What would've been the right thing to do if......

[bho0351]

I was in the stand Sunday morning watching a couple button bucks and a doe and heard a bunch of noise off to my right. I thought it was hogs coming to the feeder. Never thought I'd see what came tearing out of the trees. A pretty nice 8 pt with an arrow sticking out of his side. He ran right thru and kept on going out of my sight. All I could do was listen to him crashing thru more brush. I waited for a while and did make an honest attempt to find a blood trail and possibly find him (2 1/2 hrs). My uncle and I were the only ones hunting out there and neither one of us shot at anything that morning. I never found a blood trail and could only go off the general direction I saw him go. He had to have traveled a dang long way from another property. Anyway, what would have been the proper action to take if I had found him? Burn one of my tags and cash in on another hunter's misfortune or contact the local GW and go from there? We did contact my aunt and uncle who own the ranch, plus the ranch foreman, to let them know about it, so if he does survive and they happen to see him, we won't get into any trouble.

[BrandonA]

I wouldn't have burned one of my tags but would make every attempt to contact and find the hunter.

[rladner]

I wouldn't have burned one of my tags but would make every attempt to contact and find the hunter.

x2

[bho0351]

I wouldn't have burned one of my tags but would make every attempt to contact and find the hunter.

That would have been the problem. we have no idea where that deer could've come from. we hunt on over 1,000 acres.

[daveally]

I definitely would not have burned one of my tags. If I'd have found the deer I would've called the GW and let him make the call. Besides, the hunter that shot it may have been looking for it and notifying the GW may reconnect the guy with his deer.

[westguy76]

well if he stopped in front of you would you have put another arrow in him?

sorry to de-rail, but my first line of thought

[westguy76]

I definitely would not have burned one of my tags. If I'd have found the deer I would've called the GW and let him make the call. Besides, the hunter that shot it may have been looking for it and notifying the GW may reconnect the guy with his deer.

this sounds right to me.

[bho0351]

well if he stopped in front of you would you have put another arrow in him?

sorry to de-rail, but my first line of thought

No de-rail at all. That's a good question. I'd have to say yes on that one. I think I would've still contacted the GW. The arrow that was already in him was different from any we shoot.

[outdoordaddy]

I think I'd agree with everyone else and maybe if the GW didn't have anyone claiming it and you needed meat ask him about tagging it?