You would call in on a poacher right?

[BIG HORN]

So, basically it is ok to shoot deer out of season, as long as I'm ok with it?

No, the question was do you report your friend - do you consider it poaching...there is no law that states you HAVE to call the GW and report your friend - to each is own was my point - it's what YOU can live with.

True, there are those that will watch there friends take more than a weeks limit of reds in a day or deer out of season & say nothing...but there there are those that WILL call the GW on a fellow lease mate they see with a AR violation. Not everyone on a lease together are friends or know each other.

My point was I believe the answer to the OP is what a person can live with - some belive the laws are in stone and will report - others feel the laws can be bent to fit their situation.

Hope I was clear also...

[crazy8]

As far as I'm concerned the question is not whether or not it is 13", it is whether or not it is outside it's ears. The first buck I killed after the AR's was definately outside it's ears but it measured 12 1/4". I'd say that buck was legal.

The law is 13 inches. The ears are just a guide. If the deer has a small head, and is barely outside the ears, he probably won't measure up.

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

The real question is why would you kill a deer without starting another age and score thread on TBH first?

[Rakkasan2187]

By the way those saying you could turn someone in for a traffic violation don't understand how laws are enforced. You can't turn someone in for a traffic violation. The officer must witness it, first hand. He'll you couldn't turn your buddy in for driving drunk, unless you waited for him to leave, followed him and called the law on him. These are always lame and over used points in these discussions and make me laugh when I hear them.

If your buddy poached a deer or shot one that didn't fit in an AR county..... you could turn him if you produced the deer for the game warden and all the evidence needed for a criminal charge.

I'm not saying I would or wouldn't to the origional question, just wanted to clarify some of the goofy points being made about turning people in for "other" things if your moral compas points you in that particular direction.

What a mess of a thread...

That is incorrect, you could turn anyone in and the police do not have to witness it. The person turning him in does and could make a citizens arrest while the officer is there.

[bps3040]

Bingo

+1

[royal_fox]

Would you call in on a poacher ? Yes!
Would I call in on an antler restriction kill? NO!!
Would I back stab a friend that I hunt with? No!!!!!!
I'm not that self righteous.

[Smart]

The genetics in East Texas are completely different than around other parts of the state.. in that BECAUSE of the tight heavily wooded areas these deer live in, they have HIGH NARROW antlers.. they do NOT get very wide.. .

Sorry systemnt but what whiskey drench old timer told you that story...that's moonshine material right there....

Ok folks, I will say it again and keep it at an 8th grade level The antler restriction will only work if you are management minded and don't shoot young deer. What the AR does do, in a lot of counties, is urge people to shoot young wide deer or eat tag soup. A 2.5-3.5 year old 16" ten is a good deer for alot of people that do not have the duckets to throw at management minded property techniques. A 6.5 year old basket racked tall 9 pointer that only makes 11" inside would be a great management deer to take. Unfortunately, this deer is not legal, so they shoot the young wide ten before he has time to mature and spread his genes to the next pool of fawns. AR is a money grab and those with the duckets and the opportunity to manage the herd jump on it. Let's face it, now matter how you slice it, the AR is good for those that don't have basket racked deer and not good for those that do. Money, of course, will always give you the option to have bigger deer and there is alot of money on this site. Money makes comments everyday.

Interesting theory that seems like many folks do not agree with.

[HAWG DAWG]

but according to the law..you'd be wrong.. the ear thing is a general rule of thumb.. but not the law...

Well if you look at the TPWD manual thats how you are supposed to determine whether the buck is 13 inches or not. Yes the 12 1/4 is not legal but if you are going by what the book says there is nothing the GW can do about it because you are following the rules.

[bubba1]

My Ethics RUN DEEP.... It's no different to me than my buddies that SMOKE POT or Drink and Drive... Do you call the cops on your friends that leave your home after having a few glasses of wine??? Or the Friend that has been a pot smoker for years and PROBABLY even does it at the lease and in his stand..... As a matter of fact that's probably the reason he thought the buck was wider than 12, are you going to call on him???? I think not... If so I'd be saddened by your lack of loyalty or your lack of concern for your FRIEND and his family. Especially over a deer that missed legality by less than his manly imagination.

You are speaking my language.

I would not turn in a buddy for missing the 13" rule.
I would not turn them in for poaching either, BUT they wouldn't be around me anymore.
Two years ago I shot my biggest buck. 8pt 122" and 12 3/4" spread. I only saw him from the side before I got to take the shot. Upon finding him the next morning I was MORTIFIED to see that he didn't meet 13" Then my Uncle told me the best news I had ever heard.
"There isn't any 13" spread rule in this county."
What I learned that day was that I would never shot at a buck until I had a good view of him from head on, and I was more than positive that he would be 14" or wider. Unless I was in Gillespe (sp) county again.

[Bullydog]

That is incorrect, you could turn anyone in and the police do not have to witness it. The person turning him in does and could make a citizens arrest while the officer is there.

Hahahahahahah... Citizens Arrest?? Been watching to much TV have we.

First you cannot be "arrested" for speeding period. Second you can't report another driver for a traffic violation and arrest them while waiting on the police to arrive or when the police get there. And no, the police cannot cite or arrest someone who they did not witness commit a traffic violation. Trust me, I slept in a Holiday inn last night

[systemnt]

Sorry systemnt but what whiskey drench old timer told you that story...that's moonshine material right there.....

Perception is reality:
I see East texas deer, in an environment surrounded by thicket/bush/trees... i see HIGH TIGHT racks as being the norm..

I see south/west texas deer, with a wide open environment with WIDE WIDE WIDE racks as being the norm.

doesn't take a scientific study or a whiskey drenched old timer to figure out the genetics for these deer are influenced by their environment.

There are exceptions to every rule, as I stated, but you can look at any pictures/trophys taken in these regions and see the distinct difference in the antler formation.

[HAWG DAWG]

The next time I see a buck coming Im going to tell him to wait a minute let me get my tape. Go out there and measure to make sure he is legal so my friend doesnt call in on me, run back to the stand and grab my bow and say ok move now and let me shoot you.

This rule is something else. No I would never call in on a friend, lease mate or any other person for this. If you go by the book it says, "To determine if a buck has an inside spread measurement of at least 13", look at the distance from eartip to eartip on a buck with ears in alert position." To me if thats what you are supposed to go by then thats what you follow. Now if you kill a deer with antlers outside the eartips and it measures 12 1/2 or so there is nothing anyone can do beacuse its what you are told to go by. I personally have ran into this my self. A few years ago I was rattling and out came a buck well I looked at his ears and looked at his horns and yes he was by the book outside his eartips so i shot him. Got to him and was worried because it was close. He had hardly any teethe and was a big ol' pot bellied deer, so he was definately mature. Tagged him loaded him up and took him to the house and got the tape out immediately. He measured 12 3/4. Did I call the GW? No. Did my friends call the GW on me? No. Why? Because I had followed all guidelines. Im not ashamed or scared of admitting that the deer was less than 13" because I followed the rules.

[WCB]

Some of the responses are laughable. Some are scary...
I never said I was turning in anyone for any reason. Just asked the question.
And I do try to be a loyal friend and also try and walk an honest and ethical line everyday.

[Swampa]

That is incorrect, you could turn anyone in and the police do not have to witness it. The person turning him in does and could make a citizens arrest while the officer is there.

Wow! This has progressed to making a "CITIZENS ARREST"

I'm speechless

[rudeman]

Mistakes do and will happen, he'll no I would not turn them in the first time, I would however turn them in if they left it and not eat it. I don't really agree with the AR law simply because I am a hunter and I eat what I shoot buck or doe.