So this incident happened to me over the wknd. Already done and overwith but just wondering what the rest of y'all would do in the same situation.

Here's the cenerio(Names have been changed for privacy issues, but needed to help with context of story)....Went out hunting this past weekend on public property with a buddy of mine who was in town for the holiday (Let's call him Bob). We were hunting with a friend of his that I have never met before (we shall call him Tom). It was Tom's boat that we were using to get to a spot (Tom's spot) on a public lake in the area. He said he has been having some luck on it in weeks past, but not much. I didn't mind because I just wanted to hang with my bud Bob and we were also taking my 8 mo lab pup, so it would be good experience for him.

So that's the back story...here's the issue. It was a slow hunt, few trickled in here and there, but pretty slow. The issue came up when we had a single bird come in and work the deeks, a single mallard drake. Came in on the right, and since I was on the right, I was the one who shot it. I also sent my pup on the retrieve and he made a pretty good one and returned with the duck. Upon inspection of the bird, low and behold it was banded. I was ecstatic. Not only bc it was my first band, but also bc it was the first mallard that my pup had retrieved in his young life. So after I told Bob and Tom about it, Tom had a serious change in demeanor. He clamed that bc it was his spot (although public)and his boat (that we were only using for transport) the band was his...Even though I shot the bird and my dog had retrieved it. He raised such a stink about it, I just let him have it sicne he was acting so butt hurt. He was a total jerk the whole rest of the hunt, kept on bringing it up trying to justify to me why it was his. I didnt say anything bc i didnt want to upset my bud who was friends with him. So I will no longer be going hunting with that gentleman again. Just wondering what Y'all would do in a simalair situation.

I'd a told him to bend over and I'll deliver it. No way he gets my duck, banded or not. Heck, sic the dog on him, he's a jerk.

You got screwed. Bird comes in, public or private, it's the shooter's bird, no questions asked. If you fired the only shot and killed the bird, it's yours. Two people shoot at same time and it's the old fashioned coin toss to decide.

He would NOT have gotten the bird or the band.

What a d-bag. Did he charge you for his boat fuel too? No way I would have given it to him- even if it meant no ride home.

Sorry but I would have to agree with Tom.....I wouldn't have been a jerk about it but if it wasn't for him you wouldn't have shot the band....I can see i'm in the minority here.....with that said I have never shot a banded duck....been on hunts where two banded dove were shot....one of them was on my property (i did not shoot it) I was definitely cool with the guy that shot it keeping the band but he insisted I keep it....the other was not on my property I shot it and I offered it to the property owner who said I could have it....I guess I would have offered it to the Tom in hopes he would let me keep it

Sounds like you hunted with a complete dbag. Who cares who's spot/boat it was. Even if it was a private pond of his. I can't even comprehend how he would ever justify even to himself that's his bird. ESPECIALLY since you were the only one that shot and YOUR dog retrieved it. And it was your dog's first mallard? If I were Tom I would've been ecstatic and given you my taxidermist's phone number. You got robbed of a real trophy. If I were you or even Bob there's no way that would've gone down like that.

X2

^^^

Hug a root Tom

So what would of happened if you towed his boat to the lake, then what. Or wait give it to the folks that built the lake. What an idiot!! You shot it you own it. If two or three shots fired then a coin toss. Been there and done that.

Tom is an idiot.

He was acting so inappropriately about it, it may have come to fists if I didn't concede

Low blow...

He gonna put that band on his lanyard and tell people it's "his?"

That is a special bird for you and your dog and you should have kept it for the wall.

Understood, you did what you thought you had to do. But it ain't right. Whoever pulled the trigger gets the band. If a group shoot and you don't know who shot it, draw straws or something.

[quote=TXPride]
Low blow...

He gonna put that band on his lanyard and tell people it's "his"

That is a special bird for you and your dog and you should have kept it for the wall. [/quote



X2 I would've kept the thing sounds like tom is a bobagaduesch

SO what's the story Tom is going to tell? "I was hunting and another guy shot this bird and got this band but its mine since we were in my boat."

What a Douche.

If only one person shot, it's their band. If more than one person fired a shot (even if you are certain you killed it) then draw straws. I honestly don't know a single person who would want to keep a band from a bird they didn't shoot at.

So much fuss over a little band... Real Dbag move by tommy I would have took it off the leg and threw it in the water

NO WAY I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM THAT BAND!!!! Period! Anyone that supports his decision is also a complet idiot! You shot that bird its your band. I connot believe there are people out there that would pull that crap. Sorry for you buddy. My buddy and I went to Alsaka last year and we shot a band. Didnt see it until we were cleaning birds. We flipped a coin and I won. You can get a band made. Its from the actual band makers. They will need the number on the band and its 50$ but I would do it if I were you.

I would have swallowed that band in front of him.

Come and get it!

Always carry a fake band in your pocket, always !!

If Tom thinks like that then I hate to know how he thinks on other situations. Proper etiquette is whoever shot the duck gets the band period! Even if the person never shot a duck, was a guest, did not pay a dime, borrowed the gun to hunt etc... you get the point. There is no other criteria that changes this etiquette. You shoot it, the band is yours. I have been on hunts were a newbie was on their first hunt and killed a banded bird. We praised them on the trophy. He really took a great moment for you and your dog and screwed it up. I can understand how you agreed to let him have it , but it was yours. You can take satisfaction in that 100%.

Tom is an idiot.

I'd have kept it (though throwing it in the water would have been a heck of a sight to see).



^ Truth.

first question comes to my mind, how old is tom? gonna guess 12, but may be off a year or two

your shot, your dogs retrieve, your band.

tell Tom to go, pound sand