One Elk Two Shooters, who gets it?

[Gunoholic]

So I had an unfortunate experience this last weekend. I had my wife out for her first elk hunt.

wifes 1st shot-gut shot
wifes 2nd shot-solid hip bone shattering shot. (thick woods)

Animal kept moving away. Solid blood trail for 200 yards.. Then out of no where we hear a close shot.. I knew someone had just shot our cow...

It turned out to be one of my friends that had made his way around the mountain. I felt that it should be ours. Two decent hits, and the blood trail..

Ill probably end up sharing some meat.. What do you all think??

[Big Wall]

I think it is yours. You were tracking a mortally wounded animal.

[mofuknfamily]

It's yours for sure, but it never hurts to share with a buddy! (can i be your buddy?)

[SouthPaw]

Someone of really integrity would know that it is yours. Being a friend of yours makes it a lot easier. Ask yourself what you would do if the shoe was on the other foot. If you share with him good for you. If you need another buddy, I'll be sure to take some off your hand and will pick up too!

[MCarp71]

Or you could just have a grillin' party! I'll carpool with Southpaw. It's cool to share, although it is your kill!

[sniper7]

Id say its yours only based on the 2nd shot. While the first would be fatal it would almost for sure be lost as that cow would keep moving a lot.

If were just another hunter I would take the whole thing. If it was a good friend id toss him some meat for finishing it off but make sure he and my wife knew it was her kill.

[Bowtie]

First blood, is what we have always said.

[SouthPaw]

Or you could just have a grillin' party! I'll carpool with Southpaw. It's cool to share, although it is your kill!

There's an idea!

[Gunoholic]

Good point sniper7. I have been encouraging her a lot wanting her to know she would have had the final shot.

"Group cookout"? You guys are real funny.. thanks for your thoughts though.

[MarkCO]

There is common courtesy and then there is the law.

ALL of the CO DOW regulations use the word "kill" for tagging, use of meat, etc. The actual legal right to an animal is to the person who "killed" the animal. If it was alive and then finished off with a subsequent shot, the kill shot claims possession.

There is some gray area. If your shot "would" have killed it, there is obviously a potential claim. Based on the description, I would say that the kill shot of your friend would obligate him to tag the animal. The proper thing to do (IMHO) would be to share the meat unless your wife ended up filling her tag. Then your friend should at least thank her with the backstraps.

Be careful of the regulations on party hunting. If your friend's shot was viewed as the "kill" shot by a DOW officer, but it had your wife's tag on it, they could potentially take the carcass and issue two tickets for party hunting.

Go read the regs..."kill" is the operative word.