By Anthony M. Secreto- Archery Hunter and Master Sergeant, USAF
Every hunter dreams of landing a huge buck one day. This year was my year! Early September, a massive 10-point buck decided to make my back yard part of his territory. Being from Vermont and currently living in Warwick, RI I was not sure what the rules where when it came to taking a deer within city limits with a crossbow. So, I started where any hunter would, I contacted the RI DEM. The clerk I spoke with was knowledgeable and advised me to pursue the answer by following my city ordinance by contacting the city clerk’s office. Another quick phone call got me in touch with the city clerk who assured me there was nothing that stated that I could not discharge an arrow within city limits, on my own property. However, I would also need to follow the RI general law which requires written permission from any occupied residence within 200 feet of where I intended to shoot the animal. Next on the checklist was to receive my neighbors’ blessings, easily obtained as they were just as excited as I was! The hunt began I kept watchful eyes for the dream buck to return! One Sunday night, after completing my traditional afternoon marathon of Sunday football and the occasional scanning for the buck, I went to let my dog out. I felt the need to look for the buck one last time as the sun was setting since he had been by my property on numerous Sunday’s prior. I did not see him and I released my dog to do her business; only to see her tail go up and issue a low growl. I tried to retrieve her but off she went, chasing the buck off our property and into the woods. I never wanted to disown her more in my life. But obviously did not. Disappointed at the missed opportunity, we retired for the evening with dreams of landing this deer in hot pursuit (buck fever to say the least).
Over the next week I remained vigilant, monitoring thru the windows for any sign of his return even going as far as recruiting help from my children by offering a $50 dollar bounty if they saw him first. A few short days later he reappeared! No bounty was issued as I saw my big buck first. I calmed myself, prepared my bow and waited for the right moment. The deer turned right, into the middle of my yard, presenting a clean broadside shot, I aimed, took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. The arrow hit, but unfortunately did not go through. I relaxed and watched him bolt off crashing thru the woods with the arrow stuck to his side. I knew enough to wait an hour before pursuing him; which gave me time to get changed, inform a few friends of the shot, and prepare the kids for my absence during the retrieval. I began searching for a blood trail around six PM 29 September 2023. I quickly found the trail and followed it thru the woods and into the marsh. I found the crossbow bolt broken in half and covered in blood, a good sign of a solid hit. A few yards at a time, the sign getting clearer and clearer. All of sudden, the blood trail stopped. The trail went cold. I searched for another 45 minutes scouring the ground before calling in assistance from a more experience hunter, who happened to have a thermal vision lens. While I waited for his arrival, I took the chance to drive around the adjacent neighborhood and parking lots to see, if by chance, he had expired there. As the sun set and the night consumed us, my friend arrived and we headed back out into the woods. He was able to find a second trail where the deer had turned around and we were back on the trail, a few yards at a time, the trail evermore clearer that the deer was fatally wounded we followed it for another hour drop by drop. But again, the trail stopped. Discouraged, but not lost, we scoured the woods in the pitch black of thorny vines and shrubs with only the full moon and a few flashlights providing a direction. Around 11 PM we called it for the night and retreated for home empty handed and dumbfounded, the only hope with picking it up the next day, with daylight and a fresh set of eyes in the morning.
Thursday morning came quick and now reinvigorated to get back out on the trail. The kids were brought to school as early as I could get them there at 7AM. I was back in the woods by 730. The daylight proved to help as I was able to quickly get back on the trail and follow my markers to where we left off. What felt like a quarter mile into the woods was only a few hundred yards. I felt like I spent half the night wondering around the woods, inch by inch which can play tricks on your perception of space. I picked back up at last blood, and scoured every inch of the trail, retracing it over and over trying to find any clue for the next sign, the only hope was a few drops of scat. The blood had all but disappeared. Having lost the trail again after another four hours of effort, I decided it was best to grid walk in the area in the direction the scat was heading, first completing a rounding sweep of the outer area I wanted to check, then circle back up and down every few yards looking for any sign or possibly stumbling onto the carcass. Fast forward another three hours later I still had nothing. A short break for lunch and some water led me back out to the woods. Time now against me with having to pick the kids up from school, the frustration and lack of sign was getting to me. I prayed several times throughout the day to not have injured this animal and for the patience to continue on my search. Unfortunately, time ran out and I had to abandon my efforts. Further advise from a friend led me to contact the DEM fish and wildlife in hopes they knew someone with a blood tracking dog. This is where I met Dylan. Dyaln quickly contacted me and asked about what happened and what I was hoping for. He knew that blood tracking dogs were new to RI this year, but would try to get someone to come out. I truly appreciated his efforts and within few short minutes I was in touch with a tracker! We made plans for her to come out with her dog when she was done work. Katie and Ganon arrived around six PM Thursday. While I waited in the afternoon, I took the time to search the nearby parking lots and neighborhoods again driving the streets of Shirley Ave in Warwick. This was adjacent to where I lost the trail and not wanting to impose on someone’s property, I felt the best approach was to go knock on some doors hoping the deer might have expired somewhere visible. This too was not the case.
Katie and Ganon arrived on time and after a quick chat Ganon led the way. He was on the trail and we were off! I have never used a tracking dog before that day and boy was it fun to watch him work and how well Katie was attuned to his actions. We quickly walked behind trying to keep pace and keep his leash from getting tangled in the thick brush. We ended up close to Shirley Ave again, crossing the street. We entered into a set of woods that I had not explored the night before nor that morning. I was hopefully that this was it! Ganon had found the final resting place of my dream buck. Sadly, this was not it. We turned around and headed back into the woods and reset on a great sample of sign. We spent the next two hours searching until Ganon was exhausted. We called it a night without our prize but what an experience it was! As a hunter, I hope to not take a life in vain and to harvest the animal successfully. It looked like this was not going to happen this time but I had to find peace knowing that I tried everything I could and put as much energy as possible into retrieving this deer. He just got the better of me this time and either expired somewhere far away or was still alive wondering around injured (I prayed that was not the case). Focusing on the positive, I hung my hat up for the evening and decided the deer had won after nearly 15 hours of searching, using technology, and a dog with keen senses to find him, we were empty handed. I thanked Katie and Ganon for their help bringing my hunt to a close as well as some piece of mind that I had exhausted all measures.
Fast forward to Sunday now three days after I took the initial shot, and Katie reached out letting me know that the Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) had been notified and they believed they found my buck, Friday morning at Shirley Ave and Lansing! SO CLOSE to where we both had been searching, mere yards off our grid line and beyond where ganon had been searching. I was excited and sad at the same time. I knew my shot must not have been that great if he was alive for another two days. But was hopeful that DLE was able to end his suffering, harvest the meat and able to give the meat to a family in need or a shelter. At least at that point his death would not be in vain and his suffering would be over. I also hoped that if the meat had been retrieved there might still be the possibility of making a mount. She informed Dylan of my hopes and he would reach out to me later the next day. A missed call on my part and a voice mail later he let me know he was going to follow up with me the following day. He called, and I explained all that you just read. He informed me of where the deer was found, and broke the news to me that it is RI law that prevents any deer from being donated to a shelter, unless the shelter assume the liability, and there were none in RI that they were aware of, willing to do that. I was heartbroken. He also stated that the technician who had terminated the deer retrieved the antlers and it was possible to get them back, if he would be willing to return them. While this is not a perfect ending as a life was unfortunately wasted, I sought out to talk to the neighbors who made the call to DLE. This led me to meet Rose and Shirley. The deer sat down for his final moments at roses house but it was Shirley who found him Friday. They help each other out while rose works, and Shirly takes care of her dogs. I introduced myself and began sharing my story and how we had gotten to this point. I offered my apologies, and explained as a hunter, if they would allow me, that I wanted to say a prayer over the dead animal thanking him for his life and atoning for not being able to harvest him completely. They absolutely loved that and welcomed me into her yard, pointing me in the right direction of the last known location of the deer. I was not able to find the carcass as I was not prepared to traverse the area in my civilian attire and made peace with my thanks and apologizes in the woods near his final resting place. Rose shared a video of the animal from her street and Shirley recounted the actions of the DLE agent dispatched for the call. We had completed the story and brought a true close to the hunt. My goal in meeting the Rose and Shirley was to ensure that the hunter’s image was not tarnished, and that they understood what we aim to do in pursuing our sport/passion. They were very kind and we all felt that none of this was done in malice and glad that the story had been brought to a close.
Now it is time to say what a fantastic and amazing job Dylan had done! None of this would have been possible without his dedication to provide a service to me as a customer and fellow hunter. I cannot express how valued and supported I felt for him to take all the time that he did to provide me with information, resources and the support I needed to retrieve this deer. He went above and beyond every step of the way! Dylan is without a doubt an amazing asset to the DEM fish and wildlife team and is an example for any of his peers to follow in. Dylan did not know this but I am also a veteran in the United States Air Force. His leadership, compassion, and knowledge combined with his network of colleagues single handedly allowed me to honor the “hunter’s code” and represent what it means to be responsible and ethical hunter to the public. To Dylan, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and cannot feel anything but a brotherly bond over how you supported me. My thanks, respect, and well wishes to you as you continue your career with DEM. I know that if more biologists act with one ounce of the passion that you did, that the DEM team will be successful for years to come!
If nothing else, we can honor the deer by sharing this story, taking care to honor the experience we all had. To the preparation, the shot, the search, the friends helping, the connections made, the new friends made, sharing of the knowledge, and taking the time to reflect on all of it... WHAT AN ADVENTURE!