My passion for deer hunting came about much later than most. I had dabbled a bit in my early
thirties, but it wasn't til I moved to Adams County, Illinois, that I became hooked. My new
assignment as lead pastor at Columbus Road Church in Quincy placed me in the perfect spot,
and one of my parishioners was the one and only Mike Roux, a professional outdoor writer,
author, and guide.
We immediately connected. He began mentoring me in the ways of the woods. I was introduced
to bow hunting and began to learn about whitetail deer. It wasn't too long before I harvested my
first spike buck. You would have thought I had taken a Boone and Crocket. Mike field-dressed
the deer and instructed me to take it to a local locker. Little did I know then how venison would
become part of our family diet in the future.
I had not eaten much deer prior so I was clueless as to how it should be prepared. I was
captivated by all the sticks, jerky, and sausage. The entire deer was processed into what I call
“deer candy.” It cost me a fortune! This was what my children knew deer to taste like, but our
palate for venison would evolve over the years.
As I grew as a hunter, the bucks harvested became more and more impressive, and I have
taken more than my fair share of wall hangers over the years. Over time, my perspective has
changed primarily because of my children.
November rolled around again this year, which meant I would be in the deer woods. My passion
has grown to the point that I take a week off from work to take full advantage of the rut. I was
excited and ready for another successful year in the deer woods. November 5th has been a
good day for me over the last several years, and I knew this year would not be the exception.
I have a spot that has been very fruitful for seeing and taking big deer. It is a pinch-point
between bedding and feeding. It is the equivalent of an off-and-on ramp for an interstate
highway. The best part of this setup is that the hunter can enter and exit without being detected.
At first light, I looked to my left toward a cornfield across a county road. I noticed the silhouette
of a deer feeding at two hundred yards. The deer grazed the corn, moving inch by inch closer to
the road. I glassed the deer but could not identify whether it was a buck or doe. After fifteen
minutes, it got a bit lighter, and the deer got a lot closer.
I finally identified the deer as a buck with antlers. As I studied the direction he was feeding, I
realized this deer could be a possibility. He began to walk directly toward the road. As he came
into view, I saw he was a three-year-old nine-pointer.
This is where my children come back into the story. Since they have moved out of the house
and now pay for their own meat at the store, they have become deer meat eaters. All four of my
children anticipate their dad helping ease the burden of their meat budget throughout the year.
They come home for Thanksgiving in anticipation of taking home a cooler of deer burger to put
in their tacos, chili, spaghetti, and everything else you could mention.
As I glassed him, it became evident that he was the size of the other bucks that I had taken in
the past. Inside, I was a little disappointed. There is something about human nature that always
wants bigger and better. But once you have taken some large deer, you realize it is not always
feasible to wait for a bigger deer. Otherwise, a person could go a lifetime without harvesting
another buck.
The buck had made his way from the cornfield across the road and was now coming directly to
my stand. It was the moment of decision. He was going to come within ten yards of my stand
broadside. As he stopped in front of me, I took the shot, and down he went. It could not have
been any easier. No crazy deer store, no chase, no stalk, just God's provision.
As I began celebrating the harvest, I was overwhelmed with gratitude to God. He provided this
deer for us. My children would be very happy to hear that there would be meat for their freezers.
I felt the satisfaction of being the hunter-provider for my family, but most importantly, I was
reminded that God always supplies what we need. It may not necessarily be what we want, but
it’s always what we need.
