There’s nothing like cutting it close when reaching a major milestone. Albert Ashton knows all about that. The 85-year-old Jackson Township had one goal to accomplish on a recent hunting trip, to bag the 50th buck of his life.
The 85-year-old had one goal to accomplish on a recent hunting trip, to bag the 50th buck of his life. There were just a couple of issues: he wasn’t feeling well AND it was the last day of deer season.
Ashton had set a goal only three years earlier he wanted to finally accomplish. After bagging the 49th buck of his hunting career, he wanted to get number 50. After a couple years with no luck, he didn’t want to let another year pass by without getting his buck.
“I thought as long as my health was good I would like to do it,” Ashton said.
“It was a very cold day and I was sick and not sure if I was going to hunt or not. But I had hunted all season and I still had that 50th buck in mind,” he continued.
He didn’t want to go out in the cold, but he made himself walk out the door.
After accepting his neighbor’s invitation to hunt his property, Ashton was on his way. After no luck earlier in the day, his son, Albert Ashton Jr., stopped by that afternoon to tell his dad about a big buck he saw on the family farm.
“Years ago deer were prevalent in the mountains but it was still a big deal to get a buck,” Ashton said. “Now it seems they are all in the farmlands.”
His son took him to where he had last seen the buck, fortunately for them both, it was still there.
Albert lined up his shot and pulled the trigger. The buck went down and Ashton and his son celebrated – until the buck got up and ran off.
“I knew I hit it, or at least thought I did, so we tracked it and fortunately we found it,” Ashton said.
Ashton is beyond excited to have bagged his 50th buck, but he’s even more excited to celebrate with his family.
“As I sat there on the last day I was having doubts if I would get my 5oth buck, but to be able to do it and have that deer be my biggest is special,” Ashton said. “After I got it, my whole family came out to see my buck and hear my story. That meant a lot.”
