Persistence and Patience

Recently I have started seriously archery hunting. The bow and arrows I am using I purchased almost 10 years ago. They have sat in my parents garage until last year. Getting them out a year ago is about all I did. I shot it a bit but did not do any hunting, mainly because I had a new job and did not have many places I knew of close by to go.

A year later a year smarter has allowed me to do some hunting. Whenever I am out I am so thankful to be able to do so, even though I have picked one of the most difficult quarry to get with a bow... the pronghorn antelope.

They don't call them speed goats for nothing. These critters are fast and spooky. Getting withing 100 yards of them is a feat in itself. They like the open country so it is almost impossible to stalk up to them. 

On Wednesday I did. I got to within 150 yards and then let them close the distance, which they did, but the big buck was at 70 yards and I did not feel comfortable at that range. They spooked and ran off.  I met them at the other end of the valley and had them within 100 yards as they crossed a creek.

Yesterday instead of chasing, I sat and waited. I knew about where they were going to go, but I did not know when. Well, after 4 hours of sitting and waiting they came. They went right were I thought they would. Problem was, they didn't stop. The herd sprinted past me, 20 yards away, and I never got a shot. I could smell their distinctive antelope smell as their breeze blew by me. There were some stragglers that started me. I almost got a shot off, but I arrow fell off my rest. 

Needless to say, I have learned a lot this week about archery hunting and antelope hunting. Hopefully my patience and persistence will pay off, but if not, that's cool too. The experiences and views have been worth it. 

Peace all

Can't Sleep

Maybe it is because I do not have bats flapping over my head or the sound of other guys snoring... whatever it is I cannot sleep. I woke up two hours ago and here I sit at 5 a.m.... blogging. 

I did not write much over the summer. Being a full time camp councilor did not allow me many chances to put my thoughts down in writing. Each new day held new challenges so there was not much point on dwelling on things.

One post I did write over the summer was commented on. That does not happen often. The funny thing for me is it almost makes me feel validated as a Catholic blogger. The commenter is what I like to call a "Rad-Trad" or a radical-traditionalist who hates the Second Vatican Council and how it changed the Church. It's quite interesting what she posted, or most likely copied and pasted off of a website. 

Anyway... Vatican II was not the problem, it was the implementation and down right horrible understanding of Vatican II that has lead to so many problems in our Church. Almost all the bishops in the world could not be heretics. Their thoughts were great but their follow through was abysmal. 

Any-who... my summer is over.  It was a great summer and I feel blessed beyond belief for the friends that I made this summer and the youth that I got to interact with. 

Now for a new year of new and exciting changes and challenges!

Peace all!