My main hunting spot is likely going to be gone after this season. To make a long story short the property owner lost his wife tragically this summer in an accident where the driveway starts. He has been a wreck but has lately started coming around, today was proof of that. He is trying to sell the property but foreclosure could come first, either way he wants to get out and move on. I froze my butt off and got down at 9AM to switch to a stand that late moving bucks move through from time to time. Hunted that stand till 11 something and finally got out and headed to my truck. Ran into Eric who owns the property, he has family in town so I thought I'd see how he was doing. He appears in better spirits and eventually told me I was no longer the King! He is the one that gave me the nickname Racewayking since he lives next to an old Raceway that is now a forest preserve. To date I have taken the top 7 bucks from the property, so I asked who took a buck. He wouldn't tell me but said it was a huge 12 and that he left some info on my truck. My heart sank after we talked as I thought the 12 I almost shot last year fell to someone else. As I approached my truck I found the following! I immediately started laughing as I read the note. It said "You now have some real competition, this guy bagged a huge 12 pointer and is the new king". I'm glad to see his humor is back and starting to realize that I myself need to move on from this spot. In order to grow as a hunter I need new challenges and different terrain. Things are looking up for some new spots next year and I told him thanks for all the great years of deer hunting and being such a great friend; he thanked me as well for all the support I have given him over the years without judging him and his shortfalls. He might have a deal with a developer to buy the property, if so it might still be around a year or two and he said he will try to keep me on it if possible. In the end a sad day is coming and my last hunt there is on the horizon, like Bloodcreek I will be a guy with a nickname related to a property that no longer exists in the near future.
That sucks that you are going to be loosing that spot but it is great to hear that your buddy is doing well.
That's to bad Raceway. I hope the owner himself gets through this whole ordeal as well. He's been down a tough road.
Dam Lawrence, i hate hearing that, but at the same time glad the guy is in better spirits, the most important part. any way you made a good friend through him through it all. I love the story, it got a laugh out of me to :d
Thats great Erics coming around.Like you said its probably time for him to move onward and upward with his life.Getting away from the raceway memories and seclusion would probably do him wonders.Besides thats a big nut to come up with for that property every month.You will always be the RacewayKing.You have taken over 600+ inches of bone off that property and lots of nannys so I think you have earned the title.
sorry to hear bout that! i admire your optimisum about moving on finding new places to hunt, you'll find something
that sucks RWK, but in the years I've been hunting, it seems that nothing stays the same for long. we have hunted in several different locations the best set up being behind my (x)inlaws...that all came to a crashing halt when she and I split up...I don't understand... usually I get pushed around when I find the slickers have moved in heavy. I then go look for another place that is lightly treaded upon. it might take a season or two, but I will find a spot and my brothers, father and I set up camp. now in recent years, my brother has a little land that we have been hunting and it has worked out pretty good, but the dikhed neighbor to the north and the growth of our kids is making it a wee bit crowded, so once again, it's near time to move on...again. I think besides the ultimate rush of the kill, it's why I'm leaning more towards bow hunting. my youngins are coming up and starting to shoot and both can hunt next year, so...maybe I'll start a new camp AND a new tradition...once again. good luck to you in your search for your new best spot ever. you'll find it.
