Bow hunting mature bucks is often viewed as a man vs beast sport, matching wits with a single animal. A passion can evolve into a sport in which it is easy to get caught up in my situation, my properties, my food plots, my bucks. As we enter another hunting season, I want to challenge you to think about another hunter for a minute and what you can give to them? How can you bless another hunter amidst a sport that so often has a “me first” mindset? What Can I Give?

This year I moved to another state and have been extremely driven to set myself up for a successful deer season. As I have put in the efforts to improve my situation, I have been blessed time after time by other hunters! Hunters that put my desires before their own!

One hunter drove me around the county, in which we both live, and showed me all the best spots on public ground. What a blessing that was!

One hunter brought his four wheeler and seed spreader by to plant food plots when he knew I was going to hand broadcast acres of seed. What a blessing that was!

One hunter got permission for me to hunt a piece of ground as he knew I did not have many spots. What a blessing that was!
These hunters likely did not realize how extremely grateful I am for the things and opportunities they gave me and I know they did not realize just how convicting their actions were, to me, of how selfish I have been.

Although deer camps dwindle and the challenge of matching wits with a single buck becomes more and more popular, there is still room for unselfishness and generosity amongst the brotherhood of bow hunters! Let’s revive the comradery of this sport by giving of ourselves to other deer hunters.

Giving to another hunter may come in many different forms, but we have to be actively searching for ways to be generous, otherwise it is too easy to let life pass by without blessing other people. You can give of your time, your property, your money, your gear, your work.

Acts says “It is better to give, than to receive”. There is more happiness that comes from giving than comes from receiving. There is great joy that comes from choosing to think about others first, but we so often fail. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 reads “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. If you bless others, you will be blessed.

God loves it when we give to other people, because we are really giving to Him. God wants us to give generously. You cannot out give God.

Maybe you run the video camera even though it was your turn to hunt? Maybe you send a book to a hunter that has been curious about a specific aspect about hunting? Maybe you invite someone hunting that you know doesn’t have very good spots? Maybe you share trail camera pictures with your neighbor? Maybe you give the giant shed antler you found to the kid that harvested “your” buck?

If you are a driven individual and bow hunting big deer is your passion, it is very easy to fall into the slippery slope of thinking about yourself. This season I challenge you to be intentional of looking for other deer hunters that you can give to, for God loves a cheerful giver.