Hey Guys,

I am having a little moral issue with myself. I have an aquaintance that I hunted with a couple times that has recently committed suicide. He was a guy that I would have never seen this coming. Cheerful, good attitude and no family problems as far as I knew. Well, his family has asked me to come and take a look at his hunting gear and see if I want any of it. They just want it gone, but he has a bunch of nice gear. Should I make an offer to give them some $ for this stuff? I feel bad because they don't have any idea what they have. I think I will just take my check book and write them what I can and try not to offend anyone.

Mike

Mike:

SAME THING happened to a friend of mine, last year (his friend committed suicide). He also had a NICE cache of guns that were very valuable.

What they did.....was take the guns to a dealer. What they did with the hunting equipment (and he had some very nice gear).....was offer it to friends of his (and themselves) realizing that hunting gear (most of it.....in the second-hand market) loses a LOT of value. I think your friend AND his family would want you to use the stuff.....and I don't think you should have any moral issues over offering them a fair price for it.

This sounds like what you want to hear, I know......but isn't it true??? Imagine if someone else posted this.........and then think about what I said.

Jeff

Sorry to hear about your friend.

Yeah I would have to think if it was me, and I passed on somehow... I would want my brother and my other good hunting partner to go through my things and take anything they wanted and make sure they use it to kill some Monsters...

Sorry to hear of the situation...

Very sorry to hear of the loss.


I think you have a very good idea. Talk with them, and let them know you are prepared to pay or donate if they'd like, but don't push them either way. Do more listening then talking.

They would be happy just giving it away, but you know better.

Give them what you can afford. If this was a good friend and you use his gear it will be like he's hunting with you even though he's gone. That would be priceless in my book.

Sorry about your loss.

I'd give the sort of "remembrance" item. Maybe not something as corney as a plaque, but something that your friends family can remember him by. Maybe a real pretty hunting picture of you and him together on a hunting trip or something like that.

I would cough up some cash. Sorry about your friend. It is strange people can have so much torment inside and nobody notices it.

Firsrt I am sorry for you loss. I would be lost without some of the guys I hunt with. Secondwould you want some stranger using your stuff if you were to pass. I know I wouldn't and I don't know to many people that would. Be honored they asked you and if you can't give them alot of money tell them you can't. I doubt iit is the first thing on there mind.

Thanks for all of your responses. This is a really hard thing to go through. I went over yesterday and met with the brother and an attorney that is helping with the estate. I was just real honest with them and told them I was not comfortable with just taking all the stuff. The attorney started and account for the estate that will go to the daughter. She is 3 and I think that is great. I gave them a fair price and it all ended really well.

Thanks for all the help.
Mike

If his family will not take any money for the equipment, offer to make a contribution in his name to whatever organization his family thinks he would have liked, such as a local scholarship, make a wish, local game club, etc. Would be a nice gesture at a very difficult time.