I posted a story here a couple of years ago about my last deer hunt. After nearly a lifetime of being a avid deer hunter-and with my son grown and not needing me to take him along - I came to the point where it was no longer fun. It got to be more like a job than a sport and I really didn't have any interest in shooting another deer in my life. I gave my deer rifle - a gift from my dad and mom-that I had used for 25 years-to my son and for the last 7 years have stayed home with no regrets.
With all that has gone on this year in my family-the loss of my mother-my unexpected heart problems resulting in a pacemaker and other unpleasant events - Danny has been begging me to go with him for the last 6 months. We only live about 30 miles from each other-but with his hectic work schedule and obligations to his wife and daughter-along with my hectic schedule and similar obligations-we never get to spend any time together - just father and son-these days. Some of my most pleasant memories are of times spent with him-usually hunting or fishing as he grew up. Before that I fondly remember spending time doing the same things with my own father.
I believe the events of this year have caused my son to realize the mortality of his father- the fact that there will come a time when I will be gone and he needs some more time to create some memories-as do I.
So today I bought a deer tag for the first time in 7 years. A couple of weeks ago I traded for a Ruger 300 mag. After getting the ok from my doctor to fire it-this past weekend I sighted the scope in on it. At 100 yards I can put 4 bullets in a silver dollar sized target. At 300 yards I can hit a paper plate sized target. I am confident that should I get a chance for a shot -and decide to take it-I can hit what I am shooting at-BUT shooting a deer is still not a priority to me-it would just be a bonus.
In a couple of weeks we will load up his camper and head for the same woods my grandfather used to hunt. We will leave on a Friday and stay till at least Monday-just Danny and me. We will hunt during the day and sit around the camp fire at night just talking and creating memories. This is what I am looking forward to the most and wouldn
With all that has gone on this year in my family-the loss of my mother-my unexpected heart problems resulting in a pacemaker and other unpleasant events - Danny has been begging me to go with him for the last 6 months. We only live about 30 miles from each other-but with his hectic work schedule and obligations to his wife and daughter-along with my hectic schedule and similar obligations-we never get to spend any time together - just father and son-these days. Some of my most pleasant memories are of times spent with him-usually hunting or fishing as he grew up. Before that I fondly remember spending time doing the same things with my own father.
I believe the events of this year have caused my son to realize the mortality of his father- the fact that there will come a time when I will be gone and he needs some more time to create some memories-as do I.
So today I bought a deer tag for the first time in 7 years. A couple of weeks ago I traded for a Ruger 300 mag. After getting the ok from my doctor to fire it-this past weekend I sighted the scope in on it. At 100 yards I can put 4 bullets in a silver dollar sized target. At 300 yards I can hit a paper plate sized target. I am confident that should I get a chance for a shot -and decide to take it-I can hit what I am shooting at-BUT shooting a deer is still not a priority to me-it would just be a bonus.
In a couple of weeks we will load up his camper and head for the same woods my grandfather used to hunt. We will leave on a Friday and stay till at least Monday-just Danny and me. We will hunt during the day and sit around the camp fire at night just talking and creating memories. This is what I am looking forward to the most and wouldn
