What would you do?!?!

[remington300mag]

falls into a thicket.....as your partner reaches down for his radio to inform you that he has an animal down he looks up to see the buck standing there again, so he raises back up and fires again dropping the buck in it's tracks....After you arrive to help out your partner you realize that he has just shot and killed 2 absolutely twin 4x4 bucks......What do you do?!?!



I have often wondered what type of hunters, friends, partners, and all around people are on this site. Sometimes it is a little tough to read people from the computer. So, here is a little pole to see how you would all handle a very sticky situation....I would love to see some honest answers and not the normal "That would NEVER happen to me or a hunting partner of mine".....Let just go with the "What If"!!!

[TONTO]

  Wow I see I was the first to answer. Alright I know it isn't legal to tag an animal somebody else has shot. In my opinion the legal answer isn't always the most ethical. I would not be happy about it but I would cut my tag to keep from wasting the deer. My partner would also know I was not happy about the situation either. I know there are people out there that party hunt, I'm not one of them, I would never shoot an animal for someone else or encourage someone else to shoot mine, but in this situation I would cut my tag, and it would be a long quiet ride home.

[remington300mag]

Well Tonto I would do the same....the people I hunt with are very close to me and people that I trust....in this situation I would know in my heart it was an honest mistake.....and in turn I would try and be as understanding as I could be.....

[Annette]

  Wow I see I was the first to answer. Alright I know it isn't legal to tag an animal somebody else has shot. In my opinion the legal answer isn't always the most ethical. I would not be happy about it but I would cut my tag to keep from wasting the deer. My partner would also know I was not happy about the situation either. I know there are people out there that party hunt, I'm not one of them, I would never shoot an animal for someone else or encourage someone else to shoot mine, but in this situation I would cut my tag, and it would be a long quiet ride home.

Good answer

[YoungBuck]

  Wow I see I was the first to answer. Alright I know it isn't legal to tag an animal somebody else has shot. In my opinion the legal answer isn't always the most ethical. I would not be happy about it but I would cut my tag to keep from wasting the deer. My partner would also know I was not happy about the situation either. I know there are people out there that party hunt, I'm not one of them, I would never shoot an animal for someone else or encourage someone else to shoot mine, but in this situation I would cut my tag, and it would be a long quiet ride home.

Thats the best answer in my opinion.

[ser300wsm]

That is the best answer, in my opinion. I could not waste the deer either..

[Gutpile]

I don't even want to open that can of worms. I'd be very pissed but would tag it then I'd let them know how pissed I was.

[wiremonkey]

i'm with everybody else. i would not be happy  but the people i hunt with are not the type who would do this on purpose or with bad intentions. camp would be very quiet for a while.

[jaymark6655]

I would feel robbed, but there is no way I am letting a good deer sit there and rot.

[Pathfinder101]

Same here.  Honest mistake.  I'd put my tag on it and take it home.  If WDFW gets called, the deer becomes evidence and gets wasted.  And they HAVE to give him the ticket.  No talking your way out of that one.  I know a guy that called himself in for accidentally shooting a 2x2 a couple of years ago.  Gameys came and gave him a ticket anyway, and confiscated the buck.  It went to waste. 

[GoldTip]

The guys I hunt with would be falling over backwards apologizing for the mistake, which if it happens as written would be exactly what it was and ALL that it was.  I would not want that deer to go to waste and yes I would tag that buck.  I would not be happy my hunt was over and I would tag the deer to prevent it from going to waste.  I would give my buddy plenty of chit about it, but I would not be pissed at him.  A mistake is a mistake, and I trust the guys I hunt with enough to know that if that is what happened, then that is what happened.

[Mudball]

That kind of stuff does happen. If it ever happened again I would never hunt with them again. But waisting a good animal is never a good idea. I don't even think I would be that upset, It happens.

[carpsniperg2]

yep it happens. i went to school with a kid that during modern season shot a 3pt went walking up to where he had shot it. and the buck is standing there looking at him. he shoots it again and it falls over. well not the same deer, 2 very alike 3pts. they called the fish and wildlife right away. even though his brother was right there and had a tag. fish and wildlife, get there and where very nice. they told him it was a honest mistake and that i happens. they where very happy they reported it, because most would not have. they checked his hunting license, he tagged one and the fish and wildlife officer took the other one to the butcher to be donated to a home for less fortunate people. so no waste and it was the right thing to do.

[huntingfool7]

@carp   
No citation on that one?

[quadrafire]

Make him pay to have "yours" mounted

[jackelope]

I'd tag it too. There would be no "long quiet ride home" either. People make mistakes. If you guys would seriously never hunt with your hunting buddies again because they made an honest mistake I'm glad I'm not your hunting buddy. Geez there's either a bunch of internet tough guys here or a bunch of perfect angels who have never made a mistake.

[BIGINNER]

I'd tag it too. There would be no "long quiet ride home" either. People make mistakes. If you guys would seriously never hunt with your hunting buddies again because they made an honest mistake I'm glad I'm not your hunting buddy. Geez there's either a bunch of internet tough guys here or a bunch of perfect angels who have never made a mistake.

i agree with you.  i would tag the deer and i wouldn't give my patner $hit about it,  it was an honest mistake,  i would tag the deer and have a full freezer   

[rasbo]

I would tag it,no waste..Ive heard of this happening

[Skillet]

I'd tag it too. There would be no "long quiet ride home" either. People make mistakes. If you guys would seriously never hunt with your hunting buddies again because they made an honest mistake I'm glad I'm not your hunting buddy. Geez there's either a bunch of internet tough guys here or a bunch of perfect angels who have never made a mistake.

Respectfully disagree - the perfect angels are the ones calling the WDFW or making the buddy turn himself in under threat of reporting him as a poacher.  The majority would be rightfully PO'd that their season is over because of a mistake the buddy made.
This is a good poll.  I guess technically I'm a lawbreaker at heart - I feel the intent of the law is not to ruin a guy for making this mistake, but to prevent wonton waste of game, and that the waste of the deer is a greater crime than me tagging an animal I didn't shoot and my season ending sooner than it should.  I tag the deer, chew his butt for being a *censored* and ending my season early for me, and if he gets lippy with me at all about it or isn't falling all over himself apologizing, I don't go hunting with him anymore.  Can't trust him to not make that mistake again if he thinks it's "no big deal."  I would start thinking it was all a story, and he saw the two bucks to begin with and couldn't resist dropping them both.

[remington300mag]

Here is another question to add a little too this.....would it matter if they were both 180" 4x4's rather than small spindly 3x2's?!?!?

I also want to say that after looking at the results so far and reading the posts....It has only helped me to see that the men and woman on this forum are stand up friends, hunting partners, and people! Mistakes do happen....and it is nice to see we don't look for any and all reasons to persecute others!

[bullrider97]

My grandfather actually did this in his later years. He shot at a buck that kept on running. Never found a blood trail. He then shot at a doe that did the same thing. My father went to help him track, found the blood, then found both deer piled up side by side. It wasn't Grandpa's intention, but that doesn't make it better either.

I don't know what the outcome was.

[markts]

I'd tag it too. There would be no "long quiet ride home" either. People make mistakes. If you guys would seriously never hunt with your hunting buddies again because they made an honest mistake I'm glad I'm not your hunting buddy. Geez there's either a bunch of internet tough guys here or a bunch of perfect angels who have never made a mistake.

My thoughts exactly

[docsven]

In that situation I would probably tag it.  When I was first hunting deer at 12, there was this brother-in-law of one of my uncles who would sometimes be in our party who shot a deer then asked me to tag it.  I thought it was weird, I refused, and later asked my dad about it.  He told me that this guy would shoot as many deer as there were tags in the party and expect everyone to tag the animals.  I wondered why something like that happened more than once.  Lots of people seem to get tags for their wife or kids and try to tag everyone out so they have meat for the winter.  Not hunting to me.

[jackelope]

I'd tag it too. There would be no "long quiet ride home" either. People make mistakes. If you guys would seriously never hunt with your hunting buddies again because they made an honest mistake I'm glad I'm not your hunting buddy. Geez there's either a bunch of internet tough guys here or a bunch of perfect angels who have never made a mistake.

Respectfully disagree - the perfect angels are the ones calling the WDFW or making the buddy turn himself in under threat of reporting him as a poacher.  The majority would be rightfully PO'd that their season is over because of a mistake the buddy made.
This is a good poll.  I guess technically I'm a lawbreaker at heart - I feel the intent of the law is not to ruin a guy for making this mistake, but to prevent wonton waste of game, and that the waste of the deer is a greater crime than me tagging an animal I didn't shoot and my season ending sooner than it should.  I tag the deer, chew his butt for being a *censored* and ending my season early for me, and if he gets lippy with me at all about it or isn't falling all over himself apologizing, I don't go hunting with him anymore.  Can't trust him to not make that mistake again if he thinks it's "no big deal."  I would start thinking it was all a story, and he saw the two bucks to begin with and couldn't resist dropping them both.

Skillet-
With all due respect...
My comment was pretty much based solely on this comment:

After you arrive to help out your partner you realize that he has just shot and killed 2 absolutely twin 4x4 bucks

If he shot a dink 3x3 then a 180 4x4 popped up and he dumped that one too my story would be exactly opposite. Because the OP said twin 4x4's I chalk it up to an honest mistake that we do occasionally make....we are human after all. If that kind of mistake is what it takes to cost you a friend and a hunting partner, I don't want to be your hunting partner.  Don't take that the wrong way, I'm not directing it specifically at you, just making conversation.

[Lowedog]

In that situation I would probably tag it.  When I was first hunting deer at 12, there was this brother-in-law of one of my uncles who would sometimes be in our party who shot a deer then asked me to tag it.  I thought it was weird, I refused, and later asked my dad about it.  He told me that this guy would shoot as many deer as there were tags in the party and expect everyone to tag the animals.  I wondered why something like that happened more than once.  Lots of people seem to get tags for their wife or kids and try to tag everyone out so they have meat for the winter.  Not hunting to me.

This goes on way more than we all know.  Or maybe we do know and there isn't much that can be done.  There are far too many people who feel it is fine to shoot animals for other people. 

[ouchfoss]

A guy I know had this happen to him a few years ago on a 4x4 bull elk during rifle season. He sneaks up close on a herd and gets a good shot on the bull and it runs about 10 feet behind a stump and falls over dead right there. At that exact moment another 4x4 runs out from behind that stump the opposite direction and stops and stares at him and thinking that it was the same bull, he shoots again and gets a killer shot on that one too. After he figures out that there is 2 dead bulls, he tags one of them and leaves the woods and calls up WDFW to let them know the situation. He also calls up a buddy and lets hime know that there is a dead elk that he can tag if he wants to that way there is no waste. After the officer gets there and looks at the elk, he lets the friend tag the other elk and gives the first guy a big ticket. I think it was for exceeding the bag limit but I could be wrong, its been a while. Anyhow, made him kinda mad for doing right thing by calling WDFW first considering he could have just not said a word like most people would do.

[actionshooter]

Well since its the night before Halloween, I voted for the FAIRY TALE...........".Call game department and report what your partner has done..."WDFW are very understanding people, they would never charge him for this, being truly an accident!"..............    

[remington300mag]

I was hoping to figure out who voted that way!!  Glad to hear it was a joke......

[cashmerekev]

If he is your hunting buddy you would expect him to do the same for you.   Harass him for the rest of his life over it...  Always getting to ride shotgun and getting first shot at the best buck you see next year.....

[7mag.]

Ethical is not always legal. Ethical wins every time in my book. I chose #1. I would not punish my partner for an honest mistake, and I would not leave the animal to rot.

Seems a lot of people are caught up in following the law to the letter, and don't stop to think for themselves. There is always special circumstances that make following the letter of the law not the right thing to do. It is impossible to right a law that covers every circumstance with one broad stroke.

[ICEMAN]

This scenario reminds me of guys who shoot into a herd of cows trying to fill their cow tag. All hell breaks loose and they keep shooting, oblivious as to which cow they had previously shot at. When I have had a cow tag, I shot the trailing/last elk (not the biggest in this case...). This way I was able to watch it specifically for a follow up shot...no two animals wounded...

[DeKuma]

I would not even think twice about it.  My hunting partners are my Dad and my wife.  I would trust either of them to the fullest that it is an honest mistake.  Hell, I almost made the same mistake myself years ago on a 4pt muley.  Had I not seen the blood in the snow going into the brush where my deer rolled I would have shot again at the other one.  I would have ZERO hard feelings for losing my tag.  It does happen.
This site has gotten out of hand with internet angles who never make mistakes and are so eager to jump on someone who, by appearances, may have. 
IF you trust your partner as you should, you would not hesitate in tagging it and knowing it was an honest mistake.

[cohoho]

Tag it and have him carry the heavy parts back to the truck....  Things happen and mistakes are made in the field, no reason to get po'ed...  I'd be bummed a bit that I didn't get to take my own animal but would get over it when the back straps were be filleted off....

[Tman]

Everyone makes mistakes, it happens. Hopefully, all members hunt with friends and family they truly trust.  #1 is the right thing to do, whether the game dept thinks so or not..

[Atroxus]

Like others have said if it's an honest mistake I would tag it to keep it from going to waste. If he gave me any reason to believe it was not a mistake though I would expect him to turn himself in, or do it for him if he did not.

[adamR]

i'd ask my buddy to call the game warden... honestly they are usually pretty willing to work with you and understand accidents happen... but if he wasn't willing to call them himself I'm not going to let that meat go to waste... guess I'd tag it

[jeepster]

id tag it... but id be pissed. accidents happen however... live and learn. the friends i hunt with are like familly so we would say "oh crap" and then get out of the area asap and laugh about it later. wasting game is one of the worst offences 

[6x6in6]

I'd tag it too.  It's an accident. Mistakes happen.  No guilt trip.  Hunted with the same pair of guys for going on 25 years.  He would be at my beckoned call for the rest of the trip though.  My cocktail cup is empty, fix that will ya. The fires cooling down, more wood please.  What's for breakfast, I'm hungry.  Dinner?  Do the damn dishes!!! 

[grundy53]

I'd tag it too. There would be no "long quiet ride home" either. People make mistakes. If you guys would seriously never hunt with your hunting buddies again because they made an honest mistake I'm glad I'm not your hunting buddy. Geez there's either a bunch of internet tough guys here or a bunch of perfect angels who have never made a mistake.

Same for me.

[huntinfool86]

this happened to a buddy of mine. he another friend went to Wyoming for an antelope hunt the guy shot and killed two with one shot, long drive for my buddy not to shoot one but he still tagged it. Its the right thing to do 

[CAMPMEAT]

Your scenario in your post is unclear to me. Reread it.