Crothian's got it right. Magic of Faerun, pg 101
Hunter's Mercy
transmutation
Level: Rgr 1
Comp: V, S
time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: you
duration: see below
this transmutation makes a bow strike true, Your next attack with a bow (if made before the end of the next round) hits and automatically threatens a critical hit. if you don't hit in the round following the casting of this spell, the effect is wasted
so, you still have to roll to confirm the critical, i guess (that last line is puzzling, but there's nothing in the errata about it)