Being that the archery hunt was over I forwarded the coordinates and pictures on to the DWR as soon as I reached cell service on Sunday night and they are having an office pick the antlers up within the week.
I hope the veterans don't blast me for thinking out loud here but here goes; let's try to keep an open mind. I'm sure there will be some detractors from what I'm about to write, if you can't handle it just stop reading now. There may be some point of view here that you don't agree with. I don't want to ruin your day. I'm going to dive into some pretty deep hunting ethics questions. I'm not claiming superiority here, or that I'm perfect, simply posing some questions to invoke some mature conversation.
The antler recovery is the moral dilemma that I'm running into. . . . . . and that's the discussion I was hoping to get into.
The bull has already gone to waste. . . as you can see. Chances are it laid there for a couple days and died, that's speculation of course, but that's my guess.
IMHO The ?trophy? part of the bull is in many people?s eyes are the antlers. Having grown up on and around that unit, and having had the chance to hunt and harvest a bull out there with my bow, the trophy for me was the experience of not only harvesting an animal but using the animal. The antler?s, to me , seem like a reward for job well done; a keepsake to remind you of the animal and the experience.
Again, IMHO I don't think drawing a tag entitles anyone to a set of trophy antlers, I think it allows you the opportunity to hunt and harvest an elk.
If there is an unwritten hunting code (which I believe there is): Is it morally sound to display the antlers above your fireplace when the rest of the animal went to waste and the rack was found by some dude who smelled the rotting animal on the wind, found him laying under a tree, and then sent the GPS coordinates online with a subject line FIND YOUR TROPHY HERE? (I'm not blasting the other thread, I think it's awesome the way everyone came together to help actually, again, just thinking out loud)
How many people have passed up a risky shot and ended up with tag soup? Maybe they deserve finds like this?
As a side note: If the hunt were still going and the hunter was out there pounding the hills looking for him I would feel 100% differently about sending him or her some gps coordinates or walking them right to the bull.
What bothers me are hearing and reading people post or say things like ?Ah hell, I'll give it a couple weeks, go back, and look for the crows.?
How do you all feel???
Obviously, I'm playing devils advocate here because I think think it's an interesting topic that goes un discussed. There is no wrong or right answer. Had I hit one and lost it I know I'd want to find him eventually and a big part of me would want the antlers because they would be cool to have. Hell, I wanted these antlers and am still kinda bummed that I don't get to keep them! But why??? Because I saw birds and smelled rotting flesh and walked in the right direction? I love antlers just as much as the next guy, I spend loooooots of time in the hills looking for them on and off the hoof. . . . . ask my gf who hasn't seen me on a weekend in two months. This is the moral dilemma I'm taking about.
I was helping a gentleman (sent him some map circles, describes some wallows, etc.) that drew an out of state tag on the SWD who hit and lost a bull on the last day of the hunt. . . . it's a very sensitive subject and I know he is sick to death about it. For all of us who love to hunt and respect the animals it's tragic. I can very easily see both sides of this.
To all those that are offended right now, relax it's just discussion. I don't see the need to try to put anyone down here. We?re all on the same team. For anyone with something to add though. . . . . throw it up, I think it's worthy of discussion.