First and foremost I give all the glory to god allowing me to be out in the woods, have access to great hunting land, a job that allows me to get out when I want, and a wife and kids that support this passion. Without all of that stuff like this would never be possible for me. God truly is the one that guides my life and consistently blesses me even though I don't deserve it!
This one for sure will prob be the biggest deer I will ever kill or see in the places I hunt, Im still on cloud 9 this morning how it all went down.
I got 2 pictures of this deer 2 weeks ago and thats the only time I even knew he was around. But this is where it gets crazy, 3 days ago I got in the stand at 2:15 and complained the entire time cause the wind was blowing in all directions. Complained all the way walking into my stand and once in had ZERO confidence Id even see a deer and most likely just blow out what deer where around. Well at 2:30 this deer comes walking in behind me to my right (which as a right handed shooter is the worst possible direction). At 35yds I finally got a chance to get my gun up and ready although in an awkward position. Pulled the hammer back and fired..........nothing but the primer went off! Deer jumped and ran 15yds and then just slowly walked away. By the time I got another primer in it was to late. Turns out my breech plug hole was clogged and even if I shot again it wasnt gonna go off.
So at this point I am totally deflated. I have been hunting long enough to know when you got a daylight opportunity on a huge mature deer like that, odds are thats gonna be you only chance. But it was kinda a wake up call for me, with all the complaining and negativity I had leading up to it vs just taking it in and allowing god to just let happen what was gonna happen. So since then Ive done more bible reading and really focused on having a much better attitude and focus more on the appreciation of just being out there and let whatever happen happen.
So yesterday afternoon I debated on even going due to the heat but though heck I may as well go, with the rain coming you never know what might happen. Got in a totally different stand pretty far away from where I saw this deer before but the wind was good for it and have had good luck in the past from this spot. Once in the stand I really didnt expect to see anything really, it was just HOT so instead I just started picking books in the bible to read. Figured no better time to read the word then on an afternoon in silence and not a lot of deer movement.
Read the entire book of Ephesians and was starting on Philippians when I look to my right and saw him walking down the ridge from me moving parallel to the ridge. Got the gun up but everytime he would stop there would be a tree or limb in the way. Then he turned and started to go down the hill headed to the bottom, and if he would have just went straight down I never would have had a shot on him but instead he cut diagonal back toward me to go down finally giving me a quartering away shot. Pulled the trigger and BOOM.....he jumped and ran 10 steps and just stopped and was looking around. Now at this point I thought I missed him and was just like AM I REALLY GONNA BLOW THIS A 2nd TIME!! He just sat there looking around and as I was reloaded, he then just fell over dead.
Just blown away that not only did I get a 2nd chance, but on a day you dont expect to see much of anything I get to see this monster. He could have cut down the hill at any point, he could have took off looking for does, heck he could have done all kinds of stuff to slip past me the entire time but by the grace of god he stayed on a path that gave me an opportunity and this time the shot was true.
no idea what he will score but he for sure is a deer Ill never forget and will rerun in my memory as long as I have it. He also became a wake up call to me to look a the world though a lens of Christ vs a lens of man. Appreciate all the small things i take for granted EVERY DAY and let gods plan unfold in his time vs the time I WANT. Be thankful for health, family, the outdoors, the ability to wake up each day and go hunting no matter what I do or dont see!
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