OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Stay Put

By Gary Miller

Sometimes in deer hunting, the tree stand becomes the seat of discontentment. Early in my hunting life, I was notorious for giving up on one spot for the hopes of another. My logic was always based upon the deer that I was not seeing. It didn’t matter that I had spent weeks or even months scouting that particular area. I was willing to give up after only a few days of inactivity. And since these were the days before trail cameras, my roaming always seemed justified. Sometimes I would get out of the tree stand and just start wandering around. I called it spotting and stalking, but it was really my inability to be patient with where I was. My cry was, “If I could only see deer! I don’t have to shoot one; I just want to see movement.” 

So, after a couple of non-productive days, I was ready to move on. The problem was that many times the new place I found was no better than the last. So, I moved again. Now, as you can see, I began forming a pattern of constantly moving; and worse, a pattern of impatience. Thankfully, as I grew older, I overcame the urge to move. I began to trust my pre-season scouting and realized that my constant moving was not caused by the lack of deer movement but by something lacking within me. What was lacking was problems, or as the Bible says, tribulation. Here’s what it says. “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.” In deer terms this means that when I realized that deer was showing up at the place I had just moved from; I understood that I had moved too soon. My tribulation of the past produced in me the patience I need today.

Right now, you may be getting a little antsy as well. The urge to move may be welling up inside you. It may be coming from unrealized expectations or delayed activity. But don’t be so quick to leave. You may only be moving toward a pattern of impatience while someone else is enjoying the fruit of being at the place you just left.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org. Miller can be reached via email at gary@outdoortruths.org.