I am going to post this...despite the fact that it will sound ridiculous to some.
It has been VERY dry in my area of Ga for a while now. It rained about an 1" on Wed night...had not rain in about 50 days. I was so proud to have the rain for many reasons...but I also knew that it would improve the hunting, at least for a day or two. Well, my son asked before going to bed on Wed night, if I was planning to go hunting the next morning...which was yesterday, Thursday. I told him that I was going...so, he thought about it a few minutes and said that he would go, too. He has finished with his fall semester, so he is out of class until college resumes in Jan.
Now, this kid has been hunting regularly for the last 5yrs...we have a very liberal deer bag limit and he has taken a good many does and a couple of spike bucks...but has NEVER had the chance at a "decent" (as he describes it) racked buck. This has really started to affect his enthusiasm for going...and I have seen it this season, even though he has already killed a big doe. He seemed to have started taking this as a reflection on his ability as a respectable hunter.
So, went hunting yesterday morning...morning broke absolutely beautiful...sunny and cool...with very little wind. I sent him to the stand that I thought would provide him with the best chance to see the "decent" deer that he has been longing to see. Within just a few minutes of my getting on the stand, I started seeing deer and I would text him at each sighting...hoping to encourage him. My sightings of deer continued till I got off the stand, neck was aching, at about 9:20am. After each text, he would respond with the fact that he had not seen anything. With each reply, I was dismayed as this rain had really put the deer on there feet...they were moving better than I have seen in a long time. Upon getting back to the truck...I sat down in the truck and looked at the clock...it read 9:41...and I had not heard him shoot and I knew that at 10:00 sharp, he would be on the way to the truck. I thought about it a minute...then uttered a prayer that essentially said that that there was still time before he left the stand and I asked GOD to send him a "decent" buck. I had done everything within my power to help him realize this goal...and I had not been able to make it happen. I always pray for our safety and general success on every hunt...but today's prayer was really a specific and I guess...desperate...prayer, for him to bless my son.
At 10:OOam...he put a nice 8pt down at 173yds...I was blessed to see a happy, FINE young man standing by a beautiful buck as I drove the UTV into the area. He told me that he was getting ready to head to the truck when a doe appeared...followed by a "decent" buck. I never told him that I said a prayer for this result.
I give GOD all of the credit for that blessed and happy young man.
Thank you, LORD.