Question of etiquette

[Taco280AI]

A buddy, who is a good buddy, really surprised me today. He's the type that will drop what he's doing, drive 90 minutes, then hike an hour to come help me pack out an animal out, and he's done it - isn't just talk.

So we went to a mountain area neither of us had been to, but one that I had wanted to check out. The first time I only saw a spike and forkie. The second time I saw a decent 3-point with a forkie. That second time he brought a friend of his to try and and get him his first deer. I knew and was cool with it, no issue.

I messaged them saying there's two bucks (a 3pt for me and a forky for his first timer buddy), and after a call they left the area they were looking and came to where I was, roughly 1.4 miles away.

Up until then he had only been glassing a burn, not getting way off the path - which he isn't at all afraid to do, just hadn't in this area.

By the time they got there, despite best efforts, those two bucks had gone into thick stuff and couldn't be found or spooked out. None of us got a buck that day.

Tomorrow is elk so I'm chilling at home today. I told him last night that if I don't get an elk on the first few days I'd go after that buck. He went hunting for deer again today up in the area we'd been going, but instead of going to the burn he'd been glassing the whole time, he went the next ridge over (verified by OnX) from where the buck I found bedded, giving him a view into where they were.

Initially he said he found a big 4x4, sweet! Go get him! I asked where he was, wondering of he went to the burn, no answer. A while later he said he didn't know if it was a 3pt or 4pt. I again asked where he was, no answer. I guess the buck was in a different spot today, but still close by, and he shot him. I asked if he needed help getting him out, I'll get my pack and get ready, told me to stand by till he got to it. I asked where he was again and he went the onX screen shot right above where they bedded. Sent a photo of the buck? You went after the buck I found? "It doesn't matter where I went"

Now this was a new area we both went to together so it wasn't mine or his. But the spot I found the buck was my spot, because he only kept glassing the burn. And he targeted the buck I found.

I think it's a Blue Falcon move, he says it doesn't matter where he went. Now had he simply asked if I cared if he went after the buck, cool no problem. But to target a buck someone else found and would later go after in that spot without saying anything or just asking... I'm really surprised he did that, especially him.

Was it a messed up move?
Or was it fair game, no questions necessary?

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Classic tell people about your fishn hole you won't have fish to catch. 

[link]

So you both first go to the area. Then you call dibs on a particular hillside? Kinda weird.

[Dan-o]

I don't see an issue with it. 

To me that's just part of hunting with folks. 

[Taco280AI]

So you both first go to the area. Then you call dibs on a particular hillside? Kinda weird.

When he sits off the dirt road and I go hiking off trail, a mile away, find the buck, then he goes back after that very buck that I found... yes.

[fishngamereaper]

Should be pumped for your buddy...
What if someone else rolled in and shot it...
If it was your go to spot for the last ten years then ya maybe some animosity..
But not a new area....don't stress about it. Drop everything show up buddies are hard to find.


Now fishing spots...that's completely different 

[Mfowl]

Did you tell your buddy you were planning on going back to hunt the area? You stated you were switching over to elk season, maybe he figured you were done and why not hunt it? If you were done with deer then I don't really see an issue. Be happy your buddy tagged out, drop everything and go pack some meat!
If you had told your buddy you were planning on going back in there after the buck and he hurried up and went before you that would be messed up.

[cblacker1]

Sounds like you have a hard time

[jrebel]

Why did you call him to tell him about the buck if you didn't want him to hunt it??  Am I missing something?? 

Next time call him after you kill it, he will come help pack it out!!   

I guess at the end of the day....who cares who killed it.  As a hunting buddy, I would be happy that one of you could get it done a nice buck.

[Taco280AI]

Did you tell your buddy you were planning on going back to hunt the area? You stated you were switching over to elk season, maybe he figured you were done and why not hunt it? If you were done with deer then I don't really see an issue. Be happy your buddy tagged out, drop everything and go pack some meat!
If you had told your buddy you were planning on going back in there after the buck and he hurried up and went before you that would be messed up.

Last night I said I was going for elk for a couple days, then if it doesn't happen I'd go back after that 3 point and wait some weather to come in for elk since it goes through the 9th. If I had no plans at all of that buck, who cares, please go and get it.

Sounds like you have a hard time

With... I'm asking for opinions, please share.

[Taco280AI]

Why did you call him to tell him about the buck if you didn't want him to hunt it??  Am I missing something?? 

Next time call him after you kill it, he will come help pack it out!!   

I guess at the end of the day....who cares who killed it.  As a hunting buddy, I would be happy that one of you could get it done a nice buck.

The second time we went up, there were three of us and it was his buddy that he brought that had never gotten a deer. So I called them up (we were high enough and actually had service) and said come over here,  in hopes we'd get a double. I'd take the 3 point and his rookie friend would tag the forkie. They were about a mile off glassing the burn by the road. That's how they learned of that particular spot and the bucks.

Now I'm glad he got it instead of someone else, but when I told him I might go back after that very buck after a few days of elk - which I should have mentioned in the original post, and he went today to that very spot....

It doesn't change the friendship, he a good dude. And maybe I just see this incident differently. Why I'm asking.

[jrebel]

Why did you call him to tell him about the buck if you didn't want him to hunt it??  Am I missing something?? 

Next time call him after you kill it, he will come help pack it out!!   

I guess at the end of the day....who cares who killed it.  As a hunting buddy, I would be happy that one of you could get it done a nice buck.

The second time we went up, there were three of us and it was his buddy that he brought that had never gotten a deer. So I called them up (we were high enough and actually had service) and said come over here,  in hopes we'd get a double. I'd take the 3 point and his rookie friend would tag the forkie. They were about a mile off glassing the burn by the road. That's how they learned of that particular spot and the bucks.

So when they got to you after you called, did you have the discussion you would like to take a crack at the 3x3?  Or....did you all move on the deer and he just happen to get the better approach / shot? 

Only way I would be pissed off.....I I told my friend I was going to shoot the 3x3 (because I spotted it) and he shot it out from under my. 

Again, my opinion is your overthinking it, and should be happy the three of you didn't hike out without a deer.  Again, going on limited info.....so take it for what it is worth?

[Taco280AI]

Why did you call him to tell him about the buck if you didn't want him to hunt it??  Am I missing something?? 

Next time call him after you kill it, he will come help pack it out!!   

I guess at the end of the day....who cares who killed it.  As a hunting buddy, I would be happy that one of you could get it done a nice buck.

The second time we went up, there were three of us and it was his buddy that he brought that had never gotten a deer. So I called them up (we were high enough and actually had service) and said come over here,  in hopes we'd get a double. I'd take the 3 point and his rookie friend would tag the forkie. They were about a mile off glassing the burn by the road. That's how they learned of that particular spot and the bucks.

So when they got to you after you called, did you have the discussion you would like to take a crack at the 3x3?  Or....did you all move on the deer and he just happen to get the better approach / shot? 

Only way I would be pissed off.....I I told my friend I was going to shoot the 3x3 (because I spotted it) and he shot it out from under my. 

Again, my opinion is your overthinking it, and should be happy the three of you didn't hike out without a deer.  Again, going on limited info.....so take it for what it is worth?

None of us got a deer that day, by the time they got there the deer were all safely in the thick stuff and wouldn't come out. The discussion was I'd take the 3 point, his friend would take the forkie, but the way it worked out no shots were fired. I'm taking the day off because elk starts tomorrow and my buddy went up today by himself.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Personally, I would be pumped for him.

   Its all about communication. If you guys set the parameters of " what you see is what you get" then he may have well stepped outside the circle.   To me scouting a new area with more than myself means all of its available together, we share data with understanding the intel is a 2 way street. If someone wants to target a particular spot or critter it falls to the finder and they can "call" it. If not no biggie and it's open.  I also don't think a mile is anything "outside the area " so maybe mine and buddies parameters are different. 

[Platensek-po]

Plenty of deer in the woods. If he is a good enough buddy I’m sharing spots and the like with him then I wouldn’t care.