So how would you have handled this situation . . . .

[dmftoy1]

Ok, I was sitting here this morning just taking it easy and we had a knock on the door. Turned out some guys had been bow hunting about 1/2 a mile down the road and had shot a VERY VERY large buck which they had tracked to the otherside of the river from my place. They wanted to know if they could track the deer across my property and I told them "of course".

We went out with my dog on a leash and picked up the trail on my side of the river and followed it a bit. Just as we were getting to the edge of my property the buck jumped up (obviously wounded) and took off. I could see it run across my neighbor's land and onto the neighbor's just beyond and lay down.

I went back to my place and jumped in my truck and drove down to the neighbor's and got permission for these guys to go in and get the deer. (I don't know these guys at all) Anyway, when they were going to get the deer it jumped up and made it back across the river before dying on yet another neighbor's land. We wanted to make sure it was dead so we sat there for probably 30-45 minutes watching it and while we did the neighbor, who's land the deer ran across when he left my land, came down and started ripping the bow hunters a new orifice about "poaching" on his land. I told the guy that the deer had run onto my land and across it before running across his land, so they definately hadn't poached it on his land, and that that we were merely trying to ensure that a wounded deer didn't die and go to waste. He kept throwing a hissy fit so I finally just left and went home. (The bow hunters got permission from the final land owner go an retrieve their deer so it didn't go to waste) I've never had a bad relationship with the guy who was throwing the fit, so it kind of caught me by surprise.

I've been sitting here somewhat pissed off all afternoon because I couldn't believe the gumption of the one landowner who had the attitude that it was better for the deer to have died on his land and not been retrieved (it only ran ACROSS his land) than it was for these guys to have gotten permission to retrieve it. How would you have dealt with this guy . . . .taking into account that I live next to him and plan on doing it for quite a while?

Thanks for listening.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[redneck]

I think you did well by leaving. Don't go looking for an argument with your neighbor over something you don't have a stake in. When its your deer, its different. As it was, the hunters got the buck anyhow and there was no need to borrow trouble.
At least in ohio, there are laws regarding interefering with hunters. So while he can keep them off his property, he can also only harrass them as long as they're within earshot.

 

[Titan6]

Paitence' not being pushy and make sure you are always in the right. Sounds like you did okay.

If your neighbor was a non-hunter than he may not have understood what was goiing on. Even if he understood he may not have been entirely rational with the situation as it was unexpected and he might not have been prepared to deal with it.

If it were me I would go by in a day or two after he has some time to calm down and bring a treat and explain the situation. Of course he could just be a jerk and nothing will help. But I would at least make the effort.

 

[dmftoy1]

That's probably a good point. I'll see if the wife has a bottle of wine or something of the sort. I know that this guy doesn't hunt but he said that his nephew used to have a tree stand down there so I guess he's not opposed to it.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[.41 magnum man]

Well, maybe they did shoot it on his land before it ran to your property. They might have just said they shot it elsewhere. That could explain your neighbor's anger. Anyway, you did fine. Maybe when you go see him he will explain his side more clearly.

 

[Tokugawa]

Some people can really get strange about animals.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi dm...

I'd say Ya Done Good.

Don't bother to give the event any more thought at all and don't bring it up later with your neighbor. If he wants to bring it up - politely hear him out completely without making any comment. I'll bet by the time he's done talking about it he'll think you're a cool neighbor.

 

[dmftoy1]

That's probably pretty good advice. I'm a bit cooler about it now but it bugs me because I've been watching the buck that these guys got for 2 years now and wanted to see him up close when they field dressed him out. (He was a monster with a drop tine that had to have been a foot long) I don't know how he survived last winter because it looked like he had a broken leg and something wrong with his jaw but by this fall he looked to have gained 50lbs . .and he wasn't small last year.

Oh well, thanks for listening.

Have a good one,
Dave