A Hunter’s Journey: Perseverance, Loss, and Gratitude This Thanksgiving
As I awake to the morning sun, there is much to be grateful for today. A roof over my head, friendships, family and the fresh wild game I'm about to butcher.
For anyone that knows me, I hunt hard and sometimes too hard. Often times I find that I overexert myself, sometimes barely eat or drink and get so hung up on the hunt that I often forget about other responsibilities or tasks and am known to toss everything to the sidelines while I go hunt. The hunt and pursuit of an animal is deep within my soul and I am always extremely determined to get what I am after no matter the species or size of game I'm after. This hunt was no different.
With only just 12 days into the season, limited deer spotted and so many hours put into the hunt already it's hard to comprehend just how long it's been since I was able to harvest a deer. Let's backtrack quick to 3 years ago on opening day. I was able to harvest a beautiful mature buck and end my season in quick succession. It was until 1 year to the day later that I'd head out hunting again for Deer. While I was just as pumped as always my hunt unfortunately nearly ended badly as another hunter shot at the same deer I was about to pull the trigger on. Yes this was on private land and yes I knew the hunter was there. The circumstances weren't ideal and the outcome was dangerous enough for me to call it quits and move on from that property and the spot where I had harvested all of my deer in the past. It was a rough time and a lot of memories were left behind but it was onto the next challenge... public land.
With the worst opening day in my hunting career I was determined more than ever to go out and harvest a deer. I headed out on some public land in WMU 84 to try and bag my first deer alone without friends or family close by. Within a quick 2.5 hours I was able to shoot a Doe but I was unable to retrieve her after many hours searching that night and the next morning. But, I'd still get up and get into the bush even after all of the mishaps. I'd consider this forest to be "my spot", even though over the course of the next 2+ years I'd have encounters with other hunters, hikers, people starting fires and even some extremely rude people who got some stiff warnings. Let's just say a Conservation Officer got involved and charges nearly were pressed towards them for disturbing my hunt. Nonetheless I stuck with this property and tried very hard to figure the deer out here and with the mass amounts of variables and unknowns it has been a wild ride.
Fast forward to this past spring...I was able to successfully harvest a nice Jake during opening weekend for Turkey back in April from this forest. After 2 years of trials and tribulations I kept thinking there was a curse on me to not harvest any game from this area but again, I was extremely determined! With my persistence finally paying off I ventured back to this spot with Amanda Lynn Mayhew where I'd help call in a Turkey for her and she'd pull the trigger of a nice bird! Not only was this a big moment for me as a hunter and an aspiring guide but it was a great moment between friends and a memory that will live on forever. From here on I knew this forest had the potential and I just needed to figure out how to bring those successes with me to Deer season.
With the unfortunate events that had occurred the past week, losing a fellow hunter friend and my Great Aunt Edna just two days later, I told myself to honour those who have passed by dedicating this hunt to them. From that moment on, that's when mother nature took over and gave me the best seat to the greatest show on earth!
Having arrived at my stand at exactly 3:20, I had this overwhelming feeling that things were about to happen. I messaged my brother to tell him that I'd be getting a hold of him in a couple hours to help me get a deer out of the forest. It was about 4:45 I spotted a few deer straight out in front of me but just as quickly as they appeared they had vanished. A quick to my brother, "Almost had a shot. They'll be back. C'mon, C'mon", and no more than 15 minutes later I spotted my target animal. A beautiful Doe who had two fawns trailing her. It was a matter of 10 seconds of spotting her that I needed to make a choice to shoot. Unfortunately my shooting lanes were limited to two small openings in the trees and she had already passed the first spot. I elected to aim my bow where I was hoping she'd walk right by. As she got into the opening I made a quick grunt but she didn't stop so I had to shoot her while she was walking. Not an ideal shot but I connected that shot hard, my arrow went clean through and my heart began to pump with adrenaline. This feeling was something I had longed for and it was worth every ounce of effort over the years to finally connect a shot again.
About 20-30 mins after my shot I decided to go track her down. Finding my arrow completely covered in blood was a great sign. I often smell my arrow to indicate my shot placement. Believe me when I say if it smells bad, you've hit the organs. But this blood was very rich and red with bubbles which indicated a lung shot. As I start tracking there is almost no blood, which is sometimes an indication of internal bleeding. I stop quick to take a break and take some clothes off from overheating and I hear a fawn walking towards me and calling for his mother. Now I feel awful as this deer gets within just 15 feet of me. Then another fawn... they both stop out of curiosity to see what I am, are not frightened and are calling out. I call back and they respond. A humbling moment of knowing that with life comes death. Those young ones will still grow with the help of the other does that were around them. But with daylight fading I had to press forward to find my Deer.
Knowing there wasn't blood I told myself, "Walk straight and keep your eyes peeled. You will see her laying here somewhere". Within 10-15 seconds I had found her piled up and motionless. A successful hunt and a good enough shot placement to make her drop. A quick call to my brother from assistance and a notch of my tag and some quick dragging and gutting and I'd be out before dark. As I approached there Deer I said my thank yous in honour of a fallen hunter friend and my Great Aunt who had just passed this past week. It was an emotional moment in time and one I won't forget. I pull out my tag to notch it and again I hear two fawns behind me calling out for their mother. In the moment I could hear my aunt, "With life comes death". I don't know why those words came to me but that it was I had heard. With an overwhelming feeling of "what have I done", I was grateful to see two Does step out from behind the fawns giving me reassurance that these fawns will be taken care of and watched for and grow to be mature deer for future hunts and other hunters to harvest and make memories with. A truly rewarding and emotional hunt and having my brother come down to give me some assistance made it even that much more special!!
It's a very Happy Thanksgiving for me and I have much to be grateful for and this past weekend's hunting experience will live on forever! I cannot wait to do this all again but for now I need to get to processing this beautiful animal!
Justin Green
Avid hunter and outdoorsman, recipient of the Just Hunt Outdoorsman of the Year 2024.