Bit of a pickle

[Boogieman1]

Yesterday I had a small business owner here locally tell me I can hunt his land if I will give him a deer. I know the man well and he is a meat hunter who just does not have the time to even go once. I'm familiar with his property, I hunt a diff parcel two properties over, he has 75 acres which he has feeders and a food plot for tax purposes.

My dilemma is my family can easily eat all I can legally shoot and we enjoy venison. I don't wanna do without and I'm not a law breaker who uses someone else's tag. My wife does not care to shoot one, my kiddo is still to young. So I thought maybe I would use the place to introduce a kid to hunting. But it just doesn't seem right to let someone take there first deer and make them give it away. Takes away from the experience IMO.

Properties are hard to come by and it sounds like a good deal but I really don't know what to say. I've done it b4 with bad results, when the landowner wants meat if you don't hurry up and produce he will find someone who will. Which is a complete waste of your time.

What would u guys say?

[<DK>]

I did it once and decided it wasnt for me... would prefer not to talk about it but it was a small deer and the last one ill ever shoot

[Jonny]

If you regularly fill your doe tags and eat them all, I wouldn't do it. You could propose a counter offer and offer to set a couple stands, prep them and if he does have time to hunt, put him in the best position to get one. I'm like you though, I shoot a deer, I want to eat it, cause that is why I shot it. Would hate to give it away. I'd much rater break my back helping him shoot it than just give away a used tag knowing I could be throwing those backstraps in a pan with some onions and bacon.

[Tim H]

I think that family comes first when you’re filling the freezer, so would pass on the offer.

[fireforeffect]

You could always try it for a year. If you don't think access to his property is worth a tag, then opt out the next year.

[mspaci]

Nice thing here in NY is that land owner gets a doe tag for more than 50 acres & can sign it over to you. Maybe they have something like that? Mike

[Dewey]

I would have a hard time giving up my deer even if I could keep the rack. Eating the venison is the best part after the hunt. Just wouldn’t feel right giving away the only deer I have a tag for. If you can get multiple tags that’s a different story. Shoot him an antlerless deer then hunt for a nice buck.

[Rob loper]

Boogie if you can find a way to get it too you from delaware next season i would actually shoot a deer for you if you really need be. Its totaly legal. Id be glad to help out

[Kraftd]

This is a really rough one. Are you really gaining anything with this permission in this case? I guess if there is a good shot at a mature buck could be worth giving up some meat, but would be a tough one for me if I had limited tags.

[SidewayZ]

I tend to side with the thought that if it doesnt feel right or if it is not right, then pass on the opportunity, it never seems to work out in the end regardless of circumstances.

[wolverinebuckman]

If you regularly fill your doe tags and eat them all, I wouldn't do it. You could propose a counter offer and offer to set a couple stands, prep them and if he does have time to hunt, put him in the best position to get one. I'm like you though, I shoot a deer, I want to eat it, cause that is why I shot it. Would hate to give it away. I'd much rater break my back helping him shoot it than just give away a used tag knowing I could be throwing those backstraps in a pan with some onions and bacon.

x2...this is a great solution.

[EdC]

its a complete waste of your time

I think you said it all if those are the expectations

[HELENVILLEHUNTER]

For me this is an easy one, I would take the new hunting opportunity and see how it goes. Ultimately the decision will be up to you and whats most important for you and your family. My question for you is, would it be harder to be sitting in your stand and thinking about all the bucks on your friends property, or sitting at the dinner table eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after shooting a nice buck knowing your friend is eating some fresh back straps?

[wolverinebuckman]

would it be harder to be sitting in your stand and thinking about all the bucks on your friends property, or sitting at the dinner table eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after shooting a nice buck knowing your friend is eating some fresh back straps?

For me the latter would be far more difficult ...no way a head on a wall beats dozens of sizzling hot venison dishes on my family's table. But that just me.

[Boogieman1]

All great answers and thanks for the replies. Still not for sure what I'm gonna do. I have limited tags, although I did expand my scouting to new counties this year to give me afew more kill opportunities. But I hate to count my chickies b4 they hatch.

In reguards to setting him up, he has stands in place just does not have the time to ever go. There's good bucks in that area, and I hate to walk on a non pressured spot that holds good deer. That's my bread and butter lol. He is a super guy who lets me park at his house to access the lake, so I also don't want to disappoint him.

We will see, I always got my dad. Think I can bribe him with some fish and deer jerky and make everyone happy.