Preparation is Key

I ran into a childhood friend who hunts alot this past Labor Day weekend and he made the comment, "Reduction Zone Season opens in 12 days". I panicked a little. Well - maybe not panicked, but it was still summer right? While I don't hunt any property in a reduction zone; Labor Day does kick off the countdown for every bow hunter in Indiana. If you haven't been thinking about October 1st for the past 6 months - you will positively start now. The problem that I run into is this: balancing family life, work and kingdom work doesn't leave alot time for the hobby that we are so dearly are infatuated with. It's a struggle that every person I know deals with - but few hold the answers to. Nonetheless - we still try. We still dream, ponder and scheme. It's a good thing to put preparation into your hunting season, and usually the preparation of the professionals in the hunting industry is second to none. Over here with a day job and life's responsibilities; my list of outdoor activities to accomplish never gets completed, and as the years click off - I think I'm learning to live with that a little better each passing year. We'll come back to that...

I sat down and went through my bible, and I came across some verses highlighted from Proverbs. Proverbs is such a great book, and full of practical wisdom. I like the way our pastor explained the book of Proverbs and it made alot of sense to me: "Proverbs is this life are normally true - but they are always eternally true". As you digest and chew on the verses contained in its pages - I believe you will come into agreement with that statement as well. Let's take a look at this one.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit; as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

In speaking woods: plant your food plots, hang your cameras and stands, scout the areas and find the deer. Put in the time and you will harvest the deer of your choosing. Season Complete. Tagged Out. Blog over. A great plan and hard work does in fact lead to success (profit). This is proven in about every episode on the Outdoor Channel. The success rates of hunters with a diligent plan are definitely higher. Personally, I try to plan and work at it as much as my schedule allows and I'm sure you do as well. In simple contrast though, you realize that nothing in hunting or life for that matter is guaranteed. This is the reason that I say if we put in the time and develop a great plan we will find our profit in the process. When I walk through a a knee high clover plot or get a deer to walk by a trail camera it produces joy and happiness in my life. I find joy in the time well spent. When I get to take my kids, friends or family into the woods, the time spent with them develops relationships that I call successful and they add profit to my life. Remember what my Pastor says about Proverbs always being eternally true? When we plan out our lives in step with the Word and His will, our profit is in the relationship we build with our Lord and Savior. It simply can't get more profitable than that!

Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

Proverbs 24:27

I wish I would have came across this one years ago when I was busy laying flooring in our home during deer season. The bible says to make sure your stands are hung, and your hunting season is in order before you work on the house! My wife just smiled as I read this verse and sentence to her and she said, I quote: "your ridiculous". While I can chuckle and I hope you can to at the over the top-missed context I am applying here, I did look into this verse and I really like this explanation from biblehub.com. "In a spiritual sense, the heart must be first cleared of thorns, and opened to genial influences, before the man can build up the fabric of virtuous habits, and thus arrive at the virtuous character." (Pulpit Commentary) We have to start preparing ourselves for eternity. We need to make sure we have ourselves in order. We prune ourselves and stay connected to the vine (John 15). Our season is coming and we pray - " your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9) This is what were are preparing for. God has "set eternity in the human heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Since we are talking about preparations and creating a successful plan, I do want give you some obscure, yet helpful tips that you may have overlooked in your preparation for hunting season. I wouldn't say any of these are deal-breakers in your plan - but hopefully you find them helpful!

1. Use a string trimmer or rake to clear a path to your stand. - If you your stands are like mine, there is a pretty good trail or field edge that leads you most of the way - but don't forget to clear a debris-free path to the base of your treestand. It's never fun to step on an unsuspecting twig opening morning at the base of your tree.

2. Trim branches and new growth to open up shooting lanes. - It never fails that you have to wait one more step to let an arrow fly. If you don't have time to take a buddy and a telescoping pole trimmer to the woods, pack a small handsaw with you on your next trip to the treestand.

3. Check for Bees! - Huh? Well I went and checked my tower stand about a week ago and I was thankful I did. There was a bee nest under construction right outside of my main shooting window. A quick can of spray will make that a less interesting hunt!

I still have a few stands that I need to go check and finish up this list on, so don't be too alarmed if you haven't got there yet either. There is only some much time available and don't let not having your list of "all the hunting things" done put a damper on your season. Find joy in spending time in the great outdoors and spending time with the One who created it all. Remember the last line of the opening paragraph? I have a thought to why I'm starting to be okay with my list in the woods not getting complete. Hunting is a pastime that I dearly love, but the profit in my life and what I should build my house on aren't located in the timber out my back window. My success in life will not be judged or determined by the inches of antler hanging in my barn. The only plan that we can put our hope and trust in is the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Believing in the Son of Man, his life, his death, and his resurrection - That is the fool-proof way to be prepared and this is what I want to make sure I am the most prepared for. The rest of it is just "playing in the creation!"