WDFW Deer Give Away in the Methow Valley

[shotguunar]

Hearing that the wildlife department was out writing citations for hunters harvesting deer that didn't meet the 3 point restriction and then taking the illegal deer and giving them to other hunters in the area anybody been hearing anything about this?

[Kazekurt]

It's not uncommon for wardens to do stuff like this.  Somebody poached a buck out of a friend of mine's hay field a few years ago and a warden came and cited him, took his deer, and then went and gave it to another hunter That was willing to tag it along with a note authorizing him to tag a deer he didn't shoot.  It's really making the best of a bad situation as  they usually either have to take care of the deer themself and then take it to a food bank, or they can allow another hunter to do all of the work and use his tag which potentially spares a deer..

[shallowforks]

Sounds like a good deal

[Stein]

I know in MT some of them are given to local families in need, it's hard to get them through food banks as they first need to go through a USDA processor and there are costs that someone has to pick up.  I'm all for any way they can get them in someone's freezer.

[ghosthunter]

Yes

We got two deer last year. The officers are getting so many illegal deer they cannot get rid of the fast enough.
The food bank will not take them.
One agent last year had five illegal heads in his truck from one day. One 3 point. It was shot by a Hunter across a hwy,on private property ,while folks were yelling at him not to shoot.

They will not give you a deer shot in the gmu where you are camped. You do not get the heads only the body with a paper which allows you to have the deer without head.

[Kazekurt]

Yes

We got two deer last year. The officers are getting so many illegal deer they cannot get rid of the fast enough.
The food bank will not take them.
One agent last year had five illegal heads in his truck from one day. One 3 point. It was shot by a Hunter across a hwy,on private property ,while folks were yelling at him not to shoot.

They will not give you a deer shot in the gmu where you are camped. You do not get the heads only the body with a paper which allows you to have the deer without head.

In the case of the buck poached in my friends field, they gave  another Hunter the entire deer and he was camped a couple miles from where it was poached in the same GMU.  My friend told me they made the guy tag it though.  It was just a small 3x3 but the Hunter was very happy to tag it.

[Bob33]

How can WDFW give an illegally killed deer to someone else to tag, so then he has an illegal deer?

[Stein]

How can WDFW give an illegally killed deer to someone else to tag, so then he has an illegal deer?

The deer isn't illegal, they guy who originally shot it broke the law.

[Bob33]

How can WDFW give an illegally killed deer to someone else to tag, so then he has an illegal deer?

The deer isn't illegal, they guy who originally shot it broke the law.

The deer didn't meet antler restrictions according to the first post. How would it meet antler restrictions for the recipient?

[bobcat]

How can WDFW give an illegally killed deer to someone else to tag, so then he has an illegal deer?

The deer isn't illegal, they guy who originally shot it broke the law.

The deer didn't meet antler restrictions according to the first post. How would it meet antler restrictions for the recipient?

Because it sounds like they just give them permission in writing to have the deer. They don't even keep the head.


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[Bob33]

Seems odd to me but glad it isn't wasted.

"Hey, do you want to put your tag on this 2 point deer killed in a 3 point area?"

[bigtex]

Seems odd to me but glad it isn't wasted.

"Hey, do you want to put your tag on this 2 point deer killed in a 3 point area?"

That's what happens. Same with elk killed in "true spike" areas that aren't "true spikes."

That's what the WDFW form is for.

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[KFhunter]

Can I get put on a waiting list for a non true spike elk give away?   Promise I'll quit bad mouthing WDFW for at least a year but open to negotiations 

 kidding of course

[fishnfur]

Anyone here that would take the buck offered by the LEO rather than hunt up your own legal buck?  I know I'd rather take the chance at eating the tag and just keep hunting.  I guess this late in the season, it might require a bit more consideration.

[KFhunter]

Anyone here that would take the buck offered by the LEO rather than hunt up your own legal buck?  I know I'd rather take the chance at eating the tag and just keep hunting.  I guess this late in the season, it might require a bit more consideration.

People are probably so shocked by the offer they say  "uhh...sure?"

[Scheindogg]

More than anything it seems like it’s part of the penalty to not let the illegal harvester to keep their harvest, but since what’s done is done, may as well let it not be wasted?

One episode of northwest law they seized 2 salmon caught in a non salmon marine area, and ended up giving the 2 salmon to a family salmon fishing in an open area, they clarified that the family would record their catches even the ones gifted by the officer.

[Scheindogg]

Anyone here that would take the buck offered by the LEO rather than hunt up your own legal buck?  I know I'd rather take the chance at eating the tag and just keep hunting.  I guess this late in the season, it might require a bit more consideration.

This is a very good point. Maybe the people who accept are ones who truly are doing it for the meat and don’t necessarily worry about doing the hunting? I feel like I know a couple people that would gladly accept the meat and stop hunting the

[baker5150]

Anyone here that would take the buck offered by the LEO rather than hunt up your own legal buck?  I know I'd rather take the chance at eating the tag and just keep hunting.  I guess this late in the season, it might require a bit more consideration.

We were offered an elk, a cow, a few years back.  We all declined except my buddies 72 year old uncle. He took the elk faster than we could say no.
He had to tag it, a cow, and had to have a cow tag, which he did. 
He was happier than pig in ......

[bobcat]

Lots of people hunt deer only one weekend each year. Or maybe two weekends. Mule deer season is only 11 days. So I'm sure there are plenty of people who would gladly take a deer and use their tag on it. If it was the second weekend, I probably would.

[carpsniperg2]

Anyone here that would take the buck offered by the LEO rather than hunt up your own legal buck?  I know I'd rather take the chance at eating the tag and just keep hunting.  I guess this late in the season, it might require a bit more consideration.

This is a very good point. Maybe the people who accept are ones who truly are doing it for the meat and don’t necessarily worry about doing the hunting? I feel like I know a couple people that would gladly accept the meat and stop hunting the

For sure the case. If you have a hungry family at home, having a tag in your pocket compared to bringing some meat home to your family is a big deal to some.

[Birdguy]

 
I buy multiple tags each year, and have never filled them all. If I was given the opportunity to tag a deer and let my kids keep hunting I would do it. Meat in the freezer and the season to hunt with just the kids focusing on them, win/win!! As it is now I do not remember the last deer I killed. But, I know the boy got three the last three years and the daughter got two the las two years she hunted 

[Stein]

If it was an elk and I had a general tag - absolutely I would take it without thinking.  Same for a deer.  Heck, I'd take a few ducks or geese if given the option.

The only way I would pass is if I was on a draw hunt with one of my kids.

[coachcw]

Makes me wanna hunt in a area where guys don't know the difference between 2 and 3 points

[warthog]

happy the animal isn't wasted.  makes me sick to see all laying on the roads although the eagles and varmints do end up utilizing them.

decades ago back home the wardens took illegal kills to a boys home (bad boys) and they would hang them, whip out their knives and process it iin no time at all.  helped keep food costs down and they loved it.   because as was stated in another post it wasn't usda approved and that practice was stopped.  made me sick when at the local dump i watched as a couple wardens backed up a truck and tossed deer carcasses out onto the heap 2 rot.  way 2 go govt watchdogs.

elk hunting years ago a fella in another camp nearby shot a cow elk illegally.  he did get it out and called the wardens.  they took the elk and fined him big.  i did meet the fella and no wonder he bagged the cow instead of the elk he was shooting at.  one eye went in one direction and the other looked in the opposite direction.  kinda reminded me of a walleye.   the warden told us they took illegal kills and auctioned them off at the time.

[fishnfur]

Anyone here that would take the buck offered by the LEO rather than hunt up your own legal buck?  I know I'd rather take the chance at eating the tag and just keep hunting.  I guess this late in the season, it might require a bit more consideration.

This is a very good point. Maybe the people who accept are ones who truly are doing it for the meat and don’t necessarily worry about doing the hunting? I feel like I know a couple people that would gladly accept the meat and stop hunting the

For sure the case. If you have a hungry family at home, having a tag in your pocket compared to bringing some meat home to your family is a big deal to some.

No argument from me.  I understand the desire to have fresh game in the freezer, and that it can go a long way in keeping a family fed for a long period of time. I don't question your priorities or needs, nor would I question anyone's priorities that would trade their tags for a sure thing offer.  People have to eat.  My point was that those are not my priorities.  For me, meat is second on my list of reasons I hunt.  I hunt deer because I enjoy the challenge of the pursuit.   Having a plan and making it work, and experiencing the rush of closing the deal is for me, what it's all about.  After waiting an entire season to get out there and finally having the chance at making it happen, I know I wouldn't be quickly trading that opportunity away in trade for someone else's kill (though I would also take the elk if offered).  I'd rather eat tag soup any day.

Hunting can be a pretty spendy hobby/pass time.  Many people spend well over a grand or two a year in order to go hunt wild game and spend some time in the outdoors with family and friends.    That money spent on the tags, guns, ammo, gas, camping gear, food, booze, (on and on) would also go a long way in filling the freezer without ever leaving home.  If meat in the freezer was truly the top priority, it seems like choosing a GMU where doe harvest was also legal would be at the top of the hunter's list.  A doe won't yield as much meat, but it can be almost a sure thing (vs. the distant chance of success that were seeing so far this year).   

[Rainier10]

Free deer I would pass on.  A free elk would be tough to pass.

[onmygame]

I've been in both camps - which was either all about the buck, where in my 20s I passed on a solid 3 pt Mule Deer 20 minutes into opening day knowing full well I was there for a week, wanted to continue hunting and would see better (I didn't) to drawing and filling a cow tag - which was all about the meat. I get both sides and have decided that in the end it is all about the meat, though it will always be nice to add a bigger rack to the pile than a smaller one.
My concern with being 'gifted' an animal, aside from just where in the season the opportunity occurs - is the quality of the meat. How long ago was it killed? How long ago field dressed? Done properly? Bile, urine in the cavity? Was it strapped to the hood of a '64 Buick for 100+ miles before being confiscated?
I suppose that if I had a full day left to hunt...and the time to hunt it proper...it would be a pass, along with a suggestion that they make finding a family in need a priority over finding someone easy to give it to.

[ghosthunter]

The two we got were both taken by guys in their late 60s.
They were basic dressed out. But the guys had to skin them.

The wardens keep the heads for evidence. Heck if I were in camp  and offered one I would have taken it.
There is still, lots of other animals to hunt.

I believe the three point restriction is part of the problem. This warden had five heads in his truck just one day. How many are getting shot and not reported?
The next day he had two more by 10 am.