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Finally! We got some pictures of Ruthi with her twin cousins at the same time! We got together at Em and James last night to get individual and group pictures of the girls. Below are some of the results. You can see more at Emerson and Stella’s Blog. They’re the cutest girls ever!

I was walking the woods of my hunting grounds today looking for shed antlers and signs of early year deer movement. I had initially trekked out to take down my ground blind that had been up since October and was happy to find it was still in great shape even with all the wild weather we’ve had this year. Anyway, I was on the last leg of my jaunt and saw something bright white sticking up from the leaves. I ran to it with a pretty good idea of what it was and was shocked to find the skull and headgear of the bruiser buck I had a few encounters with in the early fall and could never get a shot on him. The bones and carcass were nowhere to be found and I deduced that he had to have been taken around mid-November in relation to the times I had sat and walked in that exact spot and he was nowhere to be found.

Dad and I saw this buck a combined 4 times during bow season. The first time I was hunting by myself and he approached and gave me a broadside showing at 28 yards. I drew my bow on him only to have him bound off through the woods. Must have heard me draw. I was sick over it then, knowing how large he was. Dad saw him once out of shooting range and I saw him 2 other times with smaller bucks.

We figure someone made a poor shot and wounded him and his head was drug to the spot I found it, or the carcass was drug off by coyotes. Either way, you’ll see form the pics below, he was a giant. Hopefully he spread his genetics before he met his end. We were really hoping to get another crack at him this fall. Happy to say he’ll be mounted european style and hung on my wall.

Ryan and I were talking about tv and media and our kids the other day. He wrote a good thought provoking blog about it. I’d encourage you to check it out and leave feedback here: Akers Blog

Saturday, the 1st. My Dad, my good buddy Ralph Fox and me went to Columbia for the Missouri Deer Classic. It’s sort of a trade show where different outfitters, retail stores, and inventors get to show off their best stuff, along with taxidermists, Missouri Bowhunters Association, the Conservation Dept, and of course, some of the freak nastiest bucks you’ve ever seen.

Also there was Missouri native Jay Gregory from the outdoor show The WIld Outdoors. I’m sure many of you care not about my relationship with hunting OR Jay Gregory, but it was cool to meet him nonetheless. He was a super guy and we actually got to talk for several minutes as it wasn’t very crowded when we were there. He also autographed poster for Ruthi (she loves their turkey hunting episodes).

Here’s a list of some of my favorite new items/sites and creations I found:
Missouri Bowhunters
Yellow Yelper
Summit Archery
The NEW Mathews DXT
Command The Wild (Turkey Calls)
Bass Pro’s King of Bucks

Ruthi loves the little quarter rides at Wal-Mart, but it might be safe to say that her favorite is the Mighty Mouse one. Every time we get by the checkouts she says “Moouuse, Moouussee!!!” Bran occasionally keeps a couple of quarters handy if she’s behaved well during our shopping experience. I managed to get a few pics of her enjoying herself after the ride stopped. Our baby is turning into such a bright and beautiful little girl! We love it!

I recently decided to expand my reading topics from ministry and personal growth areas to my favorite hobby area. Most of you who keep up with our family know how much I love to hunt, especially with a bow. For several years now, I’ve received subscriptions to Guns & Ammo magazine as well as Peterson’s HUNTING magazine. A few months ago, I was challenged by a friend to start expanding my reading from magazine style to books, attempting to further my knowledge and passion by learning from others. A few weeks ago, I finished a book by Steve Chapman, titled “A Look at Life from a Deer Stand.”

Interestingly enough, the book was as much about life and a passion for living and passing important truths on to family as it was to deer hunting. For instance, where many hunters are so gung ho over the approaching season, they quickly abandon their wife and children to pursue game (often using the need for table fair as an excuse for neglect). Besides, while venison is some of the most healthy meat for consumption, if we considered the cost of our gear, practice and preparation, and time spent in the woods, the final cost per pound would be exorbitant. Not to mention the hunters who hunt year after year without bagging anything!

My poor dad has hunted the past 3 deer seasons without taking a deer! Trust me, it’s not for lack of trying. He hunted religiously with me this year and passed on a couple of does early in the season knowing that I had seen a giant the first week of October. As it turned out, he NEVER got a shot at a deer, buck or doe, from late September through December! Anyway, I’ll look forward to posting more about the books I’m enjoying both from personal and ministry perspectives, as well as a hobby perspective.