Certain rhythms in Vermont feel stitched right into the fabric of who we are, and hunting season is one of them. For our family, hunting is more than just a hobby. It’s tradition, stewardship, food security, time together, and, honestly, a whole lot of fun.
Every November, as the air gets colder and the mornings get quieter, something in us wakes up. We feel proud to be part of a long line of Vermonters who head into the woods each year not only to harvest meat for their families, but to appreciate the land, cheer each other on, and enjoy a little friendly competition over who brings home the biggest buck.
How We Got Started
My husband, Charles, has been hunting since he was around twelve years old. He learned from his dad, just like many boys do here in Vermont. I started about five years ago. Funny enough, I used to be vegan when my husband and I first met! And yet there I was, helping him process deer in our early days together. What can I say? It’s just the way of life up here.
Cole, our fifteen-year-old, started hunting three years ago. Watching him step into this tradition has been one of the joys of motherhood. Every year, he grows a little more confident, a little more patient, and a little more connected to the land.
This Year’s Season So Far
Archery season was quiet for Charles this year, but opening morning of rifle season didn’t disappoint. He harvested a beautiful 164-pound ten-pointer! Ten-pointers are rare in our area, so it felt like a real blessing. Congratulations, Charles!
Cole has been getting out in the afternoons, and I’ve been heading out morning and afternoon since Saturday. Neither of us has had luck yet, but that’s part of the story every year: some days you see nothing, some days you see everything, and some days you’re just grateful for the quiet.
Before the season even begins, we make a whole family event out of prepping. We clear brush around our stands, walk the hunting grounds to look for tracks, scrapes, and scat, move stands to higher-traffic spots, and shift our cameras. The weekend before opening day, we sight in our rifles together. It might be one of my favorite traditions, equal parts competitive, educational, and hilarious.
Typically, we keep a running text thread during hunting season, sharing updates from our stands. But this year, I can’t get cell service in mine, so I’m completely unplugged until I walk back to the house!
The Moments That Make It Worthwhile
My favorite part of hunting season is simple: sitting in my tree stand, taking in God’s creation. I never know what wildlife I’ll see. So far, I’ve watched geese fly overhead, listened to owls, spotted hawks, and even crossed paths with a coyote.
The second-best part? Watching my husband and son succeed. The pride on their faces. The excitement. The way they look up the hill toward me, smiling ear to ear.
And of course, there are always the funny stories…like the time I shot a six-pointer three seasons ago and my husband still jokes that the deer must have died of a heart attack because we never did find the bullet hole. According to him, I “scared it to death.”
Food for the Whole Year
One of the biggest blessings of hunting season is knowing that venison helps feed our family all year long. We typically eat one venison meal each week, and I have so many ways to prepare it. Venison stroganoff is the family favorite, but I think I may need to write a future blog post about all the ways we cook venison in our home!
We also give meat to other families or trade with neighbors for maple syrup, fruit, or produce. It feels like another way we get to live out community and generosity.
Hunting as Stewardship and Faith
I firmly believe that God provides what we need. Last year, Charles harvested a 205-pound ten-pointer—one of the largest deer in the state. This year’s ten-pointer feels just as meaningful. I believe God knew he needed that confidence boost.
After he harvested the deer on opening morning, he got down on his knees and prayed right there in the woods, thanking God for providing for our family. When Cole came up the gulley to help him, that’s the sight he saw: his dad kneeling in gratitude. What a beautiful thing for a son to witness.
I often think of the verse in Genesis where God places humans in charge of the animals of the earth.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
Hunting, to me, is part of that stewardship, respecting the land, harvesting responsibly, and giving thanks for what God provides.
A Tradition We Cherish
Hunting season isn’t just about deer. It’s about family. It’s about tradition. It’s about being connected—to the land, to each other, and to the God who created it all.
And while I’m still waiting for my deer this year, I’m grateful for the quiet mornings, the wildlife sightings, the long walks in the woods, and the moments that remind me how blessed we really are.
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