From Triumph To Setback: A Reminder That Tomorrow Is Not Promised

John Mathews, of Gainesville, Fla., with one of the biggest successes of his hunting career, an 11-point Baldwin County buck. This well-deserved buck was taken just months before John suffered a stroke that left him unable to use the left side of his body.

Everyone has heard some version of the phrase, “tomorrow is not promised.” It’s a concept that is easy to understand, yet many still take tomorrow’s arrival for granted. Unfortunately, it’s often not until a blessing is taken away that this truth really sinks in.

The silver lining in this reality, though, is that we can learn these inevitable life lessons through the eyes of others. We can learn to appreciate the fortunes we have while we have them, rather than grieving them once they’re gone.

Interestingly, hunting tends to be one of the fortunes that rarely goes overlooked. Of all the hunter’s I have spoken to, gratitude for all the sport entails is evident. This hunter is no different.

John Mathews was born and raised in Gainesville, Fla. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father since the age of 16. They were two peas in a pod wherever they went, whether it was on a lake or in the woods. Even after his father’s passing, John continued to spend his days outdoors.

In January of this year, John had a stroke. Since then, he’s been unable to put weight on his left leg and use his left arm. His wife, Sharon, is concerned he may never be able to hunt again.

In the face of this setback, John recalls one of his proudest hunting achievements—an unforgettable success on Oct. 18, 2024.

He and his wife were hunting in Baldwin County in what they named the Ace stand, which sits on a planted pine area. John and his good friend Kyle Cheshire managed the land, mowing trails to allow for several shooting lanes.

“October 18 was a crisp, cold, sunny morning. The light wind was in our favor,” John said. He and Kyle had been seeing many pictures of an 11-point buck, which unsurprisingly became the target buck for both of them.

“I saw a doe trot off to the left, and then appeared my buck, horns glistening in the sunlight. I had my Ravin (crossbow) ready to go, but the buck was too far for a shot. My wife Sharon had my muzzleloader in her lap beside me in the stand. I told her, ‘Don’t move, hand me the muzzleloader.’

“I got the buck’s neck in the crosshairs and slowly squeezed the trigger. The buck dropped immediately.”

John made a perfect 110-yard shot.

“I got so excited, I stood up and said, ‘I’ve got to get myself together.’ With the gun unloaded, I climbed out of the stand and reloaded my gun. We walked to the buck, and the closer I got, the bigger it was.”

John had his buddies from his camp help him drag the deer out. He described the excitement and support from everyone involved.

Kyle in particular was just as thrilled about John’s big win. He reflected on their 33 years of hunting together and expressed his appreciation for their friendship. “I hope this buck provided him the desire to heal and push through the challenges life has recently thrown him,” said Kyle.

John and Sharon reminisce on that special day often.

Stories like John’s are not uncommon in the hunting world. Each one demonstrates astonishing resiliency and serve as a reminder to appreciate every outing opportunity that you are given.

Sharon hopes this story will encourage others to treasure the time they can spend out outdoors as we never know what tomorrow might bring.