Rabbit Boxes!

The guys at my church had a great little event for the little guys this week. They helped all the boys build cedar rabbit boxes. A rabbit box is a wooden trap to catch anything that that will crawl into it and try eat whatever bait you have in there. The door stays open until there is a critter caught. I'm in an Army school at FT Bragg until February so I couldn't be there to help but my buddy Jeremy sent these great photos. They used the traps to teach the boys a lesson from proverbs. I talked to my son, Jack, last night and asked him about the trap. He said he was going to catch some squirrels and some rabbits. When asked what he would do with his prey he said, "Well, if I catch some squirrels I'll let them go, but if I catch some rabbits I'll kill them and skin them and make a hat and some stew." I can't wait for that one! I'd like to thank all the men at Cornerstone Baptist church. You have all been instrumental in helping father my son while I am often gone serving our country. I am so grateful that my friends have come along side my son to provide some amazing teaching moments for him. Thanks especially to Gary Mosely who every week takes a few hours to mentor all the little guys in our church. Now all we need to do is catch a few rabbits!

Stinky Boy and the Scent Rule

Stinky Boy and the Scent Rule


I was sitting in my hunting blind when I heard what I thought was that familiar sound. The crunch of leaves and twigs under the hoof of a deer. I readied my bow and prepared myself to draw. I sat there for several minutes and finally decided that because it was still very early in the season my ears had not yet been fully calibrated to detect the sounds of woodland critters. The curiosity killed me, so I quietly leaned forward to take a peek out the side window of the blind. BUSTED!!! There she was, a big, fat doe peering into the blind where I sat. I don’t know who was more surprised, she or I. I could almost see my reflection in her big, brown glossy eyes. She nearly tripped over her own hooves as she ran away. The last thing I saw was her long white tail waving back and forth. As she faded into the forest, she made a loud blowing noise as if to tell all the other deer that stinky man in the camo tent-thingy was in the woods. I was quickly reminded of one of deer hunting’s biggest rules: the scent rule. I was reminded again a week or so later when I heard another deer blowing after it winded me. As it ran off blowing, reminding all that lived in the forest that “stinky boy” was back; I couldn’t help but drop my head in frustration.

We hunters stink! We literally stink. A deer’s nose is hundreds of times better at detecting scent than a human’s nose is. There are those that say that deer hunting is not fair and I would agree. God gave deer such a good sniffer that it is not at all fair to the hunters that pursue them. All hunters sooner or later learn about the scent rule. The sooner we learn it, and what to do about it, the sooner we can get down to the business of filling our freezers.

Hunters try to pull the wool over the deer’s nose, so to speak, by using a variety of products to eliminate or cover our scent. Each year hunters spend millions of dollars on gels, powders, wafers, drips and sprays containing everything from earth scent to fox pee. We rub on these scents and secretions in our quest to outsmart the nose of a deer and hopefully get within range of a big buck. We wash our bodies in special soaps. We buy dryer sheets that smell like dirt. And it’s of vital importance to wash our hunting attire in a detergent that eliminates our human foulness.

After that second deer winded me, while I was vowing under my breath to get even, I couldn’t help but think about sin and how sin stinks up our lives. Sin hurts us, and others, it wreaks havoc in our lives and our world, and most of all sin’s putrid fragrance taints our lives by separating us from God. However, just like there’s a solution to the scent problem in deer hunting, there’s a solution to the stench of sin in our lives too. Fortunately for us, God loved us so much that he gave us a solution in His son Jesus Christ. Jesus shed his blood to save us from our sins. The Bible tells us that “love covers a multitude of sins,” and I can’t think of any greater love than the love that Jesus displayed for us on the cross. Therefore, to cover up sin’s terrible odor one must accept God’s gift of his son, Jesus. Once someone becomes a believer asking Jesus to be Lord and Savior of their life, God surely smiles when He takes a wiff of their new lives. 2 Corinthians 2:15 even says “for to God we are the fragrance of Christ.”

If you don’t know Him already, become friends with the greatest hunting companion one could ask for – Jesus. If you are already a follower or Christ, thank him the next time you are spraying on some type of cover scent or washing your camo preparing it for the next hunt. I just bet if you think about it long enough, you’ll even hear that old hymn playing in your mind. “Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb, are your garments spotless, are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb.” I’ll never hear, or sing that song the same way again.

Jeremy B. Harrill

Now that's a nice deer!

Wow! Shane Brock went up to Ohio to go deer hunting this year but had to come all the way to his back yard to fin this monster. I talked to Shane today and we talked about going hunting but he said he'd rather film now! I can see why, this is one nice deer. It measured 18" outside to outside. It was taken in Cleveland NC right near Shane's house. Way to go Shane, he's a beauty and we are all envious. By the way while Shane was up in Ohio on a hunting vacation he helped some folks with some projects around their house instead of hunting one day. It really is more blessed to give than to receive and you do reap what you sow......Awesome!

Post hunt commentary

Today Mark and I went hunting at his grandfather's farm in Rowan CO NC. We were in an elevated blind in a stand of pines. It was cold and it seems the pre-rut movement is starting to come in. There are rubs on Mark's place. The deer in the video came in at 8:24 this morning. Its our last few days of bow hunting before muzzle loading season comes in. It was cold this morning, about 30. Mark made a clean shot, the deer only ran about 30 yards or so. It was a heart shot. The impact video isn't as good on the web, but I'm making Mark a DVD when I get back from my conference for the Army. Hope you like the commentary, we had a great time this morning. Thanks to Mark for taking me with him. Thanks to God for a day in the woods!

I will be out of the loop for the next ten days with Army business. If you get photos of deer send them to me and I'll post them on the blog!

By the way, to all my Army guys, sorry for the facial hair!

Mark hits the target!

All Ye!

Found this guy on God Tube! His name is Coffey Anderson. I know its not a hunting video but it is a glorious song of praise to the God who created us to hunt. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I found myself singing it in the woods this morning!

We Happy Few

Once more, lend a mythic eye to your situation. Let your heart ponder this:

You awake to find yourself in the middle of a great and terrible war. It is, in fact, our most desperate hour. Your King and dearest Friend calls you forth. Awake, come fully alive, your good heart set free and blazing for him and for those yet to be rescued. You have a glory that is needed. You are given a quest, a mission that will take you deep into the heart of the kingdom of darkness, to break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron so that your people might be set free from their bleak prisons. He asks that you heal them. Of course, you will face many dangers; you will be hunted.

Would you try and do this alone?

Something stronger than Fate has chosen you. Evil will hunt you. And so a Fellowship must protect you.

Honestly, though he is a very brave and true Hobbit, Frodo hasn’t a chance without Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. He will need his friends. And you will need yours. You must cling to those you have, you must search wide and far for those you do not yet have. You must not go alone. From the beginning, right there in Eden, the Enemy’s strategy has relied upon a simple aim: Divide, and conquer. Get them isolated, and take them out.

You see this sort of thing at the center of every great story. Dorothy takes her journey with the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Lion, and of course, Toto. Maximus rallies his little band and triumphs over the greatest empire on earth. When Captain John Miller is sent deep behind enemy lines to save Private Ryan, he goes in with a squad of men. And, of course, Jesus had the Twelve. This is written so deeply on our hearts: You must not go alone. The Scriptures are full of such warnings, but until we see our desperate situation, we hear it as an optional religious assembly for an hour on Sunday mornings.

Imagine you are surrounded by a small company of friends who know you well (characters, to be sure, but they love you, and you have come to love them). They understand that we are all at war, know that the purposes of God are to bring a man or woman fully alive, and are living by sheer necessity and joy in the Four Streams. They fight for you, and you for them. Imagine you could have a little fellowship of the heart. Would you want it, if it were available?

That is our destiny.

Text from Waking the Dead by John Eldredge

Roscoe’s Song

Roscoe’s Song by Jeremy Harrill

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful songs.

Psalm 100:2

Contrary to popular belief, hunting is about much more than the kill. It’s about getting to watch creation wake up in the morning, the smell of the woods, the peace, the challenge and thrill of the chase, and as I discovered recently, it’s also about the music too. Yes, the music.

I’ve never been accused of being a great hunter. I’m sure that my name never comes up when hunters are discussing the “great ones”, and deer and turkeys definitely do not tremble at the sound of my name. But I do love to hunt. I’ve hunted nearly everything that can be hunted here in NC with only a few exceptions. Recently, I tried something new. A type of hunting that I’d never done before; coon hunting.

When pursuing most game critters, hunters by day stalk or set up and wait for their quarry to pass by. But coon hunting is different. Coon hunters hunt at night and they use dogs to find their prey. The coonhounds sniff out and chase the coon, eventually (and hopefully) up a tree and then the coon hunters move in. It was very different than any type of hunting I was used to.

We met after dark: three friends and me, along with my son, Cade. The coonhound, named Roscoe was let out of the dog box on the back of the truck and he instinctively knew that it was “showtime.” With nose to the ground old Roscoe was gone in a flash. We just stood there. It seemed odd. We stood there and quietly talked about life, and suddenly, my friend, Levy said, “listen!” And I did. There it was…the music. Roscoe was on the trail and the chase was on. A few minutes later, Levy said, “Roscoe’s got one up a tree.” Roscoe’s long, deep bark was a sweet song. A melodious tune that was easy on the ears. His song was a song of anticipation, excitement, success and even praise. A song orchestrated and sung just for us - one that would even make Heart of David jealous. It was sweet to our ears and to our soul.

We made our way to the tree. I just stood there and looked at Roscoe and listened to his song a little longer. And it was good.

Finally, we let my son Cade take aim with his BB gun and fire the shot heard ‘round the world. I don’t know if his shot came within 50 feet of that old coon, but we celebrated like he had made the shot of a lifetime. And he was proud – and so was I. Coon hunting was cool, and I liked it (I’m sure my wife would really love to hear that cause she knows I need something else to hunt and another dog to feed). Coon hunting was also different than any hunting that I was accustomed to.

In our walk with God, how often do we do something different? How often do step out of our normal ways of doing things. Do we get out of our comfort zone and share the Good News with someone at work or in the woods. How often do we intentionally hang out with or start a friendship with an unbeliever. Do we try new ways to minister and reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Going on that coon hunt reminded me of something the HOS fellas have been talking about a lot lately: being creative, thinking outside the box and being intentional about reaching people. Doing something different and trying something new can be especially good. Try it…who knows, you might hear that sweet music. A song like Roscoe’s, a song of excitement, success and praise – a song about one sinner who repents.

“…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:10

Solunar Hunting and Fishing tables for October

I don't know if this is useful, but it might prove to be a psychological advantage. The weather is getting cool and critters should be moving soon. I suppose alot of us will be out in the woods this weekend. I know I'm going both tomorrow, Saturday and Monday. Good luck everybody. Mark Ridenhour and I were commenting on how much closer we sense God is to us when we're in the tree stand. I pray that is the case for all of us.

The Redneck Champ!

Kirk got goosed

Here are some great shots from Kirk Fessler's Goose hunt. He won the trip at our "biggest dadgum outdoor bazaar in Cleveland ever" bizarre bazaar. Now that's a mouthful. Way to go Kirk, looks like you had a great time! Looks like the Christmas goose is ready to go as well.

My Way News - Christian Activist Killed in Gaza

Just a reminder that in many places throughout the world, its dangerous just to be a Christian. The problem with murdering Christians for mission work is that it rarely has the desired effect of the perpetrator. Intimidation and threats of violence meant to silence believers many times only fuels our devotion to God and thus fuels His work in and around us. As history has proven the blood of the saints is the seeds of new churches. Keep an eye on Gaza. We pray today and give thanks for this brave follower of Jesus who in the face of numerical superiority chose to fol ow His God and took the path of most Resistance. We pray for his family who at this moment grieve and we pray for the Gospel to spread in Gaza and that many Arabs would find peace in the name of Jesus.

My Way News - Christian Activist Killed in Gaza

Redneck In Action!

The Redneck Olympics is complete and we have a winner!

Well the Redneck Olympics is over and we have a winner...everyone who came out. What a great day it was! The event kicked off at 2:00 and closed about 7:30 last night. Over 40 competitors ran through the the hay bale hurdle, the BB gun illegal dear shoot, trespass fence sign, corn drag, Hillbilly horseshoe, toilet bowl fishing toss, tractor tire roll and RC Cola and Moon Pie chug and stuff! It was amazing. Some great prizes were given away and its a shame everyone can't win, but thats the way the moon pie crumbles. Thanks go out to a cast of thousands that helped put on the event. Without the help of so many it could not have happened. Thanks to Gnader Mountain, Bass Pro Shops, Bow Tech Bows, West Rowan Bow Hunters, Orvis, Lowes, Allison Racing and all our sponsors. Man isn't just cool saying that you have sponsors! Now thats as redneck as it gets. All in all a great day. I've put pictures on here for you to view and videos will be coming shortly. Thanks again!

Jack turns 9 years old!

My son Jack will be 9 on Monday. Wow, how did that happen. He used to crawl around on the floor and and soil his diapers, now he plays football, reads big sentences and goes hunting with his daddy. Time sure does fly. Tammy and I gave him his first real compound bow for his birthday this year. Its a Bear Whitetail JR. Its a powerful little bow, not a toy. Its his first real "man" thing. Its hard for him to pull back. But with practice he'll be nailing bulls eyes before we know it. I love archery. After work I'll put my target out in the yard and stick arrows till dark. Jack has been my arrow retriever for some time now, but as of today we both can shoot. I'm looking forward to the next few years as Jack grows taller and stronger as he approaches manhood. I suspect like every dad I want to be a good father, to teach him how to be a man, a good honest man, who works hard, but most of all a man who follows hard after God and really lives life the way God intended.

^22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

^23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;

get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

^24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;

he who has a wise son delights in him.

^25 May your father and mother be glad;

may she who gave you birth rejoice!

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Pr 23:22-25). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

The pictures above are from our Montana buddy Ted Allison who treated us to dinner at his home when we were there back in August. I'm not sure how to describe what a great person Ted is. He and his family live on 128 acres about an hour from any town in central Montana. They homeschool their kids and he and his dad build log homes together. Ted has been bow hunting for a long time and these pictures are just an example of what hard work at hunting can produce. That bull will feed his family all winter long. Ted we thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us and we all here in NC are so proud to know you and we thank God for your friendship. Thanks again for sharing these photos with us and all my best to you and your family. Please give the folks at Central Baptist Church our best as well. We love you all.

Big Time Dove Hunt

Dove Hunting is a great Southern tradition. It’s a good hunting experience for kids too. You don’t have to be still like in a deer stand. The kids can pretty much run around and play to their hearts content. Then when the birds are flying they get to be “bird dogs” and retrieve them. Jack got to retrieve his first dove yesterday. We had a great time and I shot a lot of shells and there were very few birds that were in danger. My shooting skills have diminished; it is indeed a perishable skill. We had Dads and sons and daughters on our hunt. Special thanks to Scott Isley and Jeremy Harrell for setting it up. The weather was perfect and the birds were numerous. All in all a great day!

Dove Hunt on Monday

Monday afternoon there will be a dove hunt. If you are interested in going we meet at Cornerstone in Cleveland NC at 4:00. If displayed a picture of my dove gun with all its cool accessories. Notice the target recognition book, that is must for every dove hunter. I went into the woods for the first time yesterday to scout my deer location. I had my new Wal-Mart ghillie suit on, you know the one that makes you look like a brier patch. It was hot, but it sure was good getting back in the woods. I didn't wee anything but rumor has it there was a 7 pointer spotted on our property just a few days ago. With the weather changing this should be a good weekend to see some stuff.

An Event of Olympic Proportions!

In three weeks an event of epic proportions will take place in the thriving metropolis of Cleveland NC. Yes its the 1st annual Redneck Olympics. Competitors are feverishly training at this posting for what could be a sports mega event. So set your calendars for October 6th and get to training. We have unbelievable prizes to give away. The entry fee itself is a pittance sum compared to the array of winnings that are offered. We have two tickets to the Charlotte Nextel Cup race on October 13th, a brand new Bowtech bow, a complete Orvis fly fishing outfit. and much much more. So bring your kids, your enthusiasm, your ibuprofen and your oil of wintergreen and we'll see you at the 1st Annual Redneck Olympics. Maybe you'll make a friend or two while your there and we'll be glad to see you. For more information go to www.cornerstonenc.org

Hunting Forums

Hunting Forums
Had a comment posted on our blog by the moderator from the above web site. I found that it had some interesting threads. Seems like a great site.

Hunting Season is upon us!

Well you are here! Its the official Heart of the Sportsman web log. I encourage all of you to send me stuff to post here. Stories and pictures are key. We can promote the ministry here and its a good place to get lots of information out. I'll be writing some devotional stuff here for us and hopefully you'll tune in and give a "rats rip" about it. Ask the Montana guys about Rats Rip.

So send your stuff to me via email an we'll get it on here.

Here's what happened to me today


I went out to my farm with Keith Sell today and found that someone had stolen my and Robbie's ground blinds right off my property. It must be hunting season! I'll be making natural ground blinds this year, hard to steal those.

We trekked around the property dodging spider webs and trying to dodge the heat...wow was it hot and humid. Keith's deer stand was in tact, thieves were probably too lazy to steal it. We cut some good shooting lanes for the stand. Last year 6 deer and 1 antler were taken from our property. If you haven't heard the antler story read my other blog from last December.
www.chaplainbrad.blogspot.com

Bow season starts in just a few weeks and I can sense the anticipation of cool fall evenings and brisk early mornings. Its hard to put that into reality with the weather we've had lately. The heat has driven all the deer to being late night movers. I'm looking forward to those first few fall fronts that pass through bringing on that cool crisp air. Till then we'll swelter.

Anticipation is a good thing. It means we have hope for something. Without hope, we lose heart and when we've lost heart we've lost it all. I eagerly hope for the prospects of a good hunting season. I look forward to all the times of fellowship we'll have in the woods. Its not happening now, now I'm hot and sweaty, but its coming.

Anticipation for God to break through is a lot like that. Sometimes we are in that place of stagnet, stale, humid, sweltering doldrums of a spiritual dog day summer, but God doesn't leave us there. The front is pushing through, driving out the staleness and bringing refreshment.

We know fall is coming, we know hunting season is coming. We can't see it yet except for on the calendar. We have the memories of the seasons past, so we anticipate what is coming. Lets make our walk with God the same way. We should be filled with anticipation for what God is going to do.

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation"
Psalm 5:3