Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Rainier10 on June 24, 2016, 03:58:58 PM

Title: On the boundary
Post by: Rainier10 on June 24, 2016, 03:58:58 PM: Saw this in another thread and didn't want to derail it.

Guy is asking about hunting near the park boundary, but it really applies to all boundaries. If you shoot an animal near the boundary and it crosses over to where you can't go, what then?

I would assume you should call the game department and report it so you don't get busted for wastage or something.

I know in hunter ed we teach that if it goes onto private property you contact the landowner and see if they will let you on to retrieve. If they say no you call the game department and let them know. They may be able to talk the landowner into letting you on. If nothing else you have contacted them first so they are aware of the situation. This prevents the landowner from saying you shot it and didn't even bother to come try to retrieve it.

I think you would want to do the same thing if you were near a GMU boundary and one side was open and the other closed or near a park boundary. Better to report it yourself, be on record having shot an animal and not finding it and then moving on. At least someone else can't report you walking away from an animal.

Here's the million dollar question so to speak.

So you shoot an animal near a boundary and can't recover it for whatever reason. You report it. Then what? Do you stop hunting because you know you filled your tag or do you keep hunting?

Not sure there is a right or wrong answer here, just interested to hear everyone's thoughts and ideas on the subject.
Title: Re: On the boundary
Post by: ian_padron on June 24, 2016, 04:59:55 PM: Notch your tag and call 'er quits for the season. Tough call, but definitely what the beautiful creatures we pursue deserve.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
Title: Re: On the boundary
Post by: coachcw on June 24, 2016, 08:32:25 PM: Tough call but if I shoot a animal that travels into private and the land owner don't allow recovery I say keep hunting . I you handle it in a respectful manor attempting to recover. No way most people stick ar shoot at a animal and quit . The difference is if you wound a animal mortally and just can't find it in public land . I respect both opinions in less a guy is just shooting without proper skill set needed .
Title: Re: On the boundary
Post by: bearpaw on June 24, 2016, 08:44:57 PM: If you shoot an animal and allow it to go to waste that is generally a violation.

I always contact the landowner, they've always allowed us to recover an animal that was lethally hit. BUT, always ask first. If permission is denied and you are pretty sure the animal died I would call WDFW and ask them to please advise in an email or text so you have proof of what they tell you. I'm guessing they will tell you to keep hunting, but if anyone reports you for shooting an animal that goes to waste you better be able to prove that WDFW told you to keep hunting! Just my :twocents: