View attachment 190185It’s been a bit since I’ve posted. This next story is a great and sad moment for me. You see, the greatest man I’ve ever know passed away on December 30th, 2020. My Dad was everything to me, my mentor, coach, protector and loving father anyone could have.
December 30th, I found myself, and my boys at the camp. Loving the passion that my father passed down to me, which was the love of the outdoors. It was on my mind as it approached and although I never said anything to my boys, it weighed heavy on my mind and heart. Hell I couldn’t even bare to write this days event till now as I’m cutting onions in the stand now waiting for daylight.
I didn’t know it, but this day would be special on many occasions. Anyway, the wife texted me a day prior and said she was driving up to the camp. It’s been a year since she’s been up. That morning Hunter would be hunting the wma and me and DJ would be hunting the property. Daylight broke and a deer here and there started to pass through. It was cold and no wind. We have been hunting our target bucks but hadn’t seen hide nor hair, even on cams. As the sun came up and the heavy frost started to drip of the trees the action picked up. Some smaller bucks were chasing and I’d passed on “lucky”, he’s a nice 3 yr old 9pt w a kicker on the G2. I could’ve killed him w my bow in October but passed on him. He also showed up close to Dj and he got to get a great look at him.
Hunter sent me a snap of what looked like a doe or spike and I was asking him what it was. Not much service where he was so that was 15 minted prior. What he was trying to really get to me that he killed a good buck, no stud but a solid 3 yr old laying dead 45 yards away in the heavy palmettos. Meanwhile I have a doe hurriedly passing 50 yards from my stand and a heavy 6pt or the crab claw 8 follows. He stops before crossing and looks my way. All I can tell is it’s a heavy 6 or crab 8. I aim and squeeze and the rest is history as he runs 40 yards in the heavy crp. Around 9:30 I tell DJ to get down to help me load my buck on the atv, I’ve already pulled him out on the turnrow because of the bears. As he walking up emotions take over me and I start to tear up. None of this would’ve been possible without Dad. Dj looks at me and I say, you know what today is huh? He walks over to me and gives me a big long hug. We take pics and head to the camp to meet the wife and Hunter. We pull up to the skinning rack and I hug Hunter and then my wife. I asked her if she knew what today was and she and hugs me. We take pics and clean deer. Anyway sorry for the long read and the wait.
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