Don't take them for granted again!
04-02-2005, 01:36 PM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chester County Pennsylvania
Posts: 869
Don't take them for granted again!
I know the older users have read this but I finally have a picture of the bird that goes with the story.
It all started when My wife gave birth to my son on March 13th 2003.
Unfortunately he didn't survive. We had to make a decision whether to
cremate or bury him. We decided to have him cremated. Well, anyway I told
him as he passed in my arms that I would take him hunting. (sorry if this
offends anyone).
So here we go: It's 3am in the morning as the alarm clock goes off, it's been
a long week of hunting and it's the second Saturday of the Spring season. I
had been guiding all week and had called in many birds for my clients but
today was my day to hunt. I got dressed and put the canister with my son in
it in my breast pocket close to my heart. I woke up my brother law and told
him it was time to go. He got up and got dressed all the while we discussed
what bird we were going go to after. We decided on a bird that was out close
to an intersection of an old logging road. We put on our turkey vests and
started the long dark walk out to the spot.
Upon arriving at the spot I wanted to set up at, I put out my hen decoy,
picked a nice blow down to tuck into and a tree for him to lean against. It
was a beautifully quiet and calm morning. As the sun started to rise it just
made the walk all the worth while. About 15 minutes after the light broke I
heard him gobble on his own about 100 yards in front of us to the south. I
waited for him to gobble again and started my soft tree calls. As soon as I
started, he gobbled back at me and a hen started calling back about 60
yards to the west of me. ( you know that feeling you get when you know
you're where you're supposed to be :-) ) Well he gobbled for awhile and I just
hushed up. The hen got more and more excited as he gobbled. At about
6am I saw the hen fly down and heard the gobbler fly down. The hen started
calling to him pretty excitedly so I started mimicking her but getting a little
more excited than her. I could hear him coming towards her and saw her
walk out onto the logging road and just stand there as if to say here I am. I
stopped calling for about 15 minutes and just listened to him gobble at her. I
then could tell that he too had stepped out onto the logging road but was
just on the other side of a hill in the road. I watched as she perked up. I
started calling to him excitedly again and he responded with double and
triple gobbles. He then shut up but I could here the famous pfffffftttttt
drummmmmmmmmmm. I could hear him coming closer. I touched my
breast pocket and said to my boy it just doesn't get any better than this.
The First thing I saw was the Awesome fan coming up over the hill. Then he
stepped up over to show me his impressive beard and body size. He was
brilliantly colored with all the bronzes, reds, whites, and of course blues. I
watched him walk up to the hen and just strut like he was the king. I started
shaking with (I don't care who you are; you shake at a sight like that)
excitement. I kept calling to him and he kept strutting for me. He got with in
25 yards of me and hopped up on the bank of the road. I watched him for
awhile til I could get a clean shot at him. I took that special bird with one
clean shot. I walked over to that majestic bird and gave him thanks for being
there and giving his life for me and my son. I looked skyward and thanked
God for giving me such a gift. I spread some of my Son's ashes there where
the turkey laid since it was my son's bird and not mine.
I just wanted to share this with all of the turkey hunters, and I hope that
nobody is offended by my story, if you are I apologize to you. Thanks, Pat
It all started when My wife gave birth to my son on March 13th 2003.
Unfortunately he didn't survive. We had to make a decision whether to
cremate or bury him. We decided to have him cremated. Well, anyway I told
him as he passed in my arms that I would take him hunting. (sorry if this
offends anyone).
So here we go: It's 3am in the morning as the alarm clock goes off, it's been
a long week of hunting and it's the second Saturday of the Spring season. I
had been guiding all week and had called in many birds for my clients but
today was my day to hunt. I got dressed and put the canister with my son in
it in my breast pocket close to my heart. I woke up my brother law and told
him it was time to go. He got up and got dressed all the while we discussed
what bird we were going go to after. We decided on a bird that was out close
to an intersection of an old logging road. We put on our turkey vests and
started the long dark walk out to the spot.
Upon arriving at the spot I wanted to set up at, I put out my hen decoy,
picked a nice blow down to tuck into and a tree for him to lean against. It
was a beautifully quiet and calm morning. As the sun started to rise it just
made the walk all the worth while. About 15 minutes after the light broke I
heard him gobble on his own about 100 yards in front of us to the south. I
waited for him to gobble again and started my soft tree calls. As soon as I
started, he gobbled back at me and a hen started calling back about 60
yards to the west of me. ( you know that feeling you get when you know
you're where you're supposed to be :-) ) Well he gobbled for awhile and I just
hushed up. The hen got more and more excited as he gobbled. At about
6am I saw the hen fly down and heard the gobbler fly down. The hen started
calling to him pretty excitedly so I started mimicking her but getting a little
more excited than her. I could hear him coming towards her and saw her
walk out onto the logging road and just stand there as if to say here I am. I
stopped calling for about 15 minutes and just listened to him gobble at her. I
then could tell that he too had stepped out onto the logging road but was
just on the other side of a hill in the road. I watched as she perked up. I
started calling to him excitedly again and he responded with double and
triple gobbles. He then shut up but I could here the famous pfffffftttttt
drummmmmmmmmmm. I could hear him coming closer. I touched my
breast pocket and said to my boy it just doesn't get any better than this.
The First thing I saw was the Awesome fan coming up over the hill. Then he
stepped up over to show me his impressive beard and body size. He was
brilliantly colored with all the bronzes, reds, whites, and of course blues. I
watched him walk up to the hen and just strut like he was the king. I started
shaking with (I don't care who you are; you shake at a sight like that)
excitement. I kept calling to him and he kept strutting for me. He got with in
25 yards of me and hopped up on the bank of the road. I watched him for
awhile til I could get a clean shot at him. I took that special bird with one
clean shot. I walked over to that majestic bird and gave him thanks for being
there and giving his life for me and my son. I looked skyward and thanked
God for giving me such a gift. I spread some of my Son's ashes there where
the turkey laid since it was my son's bird and not mine.
I just wanted to share this with all of the turkey hunters, and I hope that
nobody is offended by my story, if you are I apologize to you. Thanks, Pat
04-02-2005, 01:54 PM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Waynesboro Pa USA
Posts: 553
RE: Don't take them for granted again!
Pat,
Each time I read that story, it still drives home to me that each day in the woods is a precious thing that should not be taken for granted. I thank you again for sharing your story with us and I wish you the best in everything you do. You show us all that hunting isn't all about kills, it's much more than that. It's the time in the woods we spend with loved ones, and also the time in the woods we spend alone to reflect on life, loved ones, and the ones we've lost.
My wife and I lost a son a few years ago, and I know first hand how powerful the woods can be to help us collect our thoughts and come to grips with the trials that life sometime throws at us.
Thanks so much, Pat!
Jon
Each time I read that story, it still drives home to me that each day in the woods is a precious thing that should not be taken for granted. I thank you again for sharing your story with us and I wish you the best in everything you do. You show us all that hunting isn't all about kills, it's much more than that. It's the time in the woods we spend with loved ones, and also the time in the woods we spend alone to reflect on life, loved ones, and the ones we've lost.
My wife and I lost a son a few years ago, and I know first hand how powerful the woods can be to help us collect our thoughts and come to grips with the trials that life sometime throws at us.
Thanks so much, Pat!
Jon
04-02-2005, 04:10 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IA/MO
Posts: 742
RE: Don't take them for granted again!
Pat I have never read anything so great. The outdoors means a great deal to me and I can tell to you as well. It brings us many wonderful gifts everytime out. Some so suttle you don't recognize. Good Luck this spring. I know someone will be with you again.(if you know what i mean).
04-02-2005, 11:18 PM
#6
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Seagrove N.C. USA
Posts: 7,281
RE: Don't take them for granted again!
Pat thatwas the first time I read the story.
I feel for you.
I haven't lost a child but I have lost two brothers.
Both being twins.
The first to die was Kinny he died in 1964.
He fell down a flight of stairs and hit his little head
On a window seal and it split his head open he was two years old.
I remember it like it was yesterday I could see his brains.
Then David Beane, 38, died Monday, April 29,
2002, at Duke University Hospital in Durham NC.
He left a wife and a son Annette Beane ( Wife ) Elijah Beane ( Son )
Since this post.
Starting in Oct 2005 2 of my cousins another brother and my father,
Passed Away.
I don't know just how you feel but its close.
So you are in my heart and prayers.
jrbsr
I feel for you.
I haven't lost a child but I have lost two brothers.
Both being twins.
The first to die was Kinny he died in 1964.
He fell down a flight of stairs and hit his little head
On a window seal and it split his head open he was two years old.
I remember it like it was yesterday I could see his brains.
Then David Beane, 38, died Monday, April 29,
2002, at Duke University Hospital in Durham NC.
He left a wife and a son Annette Beane ( Wife ) Elijah Beane ( Son )
Since this post.
Starting in Oct 2005 2 of my cousins another brother and my father,
Passed Away.
I don't know just how you feel but its close.
So you are in my heart and prayers.
jrbsr
04-03-2005, 07:19 PM
#7
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chester County Pennsylvania
Posts: 869
RE: Don't take them for granted again!
I put this back on because I was asked to post the pic of the bird. I sure hope thought hat you all may take an extra minute to think abou twhat we have out there. Pat
03-22-2006, 02:42 AM
#9
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Starlight, Indiana
Posts: 547
RE: Don't take them for granted again!
Pat, I am sorry to hear about you and your wifesloss. I lost my father when I was 14. I remember alot of things about him, like the times we went hunting. I still have weird feelings sometimes as I enter the woods, like someone is with me. I think that anyone who hunts respects the simplicity of this style of life. No cell phones, no busy streets, a time a place to get a way from the daily grind, kind of like getting one onone time with other nature. There is so much in life that most people take for granted and do not even relieze they do it. I have a son, whois 4 now, i take in the woods with me onocccasion, usaully when theweather is permitting. Pateince is on order, should be here in the next couple of years but it makes it all worth it when I come home and he has his camo on and running around with a cap gun shooting his NWTF JAKE backpack. Good luck this season.
