drove buy and saw them. The bucks spooked and I was circling them to hoping to get a shot. The other two guys went uphill from me. The bucks ended up moving uphill and one went by one of the other guys. Just as he shot, the buck spun and the guy's arrow hits a hind leg, breaks it, and then goes into the gut.
I'm trying to figure out where the bucks went when I hear rocks tumbling behind me. Here comes a buck walking likes its drunk. I see the wound are realize someone gut shot it. The deer sees me at 20 yards and turns broadside to get away. I make a perfect shot on the buck. It runs about 60 yards into the brush and I hear it fall. As I'm gong to get my arrow I see the guy coming down the hill tracking the deer. I motion him down and ask if he shot a deer. He say yes but the hit was bad. I tell him I shot it and it was dead just around the hill. His buddy joins us and we go over to the deer. It was a decent 3-pointer and would have been my biggest CA deer. After a few nervous moments I told the guy my Dad had always told me first blood gets the deer. Besides, I would have never gotten a shot had he not shot it first. It would have been a long drawn out tracking job and I was happy I was able to put the deer down. I even used my truck to drive down a logging road and haul it out for the guys (they had a van). Turns out the guy's in-laws lived in my town and he asked for my contact info. Sure enough, about three months later he calls me and we meet and he gives me some of the meat. Worked out for us both.

I would have slapped your friend!

[steglic]

My friend was in a similar situation on an archery deer. It was settled with a flip of a skoal can.

[Game-Stopper]

Whoever drew first blood gets the buck, bottom line. I've been on both ends of that situation a few times. Its just the right thing to do in my opinion. Glad to hear you were later able to fill your tag. Thanks for sharing.

[chip01]

A friend that i hunt with told me a story. while hunting east of the 15fwy d14 i think, he saw a buck while he was driving. got out of the truck and shot it he dropped like a rock, lifted dirt and then got back up. the buck ran and then my friend whent after him. he was not to far from the deer, he was able to see that he had hit him in he hip. he shot him again but not good enough to kill him. the buck was on the run already. as he whent down hill the buck rolls and lads next to the road. as my friend gets to him the buck stands right in the middle of the dirt road. I just happens that about 50 yards away a 12 year old boy (first year hunting) shoots the deer with a 30-30 and kills him just drops dead.
My friend said that everything just happened so fast that he saw deer stand on road, kid raise rifle and shoot. he didnt even get a chance to say anything.
MY QUESTION CAME UP "sO WHO KEPT THE BUCK"
He stated that the boy as soon as he shot he yelled "I SHOT A DEER". over and over

My friend just looked at me and said "would you have taken the deer from him"
my buddy just told him "it was still breathing when you shot and it was still standing, its yours" and walked away.

[turkin]

Originally Posted by Aku 24

I'm sure that this has been overly discussed ever since the beginning of tagging deer:

I hunted G-1 TWA this last weekend with my buddy who didn't get drawn. He was a non-hunter, my dog for the weekend

We hunted a canyon, me on one side, him on the other. He kicks a 3X3 out that runs up the hill above me and stops. I shoot it at 100 yards and it falls behind some brush, legs up in the air. I wait about 5 minutes. As I look through my scope, I see some movement behind the brush. He pulled himself up on his front legs and pulled himself deeper into the brush. All I can see is his head and and the top of his back. I can see that I shot it high on the back, it had a large wound, and it was bleeding. I move about 20 yards to my left to see if I can get another shot at him. I did not want this deer to suffer anymore that it already has. As I move it sees me and starts pulling itself even harder into the brush and behind a rock. I move again and see that it is now laying down, head on its side (All I really see is a small amount of it's body and the side of it's antlers). I figure great, it laid down and I'll give it 10 more minutes. I call my buddy on the radio over from the other side of the canyon. Takes him about 10 minutes to get over there. I tell him "there's the buck up the hill at about 80 yards...see the antlers?" We start smiling and laughing, all of the sudden the buck gets itself on it's feet and starts down the hill on the other side of the brush...crap I can't get a clean shot. We start tracking it and then Boom, Boom, Boom.

Some guys 200 yards from us shoot the buck. As I'm walking over to them I am thinking who's buck is this? I shot it, I wounded it, I let it lay for 15 to 20 minutes, it gets up, I started tracking it, and they shot it. As I get up to them, I tell them that I shot that buck 20 minutes earlier and was tracking it. You could clearly see the hole in it's back where I shot it. I then ask them "So what's the protocol in situations like this?"

just wondering if you guys seen any hogs or hog sign ?

[Live2hunt]

Originally Posted by 909srt4

Up in D13 a couple of years ago, a similar situation happened .The game warden said who ever made the killing shot (downed the animal ) was to keep the deer .Beacuase if it wasn't for the second hunter the it would have been lost deer any ways .
In this occasion the second shooter keep the deer .(the first shooter placed a bad shot and the deer ran about 2 hills over )

The game warden made a good call. I would have done the same thing too. Not to be rude to AKU24 but it just makes more sense as he was about to leave a lost buck to die in the wood and not find it.



L2H