There is a certain level of satisfaction you feel when hard work and dedication payoff. The countless hours spent laboring on the various tasks needed in order to accomplish what you set out to do. Honestly, it simply brings a smile to your face.
This deer season Joseph Finger experienced this feeling once again at his farm in Steelville, MO produced its first buck harvested with a bow.
“I’m waiting for the scoring to come back, but he was a 7-pointer, field dressed at 180 lbs, so I estimate he weighed in around 240 or so,” said Finger.
His first of what is sure to be many successes on this wonderful tract of land wasn’t by accident.
“I consider myself to be an outdoor enthusiast and conservationist. I enjoy spending every minute in the outdoors as I possibly can. I think taking the time to develop your property is the best thing you can do for yourself and the wildlife in the area,” he said. “If a landowner can turn their property into a quality piece of land by using any of the known methods (TSI program, CRP programs, introducing food plots, etc.) the wildlife, family and friends will benefit for years to come.
“Phil Brown introduced me to most of the methods I employ and I can attest that they can improve the quality of your land drastically.”
Like most property owners, Joseph takes great pride in his farm and what it provides his family.
“The best thing about our property is that it’s a place to escape with family and friends,” explains Finger. “Lots of memories have been made in the beautiful woods and fields, and lots of the world’s problems have been solved at “The Pit” with many more to come.”
Like harvesting a quality whitetail, developing a love for the outdoors doesn’t happen on accident. For Joseph his journey started as a youngster trudging in his father’s footsteps as they found their way to the duck blind.
“I first fell in love with hunting when I was around seven or so. My first memory was duck hunting with my dad,” he recalled. “I’d love waking up to the sound of him saying “Joe, you wanna go hunting?” I’d fly out of bed in an instant!
“We’d get to the club and he’d piggy back me out to the duck blind in the early morning. I’d hang out in the blind playing with spent shells and drinking hot chocolate while watching him shoot ducks. That’s when I became hooked on hunting.”
And as you might expect, the passion for all things outdoors continues to be a family affair. Joseph’s wife, Lindsey ,also enjoys spending spring mornings watching the world come alive listening to the Steelville turkeys gobble.
“I guided my wife to her first turkey on the property in 2012. That is one of my favorite hunting memories since it was the first animal she ever harvested,” Finger said. “There were five birds that came in. I think my heart was racing faster than hers when they came out. She picked out the biggest bird and put a perfect shot on him.”
Congratulations to Joseph Finger and his family on a job well done. Not only do they understand the value of managing their land, they understand how their investment of time, money, and energy into their land returns far greater rewards.
