Answered Prayer in a Deer Hunt

I am elated to have had the opportunity to harvest this beautiful “Wide 10” whitetail with my bow. In fact, this particular deer was an answer to prayer. After shooting a large whitetail last season on the first Monday of rifle season, I mentioned to several people that I’d like to hunt a wide rack this coming year.

Watching the Bucks

There were several that showed on camera in velvet. My favorite was a deer we call “Big O” that has been aged at 4 years old and is a No Shoot buck. Being new to scoring, this Wide 10 was one of the first I had scored. While still in velvet I wrote down that he scored about 137 thinking I was a little conservative. Because of other responsibilities, I couldn’t hunt the first couple weeks of bow season. Arriving on Thursday evening the October 10th, I committed that I would not shoot at any deer without the rest or our group here with the dogs to track. I planned to hunt hogs on Thursday. If an opportunity came to shoot a doe or cull buck after our group arrived for the weekend, I was open to give that a try. 

I watched five 10 point bucks for over an hour. This Wide 10 came in early on the hand corn for over an hour. He then went to the back of the feeder circle and LAID DOWN for about 10 minutes. He then got back up and ate for a while before heading out. Needless to say, I got a great look at him. Still trying to learn, I field scored him at 142-146 and sent my brother a text about him.

I waffled between aging him between 4 ½ and 5 ½. Trophy deer must be 5 years old before we will harvest them. When Bart arrived, I found that our “experts” had settled on him being 5 years old and a shooter. Bart had initially scored him at 137 and decided to pass on him. Bart is part of our group who has hunted with my brother Robert for 20 years. 

Praying for Success

At that point, I decided that I would hunt this Wide 10. Being pretty inexperienced at bow hunting, I committed to myself that I would only take a shot at a trophy buck if the “perfect” opportunity presented itself. Because this deer had spent so much time on the hand corn, I thought he may be my chance. I hunted him at the same bow blind Friday morning and evening without him showing up. Friday night we knew the wind conditions were changing and it may make my hunt a little more difficult, but Robert felt he could hunt Lowbeam the next morning. Lowbeam was a nickname given to a deer that had appeared periodically on camera that looked like he may be the ranch record.

I am a pastor who believes that God who wants a personal relationship with His “kids.” I’ve never prayed for a deer harvest. But Friday evening, I prayed that the Lord would give Robert his chance at Lowbeam and that I could get my trophy as well. I woke up thinking about it during the night and each time I lifted the same prayer. When I woke at 5:30am, I prayed the same prayer. As I put my boots on, I told myself, “This is it. It’s the day we both get our trophies.”

The Hunt

It didn’t take long. It was a completely still morning. Just after the feeder went off at 7:15 I had 2 bucks come in. About 10 minutes later, 2 more bucks appeared to the right of the feeder circle. One looked pretty big and I thought it may be the Wide 10. I set up my camera to record the shot on video. In a few minutes, the Wide 10 came straight over to the hand corn at 18-20 yards. I had to wait several minutes for another 10 to clear from behind him and have him began to turn before I drew. 

When I drew, I brushed the back of the blind with my elbow and he alerted staring at me for a while. I held the draw until he dropped his head to eat and the buck next to him quit looking my way. I waited for him to get broadside and to step forward with his near side leg then I let go. Even though he jumped the string “bad,” at under 20 yards he didn’t have a chance. I got a near perfect shot that passed completely through his lower lungs.

The Wait and Recovery

I alerted our group by text and waited. We weren’t getting any feedback from Robert so we knew something may be up over at Crest. 20 minutes after I shot, we got a text from him stating that LowBeam was down. That’s when I paused to thank the Lord for answered prayer. We certainly don’t always get what we ask for. I’ll admit that the Lord often answers my prayer in His time and not in my time. This day He chose to bless this pastor with a clear, immediate answer. 

We assembled at camp and ate a bite, trying to temper our excitement until we finished the tracks and recovered the deer. It didn’t take long. Both tracks had great blood and each deer travelled less than 75 yards from the shot. Bart, Rick, and Earl all joined in on the tracks, helped load the deer, and get our photos.

I can’t imagine a better day hunting. The photo of the two of us together with our trophies, both with the biggest trophies of our lives, communicates a lot of the story. My first reason for joining the lease was to spend more time with my brothers doing something we all love. This tops it off!

One Final Request

When we were going out with the dogs to track the deer, I told the other men about my prayer. They all knew that I’d prayed and spoken openly about my desire for Robert to harvest Lowbeam. Bart jokingly said, “Why don’t you send up one of those prayers for me.”  As I left Saturday evening, I asked which deer he was hunting and told him I’d pray. Before going to bed, I prayed the Lord would let Bart know that he was a personal God by answering this prayer. Sunday morning as I awoke, I prayed, “Lord, I know they are in the bow blind right now. Show Bart you are a personal God by sending him this deer this morning.” When I got out of the shower, I had a text from my brother starting the “Kickerless” was down.  

The Celebration

Susan had Monday off work so we had planned to spend the day on the lease riding 4 wheelers and doing a little work. This gave us the opportunity to celebrate with Bart as well. Sometimes the Lord who loves us gives us much more than we need or deserve. For that, I am grateful. I will remember this special weekend for a very long time and I will give thanks to the Lord upon every remembrance.