How I left myself still needing a deer for the freezer on the very last hunt of the year defies logic, but there I was. You’d think if you wanted to keep two deer each season you’d keep the first two you shot and then worry about filling orders for others. Maybe I finally learned my lesson after the grind I put myself through this year because the last thing I wanted to do was be in the position I was on one last evening hunt. It didn’t help my stress level that I really wanted a deer to contribute to an important project we’re leading at National Deer Association where for the first time, the nutritional value of venison from white-tailed deer will be calculated. How cool would that be to have a deer from Horseshoe Hills be one of the 12 from across the country that will determine those calculations?
Saturday evening was the nicest of my last three days to hunt with temperatures in the mid 30’s and a light south-west wind. We got a couple inches of fresh snow overnight and it was continuing to flurry as I got situated for the hunt. This time instead of sitting on the edge of a food plot I opted for heavier cover along the creek, and my Valley Road Stand fit the bill. I didn’t love the predicted wind for this stand, but as I figured, the valley was pushing air into my face and up the hill giving me more of a north-west wind. Feeling the pressure to fill a tag, I toted my crossbow even though most shots from this tree are set up for a traditional bow. In fact, the last time I sat in the stand I was carrying my longbow.
It wasn’t until 4:00 p.m. that I finally had some action when a four-point buck walked right under me. He used the trail I was watching and didn’t get my wind until he was behind me. I took that as a good sign should an adult doe come by later. As time in my season ticked down though, it was starting to seem like I wasn’t going to get my opportunity. In fact, I was already reassuring myself that it would be okay to not get my fourth deer of the season. I was a little frustrated though, realizing that I hadn’t shot a deer since arrowing my buck on November 2nd despite many attempts to do so. That’s a long slump and it was getting in my head.
With just 15 minutes of legal shooting time left, I turned on the lighted reticle in my scope in preparation for a possible last second shot. A few moments later I looked to my left and was startled to see a lone deer working it’s way through the thicket. At first I thought it was headed for the Gas Well Plot, but luck was on my side and it turns out it was coming right toward me. I recognized that it wasn’t a buck with shed antlers so I readied myself for a potential shot opportunity. As the deer got closer, she managed to never turn broadside and I was starting to worry it would be another case of coming close but not getting a shot off.
When she reached the gas line she was facing directly toward me stopping just short of my boot tracks from where I walked in. I could tell that the deer was getting a little edgy and while I was viewing her through my scope I began contemplating a frontal shot. In the span of a few seconds I was doing the math in my head about the power of a crossbow and what it was capable of on an approximate 15 yard shot if I hit my target. Confident it could do the job, I began easing the trigger back. When released I heard the thud of the string and almost simultaneously, the sound of the arrow making impact on the deer’s chest. She whirled around in her tracks and bolted out of sight too fast for me to get a good read on the hit. I looked at my watch and realized I made the shot just minutes before the end of my season.
With the snow-covered ground, I had plenty of confidence that tracking the deer would be easy. I packed up my gear, descended the tree, and quickly found my blood-covered bolt sticking in the ground. After first getting off track, I retraced my steps and found the first pool of blood. I could tell immediately it was a lethal hit and continued the track job. Blood loss was fast and massive, and in about 60 seconds I came upon the expired deer. Excitement and relief overcame me simultaneously. My bolt entered through the front of the chest and exited behind the right front leg, taking out the heart in the process. I estimate the deer expired within 10 seconds of being shot, which gave me comfort.
After field dressing the nice-sized doe I loaded her into the Ranger and drove her to the top of the hill as I have so many other deer over the last few years. I loaded her into the truck and was headed to Fenton’s Meats within about 30 minutes after having shot the deer. Before I left I texted Jeff Fenton specific instructions for the meat I needed to submit for the study, and let him know how I wanted the rest of the deer butchered.
Just when I thought I was going to end my season on a down note, everything changed in a matter of seconds and I was able to fill one more tag, and my freezer in the process. That’s why you never give up. In the end I shot four deer during the 2025-26 season, and all of them came from Horseshoe Hills. And with that, preparation for the 2026-27 season begins.