My 88 yoa father past away yeasterday.

He grew up hunting and trapping for the table during the depression. He and my uncle were a couple of the last trappers to use bear traps for bears in Wis.

He made trips to Canada and out of state not to hunt big game but for game birds ect. I was the near the end of eight children and his story of the early years instilled in me a love of hunting guns and fishing.

The last huning trip he made I took him to SD on a pheasant hut when he was about 82. he made it out to his deer stand every year but the last few I think was more to drink coffee and watch instead of shoot any thing. He real enjoyed seeing his grand kids hunt and take their first deer.

I was able to bring him out my trk after I shot the big blk bear posted about here a couple of weeks ago. He had a stroke a year and half ago and his speach was not that great all he could say was thats a big one. I shot it about 100 yards from his house. As I was taking care of it he had to start calling his friends to tell them about it.

One time he tried to add up all the deer he had shot he quit counting at 200. His favortie deer rifle was sav. 99 in 300. My brother has it now.

He taught me how to reload and fly fish we had many fine fishing trips to Montana to fish the blue ribbions streams out there. The Madison, Yellow stone ect.

He was a fine man of the coummuity serveing on the local school board for 25 plus years. A member of the county and town boards for many years.

A find hunter and sportsman that well be missed but there are lots of fine memorys to go on.

My deepest sympathy. We're never prepared for the loss of a parent, regardless of how inevitable. He lived a good life and left a legacy in and for his children.

May God welcome him with open arms for being a great man and sportsman .sorry for your loss PDS

I am truely sorry for your loss.

My condolences. It's an inevibility that one can never prepare for. I am truly sorry for your loss. Make sure to pass his wisdom on so that his legacy lives on.

Prairie Dog Shooter:

Our prayers are with you and your family at this time...

As I myself have waded four years into my 50s now, I am starting to think of the hereafter, in the light that all those friends and family that love to hunt are now up there at a permanent hunting lodge, where they never have to feel old or incapable of doing what they love anymore, spend their evenings sitting around the campfire speaking of their experiences, and the one's they plan to have, of the pride of their children's and grandchildren's.... sitting up there around the fire, with coffee in hand, waiting for the rest of us to get up there, so we can go out hunting with them in the morning...

cheers.. and God bless...
seafire

my condelences to you and your family---chris

My condolences.

With 88 years and 8 children I guess he must have had a fulfilled life.

Sad to hear your news. Our most sincere condolensces to you and your family.

Sorry for your loss but take solace in the fact that he left a legacy of hunters and memories behind.

Hey PDS, Sure sorry to hear of your loss. It does sound like he enjoyed life as well as could be expected.

I try my best to re-tell hunts I shared with my friends on the days they passed away. May just tell myself if no one else is around, but the departed friends are right there with me laughing and smiling in my mind.

They seem to enjoy the new fiascos I managed to get into as well.

PDS,

I'm very sorry to hear about your dad. It's always tough when a hunting/fishing friend leaves you, but much worse when it's your dad. Mine died very suddenly at a young age five years ago. I still haven't quite gotten used to the idea that I can't just pick up the phone and tell him about all the fish my kids caught, or my nephew's first deer-- all things we all expected he'd be around for. It does seem to ease the pain a bit to pass on what I learned from him, though. I'm sure you're doing the same.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

He sounded like a great father who will continue to be with you on all your hunts.

Lance

Please accept my condolences.
There are no words I can say that will in themselves curb your sorrow, but take heart in the memories, and pass along what you have taken from him. Nate

p dog shooter, what a great dad you have, and how awesome it is that he left you with such fond memories. Great folks like that are to scarce nowadays.

I'm jealous for the great memories you will keep as you hunt into this season and those to come, treasure that!

I'm sorry for your loss, and thank you for sharing with us about your dad.

My respects, Don.