Bowhunter Nails a 190-Inch Alberta Mule Deer

Bowhunter Ben Bearshield of South Dakota traveled to Alberta to hunt world-class mule deer with his wife, Melissa Bachman. After several stalks, he connected with this 191-inch buck. Photo courtesy of Winchester Deadly Passion.

Ben Bearshield and his wife, Melissa Bachman, had big expectations for their mule deer hunt with Diamond T Outfitters in Alberta, Canada, this August, and for good reason. In 2023, both killed tremendous bucks. Ben’s was in the 180s, and Melissa’s was a mature 3-by-4.

“Besides huge bucks, we get along really well with everyone at Diamond T Outfitters,” Ben said, “which really adds to the overall hunting experience. Hunting the canola fields also intrigues us. It’s fun to drive around and spot huge bucks bedded in the canola.”

Other agriculture in the area includes alfalfa, pea, and wheat fields. With all the food, muley bucks in full velvet are highly visible during late August and early September.

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“On the first day, our guide, Riley, had already found some bucks,” Ben said. “We glassed them from 700 to 800 yards away. We were looking for a buck in the older age class. One was a narrow but really heavy buck with some stickers that was obviously old, but he slipped into the timber.”

Ben and Riley hoped to get on the buck that evening or the next day.

“We also found another buck that we all determined was fully mature and all of 180 inches,” Ben said. “The problem was that he was about 50 yards across the fence, and he stayed there for a couple of days. We found a lot of other bucks, but none like the narrow buck or the 180-class buck across the fence.”

On the evening of Day 4, outfitter Byron Tofteland located another 180-class buck. Ben, Melissa, and Riley met Byron to glass the buck. Melissa wanted Ben to shoot a buck first, so he planned to stalk the buck the next morning.

“We stalked in on him and a few other smaller bucks,” Ben said. “We had a couple of close calls, but it didn’t work out. We returned that evening and got within about 150 yards of him. I probably could have stalked closer, but we decided to hang tight in the timber and wait for him to feed our way. He stayed bedded until it was nearly dark.”

Ben was eager to try again the next morning, but the crew couldn’t locate the buck. They went to town, met up with another guide, Mike, and had lunch.

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“Mike had found a big buck,” Ben said. “After lunch, we went where he had last seen it, which was on a section of land with two canola fields, an alfalfa field, and a wheat field. The section also has some woodlots and a creek. At about 1 p.m., we headed out and got downwind of the area where the buck was, hoping we could spot him. We didn’t want to push it, though, because we knew we could try in the evening.”

Ben waited 29 yards away from the buck, but after a young buck spooked, the big one bolted from his bed. Fortunately, the buck stopped 65 yards away, and Ben’s sight pin was nice and steady. Photo courtesy of Winchester Deadly Passion.

They spent some time glassing but couldn’t locate the deer, so they returned to the truck.

“About 10 yards from the truck, which was parked along the eastern side of a small woodlot, I told Melissa and Martin [their videographer] that I was going to sneak through the timber and glass the edge of the canola field on the west side of the timber,” Ben said. “I spotted the buck lying out in the middle of the swathed canola field, positioned perfectly for a stalk. I returned to the truck and told Melissa and Martin that I’d found him.”

It took Ben, Melissa, and Martin about 30 minutes to sneak within 90 yards of the buck.

“We got the cameras ready,” he said. “The buck hung tight for two hours. Twice he stood up and then bedded back down. Of course, he was out of range. We just needed him to get up and feed our way. After a few hours, he stood with another little buck, and they started feeding away from us for about 30 minutes. Eventually, they made it into some timber and were feeding on poplar leaves. After another 15 minutes, we could no longer see them.”

Ben devised a plan.

“Either the bucks bedded down in the timber or they headed out into the wheat field,” he said. “I suggested that we move north across the canola field to the timber, and then still-hunt through the trees while heading west. When we reached the timber, I saw both bucks bedded out in the wheat about 100 yards away. The wheat was tall, so we planned a stalk.”

Ben and Melissa made the stalk while Martin hung behind to film from the woodlot. During the stalk, Melissa stopped about 70 yards from the buck to film while Ben slipped to within 29 yards.

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“The little buck stood first and saw me,” Ben said. “I drew my bow because I assumed that the big buck would stand. He didn’t, and after about a minute, I let my bow down. The little buck spooked and took off. The big buck shot out of his bed and started running away from me. He stopped, and I ranged him at 65 yards. I drew back on him without the full intent of shooting, but the wind calmed down and my pin settled perfectly, so I started squeezing my trigger.”

The shot felt good, and Ben heard his arrow connect.

What could be better than harvesting a giant mule deer on a hunt with your spouse? Photo courtesy of Winchester Deadly Passion.

“The buck ran south out of the wheat field, crossed the timber, ran out into the canola, and disappeared,” he said. “I looked back at Melissa, and she thought that my hit looked good. She came by me, and then she pointed out the blood trail, which was plainly visible 80 yards away. It was obviously a good hit. I got really excited.”

After following the blood trail a short distance, Ben spotted the buck lying in the canola field. The giant muley had a nearly 30-inch spread.

“I’ve never seen a buck with such an incredible frame,” Ben said. “It’s the biggest mule deer I’ve ever seen.”