Betrayed by my hunting partner

Unsportsman like, but to lose a friend over, only you can decide this.
Couple seasons ago, there were two legal four point mulies for the taking.
I let my daughter have her first buck.
The other slipped away.
I could of shot first, but her first buck was the deal breaker for me.
If it happened again, she would get first dibs.
I get to play that memory back in my head every time I look up at
the wall here.
He is proudly watching the front door.
It's only fur folks, sometimes you win, sometimes you watch.
 
BrotherRockeye said:
horn hunters are like heroin addicts...
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True enough..Then there are those who show alot of jealousy towards others that take a dandy animal...I think this is what we have here..Its is evident in the thread heading, ''Betrayed by my hunting partner''. A bit over the top for what it actually is...
 
I agree with you, he shouldn't have invaded "your" spot. If he was only hunting a couple of miles away and the buck wondered in front of him I'm guessing you wouldn't have had an issue with him shooting it. It's more about you finding a honey hole, and him hunting it. A few of my buddies and I take our deer hunting quite seriously, for us it's not about shooting a deer. We're looking for specific deer that we have caught on camera, or have seen while scouting. Big mature bucks range a lot, especially during the rut. We as friends get together all the time, and share what we're seing, share pictures, and share the places that we are setting up to hunt, be it blinds, or stands, etc, but we never intrude on each other's space. If you invite a guy to use one of your stands and he shoots a big buck, awesome, a buddy got a great deer, but in my oppinion it's not fair to knowingly sneak into another friend's area that he's set up in. I good friend shot a 168" 5x5 out of one of my stands a few years back. He asked if he could use it, and I said sure. It was a great buck, and I was happy for him. This year 3 of us that are friends and hunt in the same general area shot bucks scoring 160 - 180" typical. They were all shot within 6 miles of each other and the way big mature bucks range in the rut no doubt those big boys crossed paths with each other at some time. We had two of them on camera for a couple of years already, and the other had been seen while scouting. We were very fortunate to tag out with the big guys this year. We each had our spots that we were hunting, and other friends were hunting the area as well, but we never step on each other's toes so to speak. If a buddy is set up, I just can't see myself going to hunt where he hunts. The closest that I can think of ever being set up to friend's spot is at least 3/4 of a mile apart, unless actually hunting with each other. It's nothing for a mature buck to range 4 or 5 miles, so why set up on someone else's lap?
 
Instead of coming and complaining on a website such as this why not voice you opinions to this guy?

Sounds to me like he may have over stepped his boundaries but you are also overreacting for a buck... Just have a conversation with the guy (do people still do that these days? If not try texting him how you feel...) I'm sure the two of you can hash it out but I hardly think this situation is worth losing a good hunting buddy to.
 
Boomer said:
I don't think you have anything to complain about. Your partner got the shot, you didn't, stop whining. Is it worth damaging what appears to be a good friendship over who got the shot?
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x2

a while back a friend invited me to hunt turkey on his land because he was seeing a big tom for a couple years. the day of the hunt i went to my buddies normal spot, forcing him to a different area. i nailed the tom with a 10" beard and we shared smiles before cooking him up. the thought of me stealing "his" turkey never even crossed his mind as hunting has always been about the relationships that are formed by the activity.


your buddy was in the right spot and you weren't, get over it. i'd rather see a buddy shoot "my" nice buck rather than seeing another hunter, yotes, wolves, or a car get it...
 
I agree with Varmit on this one, however I dont think that ending what sounds like a good hunting relationship is the answer. Let buddy know how you feel and what is expected of him on the next upcoming hunt. Someone with practical knowledge and the ability to spend an extended amount of time with is hard to come by.
 
I think the OP has learned a tough lesson. Nice deer are easier to find than good friends, if this hasn't "soured" the relationship now. Chances are...if he lied about how he ended-up there, he's either a liar about everything...or knew you well enough to know what you'd think of "your" deer laying on the ground with a chunk out of the back of it's head. Sounds like a fluke-y shot indeed BTW. Either really skilled, or really lucky. Sounds like a bad shot that somehow found it's mark.

I can't be too critical though. I've taken member of my extended family (young man) to my favorite grouse spot a few times and he just got his first 2 birds this past weekend. I'd already decided that he'd do the trigger work for any we spotted/flushed. He just informed me that he's taking a buddy there in a couple of weeks and it just does't "feel" right. It isn't an envy issue, rather, I spoon-fed this young fellow a hard-earned spot (and a "keep it under your hat" condition) to learn that he's taking one of his dopey friends there now. It IS crown land...but I'm sort of caught between thinking it shouldn't bother me...and that I should have never shown him in the first place.
 
.22LRGUY, again, just communicate with this kid. He is probably really excited about getting his first birds and really wants to "show-off" to his buddy. Explain your situation and I am sure he will understand. This young man is probably just stoked to be out there is this is the only spot he knows. Take him out again and show him some other "prime" spots but tell him that the hard earned spot is a place for just you and him, that should make it even more special for the young buck.
 
I agree with the Spank. I think the OP has his panties in a wad over nothing.

Questions for the OP:
What makes you think if you had gone to the spot ahead of him you would have seen /shot this deer? Is it on a rope?
What makes you certain it is the same deer and not a different one?
How do you know if you had not gone to a different spot you would have seen a better deer?
If you were that worried about it why did you show him the spot to start with?

One year (in a stand I built) one of the new guys went and sat in it at lunch time when I went in to camp for lunch. He shot a monster buck. All I did (and all the other guys did) was laugh at me and congratulate him. That's what going to hunt camp is all about - having fun.

You should hunt by yourself if you are going to get pissy because buddy got a bigger one that you.
 
For the most part I am a solo hunter. The few people I do share some hunts with wouldn't do that whether the animal in question is on private land we have permission to or on crown land. I wouldn't do that to someone else either. When a friend has a particular animal or just a real promising looking spot nailed down ya leave him to it, piggy-backing off someone else's work is lame.
 
"Betrayed by your hunting partner" sounds like he slept with your wife. The story title should be "Said too much, and a better hunter beat me to it." . Uncanny sense of direction, capable of making a running head shot... maybe he deserves the kill. A clear indication of that, is he got it, don't be bitter, just don't spill the beans next time. Have you ever seen "There's something about Mary"? Same deal. Don't tell guys with d1cks where the hot girl is.
 
I've got places I fish where I know there are big fish.
It really bugs me to see other people start fishing there.
So I keep my mouth shut, and leave when others see me.
 
5440fight said:
"Betrayed by your hunting partner" sounds like he slept with your wife. The story title should be "Said too much, and a better hunter beat me to it." . Uncanny sense of direction, capable of making a running head shot... maybe he deserves the kill. A clear indication of that, is he got it, don't be bitter, just don't spill the beans next time. Have you ever seen "There's something about Mary"? Same deal. Don't tell guys with d1cks where the hot girl is.
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I dunno. From the sound of things, it might have been preferable... ;) Sorry, I don't hunt - but I couldn't resist. I'm living vicariously through all these post-hunting threads right now... :D
 
A solid friend is worth way more than a buck. My group of close buddies have snaked good deals from each other from time to time, because we're all dumb enough to talk about it. Does that mean I'm going to end our long lasting friendships because of it? Hell no! We call each other bastards, laugh about it and move on. That being said, we agreed that we'll work together while hunting, from start to finish, and whoever gets an opportunity should capitalize on it without reservation.
 
I am sure you know what I was getting at.

antiqueguy said:
someone is stuck in 1981 the queen is gone no more

no one owns the deer it was born free just like you not bought

who cares about big bucks any way you cant eat antlers (so many new hunters are out for trophys sure they are nice but it should not be the only reason to hunt)
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While his actions may have not been entirely kosher, this is blown way out of proportion. "Betrayed"? Wow. Sounds like the two of you need to settle this in the principal's office after school.

Hunting is very important to me, and there are very few people with whom I enjoy sharing a hunt. Ask yourself which is rarer: a good hunting partner or an 8-pt buck.
 
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