TLDR: Nov 9, 2024 was the luckiest day of my life. Shot my first buck 5 min after sunrise, saw the Aurora Borealis that morning, my total at the grocery store was $7.77, had my fav pizza and BYU beat Utah 22-21 with a game winning kick by Big Game Bill Ferrin! Go Cougs!

Full Story:

I took off work Friday Nov 8, 2024 to drive up to northern Minnesota at my friend’s private 40 acre land for opening weekend of the firearm deer hunt. I’ve hunted the last four years here in Minnesota with no luck hunting on public land. Was feeling optimistic this year.

On Friday we did a little work helping clear out some small overgrown trees, went to dinner for burgers and cheese curds at the local (and only) restaurant and then watched the BYU/UC Riverside game on my buddies laptop on a hotspot.

The next morning, Saturday Nov 9, 2024 I woke up early to get to my deer stand. As I was getting my gear ready, I noticed the most magnificent lights in the sky - The Northern Lights were bright and beautiful (and Blue). I felt this was a good omen for the hunt and for the BYU game.

The sun rose at 7:05am that morning. I had a small but respectable buck (2x2, big body) walk up behind me at 7:13am as I’m sitting in my tree stand. It proceeded to walk cautiously 15 yards in front of me, stopped, looked right at me, and I pulled the trigger. My first deer/buck was in the bag. One of the best feelings of my life. So much adrenaline and joy.

After gutting and hanging I ran to the store to get some ice for the cavity to keep it cold while my friend finished his hunt. My total for ice was $7.77. Another good omen.

We loaded up and headed home. Hit DQ for chicken baskets and blizzards on the way home. Not luck, just a good decision.

Got cleaned up and formulated a plan to meet at my friend’s house to watch the BYU/Utah Game. He ordered my favorite pizza. Again, not luck, just a good decision.

We all know how this ends. BYU struggles to generate offense in the first half of the game and lets off 21 first half points on defense.

BYU storms back in the second half shutting out the Utes. On BYU’s last drive of the game the Utes commit a holding penalty on 4th down, resurrecting BYU’s chances to drive down the field. They do exactly that. Chase makes a stellar catch. Ropati has an incredible run to get us into field goal territory. The legendary Will Ferrin #44 hits the game winning 44 yard field goal to win the game!

Nov 9, 2024 will go down in history for me and for all of Cougar Nation! #GoCougs