Okay, I just got the clip reformated in an email and was able to view it. Now I'm on the same page here.
After viewing the tape I just have to wonder if I am the only person that sees this hunter WREAKS of guilt when they pull up on him. I mean, he was convicted before they opened the truck doors. I'm sure I am no better at reading people than the next guy so surely it's obvious to everyone that he knows he has done wrong.
My guess is he had already walked down and looked at the deer and was thinking up a story when they got to him. Here is the beginning dialogue...
What'd ya shoot?
"Man, Jimmy I hope I didn't mess up man"
What'd ya shoot? You shot the tight horned 8 right?
"Well... Well I thought... I think. It has gotten dark but I swear... it was pretty good.. I mean it was... I thought it was a little bigger than the deer we thought yesterday. I don't know man, I got a blood trail right here if you guys wanna get out and help me find him man but I hope I didn't mess up"
Notice he keeps talking in past tense there? He already knows it's wrong... either he knew in the scope or he walked up and found out for himself but he is already justifying what HAS BEEN DONE.
Then listen and watch his reaction to walking up on the deer....
"Here he is right here, I knew I hit him. Uh oh"
That was the first sentence he had put together without a quiver in his voice.
I don't hold anything against Jimmy for driving off and leaving the dip**** and his buddies while he cooled off. It appears a couple of them understood how serious the situation was and the others were probably too slap happy drunk to care.
The one guy said "I've known Jimmy a lot of years and never seen that" so that tells you this isn't an everyday occurance. If I were in his shoes I'm afraid I would've reacted the same way or worse... I know the sinking feeling of "Well... I hit a good one" when you are guiding a hunt.
The difference in what that guy paid for and what he got is probably something like $3,000 paid and he made an $8,000 kill. Depending on how well the ranch was setup that deer may have been more or less important... to some ranches it's just a matter of the hunter writing another check. To others it means their does aren't going to get bread that winter with supreme genetics and it could affect their hunting for seasons to come.
I'm WAY on the guide's side here. This hunter is a dip**** and he knew he had done wrong. I would go out on a limb and say he's the kinda guy that tries to weasel out on the trophy fees and guide tips as well... even before he takes a deer he knows he is't hunting.
