Basically you've accused this guy of going against his word, questioned his integrity and called him a few choice names. I understand this was all done out of frustration and in the excitement of the moment, but for the sake of your own integrity I suggest you call the guy first before you blast him publicly. Maybe he was onboard with the plan and that got derailed when he saw the excitement in his daughter's eyes. That happens alot. The problem with posting on here first is that you are firing shots before the guy's had a chance to explain. I'd like to think that if someone on my lease had an issue with me they could come to me man-to-man first before I read about it on the forum. I'm not condoning what he did or saying its the right thing to do. But one thing I've learned is that people aren't always going to do the right thing. All you can control is how you respond.

If you've read some of my other topics in the past, you will see a pattern.

I enjoy the controversy and topics of this nature. Regarding this topic, I believe letting my views out on here first will result in a much more "tame" me the next time I see him. I would much rather type my views here than let them fester and explode in a face to face meeting. Think of it as an outlet for frustration in order to stay civil in person.

It is hunting things can change in the excitement I am sure that is what happened and I am telling you it can happen to you someday

I agree that particular buck had lots of potential, but I think you're over blowing the situation. If this is the only instance of a non-mature buck getting shot on a 4200 acre ranch, then you don't really have a problem from a management standpoint. If its happening multiple times per season, well....

And don't get me wrong, I'm not at all talking about the promise keeping aspect, just the deer management aspect.

Based on what I see here you don't have a gripe. Someone put a rifle in that young lady's hand and sent her off hunting and that she did. No where here is it mentioned if she was hunting alone or with your partner. At that age I would have capped that deer in a heartbeat regardless what.

Did they shot it out of your stand?
I they did I would be upset too. That’s why I have rules for my stand…
Are you 100% positive it’s the same deer?

Sounds like you don’t have kids… in that case you will never understand.
By bring it up to him…In my opinion… you will just spoil a “father daughter moment”.
If he does it again next year… then confront him

In the end maybe you should look for a lease that isn’t family friendly.

I didn't read all the posts but it sounds like you're getting some **** from some guys. I'm with you. A couple of years ago, there was a 2-1/2 year old 9 point living right beside our camp. He scored around 120. I would pour corn out at the edge of camp and he got to where he would come out at any time and eat even if we were standing around talking 30 yards away. We all agreed he got a free pass. After a week or so, one of the guys decides (without telling anyone) that his 20 year old Son needs to shoot it. The boy doesn't even want to. The deer is almost tame. But he shoots it standing in camp from a range of 50 feet. The camp is mad. The boy is embarrassed. The dad is defensive. And the deer is dead.

The boy was old enough to know it was a bonehead move (by his Dad) and hasn't been back since. As with this girl, I don't fault the kid but the Dad's a dipstick.

And for those that might say "Hey, I'd shoot a 120" 9 point", not everybody is out hunting to kill every nice deer they see. You keep shooting those deer and that's all you'll ever see.

I agree completely with BuckRage. Its not about the girl at all, its the fact that it seems the dad most likely knew full well ahead of time what he was doing. He knew that deer was there, and as BuckRage said, blew smoke up the OP's azz, knowing that once he saw that deer, be it himself or his daughter that it was going to be shot. To me, it seems the dad only said what he said and make the bullsh1t agreement to keep the OP from harvesting it until the dad or daughter had a shot, and in my mind thats complete BULLSH1T!!
Also, judging from the smile and look of pride on the daughters face, that is something the OP should NEVER try to take away from her, as stated previously, take the father aside and make sure he knows how you feel, but keep the daughter out of it at all costs!

I am sorry this has happened to you, I would be upset also. Good luck with it.

I'm just glad the laws of the state are such that they accomadate all types of legal hunters. At least TPWD is smart enough to know that a state the size of Texas with 3 million plus deer needs all types of hunters - not just meat hunters, not just horn hunters, but all types. If we became a state where you could only shoot 4.5 year old 18" 150 class or better bucks - the number of hunters, the deer population, and the overall quality of the heard would all die off substantially.

It's also a stark reminder of why I have never hunted on (and never will) a non-family oriented place.

Some of you guys just need to be sure that you are either on a place where it is you alone or most definitely only the same kind of hunter you are. Some hunters are just incapable of understanding or abiding other types - and that's sad.

Earl

3.5 old

One thing I think was mentioned was what if the daughter reads this post, and the worst thing is her picture was posted, and even worse, one of the boys or friends in her class that knows her and reads the THF post, and tells her about it.

It most likely will spoil her celebration for taking a her trophy deer don't you think!

Now was it wise to post this, along with her picture, on a public forum for all the world to see without first confronting the individual who actually did wrong?

A man is only as good as his word. Happy for young hunter, but tough situation! I've been in a similar situation and we must understand when it comes to "wild" animals they don't belong to us! Hunting is a wonderful privilege that we have! Management can only be inforced and kept by people with same values! Sorry for your misfortune!

I don't really have a dog in the fight other than to say, if you think you are ticked off, because of a deer.

You wouldn't have the first clue about ticked off until you posted a picture of my kid on a public forum without my permission.

That... would be ticked off... but maybe that's just me.

I can completely understand that, and I realized my error in posting that picture an hour or so and deleted it. Very bad judgement on my part, I admit that.

Sounds like you have a pretty good place, plus they help out and feel the feeders and such. If this is your only beef with the guy, I'd let it go. Might be time to put your ego aside and be happy for the girl as she will remember that forever. You can talk about a man's word, deer management, etc. In the end, it's just a deer.

I agree 100% with fencewire on posting the kid. You may want to remove the image from your photobucket account as there are many links to the pic still in the thread. Sounds like you had a pretty good situation aside from this one deer incident. Life goes on .. Enjoy the rest of your season.

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx184/csddarden/Resampled_2011-11-30_17-58-29_435.jpg

BRAVO

Hell, when he catches wind of this post, you might have your decision made for you.

Don't sweat it. It's just a deer. Pick your battles.

We all see things in a different light. Not saying anyone is right or wrong. We have been hunting the same lease since 1961. I wasn't on it then. I've only been on it for the last 14 years or so. In all these years, the only landowner rules about the deer is that we each shoot no more than 1 buck and that we shoot a buck we're proud of. Pretty simple.

Suddenly a few years ago, the landowner tells a week before the season opener that we can't shoot anything less than a 10 point. Where did that come from? After about 30 minutes of hunting the first day, we found out where it came from. There was a 150+ 8 point hanging around. We saw him several times a day while we were there. Biggest 8 point any of us had ever seen. The next year, he dropped the 10 point rule and it went back to the "proud to shoot" rule. Guess what? No more monster 8 point around.

Yeah, it's his land. Yeah, he can make up rules as he goes along. Yeah, he didn't want us to shoot that buck. Yeah, we've been very loyal and honorable leasees for 51 years. Yeah, we put in all that time, energy, money, and management so one of his family members could kill the deer. He doesn't even hunt.

Was it about a deer? No to us. It was about a Man's honor and what it took to buy it away from him. To you, maybe it was just a deer. Such is life. did we get off the lease? No. Did we lose respect for the landowner and his honor? Yes.

When your landowner specifically prevents you from shooting the deer of a lifetime so someone else can shoot it, let me know what you think.

[quote=Csddarden] And I didn't let him walk because I wanted something "bigger", but rather I wanted something "older", which I got, and am very happy with.

Souds like you got what you wanted! Pics?

Hell yes!!

Get over it let it go be happy for the girl I can understand where your coming from but its just a deer be thankful you have a lease you could be stuck bow hunting like me on public land

Most of you guys are severely screwed up if the posts you made are serious. Who cares about the kids happiness or the smile on her face. Happy or not, her dad lied. By yalls posts, I assume I can lie to you, cheat you, or steal from you so long as my kid is happy and smiles about it. Something wrong here for sure.

That's what I'm sayin. If I lie to someone so I can buy my kid an iPad and post a picture of her with it smiling, was that the right thing for me to do? If so, I got some land I'll be glad to lease out to you. There aren't any deer on it but I can tell you there are and then buy that iPad with your lease fees. After all, it would be her first iPad and would make her smile. That's the main thing...right?