Better late than never, given that this is a reflection of 2019 coming in April 2020. Since I've got some time, I thought I'd write about some thoughts I had during the close of last deer season. As many of you can tell, I didn't write much during 2019. During 2019, I was going to school full time, working 2 part time part time jobs, got engaged to start the year, married in August 2019, and have a baby on the way due May!
Needless to say, I didn't have much time to be an outdoorsy person. That's not to say I wasn't outdoors. I still went fishing, hunting, hiking, just not as much. I went with some close friends to Hanging Rock State Park and had a blast, hiking and dipping into waterfalls to cool off. I took a day trip with my family to a park up in Virginia where it rained cats and dogs on us halfway through a 3 mile trail. My honeymoon in Ashe County, NC, and my wife and I hiked and fished at sites like Mount Jefferson State Park and New River State Park.
During the fall months, if I wasn't working, I was at school. Sometimes, I was working at school as a tutor for my community college. My first hunt didn't come till October during fall break. I got my first deer of the year on November 17th, my youngest brothers 7th birthday. Ironically, I think every deer I've ever shot, save maybe one, has come during or after mid November. That story can be read here.
I had one evening where I had 5 or so deer in front of me three different times while I was hunting on the ground, sitting by a tree. They got to within 20 feet of me several times. Sadly most weren't big enough to shoot, and those that were, came when there were too many eyes close by for me to comfortably move. Sitting so still never took so much effort.
My last hunt of the year was on the closing day of the season. I had some luck, saw a few deer to start, then nothing. After some still hunting, I came upon some does near the corner of a field, and one caught my eye. A nice doe, perfect. I stood up to shoot, the problem facing me, was that I was having to be offhand, nothing to rest on. As I put the crosshairs on the deer, a good 75 yards from me, I paused.
And I thought of everything surrounding that moment. I thought of the adventures I had that year. Exploring parks with friends and family, having my siblings come over and help me with retrieving a deer from the woods. Starting a new life with my wife and being on our own, yet still being close to family. The experiences I had with my few hunting trips during the year, the crazy things that happened. Sitting beside the fireplace on winter evenings and feeling content. It's amazing what can happen in split seconds, all the emotions you can feel, even when looking down a scope at your target.
I was been blessed beyond belief that year. God was good to me. A man once said there is "a time to kill, and a time to heal." This deer would live. Sure, I had an offhand shot that wasn't easy, and I could make it, but that wasn't the point. Sometimes, it just doesn't feel right. Sometimes, the right thing to do, is just to enjoy the moment and reflect. Not every shot has to be fired.
