Stories of hunting partners that didn’t quit.

[Customweld]

There are quite a few stories of fellas whose partners gave up on them. How about a shot out to partners that didn’t. I’ll start.
A few years ago my oldest daughter drew a sub par moose tag in north Idaho. By sub par, it was a short season in an awkward time of year. We had 11 days of season.
My youngest daughter and I had drawn mule deer tags outside of Riggins as well.
My father in law went up with us for both hunts. We did 10 days on the mule deer hunt, came home for a day and a half and turned back around and did an 11 day moose hunt in north Idaho. My FIL was all in. 70 years old and sleeping 21 days on an army cot in a wall tent. Eating my crappy cooking, keeping everyone’s hopes up and keeping coolers stocked in Keystone Light! The north Idaho trip was pretty miserable. Snow one day and rain the next. We did take one night off and got motel rooms, took care of some laundry and ate a nice dinner. He’s gone now, I miss his presence in camp and his get er done attitude.

 

[CorbLand]

There are quite a few stories of fellas whose partners gave up on them. How about a shot out to partners that didn’t. I’ll start.
A few years ago my oldest daughter drew a sub par moose tag in north Idaho. By sub par, it was a short season in an awkward time of year. We had 11 days of season.
My youngest daughter and I had drawn mule deer tags outside of Riggins as well.
My father in law went up with us for both hunts. We did 10 days on the mule deer hunt, came home for a day and a half and turned back around and did an 11 day moose hunt in north Idaho. My FIL was all in. 70 years old and sleeping 21 days on an army cot in a wall tent. Eating my crappy cooking, keeping everyone’s hopes up and keeping coolers stocked in Keystone Light! The north Idaho trip was pretty miserable. Snow one day and rain the next. We did take one night off and got motel rooms, took care of some laundry and ate a nice dinner. He’s gone now, I miss his presence in camp and his get er done attitude.

That reminds me of Ed. Father of a guy that we use to bear hunt with. He was in his 70s, couldn’t really move well but he came to bear camp any chance he got. He would generally stay back at camp and cook for us. Sometimes we would drive him down the road about a mile, leave him there with a cooler, gun and chair. He would wave someone down and hitch a ride back to camp when he was done for the day.

Dude would make three course meals for us. He had a chance at killing a bear once but decided to take pictures instead.

I am not sure whatever happened to him. I am sure he has passed by now, but I think of that guy a fair amount.


Also, Keystone. I knew I liked you.

 

[Rich M]

Yup. Sounds like my father. He still goes w me at 85. Took him to CO in 2019 and never complained about nothing. We had serious cold come thru and he turned grey. Switched to a hotel style hunt after that. After a straight thru 30+ hr drive home he said that was his last xcountry trip.

We just come home from a deer hunt about 6 hrs away. He’s good w that. Real big smile when i shot one. Good company. Been doing stuff w him for over 50 yrs. Enjoying what time is left.

 

[Reburn]

My brothers. I am very fortunate to have 3. We have been a bunch of places on multiple contintents.
Never had one quit on me yet. No mater how nasty the conditions. And we all hunt waterfowl. Takes a damaged person to want to go sit in the rain at 500 in the morning for some ducks.

 

[Bman5000]

Another dad story here… he’s in his 70s and is a full time caregiver form mom at this point but will make arrangements to go hunting every year. It’s pretty much his only break and he spends it with me chasing game across Idaho. We’ll push it on backcountry hunts and I’m not sure who is keeping up with who. He’s an “I’ll use the quads God gave me” kind of guy - no quit in him.

 

[Customweld]

Yup. Sounds like my father. He still goes w me at 85. Took him to CO in 2019 and never complained about nothing. We had serious cold come thru and he turned grey. Switched to a hotel style hunt after that. After a straight thru 30+ hr drive home he said that was his last xcountry trip.

We just come home from a deer hunt about 6 hrs away. He’s good w that. Real big smile when i shot one. Good company. Been doing ghinstuff w him for over 50 yrs. Enjoying what time is left.

Dang! Getting around at 85 is awesome!! Sounds like you have had a lot of great adventures with him.

 

[Rich M]

Dang! Getting around at 85 is awesome!! Sounds like you have had a lot of great adventures with him.

Yes Sir! His fav is upland birds - grouse and pheasants - too old for walking thru the brambles now but we still duck hunt some, deer, and lots of fishing w him and his buddy. So you got a grey hair with 2 80+ guys out fishing. Must be a sight to see, but we having fun.

One of my first memories was a fishing trip 25 miles back on some big lake in ME w dad and his brother when I was about 5. Could see a definitive diff in his pace after he hit 78, so the whole pace slowed down. I don't push and if he wants to stay in, will stay in too. It's about family and good memories. If I left him and shot a monster buck or bull, it wouldn't mean as much as an average buck or raghorn with him there.

I think taking the older fellers to camp is the best thing we can do. Some will say they slow everyone down, and yes, they are slower but they add to the whole adventure. The ones I know enjoy it.

They have youth days every year for ducks down here at a refuge. Why not have a youth and a 70 or 75 yo+ day on the other one? Think the old guys are getting shafted and the kids are getting pampered.

 

[Customweld]

Yes Sir! His fav is upland birds - grouse and pheasants - too old for walking thru the brambles now but we still duck hunt some, deer, and lots of fishing w him and his buddy. So you got a grey hair with 2 80+ guys out fishing. Must be a sight to see, but we having fun.

One of my first memories was a fishing trip 25 miles back on some big lake in ME w dad and his brother when I was about 5. Could see a definitive diff in his pace after he hit 78, so the whole pace slowed down. I don't push and if he wants to stay in, will stay in too. It's about family and good memories. If I left him and shot a monster buck or bull, it wouldn't mean as much as an average buck or raghorn with him there.

I think taking the older fellers to camp is the best thing we can do. Some will say they slow everyone down, and yes, they are slower but they add to the whole adventure. The ones I know enjoy it.

They have youth days every year for ducks down here at a refuge. Why not have a youth and a 70 or 75 yo+ day on the other one? Think the old guys are getting shafted and the kids are getting pampered.

I think a 70 plus day is a fantastic idea. Once that group is gone, a lot of stories, history and knowledge is lost.

 

[Rich M]

I think a 70 plus day is a fantastic idea. Once that group is gone, a lot of stories, history and knowledge is lost.

Agreed - few folks are willing to stand up for the older guys like they would kids or veterans and many of the old guys are veterans too. We do have a veteran hunt day down here.

 

[insanelupus]

I had the privilege of going with my grandfather on his last pheasant hunt. Farming took a lot of time, but he loved shooting birds. In his early 80s, with shoulder issues, but he packed that Browning Auto 5 20 all day, behind the dog. We did a lot of walking and I'm sure he was sore. Not a single bird found all day. But he wore a smile on his face and gushed about the experience, enjoying every minute of it. Died in a tractor accident several years later on the farm.

All day long, no birds, ok weather, a smile on his face the whole time, despite the ailments of time and hard work.

There is an ethos there I hope I'm man enough to live up to someday.