The Quest for Slim Shady
Written by: Devin Leissner
When you think about the worst case scenario in regards to going hunting, what comes to mind? For Anna Dosen, it was being diagnosed with “Strep Throat” just days before her hunt at the Trinity Ranch was supposed to commence. Talk about bad luck!
To top it off, this was in no way, shape or form, a normal hunt. Dosen’s family has been going on what they call their “Annual Trip of a Lifetime” for over 25 years. This trip is typically a destination type hunt that takes place somewhere within South Texas or old Mexico. It is attended by Dosen, several of her family members and some close family friends. The trip is something that she anxiously looks forward to every year, and she was not about to miss this one due to a minor illness.
Still under the weather yet determined to enjoy a successful hunt, Dosen loaded up the truck with her family and headed down to South Texas. This was no quick journey, as the crew was traveling from their home in Minnesota.
Excitement grew within the group as they discussed different aspects of the Trinity Ranch that they had seen on the outfit’s website and social media pages as they made their trek south. Dosen’s father, John, along with several of his friends, were scheduled to pursue some of the brush country giants that are known for roaming the ranch. Dosen however, had a very particular idea about the type of deer she was after. She was skeptical as to whether or not she would find it there.
After arriving, Dosen was blown away by the amenities and the company that surrounded her.
“The accommodations were top notch,” she stated. “Everyone was extremely nice and appreciative of us being there right from the start. I knew immediately that this trip was going to be one to remember.”
Early on in the hunt during one of her first sits, Dosen and her guide saw a buck nicknamed “Slim Shady.” He was a massive, typical framed whitetail that quickly earned her attention. Her guide tactfully developed a plan for her to chase the brute with her father alongside.
As luck would have it, Dosen would be fighting some gusty winds during the remainder of her trip in pursuit of Slim Shady, along with her runny nose, cough, and remnants of the infection she had been battling. Could the odds be stacked against her any higher?
Of course, Dosen knew that she would have a zero percent chance of harvesting the buck if she stayed in the lodge and succumbed to the negative vibes given off by the less than ideal conditions and situation. With high hopes, she and her guide put their noses to the grind stone and hit the brush with a strong sense of determination and perseverance.
Slim Shady popped out just as the sun dropped behind the brush during an evening session, and Dosen was ready. Calm, cool, and collected, she opened the window of the blind and reached for her gun. Without missing a beat, Dosen’s father began to coach her through the process as he had done many times over the years. Taking careful aim and steadying her rifle, she reminded her father that this was not her first rodeo.
“I’ve done this once or twice, you know,” Dosen whispered confidently to her dad.
Bang! The muzzle of Dosen’s firearm flashed, and when dust settled, Slim Shady lay lifeless in the dirt. She had done it, beat the odds, and he was everything she had hoped he would be.
Careful and precise measurements revealed a score of 188 inches for Dosen’s mature trophy. This was not her biggest buck; however, he will always hold a special place in her heart. From his giant, typical frame, to the fact that her father was there to experience the harvest, Slim Shady and the Trinity Ranch became a fond memory that will stick with Dosen forever.
Dosen and her family logged some unforgettable memories during their hunt at the Trinity Ranch. She is now determined to return, armed with only her bow, in hopes of harvesting another true south Texas monarch with stick and string.
Knowing Dosen, we can tell you that there is no changing her mind once she has made a decision, and we are very much so looking forward to seeing her future dreams come true.
Here’s to Dosen, and another successful “Annual Trip of a Lifetime”.
