Ethical Dilemma

[TMCKEE]

Just curious how some of you would handle this "hypothetical" situation. Say you are in the field and you meet up with some hunters that you don't know. They have recently taken an animal. In discussing how it went down, you find that they were (in your opinion) unethical in the manner in which they took the animal, but not acting illegally. Their shot was back a bit too far and the animal was clearly gut shot. It's been several hours (5 or 6) since the animal was killed yet they've done no field dressing of the animal whatsoever. They are on their way to camp.

Do you say something at this point?

 

[Akres]

"Hypothetical"ly speaking...Ethics are Subjective at the very best...Situational at the very least.

Even Eye Witness' have been known to get it 'wrong' on ocassion.

 

[AKBoater]

There's nothing you can do except drop a little hint. As an exit to the conversation say something like "Well, I better let you guys get to work. It's always nice to get an animal opened up and cooling off."

I'd have no problem saying, "Looks like the shot could be a little far back. You might want to open that sucker up, I'd hate for that animal to spoil. Congrats and have a good day." Course I'm not shy about sharing my opinion.

 

[Brian M]

Yep, I'd say something. I'd offer to help them get the animal skinned and quartered. At that point it wouldn't do much good to point out their mistakes, but rather it would likely be more productive to help them right the situation. If they took me up on it, I could likely make those points in the process of helping them out.

 

[Bullelkklr]

I sure wouldn't gut it. I would get out my knife and ask one of them to hold a leg while I started quartering it out...course might ask first.

 

[yukon254]

nothing unethical about hitting an animal to far back with an arrow, its just a bad shot. Anyone who bowhunts has done it... or they havent bowhunted much. Not taking care of the downed animal.... now thats wrong.

 

[fishertrapper]

I'd just mention that the animal should be field dressed as soon as possible and give them a hand if they want.

 

[TMCKEE]

Sorry I let this go for so long...
The "unethical" part of their behavior was to take a shot around 40 yards at an animal on a dead run (by their own account). As stated by others, unethical is sort of an eye of the beholder thing. All in all, it was pretty amazing that a shot was made as well as it was. I found the individuals about 5 hours after the shot with the animal in the back of their truck and they were on the road an hour or two south of where it was taken. They clearly had no urgency in taking care of the animal.

My instincts were probably off, but I felt like this might be a lesson they needed to learn on their own, because by their own admission they were "experienced" hunters. I probably should have done things differently.


...and I ran into them the next morning with the animal still in the back of the truck untouched.

 

[Dirtofak]

Sorry I let this go for so long...
The "unethical" part of their behavior was to take a shot around 40 yards at an animal on a dead run (by their own account). As stated by others, unethical is sort of an eye of the beholder thing. All in all, it was pretty amazing that a shot was made as well as it was. I found the individuals about 5 hours after the shot with the animal in the back of their truck and they were on the road an hour or two south of where it was taken. They clearly had no urgency in taking care of the animal.

My instincts were probably off, but I felt like this might be a lesson they needed to learn on their own, because by their own admission they were "experienced" hunters. I probably should have done things differently.


...and I ran into them the next morning with the animal still in the back of the truck untouched.

Day 1, no rules broken. None of my business.

Day 2, wanton waste maybe?

I would definately keep myself isolated from them. They are a walking, talking cluster.........

 

[Wet eNuf]

Technically, have several questions for your hypothetical ... What type of critter was shot? What was the temperature? What are the meat salvage requirements for that type of animal in that location?

From your comments/responses, you were more concerned with the running 40 yard shot. If they have been through a bow certification class ... then they've heard the ethics part before. If they have read the regulations, you wouldn't be telling them anything new. I wouldn't get too riled up about what they said ... others have good recommendations about things to say, offering to help gut the thing, loan a knife.

Perhaps, they planned for their taxidermist/meat plant do that for them though. And they would seriously learn of things "not to do" if their meat shop had to turn the meat away.