1st bow buck

Well not really....I hit my first buck an 8pt tonight at 35 yds. Gave him a good hit and the story begins. after the hit he ran off hunched over and clearly i made a good hit.  SO i waited a good while, thinkin id let him lay and expire. Well little did i know the woods i was in had a hunter 85 yds from me.....all set up with a crossbow. I tracked my buck til i reached the deer all tagged and gutted. and the guy claimed to have finished off my buck. He told me the buck was really staggering when it got to him...so CLEARLY my buck was getting ready to fall!!! I guess what i wanna do is ask a question to real SPORTSMEN, whos deer does this belong to? I have put in so much time and effort into this and thought i nailed my first buck with a bow....only to be dissapointed. He did shoot the deer like he said....but i just want some opinions.  GLUCK to all

It is a gray area. Honor among sportsmen should trump everything, except the other guy sounds like he didn't have any. Too bad.

that really sucks but i would probaly have to say if it was still stand/ walking and he nocked it down its his even though it probaly shouldn't be but for all u know he watched it fall and went up and put a arrow through it cuz that does happen too

Honestly, not a big deal.  I had the exact same thing happen several years ago.  The difference was that the guy told me that I could have the deer as it was quite close to dying already.  I turned down his offer and let him have it, the next week I shot my largest P&Y to date.  In my mind, the deer should probably go to the guy who put him down.  Besides which, now the monkey is off your back and the chase phase will be starting shortly.  You will be fine and still have lots of time to take your buck.  Sorry it happened, but relax and go whack another. 

I think most of us are in agreement here then.  If I were that other hunter, I would have given it to you.  My ethics says the first "lethal" shot in archery gets the kill, no matter what.  Heck, I would have even helped you drag it out.  Shall I digress into my "gun hunter" mentality by the cross-gun user?  :-) 

"The vital shot gets the animal"

That is the letter of the law in PA, but varies by state.  In Ohio for instance, it is the last shot that claims the deer.  It is actually a big deal and is enforced out there. 

In the end, it is not worth fighting over and common sense should be the deciding factor...

ps  the guy was a jerk to me...no class

Kaween12, It should have been your deer, you put the 1st killing shot on him. But in pa it's the last to touch him. Actully had this happen twice both in gun season. The first buck i shot was in the mountains a little 3pt. I hit him in the liver he made it about 75yrds went over the ridge and layed down. As i was heading to follow the bloodtrail when I hear a shot over the ridge. I decide to head that way figuring I'd see a hunter gutting and tagging it. I hear a guy holler over hear, I spot him he's an older gentlemen. When I get there he starts to congratulating me on a fine buck. I'm kind of stunned, then I said to him you made the last shot. He then explains to me he is oldschool he believed the 1st hunter too put a killing shot on an deer get's it. I thanked him and went on his way. And I learned what sportsmanship was about. So thats how I feal about it 1st to put a killing shot should get the deer. The second time was not a happy ending . SO keep your chin up and keep plugging away and may your next be a booner!!!!

ORIGINAL: kaween12

the shot the gentlemen put on it was high ...almost looked like he got nothing but meat.  As a hunter/ sportsman  i dont think i could take that away from a young guy. Esp for how excited i was only to be brought down. In my eyes that was my buck...esp when the guy addmitted it was falling over! BS

 
#1.  There is no such thing as a high non lethal spot above the lungs...
#2.  Kaween-  Now is the time to display that you are the bigger man.  Rise above it and let it rest.  We know your situation, you have told us.  But... you nor I nor anyone else on this board knows the other person's situation.  Perhaps the deer was as special to him (maybe moreso than you).  There are a lot of factors that could play into this and you would be wise to just let it go and move on.
 
#3.  There are intelligent-responsible people on these boards and then there are trolls who would tell you to punch someone in the head over a deer...  You have to choose which to listen to. 
 
Good Luck and Better Luck with the next one... Griffon.

kaween,
Real bummer. I've had it happen to me a couple of times in gun season. As others said not a lot you can do about it but try to reason with the other hunter and come to an agreement.
Do you carry a camera with you in the woods?
If it ever happens again you could at least get your picture with the deer.
There will be more chances keep your head up
Mike

One good thing out of it you know you are capable of putting yourself on deer and can put a killing shot into a shooter buck....I haven't got to let one fly yet this year...Good Luck...

mak thats rediculus i don't understand how ppl could want a deer that bad even if it was a monster i couldn't look at it on the wall and think i did that to someone who deserved to have that deer