I'm in kind of a somber mood, as I always am on the 4th of July these days. See, tomorrow marks my dad's 69 birthday. I lost him 5 years ago this November due to complications from Pulmonary Fibrosis. I can still remember my first hunting season. It was 6AM and still a good hour or so until first light. Sitting in the pitch black truck with him, he sipped on his coffee and said to me, "better get moving, daylight isn't far away". Now, I was 12 years old and the prospect of venturing out into the woods in the pitch black didn't exactly thrill me. I asked him if he was coming with me to sit. He said "nah, I got a good spot picked out right here. You'll learn more sitting out there by yourself than I could ever teach you anyway". That morning, I had 4 does within 5 yards of me... I was instantly hooked. Over the years, my dad and I had to opportunity to hunt a lot together. Deer, bears, turkeys. Right before he passed away, I was finally out of school and in a position financially to put a trip together out west, to Wyoming with him. He was out there several times before I was old enough to hunt and loved it there. Unfortunately, the man upstairs had bigger plans for my dad. My dad was a great teacher of the woods. I still apply the same lessons he taught me about hunting big bucks each season. Simple things like, hunting does to find bucks, finding the thickets possible areas on the property and properly hunting them. More importantly, he taught me the greatest lessons of all, patience and perseverance. He also instilled in me what was really important about hunting. The hunt itself. Enjoying your time outdoors and soaking in everything it has to offer. Its the greatest gift anyone has ever given me and has kept me grounded through my teen and young adult life. What I miss most, I think, is not having him around at the end of the day, to tell my hunting stories and events to. There was a time when I couldn't get back to the truck and out of the woods fast enough because I wanted to tell him about the day in the woods. I miss just sitting around on deck, drinking a couple of beers and talking all things hunting, fishing and life in general with dad. I know he's watching over me and even sitting in the treestand with me most days. I know he's smiling every time I head to the woods because I'm keeping his legacy alive. Someday, when my kids are old enough, they too will be in the woods with me and I can pass the gift on, to them as he did with me. Below is a pic of the he and I with the last buck I took while he as still alive. He helped me get that buck out of the woods as well. That buck has a lot of special meaning for me. Happy Birthday dad. I love you and miss you. Thanks guys for letting me ramble.
Muzzyman88, It is stories like these that drew me to the deer hunting world and as far in as the bowhunting life style we all live day to day. My dad isn't a hunter at all and still isn't but, he loves to hear my stories of the hunt. I took both my deer last season with his rifles. I want my both of sons to have stories and memories like this when I leave this earth. They are young now. One is 23 months and the other is 20 months (my step son who only knows me as his daddy). Today I got them both to say deer for the first time and associate the word with a big 200 class buck on the front of the August issue of Bowhunting magazine. The memories have started and I hope they will never end. Although these stories are heart wrenching and sometimes hard to read and tell, They are what makes hunting more than just hunting and harvesting animals. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!
Muzzy, thanks for sharing, it sounds like you and your dad had a great relationship. You guys made some great memories and you will take those important life lessons and pass them onto your children. Good stuff.
Thanks for sharing and sorry for the loss of your father. Sounds like he was a great man and you guys were able to share alot of memories together. Good luck to you and your family and the time you all spend together in the outdoors!
That's a great story, very similar to my story with my dad. Although mine is still here with me. I dread the day when he goes on to the Lord. It gets me teary eyed just thinking of it. Great men will live forever in our hearts.
Thanks for sharing mm88. I know it will be tough when my Dad is gone, too. He had me in the outdoors every chance he could, and sacrificed a lot of his own time to do so.
