11/30/2025
At the ripe age of 24, I graduated the physician assistant program at OU. I passed the national boards prior to graduating and transitioned almost immediately into full time work. My mind had been fixated on buying property. I didn’t care where. I scoured the internet. I looked at classifieds. Any circulating media with farm or ranch land, I almost certainly had in my possession. I looked at land all over Oklahoma. Southeast, central, northeast, I traipsed all over numerous pieces of property. I didn’t really even know what I was looking for. I loved heavy timber, so much so my middle son’s middle name is Oak. I was interested in running water, river frontage, creek bottoms, flood controls. I wanted a deer place. As Hardy would say, “whitetail bucks with 10” tines” is what I was looking for. I grew up chasing bucks on public land. Public land is full of heart break. Stolen stands, stolen cameras, vandalism, you name it and it happened to me. I wanted a place I could manicure and build into a deer hunters dream. A place that was mine. A place where I made the decisions and set the rules. I was so determined but as with all things God has a plan. I had zero interest in school systems or proximity to work. I was looking for hunting land but God set in my lap the place where we call home today. It was pieced together over years. 160 acres here, 50 acres there, a house, barns, and 50 more acres and a family to fill it. More land and more fences to build would be added. We’ve owned the place now for 15 years. My children enjoy one of the best school systems in Oklahoma. I love my place of employment. The land… let me tell you… it’s provided. It’s home to our longhorn herd and more rattlesnakes than you can shake a stick at. The deer hunting has never disappointed. There has not been one year that I’ve owned this place that I didn’t have a chance at a mature buck. The boys are just starting to get interested in chasing bucks. Sam’s got the fever. Noah seems interested and Silas would probably eat a deer nose to rump if I turned him loose on one. He’s a wild man.
This year was no different. I saw several nice bucks while feeding cows and taking the kids to school. Tara spotted a nice one and the day I got back from Utah I spotted a bruiser not far from the house. On thanksgiving morning, I woke up early and left the house in the dark. I crept just a few hundred yards from the house and climbed into a stand I hung years ago. About 7:25, I heard a shot from the neighbors property. My heart sank a little. I figured my hunt was done for due to the commotion. Within 10 minutes though a group of doe came in and walked right under my stand. They moseyed on being followed by a young 6 point buck. I thought to myself well at least I saw some deer. It wasn’t a waste. About 30 minutes later, I caught a glimpse of a deer running in tall grass. The grass is so tall it was over the head of the deer and I had no idea if it was a buck or doe. Nearing 8 am another group of 4 doe followed a tree line right to me. In the distance, I could see him. Standing tall in the sunlight, he was everything I was looking for. By 8:15, I was loading him into the Gator. I take pride in processing them myself. I’m meticulous. I want every meal that comes from him to be enjoyed. I cooked the heart and liver for the dogs. Blue was thankful. I spent today vacuum sealing jerky, fajita meat, steaks, and ground meat. Some folks just don’t get it. For those that do, you know grateful and fulfilled I am.
