Who owns game that was shot but remained in possession of the game before being captured in someone else's house?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Hunting and Slaughter

Book 56 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a hunter shoots game and it remains uncaptured until it enters the house of another person who then takes possession of it, the game belongs to the person who took possession of it. This is because the initial hunter did not gain ownership as the game was still uncaptured (mumtani'). Ownership is established for the second person upon their capture of it.