Tribal

He should have been notified by the landowner that QDM was being practiced. Not the hunters fault if he was never told. That is a bummer but at least you know "you harvested the buck" so to speak already if you had chosen too.

Rob/PA Bowyer

I'd really be disappointed inside but would have congratulated the hunter on his success at the same time letting him know that I had passed that particular buck hoping he'd make another year or so....

Like most said, the respondsibility fell on the landowner to express the practices on the property...

plus, without seeing the animal myself, I'd be surprise that the buck was only a 1.5 yr old with the antler configuration you described. I'd bet more than likely it was at least a 2.5 year old but we know we can't judge them by antlers alone. Perhaps the hunter was over whelmed when he saw the rack and whose to say it wasn't his best buck to date....without more facts it'd be hard to make a educated reaction.....

But fear not, you'll grow more.

ryncam16

i would be mad i mean hes trying to grow the deer bigger there and some guy just comes up and shots the deer i mean thats like preparing for a hunt scouting and every thing to to your stand early in the morning and some guy is there sitting in it in my opinion

pjhunts

This guy has shot much better deer before on this property. He shot a 14 pt booner a few years ago. And he also knows that nobody else around is going to shoot a buck unless it is mature. I spend a couple of hundred bucks on food plots every year and he shot this little buck 100 yards or so away from one. None of the other hunters around were too happy when they heard about it. I did tell him that I passed that deer a few days ago in hopes that he could grow a couple of more years and that I guess he won't be growing much now. And for the thought of "his genes are still in the area" , I've hunted every day but 8 since Oct. 1 for 3 hrs up to all day and I'm confident that I've seen all the bucks in my area and none have shown any of these characteristics. I'm just really bumbed out

Apollo1

It is a bummer, but now that it has happened I would speak to the land owner again and see if he is really on the same page as you and your other friends. If he is I would politely ask him to explain this to anyone he allows to hunt on his property, but as I just said it is his property and if he has a family member or friend that can only get out every now and then he may be a little more relaxed on the rules for these people. Good luck with the rest of your season.

WVCritter

He wasn't your "freaky deaky" buck. You passed on him. I don't see a problem here as long as it was legal unless you own the property and gave specific instructions not to shoot it. Not all hunters are on the same page so to speak. I've passed on bucks only to see them on another hunter's meatpole. Congrats to the hunter who knows a trophy animal when he sees one.

fl.huntress

i'd be a lil envious but not pissed...sounds like a buck most hunters would have taken...at least the guy's going to eat it.

davidmil

Maybe not the scenerio I'd want, but certainly not going to let it ruin my life. One mans idea of a trophy is another mans idea of a dink etc etc. It's hard enough to control everyone that may hunt the land you do let alone control the uncontrolled across the border. I certainly wouldn't "GET MAD" and bent out of shape. I might let him know how I feel and make a suggestion as to the next time. AND, tell him the landowner and you had a management plan working and he really set it back. That said, congradulate the guy on shooting something that turned him on or just shut up. Don't be getting all mad and bent out of shape. It's a sport to be enjoyed by all....... not controlled for the benefit or by the beliefs of a few. If you understand that you'll know I'm right. If you don't... that guy is probably saying something about the guy who thinks all the deer are his. It wasn'tYOUR Rinky Dinky or whatever you called it. It was A Rinky Dinky. I agree...it's a failure to communicate. The landowner has to set the rules.... AND...lay out punishment for violation fo such rules, "Like if you do it you're out of here forever and don't come whinning to your sister for help".

P.S. A meat hunter is NOT a dirty word. In fact, if everyone were a trophy hunter you trophy type/QDM EXPERTS would find out that others can shoot big deer too. Fact is, most are probably killed as a result of chance encounters, not some super natural talent or skills. Just read about all the world records and state records. Most are chance meetings.

A.D.D. BOY

The only rules i have if its a yearling and walks, or a doe with yearlings, or a spike, or fork.