In North Carolina swan hunting has been a tradition and a pastime for years. Each winter as the migration occurs and birds move south thousands of tundra swans make their way to North Carolina. These swans migrate to many fields, ponds, impoundments, and refuges along the NC coast giving waterfowlers the opportunity to harvest one of these glorious birds. Each year the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission gives out 5000 permits, this year I was fortunate enough to be drawn and lucky enough to harvest my first swan.

Duck hunters are a completely different breed, whether it be sleep deprivation or hunger, nothing will stop them from accomplishing another day in the field. With little sleep, 3 am came fast on January 17th as I headed to Washington County to meet a few friends for our hunt. Once I met up with them around 5:45 we headed to a private field close to the Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge to try to fill our swan tags for the year. Arriving around 6:00 am in a bitter 9 degrees we head for the ditch to set up and await our shot at a tundra swan and maybe even a shot at a snow goose or two. We got settled in the ditch and one of the guys realized he had forgotten to put his plug in so away he runs back to the truck and made it back with 20 minutes to spare. As legal shooting time slowly got closer we had the opportunity to watch thousands upon thousands of snow geese make their morning trek across the sky. Next in line were a few swans and ducks in numbers that would make your head spin. Shortly thereafter the swans started to fly and were flying strong. Throughout the morning there was a stream of swans that seemed never ending as they continued to make their way across the sky and giving us the opportunity of filling each of our tags. By 7:30 am we had filled 2 of the 5 tags in the ditch and the swans continued to come. A single swan is headed our way, it’s my turn, I wait for him to get close enough and BOOM, down he goes. It was bitter sweet for me as it was only one shot but unreal as I held a bird many in the US will never have an opportunity to harvest. As we sit waiting to fill the last two tags we notice a snow goose closing in fast and much to our surprise in the decoys he lands. Two of us decide to sneak down the ditch and get as close as possible, as we get close we noticed he is preening himself paying us no mind. We hop out of the ditch to try and jump him and he doesn’t move, finally he jumps and we take him. In one day I harvest not only my first swan but also my first snow goose, UNREAL! By 9:30 am there had been a few misses, some guns that did not want to cooperate, more birds then you can count, and 4 of the 5 tags filled. Finally, the last tag was filled but it wasn’t over head. The swan was hit prior and we never saw him go down in the field. As we sat waiting for the one last swan we notice a swan about 600 yards out in the field and we knew it was the one that had gotten hit that we never saw drop. We gathered our things and head to the truck to drop some things off and head to the injured swan. The last swan tag was now filled and another awesome hunt to tell about for years to come. What a great way to spend a January morning. There is nothing like hunting with friends, meeting new friends, a few “firsts”, and all in all a hunt I will never forget.

We have been honored to have a guest blog from Mr. Michael Waddell himself. Great read for everyone so here ya go…

Whether hunting public or private land, the fundamentals of calling elk remain the same

By: Michael Waddell

We heard the bull bugle at first light and snuck into his core area. When I hit a lick on my bugle, the bull sim­ply came unglued and stormed our position like a tank, crashing through brush and small lodgepole pines like they were match­sticks. Before we could react he was in our lap and we were pinned down, myself hiding behind a camera, too afraid to even touch the tripod for fear of my shaking hands would run the footage. All I could see of my partner wedged against a stunted pine was the tip of his undrawn arrow shaking uncontrollably on the rest. Before a shot presented itself, the bull smelled a rat and disappeared as quickly as he arrived. While this experience didn’t result in a dead elk, it did hopelessly addict me to calling them.

It seems that in all walks of life, be it the animal kingdom or humans, communication is a key ingredient for all social interac­tion. However not all living things communicate to the same degree. If you ask my wife, I am sure she will tell you I lack in the communication department, in fact I am sure she believes I don’t listen to her at all, but when it comes to communicating with animals I can barely shut up. Of all the animals I love to communicate with elk rate right at the top.

By nature elk are very vocal. The uninitiated often simply think of bulls bugling, but cows, calves and bulls make all sorts of noises year around. If you encounter a larger herd of elk while you might not hear a thing from a distance, if you get close you will hear lots of subtle vocalization. Most of the time these are sounds of contentment, but depending on what’s happening the vocalization reflects it. Elk can convey contentment, danger, curiosity, or a cow in heat. Bulls for instance only bugle primar­ily in the rut, but they also communicate to establish a pecking order. After spending a considerable amount of time chasing the mighty wapiti, I’m convinced every elk in the herd knows each other by sound alone. This happens with the cows as well as the bulls and based on my evaluation somewhere in this mix is the deadly secret to calling elk archery-close.

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

It seems that the more vocal a herd the better the odds are for success at calling them. Some cows call subtle, while others are loud-mouth ladies actively looking for a date. By listening it gives you a better opportunity to imitate the particular tones and intensity of the herd.

By calling we are automatically intruding into the social club without an invitation. The closer we can sound to a known elk, and match that intensity the better the odds are of filling a tag. Even though we may sound like an outsider to the herd, luckily for us, love crazed bulls are not looking to be intimate with just one or two cows they are looking for all the love of every cow in the world, so taking advantage of their sexual frustrations and promiscuity is what we aim to do.

It doesn’t take a world champion elk caller to trick bulls within range. By simply paying attention to the herd and under­standing simple elk rhythm, tone and more important volume when calling, a hunter can depend on an elk call to be a valuable asset to dulling broadheads.

Public Versus Private Land

Since I started hunting elk 16 years ago, on private as well as public ground, I have realize that comparing these two different types of ground are like comparing night and day and it is all about the amount of pressure each receives. Generally speaking private ground bulls are way easier to call than public ground animals, but this is not always the case. Some private land does get a lot of pressure, which can make for some pretty tough calling duels with elk that can serve you up a humble pie every time you bust out a call. While conversely some public land either through sheer remoteness or hard-to-get tags is like calling the best private land in the nation.

Hunting un-touched land and cow calling to bulls that have never heard a Hoochie Mamma would obviously be nice and it wouldn’t take long work­ing over these uneducated elk to start feeling like an elk calling pro only to be deflated the first time we went to the national forest and mixed it up with bulls so well-known by local hunters that they have knick names. However, regardless of where you hunt the basics of calling remain the same.

Start with mastering the cow call and all its various inflections. Your basic reed type calls are the easiest to learn as well as get proficient with. You will find two kinds; both are bite down reed-type of calls, one being enclosed and the other having an open reed or reeds. These calls make a very realistic sound and before your wife can run you out of the house you will master the basics.

This public land bull didn’t sound like much when he bugled, but he turned out to be a lot better of a bull when he responded to some subtlecalling and snuck into 16 yards.

I rely heavily on the cow call and think most of the time hunters are better off sticking with it over a bugle no matter where he is hunting. But learning how to make a basic bugle is important, especially for locating bulls at a distance before getting close and working him with your cow call. In addition, sometimes it is the bugle that finally provokes a dominant bull to commit, especially during the early season when bulls are still sorting out their peckin’ order.

Earning Your Public Ground PhD

Lets face it, unless you have deep pockets much of the private ground in the West is pretty much off limits, so you have to learn to hunt public land. This is not a bad thing as public ground comprises millions upon millions of acres across the West and happens to have some of the biggest bulls found anywhere. While it can be tougher than private, once you learn how to hunt it you won’t be disappointed. Over the years, one of my favorite places to hunt is the Gila National Forest, in New Mexico, and even though this is a trophy area tags are fairly obtainable through application.

In the Gila, the trophy potential is off the chart, sporting some of the biggest bulls in the country, but just because the big ones live there doesn’t mean that you automatically make one call and they come running to get in the back of your truck. These mature jokers have a PhD in avoiding hunters.

Over the last six years I have hunted this area religiously and have had the op­portunity to shoot some nice bulls all by using elk calls as an aid to close the coffin.

Notice I said, “as an aid”, meaning the call was just one thing in a bag of tricks to help smoke these monarchs. My biggest bull that came out of the Gila was a 378 P&Y bull that had earned the name Professor because he always seemed to take you to school when you applied too much pressure. However, this bull was vocal and would bugle his butt off. He also seemed to be fairly easy to find, not only by his gnarly, raspy bugle that set him apart, but frequently he could be found early in the morning in a large meadow just south of a particular water hole that always attracted a large herd.

The Professor was not the only bull in the area that had large headgear, but it was The Professor that seemed to call the shots. I had caught this bull in the open several times, but calling seemed to really make him uneasy when you were in close. The Professor however would bugle hard to distant cow calls and seem to be whole heartedly interested, but had a sixth sense when you moved in for the attack.

Finally we decided to have a caller stay behind as we worked him coming off the meadow at daybreak. By doing this we could keep him interested and bugling as we stalked in closer. The caller always was no closer than 80 yards behind me. While the caller kept him occupied, I slid within 50 yards and gave him a G5 Tekan right behind the shoulder. This hunt was really a stalk, but the call and caller had a big part to do with his demise. Once we started quartering the bull up, we found a piece of an old arrow lodged just below the backstraps, so obviously someone had him in close before and gave the Prof and education, which explained why he was so wary.

The Double Team

As this old bull showed, hunting with a partner can work extremely well. It not only puts the hunter out in front of the call, but it gives the hunter a chance to move and adjust the angle based on where the bull might be ap­proaching. Likewise, the caller has the flexibility to move as well and apply a lot of different calling techniques.

The double team plan worked again on another hunt. It had been hot and the bulls were only bugling early and late. As soon as the sun would rise the elk woods would turn in to a ghost town.

Just after daybreak on the fourth day of our hunt we heard this bull bugle. He hit it only two times, both very weak and he sounded like the littlest rag horn in the land but with no other game in town we went after him. Getting as close as pos­sible to where we thought the bugle came from I eased up and sat down by a pine stump while my buddy moved back and to my right about 40 yards. Neither of us were very optimistic about our chances. My buddy made one or maybe two very soft cow calls on a two reed diaphragm then he started raking a tree and rolled a few rocks. We sat there for possibly 10 minutes in silence, then out of nowhere appeared a wide 340 inch 6 x 6 coming directly to us, at 25 yards the bull let out a soft chuckle, looked over his surround­ing and kept walking in the direction of where the last rock had been rolled, which led him 16 steps from my pine stump. By now I was at full draw waiting for a broadside shot. When the arrow left my bow, I knew we had killed a call shy monster by keeping it low key and stay­ing patient. Needless to say, I was never convinced by the two times he had bugled earlier that he was a shooter. This was a lesson in itself. Never judge a bugle until you can see what is making the sound.

The most exciting way to bag a bull elk is to get him in close, and the best way to do that is with a call. Confidence in your call is critical, because if you’re insecure about using your call there is a good chance you will spook elk. Have confi­dence in your calling ability and become just another elk in the herd where you are hunting. Find a call that works for you and not what works for some else. Think like an elk and do as elk do. Real­ism, rhythm, and volume control can make the difference between bringin’ them in or running them over the next ridge. And remember its not always about calling, it can be just patiently listening to the sounds around you and applying minimal calls, while practicing good woodsmenship, and stalking skills that could help you put that monster on the back of the truck.

The “Professor”, Waddell’s largest bull came from the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. Public land bulls like this can be call shy and may require some double teaming with a separate caller to fool. Master the cow call and you will call in elk bow-close. Use the bugle to locate as well as seal the deal on an aggressive bull.

Bible Study Verse
Revelation19:1-2a
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments.” (NIV)

Thoughts
With my outdoor business I have had to get into the internet more than I thought I would. I now subscribe to YouTube, Face Book, and Twitter (still not sure about that one).

Anyway, on Face Book, at least, they have opinion polls. Do you believe in this or that, etc? There was a poll on God. So my response was, “Yes I believe in God with my whole heart and soul. For you non-believers, look at it this way. If I am wrong, so be it. If you’re wrong, God gave you plenty of chances and I will miss you not being there.”

God’s judgments will be true and just.
(Jim C)

Action Point
In your outdoor adventures you will encounter people who are non believers. If the opportunity arises, let them know HOW YOU feel and be careful not to tell them how THEY SHOULD feel.

Actions are louder than words. Show them; don’t tell them why you choose to follow Jesus.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
It’s not too early to start practicing for bow and shotgun season. Take a little time each week to tune up. It’s fun and when the season is here, you will be ready!

Bible Study Verse
Luke 5:4-7
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (NIV)

Thoughts
Here we were: Twelve year old kid, rod over twice his size, reel almost bigger than his head, and fighting an unknown, as yet unseen, behemoth over 50 yards offshore. After an hour of countless “don’t give up’s” and “you can do its”, we became aware that the fish held the advantage having probably lodged itself against an offshore ledge and the kid wasn’t getting any closer to winning the fight.

An observer fishing from his boat off the beach also noted the same, beached his rig a few feet away, and offered to let the kid and his dad take the fight to the fish. Once out on the bay, the unknown fish was off and running, advantage lost, and followed closely by the new fishing team of boater, dad, and kid fisherman. Over the course of the next hour the marina became captivated by the image of the little figure of a fisherman in the bow of the boat, supported by his father, with a too-large rod bent to the limit, line tight, and chasing an unknown prize. The frenzied fervor and fevered pitch of excited enthusiasm and cheers of support that erupted each time the fish broke the surface proved to be the needed encouragement as the kid ultimately was rewarded with the largest Jackfish ever landed at the marina.

After pictures were taken and congratulations made, every kid on the marina could be found casting into the surf in search of the next one; wanting to be a part of the action.
(Jay C)

Action Point
I imagine any fisherman in observance had a similar reaction to Peter and company’s haul on that particular morning. We have no reason to believe that anyone else had experienced any better fortune the evening before. Honestly, we have no indication there was anyone else around. But, given the reputation that Jesus was gaining, I think it’s reasonably safe to assume there were other observers. Imagine the excitement, the amazement, the desire to be a part of the action or to share in the experience upon seeing neighbors and friends, recently having empty nets, have their boats nearly sunk with the load of fish harvested by following a simple direction: “Fish over there.” I imagine anyone being unfamiliar with Jesus immediately wanted to know who He was. I also imagine there weren’t any boats anchored to the shore.

What if Peter instead had said, “You know, that’s an interesting idea but as we’ve been up all night, why don’t we rest first and then give it shot?” What if his partners instead chose to not join in assistance, but rather continued cleaning up their equipment after a long, disappointing night? But, that’s not what happened.

Jesus knew their hearts. He knew he could depend on this crew of men to follow His specific direction, use the skills, and preparation He had instilled in them. He knew the timing was right. They cast their nets where He directed. They became “fishers of men”. Those in witness saw a mighty event they would not only want to be a part of, but would recount to others over the coming years.

What are the consequences of our deciding to keep fishing where we are? Or, to not fish at all? What are the consequences of waiting for the “security” of our retirement pensions to kick in, the children to grow up and start their own families, the economy to improve, or all our mortgage and car notes to be paid- in-full? What is the impact on those who observe our reasoned reluctance as opposed to bold obedience?

What do we need to see that the kid in us becomes so enraptured in the fervor of service that we choose to act from God’s heart and in so doing, experience the unmasked joy of landing the big one upon responding obediently to: “Fish over there”.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Always thoroughly wash off your equipment and gear after a day of off-shore fishing. The salt water will rapidly corrode all the metal components of your baits and tackle as well as degrade any of your unprotected clothing or soft-sided tackle bags.

Bible Study Verse
Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. (NKJV)

Isaiah 46:10
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (NIV)

Thoughts
“If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes and it will change!” We all have heard this or a similar statement concerning where we live. I sit here in my office praying that the weather will immediately change so my plans for today will work out as I want. Several times I have asked God to change the weather, to stop the rain. Will he do so? I do not know. (Later addition – He said no. He did not make it stop as I asked!)
(Jackie M)

Action Point
When the weather does not perform as we expect or desire, we are reminded that God is in control and we are not. One thing is sure. God knows best! Another thing is sure, we are not in control. Only God can plan something and make sure it does come to pass.

This applies to other changes in our lives. I am also in the process of moving to a new opportunity of service. It was a totally different direction from the way I wanted and had prayed to move. We wanted to move East, and God has called us West.

God knows best. I will trust Him. After all, wherever I go, he is with me. Will I trust Him enough to obey Him? Will you trust Him? Even when things don’t go as you have planned, will you continue to trust Him?

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Prepare for the unexpected when you make a hunting trip or even when you are out for the day. This is especially true if the hunt takes you long distances from your vehicle or from camp. Matches or fire making supplies, emergency blankets, rain poncho, knife, and a multi tool of some kind could all be life savers.

Bible Study Verse
Jeremiah 20: 9
But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (NIV)

Thoughts
Have you ever tried to light wet wood? How many matches did you go through? Unfortunately I have done this one too many times, most recently on an outing with my family. The day before our outing it had rained all day on the San Francisco Peaks, the mountain and trailhead we had planned to hike.

After a long wet hike and decent from 12,000 ft, everyone was freezing and wet. I attempted to build a fire with wet wood. I’m happy to report that after three boxes of matches and a few blisters from splitting kindling, we had a fire. I just had to get to the core of the wood, it was plenty dry.
(Donny N)

Action Point
Who needs matches with Jesus! One strike of His match and he will change us, transform us, and re- create us forever. He provides a light and warmth that will never end, no matter how many times you try to put it out.

My dad has a saying that has always stuck with me, “when life gets you down and you can’t seem to get away from it all, you need to get around a campfire. It’ll clear your thoughts and relieve the stress in your life.” Thanks dad for the advice, I’ll do just that. I know who has the match.

The question is who will be around your campfire? Who will you share the match with? This week, ask God to put someone on your heart that you can share your campfire with.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
A unique way to waterproof matches is to glue sandpaper around a 20 ga shotgun shell and insert matches inside the shell, Then take an empty .12 ga shell and slide the two together. This makes a perfect fit and an economical way to carry waterproofed matches.

Bible Study Verse
I Kings 9:4-5(a)
Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever. (NKJV)

Thoughts
I love tracking animals or at least finding animal tracks and identifying them. A couple of years ago while fishing, I ran across bobcat tracks in the soft ground near the water’s edge. They looked relatively fresh. Sure enough when I moved to the other side of the cove, the bobcat came out of the brush, apparently having watched and waited the whole time for me to get out of the way. I had a great view as the wildcat hunted the shoreline. My guess is that a den of kittens was nearby.

Intentional or not, animals will leave tracks and signs. It might be perfectly formed paw prints in the mud or blotches of blood on snow. It might be a single bent weed or bedded-down grass, wing drag marks, claw marks, or hoof marks, or well-used game trails, scrapes, dust baths, digs, or dens.

Whether we’re hunting, scouting, or nature- watching, tracking helps outdoorsmen learn a little more about an animal’s habits and hangouts. We discover where they feed and water, what terrain they prefer when they’re out and about, and why they do what they do.
(Don H)

Action Point
God spoke to Solomon about the kinds of tracks and signs that mark a man’s walk with Him, the Heavenly Father. For Solomon, the right walk meant security for his kingdom.

For Christian men today, the right walk means security IN the Kingdom. That walk is marked by integrity, uprightness, obedience, love, and a never- ending desire to keep God’s statutes and judgments. The right walk is a lockstep. Locked up and locked on march with the Lord.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
In addition to your water bottle, carry a couple of apples while making hikes or long walks. Eat them first before drinking water to help lighten your load. They are a good thirst quencher and make an excellent supplement for hydration and nutritional intake purposes.

Bible Study Verse
Psalm 119:36-37
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. (NIV)

Thoughts
The sun wasn’t even peeking over the horizon. The ducks were flying against an orange sky in what seemed to me a mad fashion this way and that. The caller sang a synchronization of quacks, cackles, and whistles gaining the birds’ attention. The ducks were answering back with their own version of the song.

Suddenly a pair of ducks looked down at the water and saw the decoy spread. The vision was like a sky diver opening his parachute as the ducks simultaneously cupped their wings and committed to the final approach. They glided into the decoys like they were meeting old buddies, but were faced with a dire situation that left them as part of a hunter’s bag limit.
(Dennis W)

Action Point
Too many times our lives are flying around in a mad fashion with really no purpose. This is when Satan throws out his decoys and calls to us. He knows that when we are not focused on abiding in Christ that our human nature can be distracted. We look at Satan’s decoy and say, “Oooh, shiny!”, pop our chute, and glide into destruction.

I John 2:16-17 reflects, “For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever, ” (NKJV)

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Being new to the sport of duck hunting, I have learned there is a right way. a wrong way, and then your host’s way. Always follow your host’s rules in the blind when it comes to shooting lanes, when to call, and calling the shot on birds. Your host will more than likely invite you back if you follow his rules.

Bible Study Verse
Corinthians 2:10b-12
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. (NIV)

Thoughts
This last month we were blessed with the opportunity of spending three weeks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. On one of our days there, we decided to hike up to the top of a mountain that overlooked the Columbian Glacier Field.

As my son and I arrived at the top, we were amazed at the difference between the bottom of the mountain and the top. At the base, it had been about 65 degrees, but when we arrived at the top, it was near freezing. The wind that swept over the mountaintop was gusting up to around 60 mph. We stood there looking at the ice field with our clothes tightly pressed against our bodies, our clothes flapping loudly, and us shouting at each other even though we were only a few feet apart. The wind was incredibly powerful!
(Dave M)

Action Point
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is often compared to a wind. At times, we develop this idea that the Holy Spirit is somewhere out there passively watching our world as it passes by. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is like the wind. Let me tell you what I know from the mountaintop. The wind is real! Even though I couldn’t see it, I could feel it – strongly. It impacted how long I stayed in certain places. It actually directed where I was able to go on the mountain.

As Christians, we need to remember that the Holy Spirit is on equal grounds to God and Jesus Christ. It’s a mystery for all of us, but the Holy Spirit is not passive. He directs my path, and he directs yours. We need to not underestimate the role that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your ways today and recognize the power he has in your life.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
If you are going to hike mountains, make sure to take layers of clothes for your ascent. You might start out with shorts and a tank top, but it’s very likely that you’ll end up on the top in a wooly hat with your gloves on.

Bible Study Verse
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Thoughts
OK, I want you all to do something with me. I want you to think back to the first time you held a gun and the first time you went hunting. So, who were you with? Your father? Maybe an uncle or maybe an older sibling? Now, think about all those years since. Who is it that has been the most influential on you in your thoughts and actions as a hunter? Is it the same person or is it somebody that came along and became a mentor or maybe a trusted friend? Either way we all learn from those that are better and more experienced than us. I know I have.

I learned my first lessons about mule deer from Dad. I learned about desert bighorn sheep from Dean, Dan, and Jim. Turkeys? Back to Dean. Elk? Back to Dad. Quail? Dean and enter Eldon. Archery? Then in come Steve and Todd.

Now I have an antelope hunt coming up and guess who I’m in the field with? Yep, it’s me and Dean again, only this time we have our boys along to play pack mule for us! Why do I keep going with these same guys over and over again? It’s because I’ve learned that they can be trusted. I’ve learned that what they tell me will be accurate and honest. I know that they care about me and the quality of my hunt. Simply put, I’m convinced that I can have confidence in them from years of experience.
(Cliff S)

Action Point
My Mom and Dad were my first Bible teachers. They were the ones that started taking me to church, helped me to begin to understand the Bible, and to come to Christ at an early age. Then there was a long line of Sunday School teachers and youth group leaders. Bill and Melovee, Cecil and Evelyn, and more lately Dr. Les Parrott and Dr. Tim Smith. These and a few others have had a significant influence on the growth and development of my faith because they not only taught the Word, they lived it! These people earned my confidence because, as well as hearing the Word professed, they have helped me to unpack tough scriptures and understand concepts I couldn’t grasp on my own. These people were and are all doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22).

As you grow in Christ, seek out mature Christians from whom you can learn. Spend time with them discussing questions you have about God and the Bible. Seek out others through books that are written to help us understand how to live the Christian life. Chuck Swindoll comes to mind as one that has much to offer through his writings. Then, pass on what you have learned by being a mentor for a younger Christian. You see, that is when we really learn, when we begin teaching others.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Seek a mentor. Be a mentor. That’s how hunting and outdoors skills are passed from generation to generation. But, be careful who you choose to be your mentor. Be sure he or she is someone worthy of your trust.

Bible Study Verse
Proverbs 12:27
The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions. (NIV)

Thoughts
The big ten-point stepped quietly out of the woods and began to walk slowly down the field-line. With great caution, he tested the wind and kept his head moving as he watched the open field carefully. Finally, he was broadside, a muzzleloader sounded off, and my brother had his biggest buck to date. (Brian H)

Action Point
That big buck encounter didn’t just happen. You see, I’ve left out some details in that story. I left out the hours we spent scouting and glassing that field. I didn’t tell you about the time spent setting up a stand, clearing shooting lanes, trimming limbs, and figuring out prevailing wind directions. I didn’t mention that we worked to figure out how to walk in to that stand so that we would remain undetected. The moral of this story is that it took hard work for this big buck encounter to happen.

The Bible has something to say about laziness as well, look at Proverbs 12:27. Wow! That passage paints a great picture for all of us hunters. But, it’s a picture that is a metaphor for life.

My paraphrase would go something like this: “Do everything that you do in life to your best ability.” Perhaps you wouldn’t categorize yourself as lazy, but what about those remarks that goes like this: “For what I’m paid for this job, that’s all that I’m going to do.” How about this one: “Nobody knows if I finish my paperwork or not. Nobody’s checked it, so why bother?”

The correct attitude is that God gave us abilities and we should do everything that we do to the best of OUR ability, but do it for HIS glory. Whether hunting, working, or anything else, you won’t roast your game unless you are diligent.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
When trimming limbs for shooting lanes, you don’t always have a pole saw with you. Try tying a medium weight stick about a foot long to a length of rope. Toss the stick over the offending limb and then pull it down to your reach with the rope. We call that an “Arkansas Lasso.” Happy Hunting!

Bible Study Verse
Ephesians 6:13 & 16-18
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)
VETERANS DAY — We thank you and give honor all who have served and who are currently serving and protecting America!! Practice the attitude of gratitude. Find at least one veteran and sincerely express your appreciation.

Thoughts
I used to teach science to middle school kids. Every Veterans Day, there would be a couple of student who would ask if I was a veteran. These kids’ idea of a veteran is colored by what they see today on television.

I told them I was in the air force. Then the obvious question was did I fly an airplane? I would explain to them that only a small percentage of the active military people in the air force are pilots, that most of the airmen are supporting our pilots/aircraft. I was in communications.
(Tom B)

Action Point
There are two ways to remember the men and women of our country who have given their time, their families, and some, their lives. First, ask someone today whether he or she is a veteran and what it was like when they fought for America. Visiting with a family member or a friend of a veteran and asking about their experiences helps to preserve our proud heritage and pass it along to others so these soldiers won’t be forgotten.

Too many times in today’s world with the media always looking for the sensational story, the stories of our young military men and women are flavored with what was done wrong; and not with the multitude of good actions that our people are doing to protect us at home and the people of the country for which we are fighting.

Second, be alert and always keep on praying for all the men and women now serving our country. We at home can’t put on our body armor, pick up our weapons, or physically fight alongside our soldiers. But, we can put on the body armor of God, our salvation, pick up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and support our troops with our prayers.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
A soldier in the field is only as good as the training he or she has received and the weapons they use. The same is true of a good hunter. If a hunter is not physically fit for the rigors of hunting, there is a good chance the hunt won’t be successful. If a hunter’s equipment malfunctions or is forgotten, he or she won’t be successful. A part of every hunter’s trip is going over their equipment when they come home from a day afield, not only just before they make the trip. Clean, repair, and replace what needs attention. Don’t procrastinate; things have a habit not being accomplished if you put them off.