It was early archery season and I wanted my son Zach to hunt with me this weekend but you see Zach made a hard choice this year, he really wanted to hunt archery but knew that time would be short. There would only be one weekend for him to hunt this archery season. The weekend is the same weekend I am writing about. I know Zach has the skill to perform when the time comes, there is no doubt in my mind, he practices with me all the time. The stage was set, but when I tried to wake Zach that morning, he was just to worn out. He was on the field practicing close to a hundred hours a week for several weeks with marching band getting ready for the competitive season. So I understood, knowing there was time in the late season for him to hunt, and wanting him to rest for that evening band competition I didn’t press it.
I didn’t know how much fun I was going to have that day. There I was with the usual routine of getting ready for a hunt on this particular morning. The morning air was stiff and cool, and of course I was running a little late but arrive at my stand with a little time before daybreak. I was only on stand for about fifteen minutes before I could start to see enough to shoot. I could hear him way before I could see him. Is it just me or does a buck, have a different cadence to his walk than a doe?
Anyway I could just start to see him when he got to about fifteen yards. He was walking on the perfect side of my stand, he seemed relaxed. I just made out a good set of antlers and came to full draw. I found the spot and pictured my arrow entering and the exit when I felt the distinct feeling of surprise. My arrow was gone, I don’t remember shooting but I can remember the arrow in flight.
I knew the shot was good but still chose to sit there and savored the morning, as the beautiful earth revealed the new day. I climbed down followed the blood trail and found the deer.
I had an idea, I drove home changed out of my hunting clothes and went into my fifteen year old son’s room, Zach was still sleeping tired from all the hard work he had put into his High School marching band.
I walked into his room I whispered Zach, not wanting to wake his mother in the next room. He lifted his head. I said I shot a deer and need your help. He jump out of bed and was putting his pants on asking all kinds of questions. Where did you hit it? Did you see it go down? How long has it been? He was so excited. It made me happy to see his eagerness, to want to help his old man find his fallen deer. One of my most proud moments I can remember, just knowing he gets it. It’s not about the kill, the number of deer you see or most importantly not the size of bone on top of the deer’s head. I tried to teach him it’s mostly about nature’s gift to us, and God just letting us be a part of the show, sometime as a spectator other time as a predator and all of the time as witness to Gods greatness. When Zach became so excited, just to help it was a sign of maturity and a sign of manhood.
Topic: The smell of decaying leaves (Read 489 times)
