Killing a giant Roosevelt Elk with help from above!

In this episode we talk about the epic and amazing story of killing a huge Cascade Roosevelt bull. We cover the difficulty of discussing faith with the people closest to us, having a real relationship with the lord, and a relive an amazing story of the lords hand in our hunting lives. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

We've been podcasting all day. Next fill in the effect. It's hard work, you know? Sitting here on this comfy couch talking about the things we like. Yeah. It's pretty tough. Yeah, pretty tough.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Alrighty. Well, welcome to another episode of the Crimson Way podcast. This will be part two, I guess, of kind of my testimony. This isn't like, I guess, so much my testimony as this is uh well, kind of is. Um, but uh this is gonna be the story about a great big bull. Like, probably like we never threw an official tape on him. Um, but he's he's big. He's probably like a 360 bowl. Uh next to my wife's 350 bowl, he looks pretty small. Or she her bowl looks pretty small. So and keep in mind these are Roosevelts. These are yes, technically speaking, cascade Roosevelt. But um, yeah, so um big bull. Long story short, big bull. Yep. Um well, I guess we'll get into it. Uh so this was in the 2022 Archery Yelk season. Um I a little bit of backstory on this bull. So in the 21 season, after I killed my bull, my best friend back home, um, he we hunted, we found right after I killed my bull, wasn't very long after that, we found this other bull. Um, and the the ground that we were hunting is a whole bunch of private chunks that are like relatively big private chunks, like anywhere from 600 to a couple thousand acres. Um, but not really uh not like super open country, like mostly timbered country, several clear cuts. Um, and it's right like in the foothills, if you will, right off of the valley. So it's it's uh relatively inaccessible, most of it. Like it's completely inaccessible unless you have private access, uh, of which we had on a couple different pieces of ground. Um, we had the main property that I hunted, and then we had the main property that he hunted. Uh, and they were kind of uh there's this ridge that kind of runs down, and I could hunt kind of one side of it, and he could hunt the other side of it, and we couldn't really hunt the middle. Um and we actually managed to, and these these are uh destination ag elk, so they were like pretty consistent early on in the season, anyways, going to the food source, but then after that they would kind of uh disperse and and then they became like definitely a little bit harder to find. But um kind of amazingly, we were able to keep track of this bull. Um, and we got access to some timber property, just kind of like on a stroke of luck, kind of like a fluke of dumb luck, uh, we were able to kind of like keep tabs on this bull more or less the entire season and chased him around and hunted him, and honestly got really close to killing him several times. Um, so we had like a quite a bit of history with this bull in particular in the 21 season, but we didn't get him. And in the 22 season, uh he was kind of like our main focus, if you will. Like he was kind of like the bull that we were really after. Which which year was he bigger in? Uh I think I don't know. It's hard to tell because like we don't we don't have his sheds from 21. Uh somebody else picked him up, but he was he was it's possible he was bigger in 21 than he was in 22. Yeah um regardless, he was he was big both years. Like when you look at him, you're like, wow, that is a big bull. Yeah. Um so going into the 2022 season, um I was having so like personally, I was having um some struggles as far as I was still in the kind of like the process of refining like my life and my walk with the Lord and trying to get like all my ducks in a row, if you will. Yeah. And I was I had cut out like basically everybody in my life that was from my past, short of like a basically you and him. Like that was like that was about it. Like the rest of everybody else, um, they just weren't living the same lifestyle that I was. And I found that every time that I tried to associate myself with them, uh, rather than me lifting them up, they drug me down. Nothing against them, a lot of great people, but uh just a different uh different path, like a different walk of life. And so kind of like back to my um back to like my whole like formula that the Lord laid out to me, like the last kind of like part of that was that I needed to like guard myself against um like the enemy, essentially. And so I was I I had pretty well like carved out most people. Not my circle was ever really like that big. Like I've always had a pretty small circle, but um I was kind of wrestling with the fact that um my best friend was uh didn't really, he wasn't not on the same journey that I was. At least not that I was aware of. And but like back home, Nick is all the way over across the state. Like we spend as much time together as we can, but in all reality, like it's not that much time. And hunting is to some degree like a social, uh, social endeavor, and it's it's fun to hunt with people. And so inevitably, I ended up um me and and my friend on the west side, like we spent a lot of time together, like a lot of time together. We did everything together, and I was kind of like I was I was not having the deep like spiritual connection and uplifting conversations that like I have with you. I was not having those same conversations um with my other friend, and uh it was something that I was kind of like I prayed about it a lot, um, and just like because I I I was I was like trying to lift him up, but really like more than anything, um when I hung out with him, like we would sometimes we would make like some questionable decisions, like it just if I'm being completely honest, and um not that like not that they were like particularly it just wasn't fulfilling and and like life life bringing. Yeah. And so I but I but at the same time, like I was he was like he and is, you know, like one of my best friends. Like he's somebody that I actually I I love spending time with him. I like to hang out with him and we spend a lot of time together. Um, and I was kind of like wrestling with the fact of like I was I was honestly contemplating like trying to distance myself from him a little bit just because um I I wasn't sure that my association with him was really getting me to the point in my life that I really needed to be. And I was really like I was wrestling with that, um, those thoughts. Uh that was like one of my chief things that I was like really struggling with and praying about. And I just like really didn't feel like I was getting much uh, if any guidance um from the Lord like on the topic, and uh I knew that like coming into to elk season that we were about ready to like the time that we were gonna spend together was about ready to increase like exponentially, and I really wanted to um you know like try to make a good impact on his life. Like I I care about him, like he's he is one of my best friends, and uh so I was kind of like struggling with this going going into elk season, and um sure enough, like a week or two weeks before season, something like that, uh we me and my wife loaded up one evening and we went out one afternoon, we went out to go put a uh ground blind out um on the bottom of this. It's kind of where the elk kind of come down towards the egg, it kind of necks them down, and there's a like a reasonably good pinch point down there that just kind of is like it's not my favorite way to hunt elk, but sometimes it can be effective in that area to hunt them out of like a ground blind. Yeah. So uh we went, we we headed up there, and we were gonna go put a ground blind up and get it all brushed in and everything so the elk could kind of get used to it. And uh so we drive, we drive the side by side out there, and sure enough, like uh I don't know what they were doing out there, but we actually ran headlong into that into the herd of elk with the bull. Um, and we had seen him a couple times that summer, like we knew he was around, but like that's the earliest I have ever seen like a big bull in the herd of of cows. And sure enough, like he's standing there in all of his glory, right exactly where we were gonna put the ground line. And they they they blew out of there. Um, not hard. Like, I mean, they were we were down in the farm field, so it was they were kind of used to being disturbed and bumped a little bit. So we blew him up the hill, and uh, but I mean got really good look at him, you know. I got good video of him, and um, you know, it was for sure the same bowl. So we get the ground blind set up and get it all like brushed in and everything, and uh we we um got out of there and we're just kind of getting ready for elk season, and the season came and uh we were hunting hard. Um trying to, in particular, that was really the only big bull that we knew of. And it by that time, like uh we were we were pretty well like not gonna shoot anything unless it was like a mature bull. So uh we were kind of running around just trying to guess where that bull was going to show up. Um and we were I swear we were just one step behind him, like every every move, like it was just the chest pieces were just not quite falling into place, and he was really spending a bunch of time on a property that we didn't have access to, and we couldn't couldn't really there was we had real no attack, couldn't really get close enough to him to call him in. And uh so we we that went on for like the first I don't know, 10 days a season or something like that. I I can't remember. I should have looked up the date that we actually killed him, but um it uh it was it was getting um kind of like increasingly um obvious that if we were going to get a crack at him, he was gonna show up on my property. And kind of like our I don't know even if we ever really talked about it, but kind of like our unspoken agreement was just like if there's a bull on my place, I'm the first shooter. And if there's a bull on his place, he's the first shooter. And you know, that's just kind of that's just kind of the way that we ran it. And we were both cool with that. Like he he had hunted the we had hunted the bull for him like most of the season before, but it like I certainly was not planning on passing a chance at this bull given an opportunity. Like it was a giant bull, and it it's always been like a dream of mine to kill a big one up there. Um, somehow they have eluded me. And so I uh we were you know, we were working hard though. I mean, we were really uh and we were having a good time. Like it was it was fun, you know, like it was it it was hunting small private for elk, and there was a lot of people around us. So like we were it was actually kind of stressful. Like we were kind of we were a little bit paranoid that somebody else was gonna kill the bull. And I don't know if there was like too many guys that actually knew that that bull was up there, like he was kind of I'm sure some people had seen him, but by and large, I think that uh I don't think anybody really knew where he was at besides us. And um we we kept trying, we could kind of get in up high, and then we could kind of hunt him down low. And so we were, I swear, every time we'd go high, he'd be low. Every time we'd go low, he'd be high, and we just couldn't never could tee into this thing. And we finally um we we hunted high one evening, and we were we were coming down the mountain, and it was it was a little bit but like it was just getting dark and like barely probably a couple minutes of legal shooting light left, and we're kind of coming down the mountain, and um I had a I had a cell cam down in the bottom of this field right next to the blind, and cell cam lights off, and you know, like we as soon as we get to notification, like you know that yeah. So I pulled my phone out and I was like, I I show him like the notification, and I opened my phone, and sure enough, like it's that bull standing in front of the camera, like in all of his glory, just like standing. And I showed him the picture, and he was driving, and I could like visibly see him deflate, like he was he just bummed.

SPEAKER_02 14:26

And because of the fact that he's on the property you have access to, not the one that he does, right?

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Yeah, yeah, and the property that I have access to, um, like we kind of had that piece like pretty well figured out, and like if the elk was there, once they got to that property, the chances of them leaving that property without being bumped were like pretty low. Like once they kind of got there, we we knew that we had them. Like that was that was really kind of like what we were waiting for. Yeah, and we we got like we got it was by no means was it a hundred percent like success rate, but the last few years that we hunted it, it was almost a hundred percent success rate. Like we got very, very proficient at killing these elk once they got there. Like we we figured out how to do it.

SPEAKER_02 15:17

Yeah, I mean it was I mean, your wife killed that bull, there you killed a couple, yeah, right?

SPEAKER_00 15:23

Like there was a number of them that yeah, my dad killed one, like it was it was we got we we we figured it out, and um, and so he was and like I've always I've always been like very kind of like selfish of my opportunities. Like I keep my hunting circle very small, like basically you and him. Yeah, and like I those opportunities for those big animals are finite, right? And I everybody wants to kill a big animal, right? Like big bulls and big bucks, like they they make people do stupid things, and I've always been like quite selfish. Um, whereas like if it's a big animal and it's on my property and it's my opportunity, like I want I want to be the one to pursue that, like it it um and so like I I was not I've never really been one to be like ah it's okay, like I'll get the next one, you know. Like and so we're driving down the mountain, and he um he's like I see like his whole demeanor changed, like when he got the picture, and I we kind of like sat there in silence for a minute, just like driving down the mountain. And in that moment, like I heard very clearly the Lord tell me, He's like, uh, you need to let Garrett hunt that bull. And I was like, Okay, dang it. Like I I was completely at peace with it. It's a weird thing, I guess, because like I I I desperately wanted to kill a giant, and I kind of knew that my years were like very limited up there, like um the the the the lady who had gave me permission on her property, like she was she was aging to the point where like she was quite old. And um I knew that my time was up. I'd already lost the I'd already lost the the neighboring place. Yep. Um and it was like the end was in sight. Like I was I was running out of property and I was running out of time. And I knew that the chances of me getting back up there ever, honestly, you're like pretty slim. Like once it's done, it's kind of done, type of a deal for the most part. I mean, like that may change someday, but um and I like I loved I loved hunting up there, like it's honestly like one of my favorite places. And um but but like in that moment, like I I heard the Lord like quite clearly, and um he told me he's like you need to let you need to you need to let him hunt that bull. And I was like, oh man, I was like, all right. So we're driving down the mountain, and I told him, I was like, hey man, uh like I want you to hunt that bull. Like I I want you to kill it. And he was like, he was shocked because he he kind of viewed it the same way that I did, like it's quite an opportunity, yeah, right? And he was like, Are you are you sure? He's like, are like yeah, you know what you're saying. That's not what he's expecting to hear. No, not at all. And I was like, Yeah, I'm sure. Like, I I want you to be the one to like shoot that bull, that's your bull. And of course, you know, then you know, it was like that's the way it was gonna be. Life came right back in and uh so that that was I don't know what that was like probably like a Sunday afternoon or something like that. I can't remember. I had to work the next day. Um could have been the middle, I can't remember when we I actually it was more like Wednesday or Thursday. Um but uh so the next morning I had to go to work and he was gonna go hunting. And you know, like I I it was one of those deals where like the landowners knew us, like I could go to his spots, no questions would be asked, he could go to my spots, like no questions would be asked. Like it was just we we were always together, like we were we were always if we were up there, like we were always together, and the landowners knew us, and so like it was and uh he's like, Well, I was like, just go up there in the morning. Um like you're you're good, like you can go up there, you go hunt him, and uh because like he we knew he was gonna be there in the morning, like it was there was no question, like he was gonna be there, and so um the next morning, like and and this is kind of like after I'm I mean this is this is like 22, so that this is after the 21 season. My relationship with the Lord is like greatly improved. I've kind of got like my systems in place, and I'm I'm really like I'm kind of like I'm seeking the Lord and I'm on the right track, and like I wake up every morning, I work out, like I read my Bible. So that morning was no different. Like I I woke up um early. I mean, at that point in time I was waking up at like three o'clock in the morning, like because that's what I had to do in order to like stick to my routine, you know, like busy days. So I wake up, get my workout in, read my Bible, like everything is is like just like going good. It's dark, of course, pitch black. I'm driving to work in the dark, and I always um I take the time in the morning. Uh takes me about a half hour to drive to work. I'll spend about 15 minutes of that time praying. That's like kind of like my daily prayer time, if you will. And so I'm driving to work and I'm praying, and I'm asking God, I'm like, God, like please uh like help me help me be like a witness and a good influence to my friend. Because like I I he means so much to me, and like I I want him to like be pursuing the things that I'm pursuing, like pursue you, right? Because like sometimes that the people that are closest to us are like oftentimes the ones that are the most difficult to reach. And they're the ones that like for whatever reason they should be the easiest ones to talk to, but they're the ones that are like the hardest ones to talk to. And that door had just like I don't know. I mean, it just I just never like I'd never really talked about God with him that much, yeah. Like very little. And I spent a lot of time with him, like a lot of time with him, but. But I just I don't I don't know. Like I just never talked to him about God. And that's my bad. But like I just never I guess I was always just waiting for the right opportunity and I never really felt like that opportunity was there.

SPEAKER_03 22:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

Cause like on one hand, like I didn't I didn't want him to think that I was like crazy, essentially, like truthfully. Yeah. And um which is totally irrational, right?

SPEAKER_02 22:23

But like I mean it's common though. Yeah. It's not like I, you know, I've struggled with all the same stuff with different friends.

SPEAKER_00 22:29

And so I'm like, I'm driving to work and I'm praying, and like I'm seeking God, and I'm just asking God. I'm like, hey, like use this bowl as something that is going to like open that door, like you know, give me some guidance here, give me a sign. And um I'm I'm I I'll never forget it. Like right at the halfway point, like I kind of like finish my prayer and I turn on different main road, and like I had experienced like the presence of the Holy Spirit in church. Like the fire, I call it the fire in my belly, but like it is like literally like the burning presence of the Lord. Like there is there is there is like a piece, you're simultaneously like filled and hungry at the same time. And and it's like there's this there's this fire that wells up in like inside you, and you're just like you're filled with the presence of the Lord. Like it, it's I I don't know how to explain it other than like that. Yeah, and I had felt that in church like many times, even like as I was a small kid, like I can remember back to uh like I feeling the presence of God, tangibly feeling the presence of God. I can I can I can remember that like way back. Um, but but it only ever like really happened to me in church, right? Like it never happened outside of church. Um, and most of the time, like I feel it like in worship in church specifically. And uh when I turned on that road, I was immediately filled with the presence of the Lord, like fire in my belly, uh filled with the spirit. And I was like, holy cow! Like it was unlike anything I had ever experienced up to that point in time in my life. And I was just like, whoa, like the Lord is at work, like undeniably, without a doubt, like I am filled with the presence. Like, I don't know what is going to happen, but something is going to happen, like without a doubt. And I it was about that time that it was cracking daylight, and I start getting like blow by blows from him because he's up there, sure enough, bull's there. He's like stalking them, you know, like he's dogging the herd, and just like he's giving me like this blow by blow account. So here I am, just like driving to work, just completely knocked off my feet, filled with the presents, getting this like blow by blow account of like what's going on, him stalking it on this giant bull. Yeah, and I'm like, it is just killing me, dude. I'm like, gosh dang it, like I want to be there so bad. And he uh he didn't um he didn't get the he didn't get the bull. The bull basically like just was never able to get close enough to the bull, and eventually like they jumped the fence and got onto the neighbor's place. So that was like once they're up there, you know, it's like kind of the end of the morning hunt. So um he uh and and I was um he's you know it comes it comes to an end, and uh I had I had some things that I had to get done. I had some dirt work to get done. I love excavation, I love running machines. And I had we were putting in some um actually we were building some greenhouses and I was working on doing these French, these big French drains in between these greenhouses. So I had a lot of digging to do. And uh like just still like hours later, like filled with the presence of the Lord. So I am like sitting in this excavator, which is like my happy place, my hat my next happiest place next to being in the woods, right? Yep, and I'm sitting in this excavator, and um, like I didn't really like listen to like praise and worship music that often, right? Kind of rarely, honestly, to be honest. Like I just I love music, but I never really like that. That's and that's kind of a different story for a different day. But um, like in that moment, like I was just so overcome with the presence of the Lord that I was just like, I have got to like praise God. And so I'm sitting in this excavator and I'm slinging dirt, you know, and I'm just like blaring praise and worship music, just filled with the presence. I mean, hours later, and I was like, this is wild. Like I have never experienced this ever, you know. Like, I mean, you can't just like words can't describe it. Like it was it was crazy, and so um we're kind of like I'm and I'm texting back and forth with my buddy, and and we're like making plans for uh the the afternoon hunt, and uh I've got like one more dish to dig, and as soon as I get the dish dug, I'm jamming out, like we're gonna get in position like way early. And um, so we uh that's that's what that's exactly what happened, you know. Like I get finished up, it's probably like two o'clock, something like that. And I, you know, climbing my pickup and I I start jamming out towards this piece of property, just still, just still filled with the presence. And I'm like, now I'm like asking God, I'm like, God, why? Like, why I need some guidance here. Like, obviously, you're at work, but like, what do you want me to do? Like, what, why, you know? And uh, and I was I I was like, and that was my prayer like all day. I I mean I had been praying that and like asking for guidance and getting nothing like all day. I was just and I was like, oh, like obviously the Lord is at work, but like what is going on here? And finally, um, like kind of like as I got on my pickup to leave, I felt like the Lord gave me um the instructions to um essentially like pray for Garrett, specifically like out loud with him, pray for him before we went on our on our evening hunt. Yeah. And um, and that uh you know, like basically that was it, right? Like, you I want you to pray for him before you leave. And so I was like, okay, so um I'm like driving there and he's texting me, he's like, dude, the elk just popped out, like they're already on the move, like they're coming. He's like, I gotta get in position. And I'm like, no, no, like you gotta stay there, like stay there, like until I get there, like stay there. And he's like, Well, you better hurry up because like they're coming. And so I mean, I'm like flying, dude. I mean, like, the pickup is wooded, driving down the road, getting there. Like, I'm I mean, I was cruising getting there, and I, you know, turn off, drive up the road, and we get up there, kind of like to where the house was, and uh, because we always like parked at the house and then went down. And uh, as soon as I parked the pickup, like he's got all this stuff ready to go, you know, like he's grabbing his bow, he's ready to go. And um, we kind of like walked to the edge of the hill, and um I we would always sit up at the top of the hill and kind of like glass the glass the everything like down below you, like the whole we were like kind of on one knob, and you just would like look out over the this hillside that like laid out in front of us, and that that's where like the elk would come down, and that's where I was gonna stay was up there, and then the blind was kind of like down in the bottom of that. So um he was gonna go down and sit in the blind, you know. And the elk, there's like kind of like an old orchard, and the elk were just kind of like starting to feed out of the timber, and they were just kind of like staging up in that orchard up there on the neighbor's place before they drop down. And uh so I'd like to get there and like I had never prayed with him before ever. And so we we get like to the edge of the hill, and I was like, hey man, uh like it is it cool if I pray for you real fast, like before you go. And he's like, uh guess. I was like, okay, so you know, like I said a prayer, you know, just like just like a good hunter's prayer, right? Like, we've been hunting this bull, like we've tried everything on our own, like it's just not happening on our own. And uh just like, please help us, like let us like see your hand at work, you know, like, and if we get an opportunity, please, you know, let Garrett capitalize on it, like make it count, you know, like that, like that, that type of deal. Um, and finish a prayer up, and like the last thing I told him before he left the hill was I was like, hey, if you kill that bull, you have to come to church with me on Sunday morning. And he was like, I'll come to church on Sunday morning if I kill this bull. I was like, All right, dude. And so he goes bombing off the hill, um, and he goes down, gets in the blind, and uh so he's and it is pretty early. I mean, this is like maybe like I don't even know, four o'clock, and it doesn't get dark until like seven, and most of the time we don't like see the elk until like six type of a deal. Right. It's like real early, and so uh I'm sitting there and I hear another rig pull up, and it was it ended up being like my one of my other like really good friends who's his grandma is the one that owned the property, and so he he you know comes over and we didn't we hadn't talked. I didn't know he was gonna come up and go hunting because he he he was him and his brother were hunting up there too, but not like all the time, you know. Like they would hunt a day here and a day there. And so he comes up and uh he was like uh but you know, he as soon as he he walked down off the hill, he saw me, and so he walked over and he sat down next to me. He's like, What are you doing? I was like, Oh, I was like, I hate to break it to you, but like you can't go down there tonight. Like you gotta stay here. Like, and I kind of explained like the situation to him a little bit. I was like, you just stay here with me, and if they get around him, then we'll make a play on him type of a deal. And he's like, Yeah, that sounds good. So he was sitting with me, and um, you know, like it didn't take very long of like once once he was like down in the blind and kind of set up. I mean, it was almost immediately that the elk started filtering over the fence, you know, just like cow, cow, cow, cow. You can't take a break for your sick.

SPEAKER_01 32:23

Quick pause. So you okay. So you were talking about him showing up.

SPEAKER_00 32:29

Yeah. So my my old roommate, he he showed up. This is the property that I used to live on, by the way. Um, so my old roommate showed up and uh he, you know, sat down on the hill next to me, and and uh like still I am still like filled with despair. Like undeniably, I know something is going to happen. Like, without a shadow of a doubt. Like I knew for a fact he was gonna kill that bull. Um I knew, like, I I knew that he was gonna kill that bull. And uh so the elk, like they start jumping over the fence, and uh sure enough, like pretty soon didn't take very long. Here comes the bull, you know, he jumps over, and he's just screaming. Like, I mean, he is just up there in all of his glory, just chasing cows around, rutting cows, screaming. And uh, this was like one of those bulls that um like he didn't move he didn't do anything fast. Like this bull was like you would we spend hours upon hours upon hours watching this bull, and he may stand in one spot and just turn his head and look from side to side. He may do that for like 15 or 20 or 30 minutes at a time, like he was just like one of those big old bulls, like you always know a mature animal because they don't move quickly, like right, they don't do anything fast. No, everything they do is slow and methodical and kind of thought out, but he's like chasing, like he was there's definitely hot cows, like he was he was most definitely like rutting pretty hard, and uh so you know he's running cows around and he's bugling, and it's like I mean, I'm just like on pins and needles, and my buddy he uh like he'd never got to experience like any elk cutting like that at all before, and so he was like, This is crazy. I was like, Oh yeah, like this is what it's about, you know. And uh, so we're watching, and we're like, we are probably like 600 yards, maybe 700 yards from the elk, and the ground blind is probably like 500 yards from the elk, so they're not really like not that far away. Um and there was, I mean, there was like there's obviously a lot of elk, like it was it was a big herd. Um, and a lot of a lot of them were still up like in the orchard. Some of them were starting to like trickle down, but they're just kind of on this grassy hillside, just kind of spread out, feeding there's some apple trees on this grassy hillside. So the cows are just kind of spreading out, but it's like pretty obvious that they were not like coming down, they weren't gonna they were not coming down towards the fields yet. Like they were just kind of doing their elk thing, milling around. Yeah, and uh this bull was like running around for a while, and then uh he kind of like slowed down, and I even think he laid down for a little bit. Um and uh he got up at one point in time. He got up and he walked behind this tree and he disappeared from sight for a while, like a long time, to the point where I was like, Did I lose him? Like, is he like where did he go? Like, is he still there? Like, what's going on? And he he popped out from that tree, and he was walking straight down the hill. And mind you, like, this is in the afternoon, and the wind is blowing, like the we've got prevailing winds, and they are blowing straight to the south, and this ground blind is due north of the elk. Like, I mean, we have been through this scenario many, many, many times, and those elk where they were at 100% could smell down where the ground blind was. And like, I mean, it it is bit us in the butt so many times. We learned to like tee into them because they will smell you, like if they come out, like without a doubt, they're gonna smell you. And so the whole time I'm like, I mean, the wind is blowing directly from the ground blind, like right to the elk the whole time. And I'm going, you know, like that's not so good, but like at the same time, like I really like I had thought about it, but I wasn't like I I dude, I was still just like fired up, yeah. And so this bull leaves the herd of elk, like I all the cows, everything up there, leaves the entire herd of elk and walks an absolute straight beeline to the ground blind, like straight as an arrow, didn't stop, didn't waver, nothing, walks, just starts walking. And I'm giving I'm giving my buddy like I was like, dude, he's coming, like he is coming, like he's on a rope. I'm like 300 yards, 200 yards, 100 yards, and there's like one little one like fence line right on the edge of the field, and that bull stopped right on the uphill side of the fence, just let out this screaming bugle, like right towards us, pointed right towards us, just absolutely torches this bugle off, basically like right towards the ground line. Yeah, and then jumps the fence, and he I could not we we couldn't actually see in front of the ground line because like it was tucked back in the trees. So I watched this bull walk into like probably like 50 yards, and then I don't see anything. You losing losing. And but like, I mean, I sent one more text to my buddy, and I was like, Good luck, dude. Like, may the Lord bless you. And the bull walks out of sight, and pretty soon, you know, like it was not very long later that you hear you hear you like whack, and you know, bull never, never comes out, and I'm like losing it right now. I mean, like, I'm jumping up and down and losing it, losing it, and uh, you know, and then another arrow, whack, and then another arrow, whack, and this bull just like never shows up, you know. I can I can see in all directions, like yeah, bull's dead. And so my buddy calls me and he like he is losing it, dude. And he's like, the bull came into 20 yards, stopped perfectly broadside, I torched him, and he dropped dead in his tracks, like just died.

SPEAKER_02 39:02

And and remind me, where was the where did the first arrow hit him?

SPEAKER_00 39:05

The first arrow hit him, so he was the first arrow hit him basically like right in the shoulder. But but it was like it it was done.

SPEAKER_02 39:13

Like right, but like the fact, like, how many bowls do you know of that you got shot in the shoulder with a bow and just tipped over dead? Drop dead. I that's the only one I'm aware of, dude.

SPEAKER_00 39:24

Like, drop dead, and he shot it a couple more times just because it was like kicking around, you know. But um, yeah, like it was and so like we're freaking out, you know, right? And we go like piling down the hill, and we get down there, and you know, like wind blowing directly to the bull. Like the fact that it was just like there there was there were so many aspects that did not line up. Like a mature bull with a whole bunch of cows just leaves his cows and walks down the hill by himself, by himself, walks 20 yards in front of the blind and gets tatered.

SPEAKER_02 40:06

Like, yeah, with the wind blown tomb the whole time.

SPEAKER_00 40:08

With the wind blown to him the whole time. And when we walked up there, my friend was like just standing like above the bowl. And he kept saying, he's like, that never should have happened. Like, that never should have happened. Like, he just kept saying that over and over again. He's like, that never should have happened. And it was just like it was a crazy moment. Like, and for me, and as soon as like as soon as he shot the bull, like I felt the presence of the Lord, like the presence of the Lord left me at that point in time. Like it was like I was filled, I was filled with the fire up until like when he killed the bull, and then it left me. And I went down there and I was like, dude, I was drained from the whole just like the whole day, the whole experience, like everything that transpired. I was like, this is crazy. And so we like we kind of soaked it up. Like it was it took us a long time, like it was broad daylight when he shot the bull, and you know, like it was well into the night by the time we finished butchering it up. Like his wife came down, and I think maybe my wife might even come out, and uh just like I it we just had like a bunch of people there, and it was just like uh it was epic, like just an incredible, just like undeniable, just a phenomenal experience. And and and that was like that was kind of it. Like that was like uh that was the climax of uh that was like the ending of an error uh for me and like up there. Like that was yeah, that was it, and I was totally fine with it. Like it was just the whole experience, the whole story. Like I was incredibly happy that he was the one that was like there and shot that bolt, and just like the way everything unfolded. Like it was it was awesome, and uh it was like it was um it for me, it was an enormous, an enormous faith booster. Like just everything that transpired was like undeniably the Lord's fingerprints were all over it. And it was an incredible story. Like I was I just wanted to share it with everybody that I came across because it was I mean, just crazy.

SPEAKER_02 42:27

Yeah. Well, while you guys were both, I mean, while you when you came up to the bull, right? Did did either one of you acknowledge that like clearly the Lord's hands were at work here?

SPEAKER_00 42:39

I can't remember, but it was like I can't remember if we talked about it, but it was like apparent. Between the two of us, it was like apparent. And even like even like my roommate that was there and like got to watch the whole thing, dude, he was just like in disbelief. Yeah, and just like the emotion that was showed, he was he even made a comment. I think it was like that night, he was like, this was kind of like a special moment. Like this was I mean, it was it was crazy, man. Like just the presence that was there and just like the way that everything kind of transpired was pretty wild. And it I mean, it was just it was incredible. Like, probably like up to that point, like one of the most like one of the strongest testimonies for me that I had ever had was just like the whole the whole story and and just like hearing the Lord's voice and being obedient in that and then just being filled with the Spirit. Because like that had never happened to me outside of like like I said, like when I was in church, and it just like the way that the whole the whole thing just kind of like finished off. I mean, I was just like mind blown. And um he to kind of like wrap that up, like cause there's there's a little bit more to it. Um like and I and I debated like whether or not to share this, because like I don't know. He's probably gonna listen to this, right? And before you tell the rest of this, yeah. Have you ever has he ever heard your side of this? I don't think so. I've never told it to him. Not this, not not all, not all this. Yeah. Um and and like I said, like I don't I don't really know why I didn't tell him, to be honest with you. Like it's it's been such a he seems to be there for a lot of these type of events.

SPEAKER_02 44:49

Well this is yeah, for everybody listening, this is the same guy we talked about in the Bear Story in episode two.

SPEAKER_00 44:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:57

And um we never really talked about it. Uh and that's probably bad on me. But like the way that that finished out, right? Like, I um I think we killed that bull on a Friday. It's either a Thursday or a Friday. So there's a couple days before Sunday. And like I told him, I was like, dude, you gotta come to church. And he's like, Yeah, you know, I'll come to church. And uh I think Saturday night came and he was he texted me and he's like, hey, I think I'm gonna go goose hunting in the morning. And I was like, no, dude, like, you're coming to church. And he's like, no, it's like last day goose season. I'm gonna go goose hunting. And I was like, dude, you have to come to church. Like, you have to. And he's like, yeah, I don't know, maybe. And like I knew he wasn't gonna come, but like the next morning, like church came and he never showed up. And I was uh I was almost like I had the position where I was like almost I was super mad about it, and also like really disappointed because here I just experienced like this amazing, like in miraculous story that was like undeniably the Lord. And it was like the breakthrough, the break in my mind, it was like the breakthrough moment that I was waiting for for him. Like I figured surely after this, like he's gonna give his life to the Lord and like he's gonna start walking with the Lord, and like I'm gonna have my best friend, and he's gonna be just as rooted in the Lord as I am. Like in my mind, that's how it was going down.

SPEAKER_02 46:56

Right. But it was more I mean, it was more of a breakthrough moment for you than it was for him, right? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 47:02

I mean, looking back, looking back at it, yeah. And maybe it was a breakthrough moment for him.

SPEAKER_02 47:07

I don't know. Yeah, I guess it's true.

SPEAKER_00 47:08

It's entirely possible, yeah. But like he never showed up. And like from a from a purely selfish standpoint, like I got super angry. Like, I was very angry at him that he did not honor his commitment because here, like, I turned it all like all about myself, right? And I'm like, I just like gave him like the biggest bull that I'm probably ever gonna get the opportunity to hunt on my property. Like, this is what I'm thinking. I was like, right? Like, yeah, just totally flipped it around. And I was like, I was just in a horrendous mood, like bad mood at church, got home, was like pick a feist with my wife, and just like in a bad mood, you know, just like and I can't remember. I went outside and uh the Lord, like the Lord was like, Hey, I forgot. Like, is this about you or about me? Like, yeah, what's this really about? And I was like, like, and I I like I had to repent. I was like, okay, I'm like, I'm sorry, like, yeah, you're right. Like it the Lord's like, did you or did you not do what I asked you to do? I was like, I did what you asked me to do. He's like, Do you think that it's not like in my control? Right. I was like, Yes, it is in your control. He's like, okay, well then correct your attitude and move forward. Like you did your job, get over it. Right.

SPEAKER_02 48:30

Like, how many times, how many times does he say if he starts a good work, he will finish it. Right.

SPEAKER_00 48:36

Yeah. And so I was like, okay, like, got it. And so I, you know, like it it I I did. Like at that point in time, I was like, all right, you know, like you're right. It's an incredible story. Like, yeah, the fact that he didn't show up for the church, like doesn't negate the fact that uh doesn't take away from the rest of the story. No, definitely doesn't, right? Yeah, and everybody everybody encounters a Lord on their own playing field, right? So um yeah. So if you're listening to this, you still owe me church date, my friend. Pay up. But yeah, I mean it was and then it so that was that was in the fall, and then it was the following spring that the whole like bear thing happened. And yeah, so yeah, I don't know. To be honest, like we didn't really uh I don't we generally we spend like a whole bunch of time together. Yeah, I haven't really um I haven't really spent that much time with him this year just because we kind of each been going a little bit our own directions. And yeah, um he was he just started his own company, um, and so he's been working a whole bunch and uh you know like uh admittedly like we have not we haven't been like near and close as as close a contact as is like historically we have been. Yeah. Um so I like I don't know all the things that he's got going on in his life, but uh it was it was for me like it it like my own story that was um that was when like that was like the first hint of the like the Lord has used hunting in my own life. That was kind of like the first instance that the the Lord used like my hunting is somebody else's life, which ultimately like at the end of the day, that's kind of uh like what lit like the tiny little spark that essentially like ended up becoming this podcast, and we'll share that story tomorrow. Um that's perhaps the only other one that I have that's like more powerful of a hunting testimony than this bull story is the the one the one that we'll share in the next episode. So the episode after this, we're gonna share another story that's like equally is just incredible, but uh crazy experience for all of us, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 50:44

Yeah for sure for all parties involved in I think I think that your how you felt about like are you kidding me, man? Like I do all this for you, and you don't reciprocate that, yeah, right. I envision that being the same way that God feels about us, yeah, probably, right? Like, I give you you know a beautiful wife, a home to live in, a good job, you know, I ask you to do one thing and you can't do that. Yeah, you know, that's what what I've always kind of taken away from. Yeah, I never thought about that. One of the things I've always taken away from the story.

SPEAKER_00 51:20

I never thought about that, but yeah, you're probably right. Yeah, it uh yeah, I mean it was just like uh every hunting season since then it's just like a the Lord takes me like to the polishing stone, like the refining fire every year, and like every hunting season, um like it's such a precious thing to me, and I simultaneously experience um like I never get tempted as hard as I do, as I do during hunting season. Like the I when I go to the wilderness, I get tempted. Um like sometimes I fall, admittedly, like I'll fall sh I fall short. Yeah. Uh and like I know better, obviously. But at the same time, like I also experience um that's like when I experience like my greatest periods of growth is almost always during hunting season. Yeah. And that's like when I learn my most valuable lessons. It time time and time again. Like whether it's whether there's just been so many. Like every single year is just nothing but um lessons learned and incredible stories, an incredible breakthrough, um, and an incredible struggle at the same time. Like it it's just it is a constant, it's a constant thing. Like it and I think that probably goes for like most people that are passionate about the outdoors and also are passionate about God, you know, like it everybody talks about like going to the woods to like get like recharged, and um sometimes it feels like I go to the woods to wage war, like yeah it it it sometimes it's rough, like you you get there and you're like why am I here? You know, like this is terrible. And like at the at the same time, you know, that that that highlights something, generally speaking, at least in my own life, right? Like that highlights a problem. And there's something that the Lord like brings to the surface and brings to the table and is like, and and now like I I don't have like I don't I don't have any bad habits, uh like physical bad habits, right? Like I've I've weeded that out, and like my walk with the Lord now is better than it ever has been. Like I I feel like I have like a very strong like relationship and and an actual like an actual relationship with the Lord. Like we're on a to to on a day-to-day basis, like it brings me peace to know that I walk with him and I rely on him, and I he's a friend to me. Like he is more than just a supernatural power in the universe that I hope that someday when I die, I believe that someday when I die, like I'm gonna go to eternal life, right? Like that's that's one part of it. Like, don't get me wrong. That's at its shallowest level, that is why we why we believe in God, right? Yes and no. Beyond that, though, like what I experience now is like an actual, I view the Lord as a friend. Right. Just as much, if not more, than my savior. Like, obviously, he is my savior, like he saved me from myself and my life, right? Like, for all intents and purposes, I should be dead or in jail. Like one of the two, no questions about it. Like, I did a pretty good job of throwing my life away. He saved me from that. But like, it's it's become so much more than that to me now, right? Like, it it he's ever present in everything that I do. And it it has been such a powerful thing for me and a walk that I've walked. Like it it truthfully, I don't know. I I don't I don't know, I can't even envision my life without my relationship with the Lord at this point in time. Like, I wouldn't want it any other way than that.

SPEAKER_02 55:39

No, there's no direction.

SPEAKER_00 55:40

No, right? There's no nothing, there's no purpose. Well, right, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 55:44

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 55:44

Yeah. So I mean, I guess like to sum it up, like we could, we could continue to talk forever. But um, you know, like that kind of, and we'll like there's more stories, like we'll we'll share more stories. We can't tell everything all at one time, otherwise it'd be pretty short podcast. But uh, you know, like it, it, it uh yeah. I mean, I guess that's like that's kind of my testimony. That's kind of my story, you know. Like, that's kind of like the highlight reel of my life, if you will, I guess, both the highs and the lows.

SPEAKER_02 56:12

But yeah, yeah. It's not easy like getting vulnerable, right? Throwing it all out there. No, but I don't think there's a lot of I don't think there's a lot of growth that happens without that to some extent. For sure. Both for yourself and others, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:28

Well, and sugar coating it, like at this point in time, like along the lines of like walking with the Lord, like it I'm pretty ashamed, like when I look back. Like occasionally I'll run into somebody who doesn't know me now, and they're like, hey, remember when we did X, Y, and Z? Like that was crazy, that was awesome. Those are some of the best days of my life. And I think to myself, I'm like, man, I am deeply, deeply ashamed of those days. Like, I hope those are not the best days of your life, because if those were the best days of your life, like you got nothing to look forward to. You need to you need to find the Lord, my friend. Like, and that's the that's the power of like our individual testimonies, right? Like, and everybody reaches different people. Um, and like as outdoorsmen, like there's a lot of people that fundamentally believe in God and are like have some spiritual connection to the outdoors, right? Like, it's it's almost impossible to spend any time in the outdoors without realizing that there is some kind of a special spiritual connection there, right?

SPEAKER_02 57:31

This was all created with some some design, right?

SPEAKER_00 57:35

But by and large, like, and we talked about this earlier, that like the outdoors is kind of like a um a selfish pursuit, but like it's kind of like a what's the word I'm like a lonesome, um it's kind of like something that you seek in solitude a lot of times for most people, right? Yeah, or or like a very small group of people, right? Yeah. And I think that there's a lot of outdoorsmen that that like passionate outdoorsmen that on some fundamental like level believe in a God and believe something like in in the powers of like the realm of the spiritual, but they don't like they don't have like a working relationship with the Lord, right? And I hope that by like sharing my story, maybe that motivates somebody and like to start like ask themselves the question, you know, like it what's the purpose of like what I'm doing? And like, is there what's it like to have a relationship with the Lord, you know? Because like sound, I like it. I wouldn't have it any other way, yeah. And I know you're the same way, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 58:40

And you're the way that you describe that as a as a relationship with the Lord is important, right? Yeah, I mean it's it's everything, yeah. And and from the outside looking in, like I still have people ask me this today, you know, it's it's a religion, right? Yeah, and and at the end of the, I mean, yeah, I guess you could call it that. People will say, Are you religious, right? And I and I'm often like, I wouldn't I don't consider myself religious. I consider myself uh having a relationship with Christ. For sure, right?

SPEAKER_00 59:09

And there is a key difference there.

SPEAKER_02 59:11

Absolutely, right? It's not it's not all rules and fire and brimstone. That's not yeah, it's a it truly is a relationship. It is a relationship, it's the only thing that he wants to know us on a fundamental best friend level, yes, right? Uh 100. Just like you and I know each other, but to a much, much, much deeper level, obviously. Yes, and you know, we were just reading this in in Matthew this morning, you know, when when he talks about when Jesus in the um sermon on the mount, right, he says, I I never knew you, right? Yeah, he doesn't say you never followed my rules, yeah. He says you never knew me. Yeah. Or I never knew you. Yeah. Right. There's a like you said, there's a key difference there.

SPEAKER_00 59:56

That is the key difference, yeah, right. And I think that a lot of people get stuck in the weeds of religion, of like I don't go to church because they tell me that I can't do X, Y, and Z. Right. Or I don't go to church because like those people are hypocrites. And to some degree, like, that's true. Yeah. Like, church is full of sinners. Like that's why they're there. Yeah. But there's a I think, well, it's no different than like, I mean, Jesus very he spoke very openly about uh his opposition to the Pharisees, and why was that? Like the Pharisees kept all the rules, but like Christianity and having a belief in God is not about following rules, it's about it's it is, it's it is about the relationship, like that is the only thing that matters, and so you know, like I I uh yeah, I mean I I want everybody to have that relationship, like and and experience that because it until you experience it, like try it. I I I dare you try it and see if your life does not improve on every level.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:05

I don't know a person that that has honestly like tried it, quote unquote. Yes, and like actually tried it, yeah, like per truly wholeheartedly have a relationship with Christ that has not had drastic changes in their lives for the better, for sure, for the better.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:23

100%, yeah, 100%. If you want a better relationship with your wife, if you want a better career, if you want more money, if you want X, Y, and Z, you name it, if you want that area of your life improved, come to the cross and try it. Like we are we are testaments, we are living proof. Where we came from is not where we are now. Not even close. No, for sure. Not even close.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:51

I think that's a good place to end it.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:53

Yeah, I think that's a good a good thought to take home.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:58

Yeah, just think about it. Next time you're in the woods, why would the Lord throw you a bone if you're acting in disobedience? Knowingly acting in disobedience.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:08

Ask yourself that question and then use that as a tool to seek him and to start improving your life. Use the outdoors as that as that leverage. Use the outdoors as that leverage. Yep. It works. Yep. And you want to close us in prayer? Yeah, I do. Father who is in heaven, I just thank you for today, Lord. Once again, I just thank you for this opportunity for me and Nick just to sit down and uh I just thank you so much for your grace and your mercy, God. And I thank you uh that you do show up uh when we call on you, Lord. And I thank you that um you change our lives for the better, God. I thank you that you just pull us out of the muck and the mire and that you set us on the solid rock, God. And uh Lord, I just ask that you would um just help us to grow our relationship with you, grow our friendship with you, God. Help us to just be um strong leaders, Lord, that we would stand in faith and that our lives, the lives that we lead, would just be undeniable when people look at us, that they would see something's a little bit different, and that we would just um share your word, Lord, and share our stories, right? Like that's what we're doing here. You give us our testimonies for a reason, God, so that we can impact people. Help us to just be bold and courageous and share those. And uh we just thank you so much for who you are and everything that you do in our lives, God. I just ask that you would uh be with us today and uh be with each and every individual that uh may ever listen to this, God. Let it tug at their heart and let it motivate them. And uh we just speak life into everybody that listens to it, Lord. May you bless them abundantly. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Boom. I like that one.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:06

Yeah. That was good stuff.