Deer stealers

[bobdog86]

 maybe go tag the deer first before going to retrieve your gear.   

Yeppers, don't think i've ever shot a deer without going to it, confirming it's death, and making sure there's no question by anyone around that it's  mine. Sorry this happened, blows, like some folks said, maybe they thought you had abandoned it for whatever reason. Sucks for sure.

[Jonathan_S]

I understand your frustration.  That really sucks.

What I don't understand is turning around and walking 1/2 mile back to get your pack.

If I witnessed somebody shoot a deer that ran 300 yards and then the shooter turned around to get their pack and (more than likely) went back out of sight, I probably would have done the same thing??

I hope you can understand that this might not be as cut and dried as you see it.

[MountainWalk]

I thought the first thing the law asks is immediatly after harvest, tag animal after filling it out.  Next time keep your pack where it belongs. On your back.  Sorry man, but common sense.

[bowhunterwa87]

I always hunt with my pack on my back. No way am I walking back to my rig to get it.

[buckfvr]

They were able to gut and pack your deer out before you got to it? I don't think they stole it, I bet they thought someone left it or didn't track it and they were not going to let it go to waste.

X2.............thats my thought, however having hunted the Blues in the 90's, my imagination runs wild.............

[pilebuck]

My self I would of stayed with that deer I hunt with a pack always bags and everything I need to get that deer out and stay the night if I have to.A few years ago I shot a 4 by 3 he was hit hard but got up and ran somebody else finished him off I was very  but not worth a fight or worse we hopefully learn from our mistakes to bad 

[elkoholic1]

    some people just don't get what being a sportsman is hope karma finds this low life wow what a deer he gets to brag about that he stole......


 

[Thehowler]

Sorry to hear of this missfortune, but you still have a tag!

[huntnnw]

learned a long time ago to never drop your pack....another reason to not leave it

[huntingbaldguy]

As uncomfortable and burdensome as my pack is at times, i don't leave it.  Sorry this happened to you but it's important to tag your animal immediately imo. 

[Thehowler]

I think if someone has the guts to still anothers animal, they would have no problem removing a tag.

[boneaddict]

I am still contending they probably thought they were doing a good thing.   If they witnessed him walking away as he did.  They probably burned one of their tags.   Heck we have a thread on here for someone reporting to the WDFW a skeleton with two gunshot shoulders left behind.     

[CAMPMEAT]

..............those darn unethical hunters at it again.

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

I am guessing they watched you shoot and leave and figured you were like many others out there who don't follow up on their shots.   They probably thought they were doing a good thing by tagging a "wasted" deer.

 

[Rainier10]

I feel for you that sucks but I am leaning towards what others have said.  Someone probably thought they were doing a good thing by tagging it.  I saw two different guys shoot bucks and not follow them over the next ridge because it was too far.  I would have gone but I was hunting with my daughter and she wouldn't have made the hike.  Hopefully you lost the deer to someone that was thinking they were doing a good thing.  There are bad apples out there but I am hoping this was not one of those incidents.

Again sorry about you not getting the deer that is frustrating for sure.  I am guessing you will do things differently next time.  Tough lesson to learn for sure.