Antler reg question

[zhall]

So I know if you have a buck with a main frame "4,6,8,10ect" on one side with a single non branched antler on the other, he counts as a spike or unbranched buck. My question is if you have a main frame "4,6,8,10 ect" that breaks one side completely off leaving an unbranded side longer than 1". Does this count as your unbranched buck?

Reason being is I have a crud 3yr old that already broke one side completely off. Would like to have the meat and not use my 13" buck tag.

[bone]

Would he have been over 13" wide before he broke off? Reason I ask is I have seen wardens really question "broke" off sides when clearly the buck was not 13" to start with. Could be easy to shoot one under 13" and break a side off to make it legal.

[Nova]

If it is unbranched when you shoot him it counts as an unbranded buck

[bossbowman]

Gray area, up to the individual game warden. If it obviously wasn't 13" before the break at a minimum they can confiscate the antlers and meat if they have doubt the hunter broke off one side, if its a fresh break they will write a ticket as well.

[zhall]

I have game pictures of before and after.

[N.DaWoods]

I would keep a trail cam pic of the deer for clarity if you were questioned about the it by a warden.

[bossbowman]

Talk to your game warden, better safe than sorry, I've seen them leave citations for this, they check deer processor coolers for this very thing.

[Grayson]

Game warden once told me no, it wouldn't count as your unbranched antler buck.

[gigem95]

Like this?

[bone]

In my opinion if you know it is broken and not actually a un branched antler then it does not fit the bill for what the rule is intended for.

[texasdeerhunter]

In my opinion if you know it is broken and not actually a un branched antler then it does not fit the bill for what the rule is intended for.

This is pretty logical. But it is such a judgment call left up to the game warden at that point, you don't know what result you will get. Your best bet, if you shoot and then get questioned about it, is to stick strictly to the law. If the law says "one unbranched side", and you shoot a buck with one unbranched side, then you are obeying the law. He may write you a ticket, but you can get that dismissed with a judge, because the burden of proof then shifts to the game warden to prove the anther was broken prior to or even after the buck was shot. It's a gray area for sure

[texasdeerhunter]

Another thing, under no circumstances should you show the before and after game cam pics of the buck. And just by virtue of posting that on an open forum, you may have already compromised your alibi should it come down to a judgement call by a judge

[8pointer]

Not sure about the legal aspect, but Im not a fan of shooting a known 13+" buck and tagging it as unbranched after he broke up. If you want him out of the herd that bad, I would shoot him and proudly tag him as your 13" buck. Good luck with your decision.

[barnett77859]

to me if you have to ask dont do it why take the chance to many shooters out there to take a chance on a deer like that plus he may be a lot better deer next year

[AntlerCollector]

I think you're trying to find a loop hole so you can kill another big buck. The intent of the law is clear. They are trying to protect the type of deer you are talking about. He's not a true unbranched antlered deer. There is no gray area IMO. Me personally, I would let him walk, and hope he's bigger and better next season.