Hunting deer via tracking in fresh snow is still done, but usually with guns in vast areas of public land. A guy posted here about his hunt a year ago. To do so with primitive weapons would be a bit harder but I could see it being done. Lots of energy used, but all in a day, and if you get your game, you are set with a lot of food. Also, if somehow the trackers could work in groups so new ones could pick up the chase, I could see how a fresh runner could close the gap once the deer is tired and confused. And often deer will run a large circle, so fresh runners could pick up on the trail on the circle back.