To my fellow bow hunters, or to non-hunters I would like to give you a glimpse of what early season bow hunting is to me. Most people welcome the cooler weather because they know football is coming, or maybe it's because of the comfort food that comes with the season, and to other's it may be the beauty of the great outdoors, this is the part that I like Best! There really is nothing like October 1st, you wake up at the crack of dawn and while your getting in your gear to go into the woods you can't help but take clear cool breaths of the morning air, it makes your lungs feel so cleansed. You look at your hunting partner, and can't help but smile because you know you are about to share a glorious spiritual experience. I love when I finally get situated in my tree stand, the quiet blankets you, there's time to yourself to get lost in your thoughts or personal time to talk and pray to God, if only there were more hours in the day for this. Then it happens, the sun's rays start to filter through the woods, they look like streams of golden color and appear like the band's of color you would see in a rainbow. The sounds of the woods come alive at this time as well, the birds sing their songs and talk to each other and the squirrel's are busy gathering their winter bounty. The color's of the tree's around you are so vibrant that you become mesmerized and you know how lucky you are to see this beautiful gift. Then the time comes for the magnificent deer, this creature is so beautiful, and yet so cunning. Their senses are always on full alert, they could spot you before you spot them. Their eye's, their ears, their sense of smell is truly amazing, and it is extremely difficult to have a deer get close to you. If you are able to take the animal it is such an intense feeling, you know that you have provided for your family. You know that they are going to be fed with lean, organic, non-chemical food and it makes you feel so humble and honored. We have brought up our daughter to respect nature and it's animal's and to take hunting very seriously, it sickens me that hunting has become a weekend excuse to go to a deer camp and drink yourself stupid, or that it's an excuse to go shopping for the family's at home. Where did the bonding go, and the sense of family and tradition. My family and I have not forgotten to take the time to appreciate nature and to thank God for yet another incredible gift. I hope for the non-hunter's that read this Blog, you will see how beautiful hunting can be and even if hunting is not for you, that you take the time this fall to get lost in nature and lost in yourself.
Melissa Gross
