More than just the Loss of a Place to Hunt

[netman9]

It was late Spring of 2006. I was on my way home one afternoon cutting across the first mountain west of the beach, a four mile stretch of gravel road. Not the best of condition but plenty to take in when driving only twenty. Two thirds into the drive I spotted an older gentleman setting on the tailgate of his truck on an old logging road stopping to say hey. He was cutting a few sticks of fire wood and jammed the chain making his saw inoperable. I pitched in and grabbed a few tools to get it back on track. The conversation led into hunting and when I showed him the 8X10 of Nolan and his Snow Gobbler he ask if he could keep it. It was pretty cool setting there listening to the stories of his childhood from the days he lived on the old home place, now just a chimney and a couple walls stand along with the daffodils that still bloom every Spring. Before I left he said to bring the boys on up anytime for a hunt! The years on that ridge have produced some great memories as we only hunted on youthday for Spring Gobblers with the exception of the second half of The Double last year. Each of the boys has carried his twenty plus pound long beard to the truck including two First time birds. The setting on these hunts is amazing over looking the lower farm lands with the first hint of color coming to the woods bringing the grey woods of Winter back to life. We also had a close friend Buzz join us on each and every trip to this stretch. So when I got a text from Buzz back in December I figured he was either upto a rabbit hunt or possibly wanting to go after some trout. The news that day was not about hunting or fishing but from the obituary that included the name of a true gentleman and outdoorsman that made sure my three boys got to enjoyed what he experienced as a kid roaming those hills. He will be missed greatly over the years and always remembered on that special day each Spring. Netman

[WAHOONBOX]

SORRY TO HEAR OF THIS LOSS OF YOUR FRIEND...I TOO WILL NOW MISS HIM.