Retrieving Deer Across Property Lines/Being a Neighbor

[Razrbk89]

I've read a lot of the green screen about issues regarding retrieving crippled deer that have crossed onto a neighboring property/having permission to do so. Now I'll preface this with by saying that I have always hunted our places in AR, and the hunting culture is a little different up there. (Most folks know their neighbors well, don't get as serious, etc.)

I have never in my life heard of an issue with someone tracking a deer and retrieving/finishing it off if need be, across a property line. I have stuck a few that made it across the neighbors and have had an instance or two where someone shot one and it got over on us. Had it happen this year with a deer I hit a little low/back that made it 400 yards down the ridge and over the neighbors fence. It was in the evening so I called him to let him know and he said come right through the gate and get that sucker, no hesitation.

I helped a guy once track a nice buck he'd shot in the woods bordering another place we hunt and he ended up shooting it again well onto our property. It didn't bother me in the slightest. I had been seeing the buck for two years and was glad someone got him. I wasn't going to alienate a neighbor and fellow hunter for shooting a nice buck that anyone would have been proud of. These aren't small or crowded acreages, just chance incidents.

Is it really that big of a deal to drag a dead deer under a fence here, or to help your neighbor recover one? Just curious from some things I've read.

[texan16]

Shouldn't be that big of a deal. Contact neighbor, get permission and go recover deer. NEVER that easy though.

[flywise]

Back in the day Texas used to be like AR. We jumped the fence from time to find a deer and never even asked. Might have told the land owner over breakfast at the cafe if we saw him. Been hunting before and saw a man climb the fence when i was younger. I walked over and ask if he was looking for a deer and then proceeded to help him.
But, sadly these days in Tx people just seem to really get bent when you try these things.
Hell in Tx people get bent if you shoot a deer in your own land they think they have some sort of ownership of because they feed year round.
Oh how i long for the 70's and 80's

[Muddy Bud]

I know my neighbors where I hunt. Just happens to be another TBHer. I for instance would not have any problem with him coming over to retrieve a wounded animal. Only problem is I don't own the property I only lease it. Owner might have a problem if no one was there to assist him. I think that's where alot of the problems occur down here. Alot of us lease and really don't have the say so who can come in to the property or not.

[Razrbk89]

Theres a lot more purple paint up here than there was when I was growing up. That's what prompted me to ask. Our hunting is changing too. Sure, I have opportunities to shoot deer every year that my grandpas would have rarely seen, due to improved management and habitat, but what is the exchange versus the HUNTS those old men had. Both of them pretty well hung up their guns when dog running was outlawed. That was a hunting culture that people loved, not because of its effectiveness (which was fairly low) but because of the comradrey it offered. I guess I'm just feeling a little nostalgic and I'm concerned about where hunting is heading.

Imagine if the Outdoor channel aired an episode of a bunch of average joes in Arkansas or east Texas listening to their hounds sing through the bottoms and being happy to shoot a forked horn with buckshot and fry it all up in a night! That wouldn't sell anymore....

[Froggy]

Theres a lot more purple paint up here than there was when I was growing up. That's what prompted me to ask. Our hunting is changing too. Sure, I have opportunities to shoot deer every year that my grandpas would have rarely seen, due to improved management and habitat, but what is the exchange versus the HUNTS those old men had. Both of them pretty well hung up their guns when dog running was outlawed. That was a hunting culture that people loved, not because of its effectiveness (which was fairly low) but because of the comradrey it offered. I guess I'm just feeling a little nostalgic and I'm concerned about where hunting is heading.

Imagine if the Outdoor channel aired an episode of a bunch of average joes in Arkansas or east Texas listening to their hounds sing through the bottoms and being happy to shoot a forked horn with buckshot and fry it all up in a night! That wouldn't sell anymore....

Sadly it wont, but times do change. I grew up with my whole family running hounds in the Big Thicket. If you did see a deer it was moving fast. My Grandpa ran red bone hounds. My uncle and I ran beagles. It was exciting. That's one reason I love hearing a pack of beagles in a rabbit race now.

My Grandpa told me about a time in the 1920's and 30's that when they did find a deer track, they turned out the hounds. Deer were scarce in East Texas in those days.

Times do change and I have to say hunting is better now due to rules and regulations. Different, but better.

[Razrbk89]

Sadly it wont, but times do change. I grew up with my whole family running hounds in the Big Thicket. If you did see a deer it was moving fast. My Grandpa ran red bone hounds. My uncle and I ran beagles. It was exciting. That's one reason I love hearing a pack of beagles in a rabbit race now.

My Grandpa told me about a time in the 1920's and 30's that when they did find a deer track, they turned out the hounds. Deer were scarce in East Texas in those days.

Times do change and I have to say hunting is better now due to rules and regulations. Different, but better.

You're right! Dog hunting has ran its course in most areas. Herds are definitely more abundant and healthy, which is great for the sport, and sportsmen. I just hope we can all continue to enjoy hunting for the simple and healing pleasure that if offers us in this busy world, and focus on friends and conservation, all the while enjoying our neighbors and the blessings of our resources.

[Hawkpuppy 1]

Law says you have to get GW or landowner permission before pursuing game across a property line...

[BTLowry]

As long as you have permission first there will not be a problem.

I think the problem arises when someone runs into someone on their property carrying a gun and stating they are tracking a deer. If you never met them before how do you know that is what they are really doing?

My neighbor's don't care if I retrieve anything I shot on my side that ends up on theirs but I have a good relationship with them and have already established permission to do that too

Also knowing who owns what is important. I caught some people fishing in one of my ponds, they thought it belonged to another neighbor which they came through to get there.
Another guy was trapping hogs on a neighbors place right by the fence. I heard him and was close so I rode over to just be friendly. That turned into a confrontation with the guy wanting to know if I had permission to be where I was, told him I owned the place (I was still on my side of the fence) and he argued that it belonged to the neighbor where he was. After a little chat with the landowner the guy lost permission to trap on the neighbor's place. All because he wanted to get confrontational over something he didn't know what he was talking about.