Who should get the deer???

[fratri]

The deer is thrashing and he shoots it, sounds like it was ready to die or at least was wounded pretty good... Given the circumstances as you laid them out.... I would like to think it should go to the original shooter but the legal part of me thinks the CO gave it to the second shooter.....

[punkrockerpj]

he who shoots the deer (and it goes down) gets the deer. i was in the bush and another group tracked a deer to my setup. if it were alive coming into my bush, how am i to know if they missed?
i assume you see this more with duck hunters....

[terrym]

First I have hard time getting my head around 2 hunters less than 30 yds apart shooting. Seems beyond reasonable. Sounds to me the second guy saw a dieing deer and put a round in it to claim it. Quite common for fatally hit deer to cover ground before expiring. I say its the first shooters deer if it was a fatal hit. Where were the 2 bullet holes?

[brent]

Why would the Vermont guy want a deer like that anyways? Only reason i can think is for bragging rights.

He didn't really hunt it, and it would be much cheaper to stay home and buy meat than travel like that to hunt for meat.

[Gadwall]

I am trying to wrap my head around the Vermont guy running towards gunfire knowing well that the Michigan guy is not aware of him ... that is just asking for an accident ... seems like a very aggressive hunter that wants to claim all ... I suspect the possibility the Vermont guy shot it on the ground in order to claim it, if nobody seen the shot, who would know, I could be wrong, but it must be considered.

I am curious ... what was finally done here?

[bcxextreme]

Wow I hope I never run into this situation man alive. As far as I have understood, whoever actually kills the deer gets claim to it. This situation is sketchy though. To me that rule applies if a deer is shot and runs straight into the path of another hunter, not the hunter running toward the shot in hopes to finish it. There are so many things wrong with that act that I wouldn,t even know where to begin.Now if it were me and a shot was fired, I would be moving the opposite direction asap.If by some chance while moving away I came across a wounded deer struggling and on the ground i,d put a bullet in its head to end the suffering and wait for the original shooter to show up and explain to him I shot point blank to end the suffering, you were never in danger of being shot and the deer is yours to tag, I take no satisfaction in getting one by any such method.If the deer was still on its feet that is a different situation.I would not take a shot due to the fact that you know there are people close by. sadly the animal would have to remain wounded until the original shooter came along to finish it.Better to let the animal be a bit longer than to put another human being in danger.I for the life of me cant see anyone wanting a deer so bad they would stoop to that.

[ysyg]

Sounds like a busy spot to hunt. Two guides driving by and two American hunters within 30 yards. If the deer was a "trophy" deer, I can see how there could be a disagreement. If not, the guide should find a spot to help his clients fil his tag.

[chris lavoie]

If the deer was still alive and running when 2nd shooter hit it, I believe the 2nd shooter gets the deer. Its possible a deer not critically hit could run and be shot again a substancial distance away. This may be a case of "possesion is 9/10ths of the law" due to the 2nd shooter having shot and claimed the deer. That's my humble opinion.

Deer was laying thrashing in one spot, not able to escape.

[chris lavoie]

Sounds like a busy spot to hunt. Two guides driving by and two American hunters within 30 yards. If the deer was a "trophy" deer, I can see how there could be a disagreement. If not, the guide should find a spot to help his clients fil his tag.

Vermont was hunting on his own and was walking down a trail, no guide.

[chris lavoie]

Conservation Officer listened to both sides as expected. He said "REALLY" and said Michigan tags it and left it at that.