A number of posters (see above) have taken a position along the lines of:  A deer isn't worth ruining a relationship.

That's crap!  Not all relationships are worth preserving. In fact, many aren't.

Mutual respect and integrity are the basis for ANY relationship worth nurturing and preserving.

In the case cited originally, the brother-in-law has shown that he doesn't value the relationship.  He'd rather claim a deer that's not his rather than preserve a relationship.

That's why he needs to be exposed.  If that causes family problems, the family should see the rat for what he is.  If they side with the rat, that's says it all, doesn't it?

Mark

agree.. WIFE not so much!! I will save myself from pissing off my wife. She knows I am right and he did wrong. However, she doesn't want me to cause issues. Which is bull****, but I am a smart man!! hahaha

So is he hunting with you anymore?

Believe me I have seen first hand what "Big Antlers" do to people. It will revel the real person every time. My circle of hunting friends have all passed the Big Bone test and are the only ones I hunt with here at home.

I understand the thoughts going through your head. I had them the first time it happened to me. What I want to warn you about is shutting folks out totally. I did for years and it finally ruined my hunting experience. Hunting alone wasn't fun for me and I finally realized I just needed to find like minded folks to share with.

I think he is totally in the wrong and if that scenario would have happened with my group they would have definitely not even thought about taking your deer. I agree with others whats done is done. Take that and move on and I sure wouldn't let him hunt with you any longer.

Hunting brings out the best and worst in people. You made the decision that you felt was right for you to make at the time so don't look back. Your Brother In law knows what really happened and he will have to look at himself in the mirror on his actions then and now. Not your problem anymore. I have seen a similar thing happen in a friends family and it caused some bad feelings. Not worth it. On the flip side I was ground hunting with a buddy and a nice bull elk was closing the distance on us and almost simultaneously we both offered each other the first shot. The bull busted us and we have laughed about it for years. A great buddy and true friend. Nice bull too, but a better memory than the elk. Heck I am grinning just thinking about it now. Let it go now and give it some time, don't second guess your decision just move ahead. You are the better man and you will be rewarded down the road. Best to you! Bob

Your call, you blew it.  Simple as that.  Doesn't take much to understaqnd that the kill shot gets the gold.  If you hadn't been there would he have gotten it?

i under stand your frustration. i have hunted with greedy hunters in the past and it takes the fun out of hunting. i learned the hard way.but if you dont want your guest shooting your bucks tell them to shoot does. or dont take them at all. after all.... its just a deer!

QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
[QB] So is he hunting with you anymore?/QB]

No, I am not going to hunt with him anymore. Thank you all for the replies.

you must like your brother in law much better than I like mine....if you made the lethal hit, the deer is yours , not his.....

QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
Big racks have made many a man's ethics go out the window! As stated above, you know the truth, and that is all that matters. You are a way bigger man than he just by doing what you did and avoiding the fight.

Bisch

Well said Bisch..I agree

How bout the pic again...looks like it was deleted  :(

As far as bad shots, or an unrecovered animal, it happens to all of us, regardles of what type of bow.

I teach at Camp Wilderness here in MI, we run a combo Hunter Safety/IBEP program for youth. What we teach, is the IBEP thought htat whomever puts the killing shot on the animal is the one who should claim it. If he had put a killing shot, but you had the opportunity to finish it and put the animal down wuicker, it would e his deer.A non-lethal hit, followed by your lethal shot, and its your deer. Its known by IBEP as the unwritten rule.

That aside, we never encourage an arguement or the like over an animal. Keeping peasce in the family is important too, and it sounds to me like you've had the thrill of  taking some nice animals, and allowing him this one was a generous gesture.

I would however talk to him about proper shot selection, wht he considers a proper shot angle and distance. If its not within what you prefer, then I would tell him those are the rules on your place and if he doesnt respect them, the opportunity to hunt there will be gone.

I have a nephew who is what I call a shooter rather than a hunter, and he will shoot at less than ideal angles/distances before he will pass a shot. My wife keeps bugging me to bring him up to our camp, but until his attitude changes inthat regard, it wont happen.

QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
So is he hunting with you anymore?

Believe me I have seen first hand what "Big Antlers" do to people. It will revel the real person every time. My circle of hunting friends have all passed the Big Bone test and are the only ones I hunt with here at home.

I understand the thoughts going through your head. I had them the first time it happened to me. What I want to warn you about is shutting folks out totally. I did for years and it finally ruined my hunting experience. Hunting alone wasn't fun for me and I finally realized I just needed to find like minded folks to share with.

I think he is totally in the wrong and if that scenario would have happened with my group they would have definitely not even thought about taking your deer. I agree with others whats done is done. Take that and move on and I sure wouldn't let him hunt with you any longer.

I have to fully agree with TJ here. what he said mimics what I had to say except I personally have not been in the situation. I have a brother and cousin who have.

I think you should email this thread to him after you fix the pictures. Edit your post about your wife and see if he thinks differently.

Personally I would chose not to hunt with him anymore. I love hunting with other people, but if my choices are of people who do not share common ethics or safety ideals, I HUNT ALONE.

The only problem I see you having is that when next season comes around I bet he is all over that area you hunt like stink on poop!Oh and without your permision of course.

I have permanently quit hunting with friends for unethical and rude behavior that didn't come remotely close to that of your brother in law.   Life's too short and hunting time is too valuable to share it with folks like that.

Sounds to me like you don't owe him anything so don't invite him next year and if he quizzes you about it simply tell him the truth in as nice a manner as you are able.   He may not like it but so what....