Hunt Camp Rules - Sharing Game

When I hunted with a group of 12-15 for the 9 day deer season, the deer you shot on the first weekend was yours. The group of 12-15 was divided into 3 smaller groups and any deer shot during the last 7 days was to be split by the smaller group you belonged to. I was the only one that bowhunted in that group and usually had a deer by that time so after dad and I had 2 deer for us, we gave the others away. I was also one of the better shots, so I was put on stand more, which led to me shooting more deer than others. My rule was to ask before the drive started if anyone wanted me to shoot a deer for them. Most of the time, someone would say, if you see a nice doe and have a good shot please shoot it and I will tag it. In WI we can party hunt during rifle season.
 
With all our hunts other than WT & Mulie we split the game equally:).
Now that is with our draw tags:).

Blessings,
Dan
 
We split the meat up evenly in our camp and we had 9 guys in this year (friend`s fatherinlaw just wanted couple roasts so we split up the meat 8 ways). We got 2 bull moose and 2 guys still have tags to try and get a bull before end of October. I take a little less meat bc between myself and the inlaws we harvest a few elk every year. You need buddies, help is always greatly appreciated and it comes in different forms when out at camp.
 
That is a nice way to do it. That is what we used to do in deer camp to make sure everybody got a share. That way all feel that they participated in the experience and even the 85 years olds got a share which always made me feel good about my contribution.
 
I always give some meat too the guys I hunt with if I get anything. It's not s written rule, it's always something we've done.
 
Good read, not something I've run into. The guy I go with and I both have access to home raised beef and usually keep our freezers well stocked with it. It is part of my pay working on the ranch, and he buys a half each year. We give away alot of our game to others who need or want it but it has always been up to the person who filled the tag what they want to do with it. Except for cooking backstraps for everyone who helped with it, that has always been a tradition. We have always joined in on helping pack out anyone's animal, just haven't expected more than a backstrap supper and a few beers for it. I get alot of peppersticks made from my game and take them as a side dish when I go to parties so I don't have to cook anything. They go over great, I never bring any home.
 
I don't hunt with large groups so mandatory distribution has never been as issue. If I take an animal I tell my hunting partners to take whatever meat they want, so far no one has tried to slide off with a whole elk. Some of the guys I hunt with rely heavily on harvested game to ease the grocery bill and I usually accept less than they offer. I guess the only rule I enforce is if you carry meat you get meat. I have been in camp with at least one guy (and only that one time) that decided to sit in camp and drink beer while the rest of us quartered and packed out an elk, didn't much care if he received any share of it and he doesn't go to elk camp anymore.
 
We are talking about hunters in a group that have not killed anything, wanting a share of meat; it would be easer to give them a gutted deer and have them deal with it, vs me cutting it up and giving them steaks and sausage. If a hunter helps me butcher deer they can take what they want, but for the guys drinking in the house when I am outside in the cold cutting meat. They can take a gutted deer with the fur still on or nothing.
 
Our camp for deer hunting was sometimes more than 15 individuals some of the long standing regulars got to be 90 years old after a while. We party hunted then (it was legal) for the oldsters after a few days of their not seeing game.

We did not butcher beyond skinning and quartering at camp. So game was divided by quarters and everybody got a share. One other guy and I usually ended up taking a few excess deer for the older guys shares. Of course now this is not legal.
 
When ever I have hunted with a friend(s), we have never divided the meat in half. But, we have always shared the meat when ever some one was out. As Tobey284 experienced, I wouldn't share at all if all someone did was sit in camp and drink.
 
Well, we used to split everything evenly, but we all chipped in on expenses. Lately I have been hunting with some pople that don't share (fine with me). Since I don't have a tag on these hunts most of the time, I just made them start paying for everything, and take their truck/camper. I'll happily help out on the food and drinks bill.

It's a pretty important thing to get fleshed out before somebodys' feelers get hurt over it.
 
The idea of talking about the sharing before the hunt seems to work the best. I have had problems when I was new to hunting because we didn't know to decide things before there was a problem. I don't think it's a fault or blame issue. We were all raised with what was acceptable in our hunting group. communications is key. IMO
 
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