Which shot killed the deer?

[BP Hunter]

OK , my friend and have a dilemna. We're not sure who killed the deer.

This morning we went hunting in the rolling wheat fields in our area. He spots a tall 3x3 mule deer bedded on the side a ridge. We get close enough for a shot. I told him that he could have the deer. He told me I could also shoot it. I decided to be the back up shooter just in case he misses. We on the opposite ridge and the deer is bedded down and facing away from us. Only the rack, head and back of the neck is visible. He sets up and is about 100 yards away, and I am bout 30 yards to left. We both have shooting sticks. He takes the shot. Nothing, it doesn't even move. About 5 seconds later, I take the shot. Still it doesn't move. I decide to shoot it again after I reload. The millisecond after the shots goes off, it rolls down the hill dead.

Is it possible that the 1st shot killed it and it just rolled off the hill coincidentally after I fired the second time?

 

[rondog]

Where were each of you aiming? Any hits in those spots? Recover any bullets? Of course it's possible the first shot killed it. Possible the second one did too. Either of you could have hit it squarely in the back of the head or neck, either could be instantly fatal.

I knew a guy once that took a shot at a buck with his .44 mag Model 29, all he could see was the back of its head. After the shot the buck disappeared, so he figured he'd missed. He walked over to the spot and found the buck, hit square in the back of the skull. It dropped in its tracks.

 

[BP Hunter]

We both aimed at the back of the neck. He was squarely behind it and I was angled to his left. Only one bullet wound. It entered on the left and exited front of middle part of neck. We did not bother retreiving then bullet from the ground.

I honestly want it to be him. I decided in the beginning that the first buck would be his. But at the same time, the hunter in me wants to take the credit. If ever, this would be our first muley buck.

 

[wankerjake]

If it broke the spine, the last shot killed it.

 

[BigBore44]

What does he think? Is it so important as a hunter to claim the deer? You both have a story to tell. Let him have it. Remember, it's always better to give. You gain nothing by claiming that deer. Even if you did put the kill shot on it.

 

[clearcut]

Just split the deer and be glad that you got one(Solomon?) I'm going out with a buddy tomorrow we have the same deal who sees one 1st gets 1st shot with back up then we split the meat.We are both good shots.You were back up so I think it was his buck.Good luck be humble.
CC

 

[rcmodel]

Is it so important as a hunter to claim the deer? You both have a story to tell. Let him have it.

What he said!

You said:

I honestly want it to be him.

Then it was him!

You missed entirely!!

You will get another deer you can say is 100% yours, sooner or later.

Let this one be his first.

Nothing but hurt feelings can come of fussing over it at this point.

Rc

 

[newfalguy101]

Not sure it really matters, who actually killed it, according to your post, you told him he could have it.

 

[BP Hunter]

The animal was butchered. It had 2 shots in it. It looks we both killed it. I am very happy that my friend has the deer.

 

[X-Rap]

Or else you could have hit it with both of yours? My point is you witness and partake in the shots but then come to the Internet for an opinion that would require forensic pathologists to possibly solve. I guess if you recovered two different bullets you'll know but without that the only answer you'll find is in your heart.

 

[rondog]

I agree. He shot first, you told him to take it. If the rack is worth keeping, I'd say let him have it as his trophy, and both of you share the meat.

I take it from your username and the reloading comment that you both were using muzzleloaders?

 

[witchhunter]

Two friends of mine that had similar situation happen a couple of years ago no longer speak to each other. They have been friends for 35 years before this happened. A big buck jumped up in front of both of them at 80 yards. They both shot at it running away. One of them hit it the back of the head and it dropped. An argument ensued, one took the high ground, the other became nasty, telling stories about how the other guy missed, yada yada. Did I mention they are next door neighbors!
Tell your buddy what a good shot he made and hopefully he will split the meat.

 

[BP Hunter]

I am proud that my friend has the deer. It's just hunting...

 

[buck460XVR]

Two friends of mine that had similar situation happen a couple of years ago no longer speak to each other.

Around here, more friendships have been destroyed because of deer hunting than most anything else. Friends using another friends stand when they weren't there or accessing property that another hunter thought was their spot. Shooting a deer that was not "adequate" for another or taking the "big boy" the buddy wanted so badly. Progressing to the point where one gets as much pleasure watching a friend/sibling or offspring taking game instead of themselves, shows real maturity as a sport hunter. Some never make that progression. Kudos to the OP for doing so.

 

[Nature Boy]

I remember when I was in the army I took my commander duck hunting for the first time. He was a city boy and had never hunted before.

Our first flock of mallards comes in and he blasted away (not cutting a feather) while I picked out a drake and dropped him. My boss turns to me and says, "I got him!, I got him!.....did I get him?"

I said, "good shot sir"

Let your buddy have him.

 

[jmorris]

Our first flock of mallards comes in and he blasted away (not cutting a feather) while I picked out a drake and dropped him. My boss turns to me and says, "I got him!, I got him!.....did I get him?"

I said, "good shot sir"

Let your buddy have him.

With the Boss reminded me of this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlO9CoXZnOo

 

[Milt1]

I was hunting with a friend and had a weird situation that I wanted to relate. We were hunting a ridge top in Harrison Basin outside of Augusta, Montana one morning when I heard the bleat of a young deer. This happened several times and soon after that a nice Muley buck was headed my way along the ridge. I think he was interested in the bleating sounds. When he stopped I fired and I was looking at him and he looked like he was still in the same place so I fired again. Again he looked like he was still in the same place so I fired a third time and it was the same situation. I finally walked over to him and the first bullet had killed him instantly and his antlers had hung in a tree limb making it looked like he was still standing there. When I skinned him out you could cover the three bullets holes with your hand.

 

[stiab]

Same thing happened to two friends I was hunting with in the 1970's, no way of knowing for sure which shot killed it.

Harry asked Tobe..."Did you kill that deer or did I?", to which Tobe replied..."Well, when I'm telling this story I'm going to say I killed it, and when you tell the story you can say you killed it!"

Meat was split among all hunters at end of day, so that part didn't matter.