Thank you, it was a good read. There've been some great posts and I think that there are many respondents that I'd enjoy hunting with and like always a couple that would be interesting but I wouldn't seek out.

The answer for everyone is the same. Each of us defines the greatest bowhunter, because the goals and motives that drive each of us are different. There is a follow on story to,"my walk in the mountains" and for those interested in why this old man is my nomination for the greatest bowhunter read on.

After hooking up and walking for a while the man with the deer on his head asked, "why the gun and the bow? I replied that I was trying to cover my bases because I wasn't confident in the big woods. If I got one close enough I'd take it with the bow if not, I'd use the rifle. He then offered that he preferred bow hunting but he needed winter meat. He then asked if I fly fished. I said yes and tied my own flies. He walked on and then said, in context, "if you want to be successful with the bow you have to commit to it, if you need meat take the rifle". He then asked if I could find and identify natural salt licks in the big woods. I said no and then he proceeded to tell me how. After a short quiet period he asked me how fast I moved while hunting. I replied, "one step forward, look around, count to three and take another step. He replied, "too fast. Take a step, search out as far as you can see in a 360* arc and then in to your feet, close your eyes, do it from your feet out to the limits then take another step". He then asked how I used the wind. Like allknowledgable hunters I said I kept it in my face. To which he replied, "no good! If you're moving at the right pace you will never catch up to a deer browsing in front of you. Hunt crosswind, that way a deer moving faster than you will have a chance to catch upand if you're moving at the right pace you'll have a chance to see him before he sees you". This ongoing tutorial lasted the entire three hour walk. The time flew and I was wishing it could go on and on. Finally I screwed up enough courage to ask him if I could go out with him some time. He gave me his name and phone # and told me to call him in early March and he'd take me out scouting for the upcoming season.

I called in March but he had passed just after Christmas. I had learned more from him in three hours than is possible to imagine. I often wonder what other lore he could have passed on to that 17 year old kid. Obviously, my own personal definition of a great bowhunter.......

I apologize forthe long boring post but I have been thinking of him lately..

laxdad