Tagged animal theft big concern or small concern?

[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.