The following article is about an extraordinary hunt as told by seasoned hunter, Derek Harrison.
Derek experienced the hunt of a lifetime on Michigan’s opening deer/gun season last year. It all started on the second day of the hunt, November 16 on his father-in-law’s property in Hillsdale county. It was a fluke of a site, as a few weeks earlier he’d set up his hunting spot in the dark. Heading out on the morning of the hunt, and running late, Derek reflects on saying to his brother-in-law, Kenny, “I know there are big deer in the area, we just haven’t seen them yet.” The 3 cameras that had been strategically placed had not captured larger bucks, but physical signs would suggest otherwise. And shortly, this would prove to be true, but it would take awhile before they’d be able to fully relish in that reality.
So with a plan in place, Derek and Kenny headed out to their prospective hunting spots, with Derek using a saddle set up. A half hour after daylight, Kenny puts a hit on the biggest buck of his lifetime, and then sees clearly larger bucks chasing after it. He texts Derek the news, as excitement towards the possibilities for both of them begins to set in. About an hour later Derek is distracted by the sound of sticks breaking and then the sight of antlers. This seemingly large buck is about 60 to 70 yards away. He is quite uncomfortable from the awkward, still position of his body, as he awaits the precise moment to pull the trigger. It comes, but he has to free hand it, going the opposite direction from what he’s used to. He knocks down the deer with the first shot of his 12 gauge slug gun. His heart is pounding, as he watches the deer get up and run. Derek knows he cannot get a second shot from the tree, so he races down the tree still wearing his saddle, which is slipping down his legs. He pulls up for a shot and in that instant, he realizes that he does not have a shell racked in. Adrenaline flowing, Derek runs like a madman for 100 yards in pursuit of this massive buck. The buck is 30 yards away, Derek goes down to his knees, landing himself in animal dung. As his heart races, and the scope of his gun fogs up, he waits for the deer to stand up again so he can get off another shot. He can see the neck, pausing before shooting, not wanting to screw up the mount. This was only for a moment, of course, as opportunities like this don’t present themselves everyday. So Derek shoots the buck in the neck, sees that the head is down, and walks to within 3 to 4 feet from the beast. In his excitement, he calls Kenny and says, “He’s big and he’s down!” Then he lets out a loud scream of exhilaration and heads back to help Kenny retrieve his deer, remembering exactly where to return for his own trophy.
Unfortunately, they don’t find Kenny’s deer. Hugely disappointed about this, but still feeling celebratory about his own, the family arrives to join in the festivities, and it’s only 10 a.m. Text messages are sent out, as the recipients await pics.
So they head back to the location where Derek’s buck had laid down only to find “he’s gone!” Derek and his crew begin tracking the deer again…finding blood the extended blood trail. It’s a pretty open area and he’s thinking that they should be able to see him. The blood trail was leading back to where this had all started, yet no deer. Along the way, Kenny found their cousin’s decayed buck, which had been hit while bow hunting 6 weeks earlier. At that time, he’d hired a tracker, whose dog’s actions suggested that the deer was still alive from a non lethal hit, thus the handler called an end to the efforts. Obviously, a big mistake.
Brandon calls his tracker to help with finding Derek’s deer, but he will not be available until after dark. They wait for the tracker to arrive…with a GPS on the dog and 3 radios for communication, one which includes a GPS. This one goes to Brandon who is stationed back at the cabin. Derek and the tracker each have a standard radio. The dog follows the blood trail, then disappears into the darkness. Shortly thereafter, the tracker calls to say, “I’m looking at him!” The tracker is not legally allowed to shoot the deer. Derek hustles to retrieve the GPS realizing as he needs their location. In the meantime, the tracking dog went right up to the deer, who stood up, then bounded off once again. Discouraged but not defeated, the decision is made to head in for the night…giving the deer time to bed down and expire with plans to resume the search at day-break.
The next morning Derek and Kenny realized the likelihood of needing permission from area neighbors with adjacent properties to extend their search. Contact was made with one of the neighbors…encouraging them to stop by for a meet-n-greet. To add to the tone, the neighbor was processing a harvested deer. These people had heard Derek’s (celebratory) scream of the previous morning and were thus captivated by his quest. The mystery of this buck only intensifies as a result of conversations with some of these neighbors. One spoke of a big old deer with 3 legs that he’d seen just 3 weeks earlier, describing him as “One Big SOB!” Another story was from a hunting neighbor who’d previously shot what would later be confirmed to be this same deer with a bow on two separate occasions this fall, leaving wounds on the back. What they were to learn that day is that this buck was legendary!
Permission to track granted, the search moves into full force. Derek has to answer to texts sent prematurely after this monster went down for the first time, so the pressure is on!
They begin where the dog started acting crazy the previous day, now at midday, which leads them into a cattail marsh. With some waning optimism, part of the group begins to remind Derek of the pending Detroit Lions game…eventual lopsided win. Derek simply responds, “…the ‘real victory’ is soon to be found and properly celebrated!”
The buck’s (tracked) trail
And then Derek’s friend, Matt, who’d been one of the recipients of the premature celebratory text, suggests a tracker who happens to be from a nearby town. Matt previously had success with this tracker, which is encouraging. Consequently, “Tracker” Joe, is contacted and agrees to help. Later that day Joe arrives to begin tracking from the very beginning to enhance the scent trail for his dog. Derek & Joe head out with a plan in place. Joe’s dog immediately finds an overlooked speck of blood. They’re feeling hopeful as Joe says, “God is good. Do you mind if we pray?” So pray they do, and 5 minutes or 75 yards later, the rest is history, or at least, we’re almost there. The deer is still alive! Derek places a vital shot to expire the deer, only to watch this Monarch deer climb to his feet causing Derek to place two more kill shots again in the vitals…watching deer drop. With celebratory handshakes (& hugs) Joe and Derek retrieve a camera from their backpack. The dog breaks the high-fives with a series of barks that draw their attention to note the beast is still breathing! The deer lifts his head and then proceeds to get up for what would be the final time. He chases after them both, rearing his head for 10 yards before falling to the earth with what was later determined as a lethal wound to his heart. It is finished! Oh, and yes, he had just 3 legs!
Derek and Ashley Harrison
Informal autopsy would reveal that this buck of at least 9 lives was declining from previous injuries, with multiple sites of infection noted, internal bleeding, and hair falling out of his hide. They were to discover 10 injuries, besides the ones inflicted by Derek during this 37 hour pursuit. It is surmised that the amputated left, front leg was from being hit by a motor vehicle and was well healed. The right antler was smaller than the left and damage to this antler suggests further assault on this much matured buck of 6 ½ years based on aging of the teeth. Derek scored him at 156, which if not for the stunted antlers on the right would have easily rendered a 160. Each scar tells a story of the one that got away. In the end, though not edible for consumption, Derek was able to preserve the antlers, as well as memories that will last a lifetime!
What kept him alive this long is beyond comprehension. Perhaps it was for such a time as this, providing an ending that is nothing short of legendary. To this magnificent creature…. RIP.
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