I have vented and vented to friends, but I still have the need to vent some more.. A little background. I have hunted with a compound bow for 14 years.. This year I converted fully to a recurve. I have killed several nice bucks over the years. However, I lost the "buck fever".. So, I converted and it was the best decision I have ever made..

Long story short... I shot a nice buck in early October and couldn't find him probably grossed 120 as a main frame ten. I made a great shot, so I thought but had no luck retrieving him.. I was depressed and did not take my bow back out for two  weeks. I continued to look for the main frame ten I named g4 but failed..

My brother in law is a compound hunter and ethical or so I thought.. I finally got over my lack of retrieval and got back in the stand.. I took my brother in law out that weekend only to have 140in buck within 40 yds coming right at me.. I heard in the distance "cough cough" My brother in law was hacking up a lung due to his addictive smoking habit. Well you know the rest of the story..

Following weekend: I took my brother in law back into the same area.. Wind was perfect and I put him in the tree that I was in the previous weekend.. I must have been smoking something that morning, because to this day I don't know why I did that.

Day break the buck approached him following a doe.. Ten yards he shoots it in the leg with a compound. As the buck approaches me I can tell it was not hit very well (limping and still on the doe) 20 yards, I make a vital shot and was pumping for joy..Long story short to save a family fight I let him tag the 136in nine point.. I got pictures and know in my heart its mine but I am still bitter because it was my best buck to date, AND MY FIRST TRAD KILL!!

Here he is!!


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Congrats I guess, You have to resize the photo its to big. And win or loose you made the kill shot so it should be yours family fued or not.Oh and dont take him hunting anymore...LOL

QuoteOriginally posted by docmerrow:


.. I got pictures and know in my heart its mine but I am still bitter because it was my best buck to date, AND MY FIRST TRAD KILL!!

Sorry it didn't work out quite right for ya, but I'm glad you finished off the buck to save it from any misery due to infection.  If it means anything I think you got your first trad kill.  Your brother-in-law drew first blood, but if I were in his position, I would have given it to you for the mortal hit.

QuoteOriginally posted by lpcjon2:
Congrats I guess, You have to resize the photo its to big. And win or loose you made the kill shot so it should be yours family fued or not.Oh and dont take him hunting anymore...LOL

X2

QuoteOriginally posted by docmerrow:
I got pictures and know in my heart its mine but I am still bitter because it was my best buck to date, AND MY FIRST TRAD KILL!!

What's the big deal Then??? You know the truth and that is all You need. Trad Bowhunting isn't about this or that, But a way we enjoy Stick and string. I agree.. You shot a Great Buck and did great On Your First trad Kill... Enuff said....

Sorry about that. I don't understand how somebody could think they deserve the animal with a leg hit. I would think every time he see's that buck he will know in his heart its really yours. Maybe one day he'll give it back.

Depends on how bad he was hit, from your story it dont sound like too bad or he wouldn't still be trailing the doe. I believe I would have tagged it myself, if you hadn't shot it he probably would have never seen it again. It would be different if he was gut shot or mortally wounded and you just finished him off.

QuoteOriginally posted by Peachey:
Depends on how bad he was hit, from your story it dont sound like too bad or he wouldn't still be trailing the doe. I believe I would have tagged it myself, if you hadn't shot it he probably would have never seen it again. It would be different if he was gut shot or mortally wounded and you just finished him off.

Totally agree. If I was you, he could find his own land, do his own scouting, and hang his own stands from now on.

Nice buck.  What's the complaint?

I would have kept it, whats right is right.

At least you saved money on a shoulder mount  

Nice buck. Sounds like you were the bigger person

In Pa it's the person that has the lethal shot. What if both of you had the lethal shot? But it sounds like you had it, so it's your deer. If he gets mad tell him to look some where else to hunt.

Now you know what your dealing with.I would hope he took some notes on where and how to set up stands cause hes going to need it.

Well let's look at the problem a little closer. You got to take a nice buck with your bow and you still have a tag. HMMMMMMMM.

Hope you let him gut and drag the deer, since it was "his", after all.

Great shot, we here know what happened so congrats. What you do from here is whatever feels like the right thing to ya. Its easy to say kick the bum aside, but the whole family thing is a tough one.
YOU did good. He's got a LOT to learn.

You are the better man. I think you have a big chunk of KARMA in the bank for the future. I would feel happy just to see the bucks you did this year. May the hunting gods smile on you.

That's your buck. I have no clue why he would tag it. and I dont think that would be legal hear in VT. Congrats! John

What's more important, peace in the family or a head on the wall?  You and the Maker know the full story and someday it'll pay you back in spades.  Let this one go, accept the lesson learned and move on.  You know what type of person he is now and too bad you had to learn it this way.  Ethics are what each of us believe and you've found many who agree that yours are running at a higher level.