Give us this day our daily bread...

It’s funny how a guy’s view of his favorite pastime can change. And it is great for that change to reflect a deeper appreciation of God’s creation and a better understanding of how completely God provides for us.

I began to think differently about my hunting trips when I moved to Alaska. And even more so after I married a young lady who grew up in a small village in bush Alaska. I loved to hunt and fish before moving to “The Last Frontier” and I have always enjoyed and respected God’s great creation. I have never based the success of a hunt strictly on the number or size of the fish or animals harvested; but, I must admit I never hunted and fished because I had to survive either

I learned the huge difference between decorating your living room and filling your freezer. I have a couple of animals and fish mounted, but living in Alaska has helped me understand what subsistence is about and how God provides for us in so many ways. My family can survive without the fish and game we take, but we certainly enjoy the wild game and a freezer full of moose and salmon help to supplement our financial budget. I am blessed because I can enjoy my hunting and fishing activities because I want to and not because I have to.

My sweet wife could not always say the same. Her family grew up depending on their subsistence activities to feed them throughout the year. She is just becoming a fan of salmon again. I think she ate so much of it as she grew up that she just didn’t have a taste for it when she could afford something else. I have learned a lot from her and my great friend that I moose hunt with and I have seen first hand what a blessing it is to take an animal that can feed your family for the entire winter. These days I tend to think of any animal as a blessing and not a trophy. On different hunts I have been fortunate enough to harvest a small bull moose and a pretty nice one too. One thing is for sure; I just could not tenderize those antlers.

The success of all the moose hunts I have enjoyed have not been determined by the size of moose taken, but the fact that a moose was harvested and we were truly blessed when it happened. Now that I have a little boy of my own, I cannot wait to teach him how much fun the outdoors are and how good God is to us.

God Bless,
Bill Justice