Big Bodied Buck: By Chris Crum

On December 27^th I drove toward my tree stand with hopes of getting a big bodied buck that had been visiting the area for about three weeks. The trail cam pictures showed that he should be showing back up in the evening any day now. I was heading in a little later then I would have liked, but it had been raining all day and the rain suit that I was hoping to hunt with this season was stolen from the porch after it was delivered. Part of the reason I bought it was because I recently learned how much the deer move during a rainy day. The previous day I sat on stand and only saw one doe, that didn’t come within bow range. I put on my gear and headed to the deer stand. Just before I got there I bumped the big buck. I thought, “Wow he is bigger then he looked in the pictures. My hunt is ruined, but at least I got to see him.” I decided to hunt the stand anyway. The deer would either return or I would get nothing like the previous hunt. After ascending the tree and attaching my safety harness, I put my fanny pack around a branch, but when I let go it fell all the way to ground making a loud unnatural sound as it hit the ground. “Well, if the buck isn’t completely spooked, this should do it”, I thought. If he didn’t see me climb the tree the first time, I am going to give him another chance. Before I descended to retrieve my fanny pack, I remembered some past hunts where everything seemed to go wrong, but ended on a positive note. After finally getting settled in the stand, there was a strong wind gust that just caused the tree stand to sway back and forth with the top of tree. I thought it would be best if I stayed seated. At a minimum I wanted to make it back home safe.

This hunt was starting to remind me of life. There are circumstances that happen to us, some of which are completely out of our control and some could be because of bad decisions. It is important for us to keep God at the forefront of our minds. Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and continue striving forward. Without this, we can easily let current circumstances or things in our past drag us down, get us discouraged and cause us to loose sight of the plan that God has for us.

I didn’t know if the deer was coming back, but I knew I wouldn’t get him sitting at home. I didn’t know if the Lord would let me harvest that deer; I also didn’t realize that there were more things that wouldn’t go quite right before the hunt came to a close. As I sat in the stand I continued to brace myself when the wind picked up. Eventually it started getting darker as the sun disappeared. I decided to make the most of it and just remain as motionless as possible until quitting time. I was about to check my watch when I heard the leaves crunch. “That must be a deer”, I thought as I reached slowly for my bow. With my bow in hand I looked down to see the deer broadside at about 12 yards. Big body, several points sticking up… it must be him. I started to concentrate on the shot. The front leg was not forward, but I didn’t have much time. I drew back aimed and released in a matter of seconds. He did the “mule kick” and took off. I started shaking. After an hour I started to look for him, but I didn’t find the blood I was hoping for. I went back to eat some dinner and brought my girlfriend back with me to find the deer. She spotted him before I did, but he was lying down with his head up. I couldn’t believe it. There were at least 5 large puddles of blood, it had been over 3 hours and he is still alive. I was not sure where I hit him, but I knew it wasn’t a good shot. We backed out and I decided to come back in the morning. In the morning I found where he was bedded, but he wasn’t there. I made a big circle as my girlfriend went along the path the deer might have traveled. As I made it back around to the deer stand I saw him lying not far from the stand. He had made a big circle before succumbing to the wound. After arriving late, spooking the deer, dropping my fanny pack, gusty wind and a poor shot, the Lord still allowed me to recover the deer. Lord help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and not on the circumstances of this life that could shift us away from Your plan. Help us to live a life for Your glory. Help us to finish well, as we look forward to being with You in Your kingdom.

Todd Olsen - God Provides the Deer of a Lifetime

My cousin worked as a guide for years. One day when showing me his best deer, he told me that the one thing that every hunter wants is the whitetail of a lifetime to hang on the wall.

Tod Olsen, core member of Colonial Outdoors was hunting in Ohio on public game land a few weeks back. He told me that where he was hunting was so steep that he had to dig his heels in to keep from falling down.

At 10:00 AM, he heard a ruckus from behind him and this big boy trotted by him. Tod shot him at about 13 yards while the brute was still moving, aiming his bow at the deer's shoulder so as to hit the vitals when he let go. Fortunately, it happened so fast that Tod told me he didn't have time to get "Buck Fever" and his arrow flew straight and it was a quick and ethical harvest.

This bad boy would score in the 130 range and went north of 220 lbs. While I'm not a betting man, it would be hard to say that a bigger one will come Tod's way, at least in the near future so hitting him was the once in a lifetime shot you just don't want to miss. I would regret it every time I went into a stand if I'd missed this big guy.

Tod wrote the final epitaph that sums it all up, "God is good!".

I hope each of you gets a chance to see or get a shot at such a fine animal. Here's to good hunting and that God will bless you with such an opportunity. Just make sure you complete the job like Tod did.

Ministry Minutes - CO is Not Your Father's Ministry

We were featured in the Colonial Ministry Minutes, a short clip that is shown prior to the beginning of each service. Normally it is a missionary or some traditional work the church does. Not us renegades.....

Click on the link below to see Fishing, Knife making, Archery (Center Shot Ministries)

Colonial Outdoors

The article by Amy Justice posted on the Colonial Website (click to go there)reads like this:

Some of the most renowned fishermen in history were among Jesus’ first disciples. When He gave them His command in Matthew, He gave them a purpose beyond making a living or feeding themselves and their families. He wanted them to share the Good News of His saving grace.

That purpose fits Colonial’s year-old Outdoors Ministry. When Ed Strickland, a life-long angler, decided to combine his love of the outdoors—especially fishing—with reaching fellow outdoorsmen with the Gospel, he approached Pastor Mike Malpass and soon a new ministry was created.

Those involved in Colonial Outdoors enjoy hunting and fishing—and they are committed to reaching a seldom considered, un-reached people group . . . the American hunter or fisherman. Manny Montoya, Chris Crum, Mike Hayes and other committed outdoorsmen have been busy creating new opportunities to engage outdoorsmen at Colonial. But, they know their mission field is really out in the fields and streams all around us where sportsmen who would never consider coming to church gather.

To better reach them, Colonial outdoorsmen traveled hundreds of miles to the National Wildlife Turkey Federation convention in Tennessee where they joined with other like-minded men to hand out more than 20,000 DVDs with turkey hunting tips and the Gospel. They have also traveled to West Virginia to receive training needed to organize an archery education program at Colonial; and, they’ve worked tireless hours to organize a local fishing tournament, hosted by Colonial that drew anglers from around the state. Our outdoorsmen are busy!

Colonial Outdoors also holds a weekly Bible study attended by 12-15 men. Manny Montoya recently held a knife-making workshop. There have also been classes on hunter safety, fly tying and taxidermy.

Monday, June 14, Chris Crum kicked-off the third Colonial archery class based on the Centershot Ministry program that includes training on International Target Style Archery for kids 10-15 years old accompanied by a parent. There are 20 people registered for the current class, many who do not regularly attend Colonial. Wayne McGrath and his eleven-year-old son, Will, are part of the class and are eager to learn archery for the first time. Twelve-year-old Alyssa Quackenbush and her Dad, Paul, have tried archery through the YMCA Guides and Princesses Program and are looking forward to honing their skills.

Last turkey season Ed and Chris went turkey hunting. Chris is a veteran turkey hunter; it was Ed’s first time turkey hunting. Chris coached and encouraged Ed on their early-morning trip and Ed was able to take his first tom. “What makes this first turkey special is that Chris is not just a hunting buddy; he’s a brother in Christ. He’s a co-laborer in ministry and servant of our Lord,” said Ed.

If you’re an outdoorsman or know someone who is, check out Colonial Outdoors at colonialoutdoors.blogspot.com for information on up-coming events. Be sure to check out the video attached to this story to see Colonial outdoorsmen in action!

New Archery Class, Sign Up NOW Before It's To Late

Note: you can double click on the picture for a larger view.
The next class will be starting on June 14^th and ends August 9^th. It runs from 6pm to 8pm. The class is open to youth (age 10 to 15) with their parent or guardian. If you are interested in participating please click on this link to sign up.

Centershot Ministries has been a blessing to both parents and kids of many ages. This course has developed many fine archers and they learn many things spiritually along with the class.

No where else in this area will you get such an opportunity as this. Plus, it's real fun to shoot an arrow and hit a bulls eye......try it and sign up now as these classes traditionally fill up quickly.

Centershot Ministry Takes Off

Just like the Hunter Safety program that God provided for us as an opportunity to reach out, Centershot Ministry was laid on the heart of Chris Crum.

He spoke to our group and then we prayed for the resources for the training and supplies and the Lord delivered everything, including a full class.

A group went to West Virginia for training and they have begun the ministry which includes Bible study and archery instruction.

Here is an update:

Well, after October 8^th the Centershot Class will be halfway over. It has been great seeing God put this whole thing together and we are looking forward to our next class.

Here is Chris Crum showing the correct nock position.

After only three days of class, we have some real sharp shooters.

Mike Hayes is watching Dirk Steckmann prepare to stick the bullseye.

From left to right Daniel Wood, Maggie Cooley, and Caroline Cearley are emptying their quivers as they practice the 11 steps to archery success.

Yes, God has been good to our fledgling group, but we give him the glory and hope to reach new souls and new hunters.

Centershot Ministry, Our Guys Get Training to Help Reach Out Via a New Ministry

(From left to right) Chris Crum, Mike Hayes, Ted McKinney, Manny Montoya and Polly Montoya all completed the Basic Archery Instructor course on May 30, 2009.

It was taught by Charles Larue in Clendenin, WV. The course will enable these individuals to teach International Target Style Archery through the fundamentals put together by National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) www.archeryintheschools.org .

It is the goal of Colonial Outdoors to combine this training with the gospel message through the Centershot Ministries program www.centershotministries.org . The archery class can be available to people of all ages, gender, and abilities by using a bow (Matthews Genesis) that is not draw length specific. The class can connect children to the church, strengthen a relationship between child and parent, reach children for Christ, and even allow people with different levels of abilities to compete against others.


“I am excited about the possibilities that will be available at Colonial”, said Manny Montoya. “I know God has laid it on my heart to start this program at Colonial”, stated Chris Crum. The bows have already been purchased and the program is in need of about $1,500 more dollars for equipment to get started.

If you read this and feel led to contribute please contact Chris Crum tyson1978@yahoo.com or Ed Strickland estrick318@aol.com .