Who will get family pet/trophy buck

[Harmonica Bear]

Did you guys/gals read this article last Sunday in the Pioneer Press? What do you think? I think the hunter is all in the good and there shouldn't be an issue at all. Just curious if there are others views.

[McGurk]

Which article is that?

[Harmonica Bear]

Sorry about that. I am not sure I can post the link.

Head hunt: Who will get family pet/trophy buck?

CHRIS NISKANEN

Craig Keefe has no intentions of giving up the head of a trophy 10-point buck he shot on public land in Cass County this fall, even if the owners of deer No. 27 haul him into court.

"I'm not worried about it because I don't think they have a leg to stand on,'' said Keefe, 31, who lives near Backus. "I'm just more excited about getting it back from the taxidermist."

Kerry and Rachel Krumwiede of Pine River say Keefe's buck was a valuable pet at their small deer hobby farm. It escaped around Nov. 1, just before deer season, after a bear tore open the fence of their deer pen.

"As our pet, I don't want it hanging on his wall,'' Kerry Krumwiede said last week. "I think I'm entitled to the animal anyway because it's my property."

The bitter custody case over the buck's head is not only one of the most unusual incidents from Minnesota's deer season, but it also highlights the growing conflict between Minnesota's domestic deer and elk producers and the hunting community.

The Department of Natural Resources says Keefe did nothing wrong Nov. 7 when he killed and tagged the trophy buck, which could be identified only by a yellow ear tag, about the size of a matchbook, with the number 27. DNR conservation officer Nikki Shoutz said Keefe shot the deer 3½ miles from the Krumwiede farm and legally tagged and registered it.

The DNR is no longer involved in the case, said Shoutz's supervisor, Tom Provost, adding, "Now, it's a civil action.''

State animal-health officials say the Krumwiedes also followed the law by reporting the escaped deer to the DNR within the required 24 hours and attempting to find the deer and recapture it.

Deer No. 27, however, made the fatal mistake of stepping out of a swamp 70 yards from Keefe, a deer hunter since age 9.

TAG AND TROUBLE

"The tag was in its right ear, and I had a left-side, broadside shot,'' said Keefe, who has several other trophy deer on his wall. "He walked around a bottleneck in the swamp like a big buck would, looking pretty proud. I didn't see the tag."

Thrilled to see such a big buck, Keefe killed it. "I went over and poked it with my rifle. It didn't move. I got my brother (Nick) and he came over. We hunt and fish together all the time.''

But when they grabbed the deer's antlers and picked it up, Nick said, "'Wait, there's a tag.''

"What do you mean, there's a tag?" Craig responded.

"Look at his ear," Nick said.

And that's when Craig Keefe's trouble began.

He called Shoutz, who told him it was likely the Krumwiede buck. DNR officials wanted to test the deer for disease but couldn't contact Keefe in time. Because of warm weather, Keefe said he wanted to process the deer quickly and get it to a taxidermist to avoid spoilage.

Keefe said he also called the Krumwiedes as a "courtesy." Additional heated phone calls have occurred, during which Keefe said the Krumwiedes have threatened to take him to court to get the head back.

"I believe I've been civil, but I don't like being threatened with an attorney,'' Keefe said.

Kerry Krumwiede refused to comment about any possible legal action.

PUBLIC OR PRIVATE

The crux of the legal argument appears to be this: Is the head of deer No. 27 considered a body part of legal livestock and is thus private property of the Krumwiedes? Or did deer No. 27 become fair legal game when it wandered onto public land?

"The question of the tag will be fascinating,'' said Ted Lundrigan, an attorney in private practice in Pine River. "And once it's dead, what's the value of the head?"

He said a civil court judge would have to weigh other issues, such as whether the deer had become feral after it escaped and whether Keefe could have known the deer was tame.

Given that the deer had only a small yellow ear tag and had wandered far from the Krumwiede farm, Lundrigan said the case favors the hunter.

"If there's a cow on county land, I can't shoot it because there is no cow season. But with a deer, that's different — there is a deer season,'' he said. "If I raise deer in country where there is a deer season, (escapes) are a risk that I would have to take.''

Keefe said he speaks for all deer hunters when he says, "When you see a rack like that, the last thing you're going to do is try to identify its livestock number. What are we suppose to do? Look for ID tags on every deer before we shoot?"

There are about 10,000 domestic elk and 7,000 domestic white-tailed deer held in captivity in Minnesota, said Dr. Paul Anderson, assistant director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, and the number of animals reported escaped each year is low.

"They are rare, maybe 10 a year,'' Anderson said.

He said the Krumwiedes are a small producer, with only four deer. But captive white-tailed deer bucks have become a valuable commodity in Minnesota, with more than 400 farms in operation. The animals are sold for breeding and to shooting preserves.

On its Web site, the Minnesota Deer Breeders Association lists prices of $300 to $500 for whitetail bucks and fawns; other Web sites indicate private shooting preserves charge hunters $8,000 and up to kill a trophy-sized deer.

Deer and elk shooting preserves are controversial in Minnesota, with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association opposing them. The group believes the increased transportation of domestic elk and deer will increase the chance of diseases getting into the wild. A recent loophole in Minnesota law has allowed shooting preserves to operate in the state, but some lawmakers want them closed down because they believe fenced preserves go against the ethic of fair chase.

Keefe said his buck didn't act like a tame deer, and he plans to hang it — with ear tag — in his home.

"My question is, why does he want it back?'' he said of Kerry Krumwiede. "For the same reason I want to keep it — to hang on his wall. I'm not giving it up, and I'm fighting for anyone in the future who has this happen to them."

Chris Niskanen can be reached at [email protected] or 651-228-5524.

[Eric Wettschreck]

The hunter did nothing wrong. If pet owners don't want their pets to get shot they need to keep them tied up, bear or no bear.

That mount will be going on the hunters wall.

[McGurk]

I'd be interested in seeing if they planned on keeping the deer for themselves as a "pet" or if they did indeed sell raised deer. The article said they only had 4 deer, but the tag was numbered #27, so they must have had more deer previously. And why would you eartag a "pet" deer anyway? If you only had 4 deer and planned on raising it to keep, I'd pretty much think you'd be able to tell the 4 deer apart without a numbering/tagging system. If they are raising to sell, there is not much they can do due to the fact that their fence was in disrepair (due to a bear or not) and it escaped. If it was indeed a "pet" deer, it probably wouldn't have left the food source too far behind, definately not 3 1/2 miles behind. I know, these are assumptions, but we'll just have to see how this all pans out. $0.02

[Mr Special]

I say Trophy Buck. The hunter did nothing wrong.

Just like the hunter said "do we need to look for Ear tags before we shoot?"

[96trigger]

It goes to the hunter. Open season is open season, keep the deer penned up better if they don't want this to happen again. I just can't believe that these people want the head back. If the hunter loses, this could give animal activists a whole new cache of ammunition. Think about it:

PETA buys deer farms, tags deer, they ACCIDENTALY get out, sues anybody that shoots one of their deer. If this guy loses the case, precedent is set, it could get ugly.

[CanOCorn]

Not only should it go to the hunter but another issue needs to be addressed. Deer escaping wild game farms is what caused the spread of CWD in Wisconsin. Measures need to be taken to insure these "pet" deer don't come into contact with the wild population. In this case, not only do I feel the owner of the animal should lose his rights to the property but he should have to pay a fine for not taking measures to insure these animals do not escape.

I want to see a picture of the buck!! Must be a womper to be getting into a battle over!!

[chucker34]

The hunter. It has no $$$ value to the deer farmer anymore. As the hunter puts it, what will he do with it, put it on his wall. Has more emotional value to the hunter in that sense. I mean, how many people get a head mount of their favorite dog and put it on the wall afterward? Not many. I'm sure the farmer's just teed off that he didn't get his property back safe and sound.

And to tell you the truth, it's no one's fault this deer got loose in all likelihood. I'm sure a bear can do quite a number on a fence. It was an accident. If you think about it reasonably, giving the deer head back to the farmer does nothing for him economically at this point. Perhaps he could sell the head on hsolist for some money, but he wouldn't make much of a profit after he paid the taxidermy fees - and the hunter's tag fees, and for the hunter's ammunition, and the hunter's time in getting the deer back for him, etc., etc.

No, this is just some guy who's teed off and looking to place the blame on someone when in reality, no blame needs to be assigned. This just happened. It's part of the deal(being a deer farmer). Move on.

[lawdog]

If we just get rid of these deer farms we won't have this problem!

Deer is clearly the hunters. No real property rights in something after you've lost it and you couldn't have recovered it anyways...

[SSSTaxidermy]

Finders keepers, loosers weepers

[matthothand]

"...and the winner by unanimous decision iiisssss THE HUNTER!" Sorry to hear of the loss of the family's pet trophy buck but during deer season you shoot deer. That's exactly what the hunter shot and legally tagged and registered. I also wonder if buck no. 27 was a potential sale for the farm family. How do you have four pet deer and one has a tag number as high as 27? ...unless of course you had 26 other deer before you got that one and raised it to profit from it's superior genetics and antler growth. I don't mean to sound biased but I just think it's a more simple case than has been depicted in the article. It was a bum deal for the guy with three deer (now) and a broken fence. Time to build a bigger fence...or get a german shepard instead.

[Black_Bay]

Is there a picture of this deer somewhere? I've read the story but haven't seen a picture.

[DIRTY BIKER]

At 3 1/2 Miles away I dont think it was going to come back.Its not like it was found next to the pen the next day looking for food or something. It is as good as being a wild deer! The hunter will have a wild story to tell with HIS trophy. My vote is for the hunter.

[hartner62]

Guess I better start looking for tags before I pull the trigger from now on. Don't want to end up in something like this. IMO he shot a nice buck which all of us would have done and it is his. I'm guessing it will taste really good since it was farm fed. Did they give a weight on it?

[frabillfisher]

Sounds like the hunter has is in this one...but really can you feel that proud and say u shot a realy trophy when it was farm raised and probably wouldnt even been to afraid of the hunter? Not saying i wouldnt have done the same thing but i dont know if I would say i actualy outsmarted a record or trophy buck...just my 2cents

[stmichael]

I agree, that he should keep the head.

My question is: How did he call the deer...was it the natural grunt, or, more of a come here whistle?

[Walleye Guy]

Instead or rattling antlers the hunter rattled a bag of Fritos and the buck came running right up to him.

[chucker34]

I'd put it on my wall. If the deer was so tame, why didn't it head back home instead of bolting miles away?

You can try to take the wind out of the hunter's sail as much as you want. But let me ask you some other questions. Is taking a 'suburban' deer used to human activity any less than taking one in the wilds of Montana? Is shooting a deer in a cornfield any less fair chase than shooting one in the woods? Is it ethical to blow away a black bear eating a big pile of donuts instead of putting in a lot more effort and stalking him? Would you criticize people for doing any of these things? No, then why pick on this guy?

He was hunting, saw a nice buck, took it fair and square, and is putting it on his wall. Good for him. Hopefully he avoids any negative comments from the peanut gallery.

[toddb]

Getting the DNR and attorneys involved in a matter like this is going to bring nothing but pain. If the hunter did nothing wrong(which he did nothing wrong IMO) this is a non-issue. But he did, he didn't leave well enogh alone. He hung himself out to dry so to speak when he inquired to the DNR, and the so called "courtesy call" to the possible deer owners. Kind of like rubbing it in, in a sense. If when in your own mind you did nothing wrong, don't go out and try to prove it to yourself with second and third parties opinion. It's all about the Benjamins to the so called "Family Pet Owners". What a joke!!!!!!!!!!

my .01

toddb

[cybermuskie]

Todd your assuming the guy rubbed it in the farmers face. I would bet it was more like I'm sorry he got away from you, but he came out of a swamp....Then the farmer was ticked the deer was dead, and all heck broke loose. As far as calling the DNR, I think most everybody would do that.

Oh and for the record, I have no idea who these people are!

[stmichael]

Chucker34,

I apologize if my smarta$$ comment upset you, I notice that you replied to walleyeguy, but, I am just as guilty. I was not trying to take anything away from the hunter, and in my post, when I said that he should be able to keep the head I was referring to the hunter.

Myself personally I would have shot it too! Even if I had saw the little tag on the ear. That could have been a tag by the DNR to track the deer (if shot call this number and report location, with addition to registering). I would have never put 2 and 2 together, that it would have came from a farm.

They should spray paint the deer with some blaze orange markings, but, that will only deter some people. Others will ignore it and blast away.

[McGurk]

Quote:

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They should spray paint the deer with some blaze orange markings, but, that will only deter some people. Others will ignore it and blast away.

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That reminds me of a story I heard of some PETA nutjobs drugging deer, putting custom made blaze orange "vests" on the deer, and allowing them back into the wild. The deer were not only were all shot due to the high visibility, but I even heard someone had put a bounty on the "vests." I can't validate the story, though, so it might all be B.S.

Kinda like the Far Side's classic target on the front of a deer with the caption "Bummer of a birthmark, Hal."

*After looking on Snopes.com I found that this story was indeed FALSE, sorry to post without fact checking, first. My Apologies. The Far Side Cartoon is real, though, in my defense *

[stmichael]

No hard feelings on my end. even if it did take away valuable time away from other threads....

No worries.

[chucker34]

stmichael, hopefully no hard feelings from me either. That's why I hate e-mail and blogging sometimes. Hard to tell the emotion involved. I just get worked up sometimes over people qualifying how big or little a trophy is, depending on how it was taken, etc.