This time of year, deer hunting
consumes most of my thoughts. I think about it at work, at home, and most of my
dreams are about deer hunting as well.
I was 16 when I went hunting for
the first time and was fortunate to harvest a deer that first year…I was hooked
for life!
The woods we hunt are public land
and that can create many challenges. The first ten years I hunted, the hunting
pressure around that area was pretty low. We would typically harvest one a deer
a year for our entire group. My brother and I quickly realized we needed to
step up our game and learn more to increase our success rate…and we did. After
those ten years, the woods around our area started to change. Certain sections
become leased land, which means it wasn’t open to all hunters anymore, only
those that leased (paid) to hunt it could use it. That put a little bit more
pressure in our area, but not too much. We continued to harvest a few deer ever
year, and that was enough for us. Over the next few years more and more of the
land around us became leased land. Eventually, it got to the point that the section
of land we hunted was the only public land in that area. Less and less hunters
stayed around, until it was just our group and the hunters who leased the land
around us, and still we continued to harvest a few deer every year. We continued
to fine tune our woodsmanship and taught what we learned to the younger hunters
who started to join our group. Adapting and applying what we learned over the
years, we continued to harvest a few deer each year.
In 2011, myself and a few others
from our group went to do some pre-season scouting and were blown away to see
that most of the woods we hunted were gone. The DNR allowed a timber company to
clear cut and harvest the trees from that area. After the initial shock wore
off, we adapted and made a new plan for the season. Remarkably, we filled every
tag. A few more years passed and the DNR reclassified the area to a Scientific
and Natural Area, which meant no vehicle or ATV traffic allowed and all stands
had to be removed every evening. This also meant a lot more hiking and carrying
of equipment and gear. We adapted and shot several deer again.
WINDS OF CHANGE
All these changes freaked me out every
time they happened. I never knew what the outcome was going to be. We would
adapt and make changes, and things usually turned out just fine...but it still
freaked me out. This past season started out the same way. I was anxious and
not sure what changes there would be and how things would turn out. Sure
enough, we all saw deer and a couple guys were able to harvest one.
This was my 30th year
deer hunting and I finally realized how important it is to be willing to adapt,
and most importantly…have faith. That is,
until this time next year.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
