When the neighbors of Mike Wallewein, a famer outside of Sunburst, Montana, went on vacation around Thanksgiving of last year, they asked if Mike’s family could look after their farm while they were away. The day after Thanksgiving, Mike’s son Lance went to the neighbors to do a few chores, not anticipating he was about to be a part of a heroic animal rescue.

When he first arrived at the Paces’ farm, he spotted two whitetail bucks whose antlers had become locked together in the heat of battle. He immediately ran home to get the help of his father, sisters Jamie and Jessie, and family friend Steve Smith.

When the Walleweins returned to the scene, they found the bucks still trying to separate themselves from one another, constantly losing their balance and falling over.