Left my lucky coffee mug sitting on a stump while we packed the horses to break camp and head out with our harvest. Found it a year later, still sitting on the stump, with dried up hot chocolate in the bottom. It's still lucky.
3 years ago hung a brand new pair of $300 sunglasses on an oak tree while I glassed some elk across the canyon. Forgot to pick them up when I took off to make a stalk. Realized I did about a mile later, searched the oak brush for the rest of the day. No glasses.
Left my trekking poles at home last year. Tarp tent was a bit saggy. Packing my friends first bull 9 miles back to the truck in 1 trip in the steep stuff with a pair of Aspen Yoda sticks that needed to be replaced every time I leaned too hard on them was a bit rough. Kept the 1 that refused to break, it's still in my truck for a backup... Also left my favorite windproof beany sitting on the ground where we were setting up for my buddies shot.
Took my brother in law on his first elk hunt (archery), left my bow at home to focus on getting him an animal. Put him on elk after a couple of challenging days, said "go sneak around that timber edge and stick the closest one" only for him to say "I left my release in camp". Camp was about 4 miles straight uphill. He did remember to pack the largest size container of bag balm they make, and 3 pairs of jeans to camp, as well as cans of corned beef hash, beans, etc. 8 miles in on a backpack hunt. I ate well that trip, hardly even touched my MH stash...
Same brother in law, decided he would get a jump on getting to camp and get set up, as me and my hunting partner were doing the late night drive and hike in the dark thing after getting off work. Poured rain. Forgot he had rain gear in his pack (at the bottom apparently). Hiked 4 miles in, soaked for 2 of it. Hiked back to the trailhead, where my hunting partner found him shivering in his fogged up truck, still soaking wet in his gear (rain gear still in his pack). Offered him dry clothes, hiked in together, 2 miles in he said "I just don't want this" and turned around. He had my tent in his pack... Luckily I had a fly tarp...
Same brother in law, several years later, with a rifle, after realizing he might not be up to the task for archery. Put him onto a herd of cows, with a nice bull, at about 175 yards. Said "pick a cow, pick a spot, shoot it, I'll kill the bull when I see your cow drop" Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang. I was watching the cows through my scope, looked over all the cows, nothing was hit. I then shot the bull. Watched all the cows run away unharmed, searched everywhere for blood, just in case. He forgot to pick a cow and apparently just shot over their heads, as he didn't want to have to pack two elk out of my hellish canyon bottom honeyhole (he swears to this day he just got buck fever). Also managed to drop all his spare shells into the oak brush trying to reload. Burned his tag in the campfire that night, then the next day he decided he couldn't wait for me to break camp, dumped all his remaining food out on the ground (I got a weeks worth of free MH meals), hiked out by himself and got to explain to the Fish and Game warden why he was packing an elk quarter, and a rifle, with no tag. (Who had headed up the trail after hearing his rifle volley). He dropped my quarter in the dirt by the side of my truck, while I broke camp and packed everything else out with my other buddy.
Needless to say, after this, I conveniently forget to tell him what tags I am putting in for every year, and he just gets a point every year (if he remembers to put in, as I conveniently forget to remind him) , and swears "this is the year" he will go OTC by himself. He always forgets when the season is... Think he has 9-10 points now, so I'm going to tell him to start asking for honey holes on Facebook, to finally "get a big ole bull for the wall".
