Many people know what they are supposed to do to shoot big deer or to improve their chances for taking any deer, yet they don't do it.  I know dozens (maybe hundreds) of guys like that.  They would rather use their energy looking for shortcuts than simply commit to the goal and work hard at each step to accomplish it.  That is really the formula for success whether it be deer hunting or any other human endeavor. 

Think about it.  You know that if you take the long way to the stand, park a safe distance away, walk in that creek, try harder to keep your clothes and your body clean, scout more, put out a trail camera, maybe plant a small food plot, practice more, etc., etc. you will be more successful.  Then why don't you do it?  Sure, you only have so much time in the day, but where are you wasting time?  Start there.

I remember reading a little story one day that really stuck with me.  I am not even sure if it is true, but it doesn't really matter.  The story goes that a soldier was appearing before his general on some subject of training and the general asked the soldier if he had done his absolute best.  "Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you did your absolute best?"  The soldier lowered his head and had to concede, as most of us would if asked this question, that he had not.  The general responded, "Why not?"

Why not?  That is a very good question.  In fact, I'm going to make that the question of the day: "Why Not?"

Some guys you look at and you say, "Wow, that dude sure got a lot out of his abilities."  He may not have had the most natural talent to work with, but he milked what he had for all it was worth.  There is only one way to do that, comittment followed by hard work.  I had a friend like that in high school.  We ran track together.  Moose was not the fastest or the biggest, yet he was the only one from our class that went to college on a track scholarship.  He simply worked the hardest and got the absolute most he could from what God gave him to work with. 

This is really more about life than about deer hunting. 

God gave us all a certain amount of potential and it is our job to use it to bring glory to Him, our Creator.  When you are thinking about slacking off or doing just enough to get by, remember that.  When you have to stand before that General some day and he asks you to give an accounting for how you used the gifts he gave you, what will you say?  Thank God for his grace, but it is still a compelling question.  Why not?