The twigs snapped under my feet. The branches sway out of the way as I walked forward towards the deer stand. The flashlight guided my way closer to the stand. The anticipation of the hunt is high with the hopes of getting that big buck during bow season.
Each step up the ladder was silent not to disturb nature. The sunrise peaks behind the pine trees to the east. Slowly, the light traces the vegetation below the deer stand. Quietly, I breathe. I am patiently waiting and diligently watching for some kind of movement through the brush. The wind begins to pick up and dances among the leaves.
I set my eyes on a movement to my left. I quickly get ready. Knocking my arrow, I quickly aim towards the movement. My heart begins to race as I take a deep breath and hold it. Holding steady, I follow the movement in the bushes. A head rustles the tree branch just before the fire lane. Releasing the arrow, I miss. The deer darted behind the pine tree fast as it came in.  Taking a deep sigh, I shake out the jitters.  That one slipped away from a spook he heard. 

Robins and chickadees fill the air with song as I continue to sit and wait for another four legged deer, praying for a buck. The sun beats down on me letting me know that the afternoon is near.  The warmth of the sun absorbs in to my heavy camouflage jacket and I decide to take it off quietly without disturbing the tree branch that sits by my head. And yet I still wait for that buck to cross into my area.
My walkie-talkie crackles softly. The hunting group is checking in on me. I reply what I have seen and tell them no luck with getting one. We make plans for lunch to meet up. Slowly, I get down, one step at a time and begin to walk towards the hunting group.  I get there to the hunting group and they are already discussing the next step in our hunt. Perhaps doing a push will help us kick up any deer that has hunkered down in the thick woods. That ends up being our next move.
Our hunting group lines up down the fire lane and once we are all in place, the leader motions us to go forward. One step at a time, we go forward. Bows and arrows ready for that deer that darts in front of us. We will find one. We have faith. Faith that a deer will be kicked up and one of us will have that opportunity to shoot. That is a goal of the hunt.
  With no luck of kicking up a deer through our push, we all decide to go back to our stands and wait. Wait for that big buck that is lingering around the area. I decide to not go up in the stand but to sit on the ground and patiently wait. The hunt is a waiting game. Waiting for that right shot.

The end of day is drawing near. I begin to get restless because nothing has shown its face in the several hours that I have been sitting on the ground. My memory takes back to the year before.  Last year’s hunt was successful. I will never forget the excitement of the deer walking towards my stand. I can still remember that shot like it was yesterday. My arrow was knocked and I sat there steady. Breathing slowly so I could contain myself as the deer came closer. It didn’t even see me high above the ground. The deer crept closer and closer. I followed it with my arrow, waiting for the right shot. Finally, it was close enough that I felt comfortable in shooting. Releasing the arrow, it struck the deer in the heart. My heart skipped with joy and excitement. I couldn’t believe I hit it. I actually hit the deer. Sharing my excitement, I radio over the walkie - talkie. “You guys, I just hit one! Yes!” I said to them. The response I got was amazing. “Where did you hit it?” my dad asks. “I think that I hit it in the heart. It took off running but I don’t think it got very far,” I said. “We are heading over in your direction” my dad said. “Ok!”  The memory put a smile to my face and gave me faith that I will get another deer. 
I come back to reality and notice that the sun is about to set. I get up from my spot and head on over to the hunting group. We didn’t have a successful day but there always tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a better day. I know it will. The hunting group disembarks and heads home.
My alarm blares and awakens me out of a dead sleep. I am up and ready in no time with faith that a deer will cross my path. My dad and I meet up with the rest of the hunting group. Deciding what to do for the day can sometimes lead into a long conversation. My dad and his cousin are good for that. I skip out of the hunting chat and march my way to my deer stand. I just know that a deer will cross my path today. It’s in my bones. Quietly, I climb up to the top of the stand and wait. Seems like did this same routine yesterday but the nature is never the same. There are more birds in the area and are serenading me as I glance from one tree to the next. My mind recalls that deer can signify different meanings from history class.
I hear a rustle of leaves and I quickly return to the present moment. Quietly knocking my arrow once more, I face the direction of the noise. A deer presents itself in the open below my stand. I start to jitter but take note of the beauty of the deer. I notice right away that it is a buck. I take a deep breath to calm my jitters. The arrow flies through the air and drops the deer to the ground. I let out a woo hoo as loud as I can. I simply can’t believe it. I did it with faith.