So, come to find out from the local processor a neighboring property brought in 4 bucks this past weekend. 2-7's, an 8 and a 6. Story gets interesting though in that one of them was still in velvet!!! Chad, the good friend and processor, says he asked who shot it. The guys that brought it in looked at, we'll call him Rick just so his real name isn't shared, he looks down for a second and says, "My wife did". Chad didn't say anything but it was pretty obvious or appeared obvious this was his deer, and taggin it under his wife's name. Chad isn't the type to run people's names into the mud, but it sounds like this wouldn't surprise him one bit with this guy. Now here's the kicker, he hunts property adjacent to ours, albeit across a road, what would you do? I thought about calling him and asking if we could check out the velvet deer first hand, and then ask bunch of questions to atleast make him sweat...but haven't yet. We don't really have firm evidence he's tag shared, but given the story and some past experiences shared to us from Chad it seems almost a given tag sharing is in fact occurring. I know at the minimum, a closer eye and ear are going to be placed on him and those who hunt that property, which may be all we can do at this point unless something more happens. Anyone ever in similar place or situation? How'd you handle it?
Mind your own business ... that is my advice ... the deer are all tagged and you have no proof he killed them all .... this is an easy one to me ...
They won't. Do anything but ask questions ... if a gw tried to make my family member draw a bow to show him they could shoot a bow I would tell him to get the heck off my porch
I would conveniently run into the wife without the husband around and congratulate her on a rare velvet buck. Then asked to hear about the hunt, you know, from one hunter to another.
Same in MI, to the level that I have talked to few hunters that honestly had no idea you couldn't party hunt. They thought I was lying to them. While I have never called the DNR, I have let a few hunters know we knew what was going and they would hate to have to call the DNR. That has helped in each situation.
I agree. Even if you told the gw as long as the deer have been tagged there not going to do anything about it.
Poaching and stealing. I couldn't disagree more with the mind your business. I would make the call and if the warden asked my wife to shoot her bow I would have no problem with it after all if she tagged a deer she should be able to shoot a bow.
When you're illegally hunting it will become my business...but like I said until then "I know at the minimum, a closer eye and ear are going to be placed on him and those who hunt that property, which may be all we can do at this point unless something more happens." Also like Vito said if I run into the wife I will congratulate her and see how she reacts. Not going to get a GW involved unless it is certain, too much hearsay, even though the processor is without a doubt one of the most honest and stand up guys I know, and I don't doubt his story. However it is just that a story unless something else comes up that wouldn't be enough.
I think the best move is to approach the neighbor in a civilized fashion. Anytime I have run into this issue and they admit to party hunting, or its very obvious, I ask if they know its illegal. At least your neighbor knows you are aware of what they are doing. Sometimes that is enough to deter them. Its just a deer. IMO, its not worth starting a war over, especially if you are wrong.
It's the outside chance of this that is steering me from GW, but like you said if the chance presents itself for a convo I may just be civilized and bring it up. No harm done and like you said it could be enough to deter them doing that in the future.
Is it only an issue because they are shooting "your" deer? Seriously, it a flipping deer ... just hunt! Let the guy know yourself if you feel there is tag sharing going on, but just relax ... it's only a deer. Pat ... your wrong .... deal
And so there are no assumptions made on me .... I could easily have filled others tags ... heck the landowner wants me to kill as many as I can ... just don't get caught ... but I wont
This reminds me of the thread I started about a guy that enterd his wife and kids in a contest for a bow and when his wife won he wanted the shop to give it to him for him. I would go talk to the guy and let him know that you heard about the deer and that he may have "shared" a tag to get it. Tell him that you are not judging him but that you hunt across from him and that you do not want any problems with the DNR and that if they catch wind of it they will be all over your area. That will make him feel like you are trying to help him and that you have somehting to hide too. But you know you don't and it may keep him more honest in the future. Friends close enimies closer By the way PT you have made yourself almost sound like you are defending yourself of doing the same buddy and I really hope not. A GW has the legal right to inspect your equipment and your abilities to hunt with it. So telling him to get off your porch is fine if you want them to get a warrant to come in your entire house.
Wow....someone's getting defensive! Does this happen in your camp during gun season? Its illegal and there's a reason for it. Yes, I would view it as someone shooting "my" deer. Why? Because someone illegally shot a deer that I may have been able to harvest legally. Pat.......you're right. (Doesn't that sound a lame?)
Have to agree with PT on this one, it's only a deer and he is burning his wife's tag. If this is all I had to deal with on my property compared to fire-hunting and straight up poaching out of our own stands, I would be ecstatic!
