For Shawn Helland of Assiniboia the Thanksgiving weekend of 2016 will forever be etched in his memory. Last year on October 10, he harvested a magnificent 288-inch mule deer buck. It is the fifth largest taken on record in North America. What is more amazing is that he felled this huge buck hunting with a bow and arrow, which requires considerable hunting skills.
Helland will be sharing his remarkable story on Saturday, October 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cabelas in Regina. Helland’s story of the hunt began in late summer in 2013 when he had a passing glimpse of this great animal. He had injured his wrist and was unable to participate in the short archery season that year.
Instead, the astute hunter began tracking the buck and learning its habits and travel patterns. Helland described the feeling as “a tough pill to swallow” as he could only watch this majestic buck from a distance, and then worry if the buck would make it through the hunting season and the winter.
In Spring 2014, he took up tracking the elusive buck again. But throughout the summer and into the archery season and fall Helland had no sightings of the buck. The next year dawned and Helland feared the mule deer fell to coyotes or hunters over the fall and winter. He saw no antlers and didn’t hear of another hunter harvesting such a buck. Helland explained that he decided to rethink his strategy, such as widening his search area.
Helland explained that finally his new approach paid off. He had a sighting of the great mule deer buck. Archery is a special challenge for the hunter. The archery hunter has to get quite close to the animal within a range of 10 to 60 feet. Helland knew that the buck was not going to make it easy for him and let him get up close. “You’re in their living room,” Helland explained. “You have to use any advantage, the wind, the sun and any coverage.” The bare southern Saskatchewan hills afforded little cover. He began to practice longer bowshots.
It was now late August 2016 and another archery season was about to begin. As the end of the season approached, Helland was worried that the buck has vanished again into the hills or was taken by another hunter or coyote. Then, early on the cold morning on October 10, he was out on the hunt again. Just over a hill he spotted the big buck feeding with other deer. Helland said that he was able to get into position and take the shot.
He harvested the buck, but it was an emotional moment. Helland had come to know and respect the buck well over three years.
