I get the Missouri conservationist, north American hunter and American beagler. I sometimes buy traditional archer and the back woodsman magazines. I have pretty much read every one I have cover to cover. With the exception of the back woodsman even one I have read has something on ethics in every issue. Even if it's just a story about a hunt or even a fishing trip. The back woodsman is hit and miss but it's not quite a hunting mag either. So that would be 5 if you count the back woodsman.
On a different note, please read the whole thing.
Several years ago I had two separate instances one in deer season on in turkey season.
I was hunting private land, our family farm, I seen a big doe while walking out of the woods at the end of the day. I still had about 45min of legal shooting time left. I was able to slip into a position to get a clean shot down hill at about 50 yards. I had a perfect broad side shot and a good rest. I tripped the trigger on my 30-30 and she immediately hit the ground. She was kicking a little, but I wanted to get to her and get her gutted out before it started to get too dark. So I started down the hill, about 10 yards in I heard something running, I looked towards where my deer was and see her standing about 20 yards down towards the creek. So I took a knee aimed and fired now she was down for sure. I was taught that when you do get a chance to shoot an animal you make sure it dies quickly and as humanely as possible. I continued down the hill towards the new position where my deer was at. Then I ran into the problem. I had killed 2 doe, in my pocket I had only one doe tag. I knew I was going to have to call the conversation agent asap. I was also taught to never kill something just to kill it and leave it lay. So I decided to field dress both deer and put my only tag on the first one I shot. By this time my 2 uncles, an aunt my dad, grandpa and my brother had made their way to where I was. I was only about 150 yards from the house. I told them all what had happened and they helped me get them out of the holler. Everyone offered to just put one of their tags on the other one. At first, I was so nervous about it that I agreed. At that time in Missouri you still had to take your kill to the check in station. So we loaded them in the truck and stopped by the house to grab a sandwich and head into the check in. Grandpa put his doe tag on the other deer. Then rubbed some blood on him and said he was ready to go. I knew he had to lie to the warden to tag the deer. We made it about half way to town and I told grandpa to stop the truck and that I was going to tell them what happened and just deal with the situation. He argued just a little then pulled over. I took his transportation tag off. When we got to the check in there was no line. I was about to puke. I told the officer the whole story I told you all. His reply was, you couldn't make up a story like that if you tried. I told him I would pay whatever fine and understood that he could confiscate my deer and more. He said, son things happen when you're excited, as he clipped the check in tag on both deer. Then wrote a note for my grandpa so he could still use his transportation tag. Then stuck his hand out and said, that was one of the most ethical things he had ever heard or seen. Told me to go buy another tag and have a good season.
With the way our laws are here I always but 3 tags, an any deer and two bonus tags (anterless only) and I never go out without two tags in my pocket.
I'll make this one short. While spring turkey hunting on public land a managed to shoot my strutting tom and some 20 yards behind him was a hen I didn't see. Apparently my shotgun holds a good enough pattern to kill that hen. Which is a huge no no in the spring. I had a bag phone in my truck so I called the warden and told him what happened. He said believe it or not it's not that uncommon. He drove out to the parking lot at the public land and put a tag on the hen and checked in my tom. He told me to be careful and call him if something like that ever happened again. I had another tom tag and opted to end my season with the tag still in my pocket.
An accident does happen from time to time. But it doesn't excuse poaching and the #&@$% idiots that say, I shot a big buck with a 22 rifle in the headlights of my truck. It was an ethical kill I shot him in the head. The rest of what I want to say can't be posted. Thanks
Patrick
