I shot a squirrel earlier that had time to get in a tree hollow before dying. When checking out of the WMA, I counted it towards my total. If I had gotten 7 squirrels in my tote, I would have quit hunting at that point.

Never failed to recover a wounded deer, but I've considered checking one if I do. I'm sure it will happen one day if I keep bow hunting.

Would like to know what yall do. I do it because the purpose of checking game is to give provide data to the local biologists, seems like ones that I likely killed are relevant. I'm not sure if biologists want me checking nonrecovered animals though.

I personally don't think wounded and un-recovered animals are supposed to be counted.

From everything I’ve read, as a matter of law and ethics, they should absolutely be counted.

Deer killed on the highways aren't counted, deer killed by predators, like coyotes, aren't counted, deer killed by other deer aren't counted. In fact, any deer that dies contributes to the natural food chain and is eventually food for buzzards or other animals.

Personally, I believe you're over thinking things. However, I respect it as it is your choice.

I'm not going to count a non recovered deer, sure as hell am not going to count a squirrel. It's been about 25 years since I've lost one, but the younger me would not count it either.....

Well if you (tag it) or count it or whatever you wanna call it and get checked you gone have some explaining to do. As to why you don't have said deer in possession esp on a wma. As I believe the law states in possession. If you wanna do what you feel is right and I don't exactly disagree with you logic don't count it and just use one less tag

I would assume (I know, never ass-u-me because it makes an ass out of u and me) that their estimate of total # of killed deer in the state accounts for a certain percentage of roadkill, predation, lost game, etc. That's the whole purpose of game check, so they can make educated decisions about how to set game laws, correct? If I report a lost animal that they have theoretically already accounted for, I have screwed their estimate up. I wouldn't want to do that.

If they specified that I should report it when that happens, I would, but there is also the cases when You're pretty sure the animal died, but then 3 weeks later it shows back up on camera or shows up on someone else's camera 4 miles away. There is no way to be right 100% of the time unless you only report the animals that you lay your hands on.

I don't find it I ain't counting it . Hell,,, way things are going I may not count nothing

You’ve got to be kidding... that’s damn ridiculous. Game laws read “in possession” not “ could’ve been in possession”. I can’t believe anyone legitimately thinks this way.

Has nothing to do with the legality. My hunting ethic counts them. Don't judge you if it doesn't, we all have our own code.

If it really means nothing, then would you be ok with someone wounding 10 deer at your spot? There was a thread a while back on here where multiple people mentioned hunt club members who would habitually wound deer.

I'm generally not one to be by the book, but I do what I can to help the biologists on the WMA's. What's more useful information, the squirrels I killed, or the ones I walked out with? I know animals die from other reasons, but the impact hunting has on them is useful information. I'm sure it means very little for squirrels, but that's what I did today.

I watched a meat eater episode that Steve mad a bad muzzleloader shot on an elk. He said that he felt personally his hunt was over and that he had “tagged” his animal. He didn’t actually fill out the tag and report a kill but made it a personal decision. I understand both sides. I personally would keep hunting.

Quality squirrel management!

I usually just kill the ones I shoot. Problem solved

If a lost sq upsets you then you mist get beside yourself at a dove shoot. Doves are an extreme but illustrative example.

I would be surprised if managers did not recommend limits on projected kill rates independent of reported kills. In fact I know some do. Archery tackle really sucks for killing and recovering. The death rate is projected when recommending seasons and limits. In other words, what you do will occur within a broader limit no matter what you do.

This really comes around to you doing what suits you within a greater framework, so to say. Me, if I shoot 4 I heel the dog back to the truck.

Typical engineer. Over thinks everything, thinks he knows everything and at the end of that day, the common sense worker still has to fix everything. 🤣🤣🤣

Yep. I work in research, so we don't have working people to clean up our messes lol. Watching a bunch of PhD's turning a wrench is something to see lol.

If I don't pick it up or load it up, I don't count it.

Same here.

It's that ^^^^^ simple boys.