I had this issue come up years ago. I see a few problems with some statements.
As to the 1st hunter to, ‘put a lethal shot into the animal’? Who is the arbitrator of what a lethal shot is? Not so clear out in the woods. Will this shot prove lethal in one hour? What if the animal may live for days?
This deer came by with a grazing shot across the back, our party killed it. The 1st shooter followed tracks in the snow for a mile, then came to us. We gave him the deer, didn’t have to. He later told some others we were ‘trying to take his deer’. My 1st inclination was to wrap his rifle across a tree, 3v1. Later when he came back on this private property the owner said he was no longer welcomed.
I later called a game warden about such issues, his answer was succinct, but still a little room for adjustment. He said the deer belongs to who killed it, then tagged it. He left it at that.
There is room for common sense, problem is, some one may deal with may not have any sense.
