I had a leaser who shot a 1.5 yr old 10" wide 8 point the other day and after some coaxing by another leaser he called himself in to the game warder ( I commend him for that) warden didn't do anything he just said since you called it in yourself I'll let you go! So my question is do you agree with the Game Warden? What would you do as a land owner? I am more upset with him NOT calling me and talking to me about it than the fact that he did it. Not sure what I'm gonna do yet.......... Would be different if it was a MATURE buck that was tall and narrow.

Just my $0.02.... unless lease contract specifies what age/class deer are allowed and you verified hunters could age deer they can shoot what ever they want. By calling himself in he has done faced the "man". If you like the group of of guys leasing your land let it be, if not kick off at end of lease.

It states any spike must be 3.5 yrs old and all bucks minimum of 3.5 yrs old and you must obey any and all state and federal game laws for our county................ Issue is that they are allready leaving the lease due to catching a hog dogger run through twice and i had no idea about them so they assumed I allowed it. Which I don't. So they don't care anymore and are just shooting deer to shoot deer.

It sounds like yall have major trust issues and the relationship is already on the outs. So the man shot a small deer but probably will eat every bit of it. It sounds like he owned up to what he did and you are now just butthurt over a dumb deer. Get over it and move on.

I can see both sides of this. He did the right thing and contacted the game warden, turning himself in. I also see the side of what the lease states, and the fact they are leaving pretty much sums it up at this point. They don't care. I don't know what you would have to stand on at this point as I don't know the laws or anything that would be involved. I guess you could get restitution of some sort if you wanted to pursue it.

See, to me.. thats beyond acceptable... if you have to "think" anything.. the question needs to be asked pronto.. do not just "assume" that is what will get you in trouble.. If I was you.. go buy some "deer b gone" and sprinkle it around his setup.. problem solved.

I don't want restitution or anything. My issue is more along the lines of He said he wasn't sure what the deer was when he shot it. He saw 4 points on one side and thought it was a deer he had pics of on his camera so he shot and it was the small 7 point actually not 8. I am not mad about the deer as much as I am about him shooting something and he didn't know for sure what it was and for the game warden telling me about it before he did. A week later.

I was in a situation AGAIN where I had the chance to shoot a doe.. it was another 1-1/2 yr old spike.. and obviously i could have made the same mistake that had people on here hounding me all week long.... So that mistake does happen often but very different situation as he saw more than 3 pts and he assumed it was big without getting a GOOD look to see if it was legal. Sorry for the loss and we will all be in mourning over this baby 7 pt.

Too much drama for me, if I ain't happy with what is happening on my property it's my own fault.
Hog dogs, management rules, illegal deer, shooting deer just to shoot deer, sounds like C&W song in the making.

I assume they have a contract, I assume you signed it too, only you know if there is a breach or cause to terminate clause in it.
Do whatever will let you sleep better.

No violation of state laws, it is up to the lease "manager" to deal with breaking the lease rules. I will add I am glad we own the place so I don't have to deal with all of these "management" rules.

If they are gone don't worry about it move on and see what happens. I'm sure you can lease it next year with no problems.

I would keep a close eye on your place since the group is already decided to get off....no telling what might get taken now that they are in that state of mind. Where is this place at so I can recognize it once it comes open.....looking for a place now. Good luck and hopefully it works out for you. I would also figure out who is running dogs on the place and put a stop to it.

This seems like the best course of action to me.

3.5 yr old spike?

I wouldn't want anyone hunting on my land dumb enough to call the law on himself. I say good riddance to them and get some people with some sense to lease the place.

I could never fault anyone for doing the right thing, as the hunter did.

This is why the GW let it pass, but I bet he won't let it pass if it happens a second time.

This is why YOU should let it pass, but I bet you won't let it pass if it happens a second time.

Isn't this what we call a one-time hall pass?

Yes, basically I don't believe in the spikes are inferior bullcrap. Most are just born later in the yr fawns and I don't believe in the kill all spikes method.