If You See This On Your Property in Oklahoma, It’s Illegal

Every fall, another family falls in love with deer hunting. For once, kids wake up earlier than the crack of dawn with excitement, quickly adorning their camo and hunting gear. Parents get a chance to show their children the importance of safety and providing for the family.

In Oklahoma, hunting isn't about just shooting something, but getting in tune with primal instincts and learning how to respect species, both in life and death.

In a North American Whitetail article, shed hunter Jody Hadachek said "In addition to good woodsmanship, most hunters want to teach their children honesty and integrity. Most want to be good role models and lead by example." Unfortunately, there's always a bad handful that threatens to "spoil the batch" so to speak. 

"Do Better People"

A fellow hunter shared his take on a common problem that happens every deer season, something that truthfully shouldn't be common at all.

"Do better people," he said.

He captured the photos below of a practice frowned upon in deer hunting - shooting only to kill and take the antlers.

In Oklahoma, hunting isn't a sport meant to be abused. According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website, "No person may capture, kill or destroy any wildlife protected by law and remove the head, claws, teeth, hide, antlers, horns or any or all of such parts from the carcass with the intent to abandon the carcass."

Bad Practices In Deer Hunting

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Taking the anters and leaving the rest of the animal to waste is considered malpractice and illegal. Those caught doing it can be charged with a misdemeanor. Other bad practices in hunting include:

• Leaving a carcass near bodies of water like a stream, pond or spring
• Leaving a carcass within a 1/4 mile of an occupied dwelling or public highway without proper burial
• Stripping just the meat and leaving the carcass without proper burial

How To Combat Illegal Practices in Deer Hunting

If you find an animal poached like this, you'll want to contact the Department of Wildlife and have an officer come to investigate. Do not take any of the animal for yourself before they arrive. Do the right thing and let someone else take the fall for their own wrongdoing.

If you own property, it would be wise to set up trail cameras near areas that deer or wildlife frequent. That way you can capture it for yourself should anyone come on to your property and leave a deer in that condition.

Most importantly, don't treat deer this way if you're hunting. Don't ruin the fun for the rest of the hunters doing right by the law and by the deer. Treat the sport as sacred as it really is.