Tagged animal theft big concern or small concern?

[pods8]

I was curious what folks thoughts were on the risk left of leaving a tagged animal to go retrieve dragging or transport equipment?  Do you try and hide it at all or would you go ahead and hang it if you had the option?  Or say screw it and drag it by hand if you don't have anyone to watch it for you?

I'm assuming the majority of folks are good people and would leave it alone but there is that smaller portion of people...  However they'd still need to deal with the same transport issue as you so even if they were tempted to try and rob you would the higher potential of being caught trying to drag off someone else's deer who's likely going to quickly return detour the majority of that bad element?

[fishermanjoe]

I have had one instance of someone taking an untagged deer out from under me and my buddy.  I would be hesitant of leaving a tagged animal out in the woods, even more so if it has a decent rack, there will always be scumbags out there that will do the unethical and illegal thing. Its a gamble. Most hunters are good guys, but you cant always count on that.

[Bob33]

Of course "it depends": where you are hunting, how many other hunters are in the area, how difficult it is to conceal the animal, how long you will be leaving it unattended, did others hear your shot, and how valuable it is.  Generally speaking I do not believe it is a serious risk in most instances.

[Hunterman]

I bring them out..Some wants to take any animal of mine,,,,well it ain't good 

Hunterman(Tony)

[WDFW-SUX]

if you leave a nice rack in the back of a pickup i think the risk is very very real.

[CAMPMEAT]

Take the head. If a sh!thead wants your animal that bad, he'd have a hard time 'slpainin' ,where's the head, question from the game warden. I shot a 6x5 elk one year and the game warden told me hide the head in camp as best as possible so nobody would steal it.
I hate thieves......

[pods8]

By the way what I was more inquiring about is if you've still hunted a few miles in and wanted to run back your vehicle to retrieve a cart, drag, or better suited backpack for hauling out the carcass. 

Take the head. If a sh!thead wants your animal that bad, he'd have a hard time 'slpainin' ,where's the head, question from the game warden. I shot a 6x5 elk one year and the game warden told me hide the head in camp as best as possible so nobody would steal it.
I hate thieves......

Then you'd need to leave evidence of sex on the carcass verse doing a clean field dress w/o a testie or such.

[spotter26]

In my family we always just make a backpack out of the deer, and pack it out hole, theres been a few that took awhile but we always get them out whole. We dont take any chances with that, its hard to trust anybody these days. If you have to leave the deer, hide something in its mouth, so if it does get stolen you have something to prove that it is your deer. just an idea. If you have to leave it try to hide it.

[boneaddict]

If I remember correctly there was a rash of deer being stole off of meat poles in the Valley last year.   I believe it was blackpine/ and libby.   Might have been beaver creek, but that seems wrong to me as there are usually "camp drunks" there and that would be pretty risky.    Apparantly they back up tot he meatpole slice and off they go.

[WDFW-SUX]

 

[BlackRidge]

Whoever tries to take my meat can expect a slug enema  

[elkslare]

Of course "it depends": where you are hunting, how many other hunters are in the area, how difficult it is to conceal the animal, how long you will be leaving it unattended, did others hear your shot, and how valuable it is.  Generally speaking I do not believe it is a serious risk in most instances.

                               

[PacificNWhunter]

If I remember right a member on here had a nice permit muley stolen out of his truck when he went to retrieve the other load of meat. Not sure  how many years ago that was though.

[pips4bucks]

Interesting issue... I almost always keep a drag rope in my pack and haul my deer out of the woods right away.  I like Campmeat and Spotter26 ideas though.

Also, I would keep my .40+ caliber friend close at hand when I went back, for those 2-legged scavengers.

[pods8]

In my family we always just make a backpack out of the deer, and pack it out hole, theres been a few that took awhile but we always get them out whole.

If it was light enough and I had a ways to go I'd consider doing this but if they end up being too heavy and its going to be a couple mile drag esp. over rougher stuff having a sled or cart would be nice.

Interesting issue... I almost always keep a drag rope in my pack and haul my deer out of the woods right away. 

I'm just concerned if there is a couple miles of gravel to cross or such, then I'd prefer having a sled under or such.  Didn't know about quickly running back to the truck.

Might think about setting a hidden trail cam by the truck.  I've been considering it.  And placing in such a way that I can probably get the license plates of any vehicles.  I will go out for a few days and be miles from the car.  It gets unnerving when you see guys (not hunters or hikers) that look like tweekers hanging out in the parking lots.

I'm not worried about stuff back at my truck because someone would have to break into my truck camper, which is possible but far more effort than just grabbing something out of an open truck.  I couldn't really imagine anyone trying to break into a truck camper knowing the owner of it is armed and could be within view of it for all they know...

[spotter26]

i was hunting capital peak gmu 663 last year and had a guy stop me to ask if i had seen anybody by his truck and told me someone busted his window out and stole stuff while he was in the timber. but most areas that are only open for hunting season youll probably be fine its the areas with traffic all year round that you have to really worry about prowlers.

[highmuley]

In my family we always just make a backpack out of the deer, and pack it out hole, theres been a few that took awhile but we always get them out whole. We dont take any chances with that, its hard to trust anybody these days. If you have to leave the deer, hide something in its mouth, so if it does get stolen you have something to prove that it is your deer. just an idea. If you have to leave it try to hide it.

When my wife went thru hunters ed, they told her to memorize the numbers on a coin, make a small incision between the gums and the cheek. Stash the coin in this cut. If there are any disputes, give the information of the coin and its location to a/the game warden. Apparently this has worked for that hunter a few times. I normally just end up dragging mine out. But, if I were take a trophy animal, I would take the head with me.

[KopperBuck]

The gum idea is pretty good. I've made an incision on the inside of the knee and inserted my contact info, usually a business card folded in half. Of couse this only works if the hide is still on. But still better than nothing I guess.

[Earshot]

Had a buddy that shot a five point bull in Colorado, he gutted it, tagged it and tied his vest to it to let anyone know he was coming back soon. Went back to camp to get some help and upon returning an hour later the bull was gone, horse tracks all around and his vest was laying on the ground. Nice!

[hirshey]

That's one of the biggest benefits of hunting WITH someone else... a few hours out of their continuation of the hunt to ensure you get to keep your animal is worth it every time for me. Too bad it seems like some skumbags are attracted to gunshots and it seems like a race to even see who can tag the animal first. This year was the first year we've ever had it happen, but I will be more cautious in the future for certain.