“Here are the things you need to do in order:

1. 1. Take the doe to the game warden. Explain the situation and do whatever it is they say needs to be done. This includes paying any fines. Trying to hide it will just make the situation worse if you get caught.
   2. Take a hunter safety course. Learn about clearing your target (what is in front, besides and behind what you intend to hit). Learn not to take shots that can harm things that should not be harmed, like other animals in the herd. . . and houses. and roadways. and a million other things you have to look for on each and every shot.
   3. Go to the range, preferably with a more experienced shooter, and practice your aim. A deer is a big animal. You should not be missing them entirely. Sure, every hunter sometimes miss a clean kill shot on an animal, but you should really never take a shot where you are not confident that you won’t miss the animal entirely. Even long range hunters need to know their skill limits.
   4. And even when you are confident you can make the shot, still ensure that your target area is clear of everything but the target. Plan to miss by two or three times what you are confident that you can do on this particular shot at this particular time, and make sure the target area is clear to at least this degree if not more. Yes, this means you will sometimes pass up shots you think you can make but might be marginal, or might be dangerous to something else that should not be shot. That is part of what being a responsible hunter is. (yes, this is a repeat of number 2. It is important enough to repeat.)

Hunting comes with responsibilities. Part of those responsibilities are owning our mistakes, learning from them, and making sure they never happen again. You need to do that here in order to be a responsible hunter. Own it, learn from it, never do it again.”

Key Biblical Thoughts:

• honesty
• mistakes
• errors in judgement
• forgiveness
• accountability
• righteousness
• goodness
• excuses
• owning up
• confession
• fairness
• godliness

Sermonic Example:

(You can use most all the material, or slightly shorten it as necessary)

Now that sounds like some good honest . . . . and, in fact, it is biblical advice. Christianity also comes with some responsibilities.

Every one of those steps is part of correcting, and not excusing — or not explaining away — the things we know we have done wrong!  

The first step may be the most difficult — Explain the situation and do whatever it is they say needs to be done. This includes paying any fines. Trying to hide it will just make the situation worse if you get caught — and you have been caught by at least one person who knows what you ahve done! . . . .