#2991749 - 10/21/12 02:09 PM
a buck not recovered
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dsa5455
4 Point
Registered: 07/15/10
Posts: 109
Loc: Middle Tn.
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A hunter shoots a buck during archery season but does not recover him until many weeks later. Is he still allowed to harvest 3 bucks or does the one he found at a later date limit him to two bucks now. I have never had this happen because I rarely get more than one buck during the entire season but I'm sure it comes up with lost deer in general. Wondering what the law would say and of course any input to ethics.
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#2991773 - 10/21/12 02:25 PM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: dsa5455]
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scn
12 Point
Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 6967
Loc: Brentwood, TN US
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It would likely be dependent on how long after the season, etc. it is found. It would be a good idea to get in touch with the local officer and get their input. In the strictest legal sense, it is illegal to possess a deer that has not been legally taken and checked in.
With out some controls and scrutiny of the individual situation, there would be little control on the guys hunting only for antlers and with no regard for the meat (and ethics of the situation). They would shoot bucks all season long, and then "retrieve" them after the season.
Sheds are legal to pick up, but the whole skull and rack may have some issues. We have made some significant cases by matching antlers to illegal kill sites through DNA analysis.
Edited by scn (10/21/12 02:27 PM)
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#2991833 - 10/21/12 03:14 PM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: scn]
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dsa5455
4 Point
Registered: 07/15/10
Posts: 109
Loc: Middle Tn.
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Thanks scn your thoughts are helpful. If the partial remains of a buck that a hunter shot during archer season were found during late gun season and you recovered the skull and antlers then it would probably be a good idea to call twra regional office and report the find to be on the safe side.
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#2992671 - 10/22/12 06:47 AM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: scn]
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fredfred
6 Point
Registered: 06/24/12
Posts: 636
Loc: crossville, tn
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It would likely be dependent on how long after the season, etc. it is found. It would be a good idea to get in touch with the local officer and get their input. In the strictest legal sense, it is illegal to possess a deer that has not been legally taken and checked in.
With out some controls and scrutiny of the individual situation, there would be little control on the guys hunting only for antlers and with no regard for the meat (and ethics of the situation). They would shoot bucks all season long, and then "retrieve" them after the season.
Sheds are legal to pick up, but the whole skull and rack may have some issues. We have made some significant cases by matching antlers to illegal kill sites through DNA analysis.
So in some countys it would be legal and illegal in other countys just depending on your local officer? Nice 
_________________________
AKA: Luke Sky Dumper
Democrats and liberals have turned our country into a bunch of SISSYS
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#2992773 - 10/22/12 08:02 AM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: fredfred]
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BigGameGuy
TWRA Biologist
12 Point
Registered: 05/14/04
Posts: 6353
Loc: Nashville
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So in some countys it would be legal and illegal in other countys just depending on your local officer? Nice
It doesn't at all sound like a county by county issue, it sounds like a situational issue.
Situation #1 - Hunter "X" hits a really good deer during the Thanksgiving weekend. He's tore up about it because he's been hunting this deer with his son for the past three years. After a day of searching, he calls his local county officer and tells him about the deer. The officer comes out the next day and helps him search for another few hours to no avail. The hunters though heartbroken appreciate the help and thank the officer for his assistance. Low and behold while walking the farm on a rabbit hunt in mid-January the son son stumbles upon the remains of his Dad's deer. The Dad calls up the officer and says, "Officer Joe, you'll never believe what my son just found!"
Situation #2 - Hunter "Y" has been caught spotlighting three times in the last four years. This year he's been suspected by two different landowners but they just can't seem to pin him down. Word around town is that a third landowner, an elderly woman who lives adjacent to Hunter "X", saw him shoot an extremely large buck as it was standing in his headlights on her property. Not wanting to cause trouble with her neighbor, she decides not to report it. The first week of January Hunter "X" recovers the deer and its a doozy, just shy of B&C. Wanting to get it mounted and entered into contests Hunter "X" calls up the local officer and says, "Officer Joe, you'll never believe what I just found!"
FYI - It's the same officer Joe. 
I for one am glad there is gray in some of the laws. In almost every case it's the good guys that are thankful and the bad guys that are not.
_________________________
If given the choice between education and regulation, I'll choose education every time.
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#2992790 - 10/22/12 08:09 AM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: BigGameGuy]
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DntBrnDPig
8 Point
Registered: 04/12/05
Posts: 1590
Loc: Cleveland, TN
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Good post BGG.
Spirit of the law, IMO, is more important than the actual law. (I know that's not necessarily what he said)
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Any time you can get out to hunt, is a good day to hunt.
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#2992843 - 10/22/12 08:41 AM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: DntBrnDPig]
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MUP
Non-Typical
Registered: 08/01/07
Posts: 36124
Loc: Just North of Chatt-town
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Good post BGG.
Spirit of the law, IMO, is more important than the actual law. (I know that's not necessarily what he said)
x2.
_________________________
MUP
Amateurs: Built the Ark
Professionals: Built the Titanic
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#2994528 - 10/23/12 07:45 AM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: MUP]
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fredfred
6 Point
Registered: 06/24/12
Posts: 636
Loc: crossville, tn
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A situational issue? I think if you shoot a deer you should put your tag on it if any part of that deer is recovered. If you don't find it till turkey season then Oh well, you only have 2 tags that year. You killed it. If you want those horns then tag them. If you've already killed your limit and then find it, tough luck.
_________________________
AKA: Luke Sky Dumper
Democrats and liberals have turned our country into a bunch of SISSYS
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#2996073 - 10/23/12 09:48 PM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: fredfred]
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Bowdacious
16 Point
Registered: 09/01/00
Posts: 12940
Loc: over here
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A situational issue? I think if you shoot a deer you should put your tag on it if any part of that deer is recovered. If you don't find it till turkey season then Oh well, you only have 2 tags that year. You killed it. If you want those horns then tag them. If you've already killed your limit and then find it, tough luck.
If you searched and couldn't find it, you might come to the conclusion that you didn't kill it. If you tagged out and found it much later, you shouldn't have to leave the antlers. If I wasn't the shooter but found a dead deer in Feb. with a nice rack, I could probably take take them without losing a tag if I asked TWRA. Why should the hunter that was sick because he couldn't find it after the shot have to walk off or tag it for the next season?
_________________________
Disagreeing with me doesn't make me any less right.
____________________________________
The best gift you can give another is the feeling that they are worth something.
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#2996142 - 10/23/12 10:18 PM
Re: a buck not recovered
[Re: Bowdacious]
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fredfred
6 Point
Registered: 06/24/12
Posts: 636
Loc: crossville, tn
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Because he killed it.
_________________________
AKA: Luke Sky Dumper
Democrats and liberals have turned our country into a bunch of SISSYS
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