Here is an update on my Giant that I found! I contacted IDNR a while back to see if I could get a salvage tag for him but after some investigation they think that this buck might have been poached so they took ownership of him. I guess there was complaints during shotgun season of poachers in the same area. I wish I was in the area to catch them but I was south with a buddy hunting with him due to this being a bow hunting only spot for me. This buck roamed on my bow hunting spot. I have a trail cam picture and after looking at his pictures I took I think the match set of sheds from last year are this bucks along with the pics I took in the fall of last year of a buck with the antlers I found on his head. The right antler match's up perfect and then the left had a hole in the antler so it is a little different but has the little nub at the base that now is long enough for a point. I wish I could of kept him but I fully understand that they have to do what they are to do. Here are the pictures that I have of the GIANT!
That sucks man! Did it ever cross your mind that they were feeding you some BS just to get the rack? I'd really have to question if he was truly poached. What will they do with the rack? What harm would come from you keeping the rack especially with you being upfront and asking for a salvage tag. I don't see the big deal with you keeping it.
My dad found a few back in the day, but all were given back to him with a salvage tag. It's a shame, he was a great buck.
That's a great animal, too bad you can't get permission to keep him. At least you have all that history with him, having the sheds and pics and etc. Blessings.....Pastorjim
I wanted to keep him but what do you do? They said that he will be put in one of the educational trailers that they take to deer shows and stuff like that.
That sucks but cool to put your hands on him, I don't know why the DNR need another rack, I have a feeling that they have all the rack they need for showing.
Yes I did but they think it was part of a poaching so they took control of him. It would be nice if they gave it back but you never know!
This happened up here to a car hit huge buck and they confiscated and had said it was part of a investigation. The lady husband finally got the buck after threatened law suits and local pressure. Sometimes power of the people does help. Good Luck!
Sounds like you got hosed... You found it and contacted them for a permit and they took it. Just doesn't seem right.
Makes you maybe not want to ask permission the next time. No BS, I would have just kept them. It would make a differance to no one! As stated previously, don't ya think threy've got enough antlers? Part of a poaching investigation? Yea, right!
Now here is the thing, if I would of kept him and not said anything to anyone then that would of really got me in trouble if they ever caught it. I enjoy my hunting to much to get in trouble over a deer I did not even shoot. If I would of shot it and found it later that would of been a whole different look in my eyes but once again what do you do? I just have a history on him due to him walking my hunting spot and trail cam pics. He was on my hit list and dont get me wrong I would of loved to honor him in my home. I just not going to make extra drama in fighting the DNR. To much hastle and everything! I even gave the officer pictures of the buck when I found it when he came to get it.
You should have had a tag before you touched that deer or had him in the back of your truck. Are you sure that did'nt have something to do with them confiscating it?
I commend you for doing the right thing but would they have ever found the rack? Were you planning on getting him mounted? It just doesn't seem right. I'd at least try to talk to someone else or politely state your case and mention the fact that you were honest and forthcoming from the beginning. Sometimes the DNR goes overboard OR gets greedy....wonder which it is in this case?
I reported it the day I found it and they said an officer would get ahold of me. Then they called 5 days later. I am not sure how the tag system goes. I know you have to report it and I did that.
I hate that, I know how you feel. I thought I had a giant on my farm poached but now after looking at a LOT of game camera footage. I have 6 cameras out in 50acres of woods. I believe there may be a good chance that my deer was killed in a fight with another buck. I have three bucks that have broken G2's and one that is missing his left antler all together. I just cut the antlers off and let the coyotes finish eating the carcass. AGFC could care less about the deer unless they could actually catch the poacher in action.
I think that is what I dont understand is that I had pictures of how I found the deer with the head on it and then they had complaints during shotgun season for this same area. If it was even poached, the poacher never got it. The only thing worth taking was the rack. I wanted to Euro mount him but the spot where he was found was a privately owned nature park. It is not owned by the state but I think that was part of the reason for the taking of the deer. I hunt right across the street from this area.
