Ok so heres an ethics Question, Theres No right or wrong answer, But I just want to see what some of you would do. The scenario goes: Your In your tree stand and Out of the Brush comes a Spike Buck with an arrow sticking out of him, He's Wounded But Not to the point where He'll Die Immediately but questionable if he'll live through the winter.  As you prepare to shoot him, Out of nowhere comes a "once in a lifetime" trophy  buck.  You have only 1 tag, What would you do?  NO Judgments, No right or wrong Answers. And if it helps Use the same question with the animal of your liking,Elk, moose, bear, etc

I'd shoot the trophy. The spike might not live the winter anyway. Besides: "Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms," Josey Wales.

Now, if it was my arrow sticking out of him, the spike would have to die.

I would shoot the wounded animal. Thats just me though. Nature has a way of dealing with things like this, so there isnt really any wrong answer.
Besides, I would still have to hit my spot either way.  :rolleyes:

I would shoot the trophy,if the shot was good. The wounded one is not my problem, that's somone else's problem.

To be totally honest, I'd shoot both. I've put down deer wounded by someone else before, and didn't burn my tag on them. Some may not agree with me, but cleaning up someone elses mess should not have to end my season.

I would shoot the spike; and then back track it to hope to find someone headed my way - looking for it. If I couldn't find the person that shot the first arrow---and who no matter the size of the buck--should tag it!  Then I would track the spike down: and tag it.

I dont hunt small bucks,Im a trophy hunter.

I'd shoot the spike. Don't like seeing anything suffer especially any more than it has to. I'd feel blessed just to see the big one. Plus next year he might be bigger yet.

I'm letting the arrow fly at the biggin,  if my nerves can handle it

This is the EXACT reason I ALWAYS carry a hammer into the woods. You just never know when you have to knock off the spikes and use your doe tag! LOL! We can party hunt in MN so I would shoot both as long as I had a partner with me. Otherwise it would probly be my buddy's arrow in him so I would shoot both then to. If it was indeed a "Dream Monster Buck" I would probly shoot him and let the spike live another day!

In Michigan we have two buck tags...I would shoot the spike first and the big one second, if he stuck around...if not oh well I will sleep better at night knowing I did the right thing.  I second the opinion of trying to find out who did it in the first place though and using their tag.

I would cuss a lot and shoot the spike.
Probably an easier drag anyway.

Killdeer  

I had this occur in gun hunting. I was sitting in a ground blind and several deer started to come out to feed. As I checked them out I saw a great 8 point start to come toward me. BUt then I saw a spike that was draging a leg and seem to be hit maybe more than once. So I let the 8 point go pass and then shot the spike and used my tag. As I skin out the deer I found he had a broken back leg and also had a broken shoulder as well.

The spike no question, no regrets. Really sad to see even in our ranks that the trophy comes before ending the life of a suffering animal.

The spike

I'd whackem both and advise the Warden that I finished off a wounded deer. No issues here in that matter, done it before.

I'd shoot the little one. If my tag was full with one punch left then I had a great season so no need to be greedy. We get up to six deer in my area and a bonus two if you want. Yikes that's a lot of meat for both Hunters for the hungry and me!

Still working on my first trad deer.....so I shoot the first one that gives me a good shot. I wouldn't want to wound the spike further or take a bad shot on the "trophy" buck. I have already done that and was fortunate to miss clean.

-Charlie

The first one that offered me a shot.

After a few choice words...I'd shoot the spike...

David