So my neighbor shot a monster buck about five years ago that he never found. Stories had circulated about a monster being found on the neighboring property the following spring. Comes to it I was speaking with my neighbor and he found that the buck that was recovered is believed to be the one that he shot five years ago. Story has it that it could be a record book buck and, being in Iowa, that tells you that it was big. My neighbor is wondering if he has any claim to it so I posted on here. I promise it’s not mine, my luck at hunting is minimal and I told him he probably can’t do anything but he wanted me to ask anyway. So, anyone with any insight or opinions, please feel free to enlighten and opine about your take on the matter. I believe I’m right, but I told him I’d see what everyone thought. Thanks!

Steve

Laws vary by state but I don't see this as any different than if he knew exactly where that buck was when it died. If it crossed a property line he didn't have permission to go onto, he's shït out of luck. I've heard some states (I have no idea about Iowa) will fine a landowner for not allowing someone to cross their land to recover a dead critter: if they know it is there....but that doesn't sound like the case here anyhow.

Based on your description, let alone the 5 year timeframe involved I see absolutely zero legal standing for your neighbor. Even less because it is "believed" to be the same buck.

Correct, your friend has zero title to it.
Here in South Dakota the guy who found it doesn't have title to it, it's property of the state. People can and have been fined heavily for keeping dead heads they have found. I think it's meant to discourage poaching but it doesn't, and people still keep them when they find them. A big one like that though would get a lot of attention

I would think your neighbor is SOL. 1) I would think he would have to prove that he shot it. 2) he would have to prove that the deer he shot was the exact same deer that was found 3) waiting 5 years does not help a thing.
The fact that 5 years has passed and nothing has been said until it turns out "could be a record book deer" will only add fuel to the fire.

I had a $100 bill a few years back and lost it, I think the one you have in your wallet might be mine. How's about you give it to me and all will be fine.

Thanks for the feedback. Exactly what I told him. He said he had a trail camera pic of it but I told him that still doesn’t prove he shot it.

Outside of animals taken in season, we, in Oregon, can not pick up and retain antlered skulls. We can pick up naturally shed antlers. Intent was to prevent the incidental finding of trophies a day, week, or month after the season. Suggestions now are that it is wise to retain ones tags for all antlered skulls harvested for perpetuity, but I've not heard of much enforcement over that issue. It does come up though when some 21 year old gets busted and they find 20 some untagged trophy head/skulls on his premises.

As to the OP, no claim.

He has no legal or moral clam to it especially after 5 years. Just how would he prove that it was the same deer he lost?

I don’t see him being able to prove anything and once an animal crosses a boundary, it’s game over unless the land owner gives you permission to pursue it. He just lost a good buck.

If it’s on your property, it’s yours. How would you know it’s the same buck??

He is what I would call SOL.

In Mo we can ask the landowner and if he denies we can get the sheriff involved.

Supposedly the landowner is obligated to let you retrieve your critter. Dunno, never checked in on it much.

If we find an antlered skull we are supposed to get it checked by a conservation officer, and I personally know of one guy who the officer went with him to see the actual spot where the carcass of one buck was at.

Salvage tag for the found head and no claim for your neighbor.

here, your friend has no claim to it. the guy who found it would have to pay PGC 10 dollars per point on the rack to keep it

Sounds like a rip off to me.

And if you dont pay what do they do w it, toss it in the trash?

In South Dakota, you have to have a deer tag for picked up antlers and I believe it has to be in season. But some of our laws are some of the screwiest in the nation. We even now have a season for hunting squirrels, can you believe that?

i have been involved in this before it can be a real pain in the ass. but if the neighbor would be a man of honor he would have gave him those buck horns back.