The Beauty in the Struggle

This is the story of six young men who journeyed out with their bows and arrows and six tags to fill. These brave souls didn't know the land nor the adversity ahead. However, the Mule Deer knew it well. It was their home... their turf. And they let us know.

"Deer: 2 and Kyle:0"

Years ago my brother-in-law, before he was my brother-in-law, invited me and few other friends on an adventure out West. A trip that would turn into an annual tradition.

Six of us were able and willing, so we headed out. My brother-in-law was the only one of us who had been to this area before. So before we left, he sent us a pinned location in the middle of nowhere and we went.

When we arrived, it was late at night and the South Dakota stars were shining bright overhead as we set up camp. Everyone was wired with anticipation for the morning. We struggled to find sleep... at first from excitement and then from the cold that filled the tent we were staying in.

There's an exciting and almost eerie feeling about setting up at night and knowing that in the morning it will feel like you landed on a new planet. When morning came, the crisp morning air showed our puffing breaths. The sunlight revealed a golden prairie with hills and cuts for miles. This would be our home for four days.

Every day we walked many miles and looked through the glass until our eyes watered. During the day, we sweat at the brow, peeled layers and reached for empty water bottles. By night, we shivered and slept close to each other to keep warm. It made me think of those who lived in the elements of the South Dakota before our time, before modern technology. It's important to look back and remember.

It was humbling to see how crafty these deer were on their land. They managed to smell, see, or sense our presence with every stalk. Just as we thought we knew how to close the distance, they showed us another method of escape. We learned the hard way that getting within 100 yards of these animals was obtainable, but near impossible to get within archery range and get a shot off. But at the end of each day, the fellowship of brothers, amazing food, and stories of the day boosted the morale and refueled us for the next day of possibilities. Finally, my brother-in-law was able to harvest a mule deer doe on the last full day of hunting.

Nature has a gravity that hunters and outdoorsmen can't resist. We ache to return to the place that humbles us, because in the morning, that same merciless land reveals its truest self. Beautiful golden grass meets the early orange sun and fades into a bright blue sky. The world wakes up right before our eyes. Somehow through all the hardships, struggles and countless failed attempts, the beauty and serenity of that moment shines through.