By Louie Stout

Scott Crocker with his trophy buck

Scott Crocker had seen the brute before.

His trail camera on the small slice of woodlot in a Berrien County urban area revealed the big buck traveled through the area at various times.

But Crocker knew that if he were to get a shot at the 12-pointer, conditions would have to be right. That’s why he had only hunted the property twice this season.

“During my lunch hour one day, I looked at the trail video and saw the deer was still around after the opening of gun season,” said the Niles hunter. “But I knew I needed a northeast wind for me to be set up properly and have a chance.”

Crocker had shot some nice deer off the five-acre lot that lay in close proximity to houses. That’s one reason he hunted with a crossbow.

“It’s all a timing deal when hunting urban deer,” he said. “It’s very difficult to pattern deer in these areas because they move a lot, going from woodlot to woodlot.”

As luck would have it, a northeast wind was forecast for Friday but it would shift on Saturday.

It might be his best and only chance to see the big deer during the season.

“I got off work at 11 on Friday and was in my tree stand by 2 that afternoon,” Crocker recalled.

While driving to the site, he said a little prayer.

“Lord, give me an opportunity at this deer,” Crocker said. “If I miss, that’s on me.”

The afternoon lingered with little action. He watched the squirrels play and store food for the winter. A doe and her two fawns sauntered by.

“It was getting late in the day and I’m starting to feel sorry for myself, when I hear a deer walking into toward the doe,” he said. “I could see the outline of a big-bodied deer and pick up my binoculars.

“It’s him,” he said quietly.

The deer walked closer, grazing on acorns, but faced Crocker straight on. He slowly picked up his crossbow and sighted on the deer, waiting for the animal to turn sideways for a better shot.

With daylight diminishing and legal shooting hours winding down, he had to make a decision.

“I’ve never taken a shot like that and needed him to turn slightly, but he didn’t do it,” Crocker said. “I was straining my eyes as I put the pin where I thought was my best shot.”

Crocker pulled the trigger. The deer took off and he thought he heard it crash in the brush several yards away.

“Seconds went by,” said Crocker. “I shot a giant – or did I miss him? I was shaking.”

He went to his truck and called his friend Shane Daniel, a Niles police officer, who came to help him. They found a blood trail and, 40 yards away, the deer lay dead.

The shot went through the heart, lungs and stomach. It was every hunter’s wish - a quick kill.

Crocker fell to his knees, looked to the skies and muttered his thanks to the Almighty for giving him the chance.

The mature buck was a main frame 10 pointer with two other scorable points. The antlers will land Crocker in the record book as its preliminary score was 153.5, well above minimum requirements.

But that wasn’t what made this deer so special. Crocker had a small opportunistic window and made the most of it.

“It was the second biggest buck I’ve taken over the years, but is probably the most unnerving experience I’ve had in all my years of deer hunting,” Crocker said. “It wasn’t the ideal shot to take with a bow, but I did and I’m thankful it worked out the way it did.”