I knew the day was coming! My father said no more hunting!

[rtspring]

Dad sat me down today and said no deer hunting this year just Elk.  As some may remember my dad came off the mountain last year in an ambulance. (Mild stroke).
Im guessing he will hunt elk this one last time!!!

Hunting will never be the same!!!

Rtspring

[jrebel]

Very sorry to hear this.  Make sure this years elk camp is one to remember!!  I can only dream of another hunt with my dad, even though he is with me in spirit every day. 

[MLBowhunting]

Amen to that 

[X-Force]

Sorry to hear that.

I'm definitely not looking forward to having that same conversation. My dads 66 and will be 67 by deer season. I wanted spend more time with the family so EA and modern for me this year.

Enjoy the season.

[lastmk8]

RT, that is powerful, just like any son's conversation with their father.  It take's a long time for a young man to understand how smart that old *censored* is, in the end we all know how smart Dad was.  Sounds to be near the end of hiking mountains, chasing game and the great times together in nature.  Make this one the one to remember, put in your time and effort, it is the day you become the leader, ... the man.  Your dad... our Dad's know the score,. they just pray they have given us the knowledge, skill, and will-power to carry on this awesome tradition.... Dad,. we will miss you on the mountain, but you will always be by my side......  Make it the best year RT, looking forward to the post and pics.

[GoPlayOutside]

Put everything else aside...and soak up the entirety of the experience.  Get some good pix also.

[Austrian Hunter]

I'm sorry to hear this!  Make the last one special!!!!   

[20 Minutes]

My dad has been gradually pulling back over the last few years. I will give him credit; he goes up on the hill every deer season, which is NOT easy for a guy with 2 bad knees, and has gone through a major back surgery. He loves to hunt with me, but I know the end is near. Deer season has been cut to 2 days, because where we hunt it is a hard to harvest an animal after day one. He has shot so many deer in his lifetime that he does not really care if he gets a deer. It is more about being with his son and grandson at this point. Elk season is a little longer, because he still wants to get one last big bull. He will always hunt both, but he has been gradually passing the torch these last few years. I would love to see him harvest one last deer and elk.

[Moose Master]

This is sobering.  As a father with 4 boys and only two in the area that conversation with my son would be tough.  I've got one son in Australia, one in Florida and two in the area but only one hunts.  The time I spend at camp keeps me going all year long.  This wasn't a easy conversation to have with you as a dad.  So as many others had said, make camp as fun and memorable as possible.

[fishngamereaper]

Very sorry to hear this.  Make sure this years elk camp is one to remember!!  I can only dream of another hunt with my dad, even though he is with me in spirit every day.

  Amen to that.

[kckrawler]

A few years ago my dad was diagnosed with MS and can't walk more than 10 feet on flat ground. He was 53 and I was 30 at the time of the news. It's one of the worst things I've ever had to wrap my head around, not ever being able to actually hunt with him as a grown man myself. I feel your pain brother.

The one way I've learned to deal with it is to cherish the time I do get to take my dad out to chase whitetails, as limited as it may be, and I wouldn't miss that long weekend with him for anything in the world.

[fireweed]

My father has been been declining for a few years now.  He's hunted and bought a license every year for over 60 years.  This year he probably won't hunt.  I sure wish the WDFW had some sort of certificate or honorary license for folks like my dad.  A "thank you" for hunting and sponsoring conservation for over 50 years.  A retired, honorary hunter.  If you read this, Dad, thanks for introducing me to hunting and the outdoors. 

[zagsfan1]

My dad has lung cancer, and his time with us is running short.  The last few years he has made it out hunting, but is limited to watching from the truck and taking short 10 yard walks to watch certain draws. 
It has been one of the hardest things to deal with, knowing he taugh me everthing I know out in the field. He has never taken a trophy deer or elk and has hunted on public land forerver.  I wish the state had something for people like this.....I am hoping to get one more season with him..My son is 12 and I would love for him to see my son  harvest his first deer.

[xXLojackXx]

I often think about this with my dad. I started hunting with him when I was 10, he was 40. I used to walk through the woods with him when I was 5 as he showed me how to stalk and check wind, etc. now that I'm 25 and he's going to be 56 this season, although he has several more years on hunting with me, he has slowed down considerably when it comes to climbing mountains with me. I try to ignore the thought of him not being at camp with me one day, but I guess everybody deals with it and all we can do is enjoy the time we have now. Best of luck this year with yours RT. 

[20 Minutes]

My father has been been declining for a few years now.  He's hunted and bought a license every year for over 60 years.  This year he probably won't hunt.  I sure wish the WDFW had some sort of certificate or honorary license for folks like my dad.  A "thank you" for hunting and sponsoring conservation for over 50 years.  A retired, honorary hunter.  If you read this, Dad, thanks for introducing me to hunting and the outdoors.

I agree with you. If they did have a "thank you" license, they would probably charge for it. Perhaps they should start tracking license purchases and after so many years; give it to them for free as a "thank you". Seniors have plenty of financial resposibilities, when it comes to healthcare. It would be nice to see them give back a little.

[Todd_ID]

Very sorry to hear this.  Make sure this years elk camp is one to remember!!  I can only dream of another hunt with my dad, even though he is with me in spirit every day.

I could only wish for one more minute sitting in the snow next to my dad as we plan our next push down a ridge.  2001 was the hardest year of my hunting life.  I'll never forget those times we had.  Ever.

[kentrek]

my dads getn to be the same way...really hope he has a couple more seasons left in him but its not looking good..really wish i coulda hunted more with him

good luck everyone

[SniperDanWA]

I feel for you guys.  Thanks for sharing.

I only wish my dad would have taken the initiative to go hunting with me.  I've had to learn on my own, trust others to give me pointers, etc.  That is why when my son asked to go hunting, I said you bet.  I has not been hunting for 20 years.  A lot has changed.  So far, no harvest, but that may change this year as he drew elk multi-season.  If he gets any draws, there may be a good chance.  I'm hopeful, for him and me too as it will be a great father son experience.

[Fullabull]

My dad has been coming up to WA from CA to Archery elk hunt with me for the last 5 years or so. Each year it gets harder for him. He is now 74 so I have been very lucky to have him still go and hunt. We can't go much more than a mile in on good trails but I'll take whatever I can get. Last year he had a much harder time of it. I shot an elk and I hiked out to get bags and a cart, when I returned he had tried to start gutting the elk but found he could just not do it. He felt really bad that he was not able to help much. I told him I was just happy to have him there with me. I ask him every year to walk and get exercise. This year he has done some walking but it's getting real close to him not being able to hunt. He is still shooting a 60# bow and has the will to give it another try this year.

Now I need to talk him into taking his bow poundage down to may 55# so he can hold it more steady.

Sorry to hear about your dad, I hope I can hunt with my son for another twenty some odd year.

[MAVsled]

I'm in my mid 50's, my father in his early 80's.
Dad hasn't been able to get out in several years now, due to health.

I miss him a lot while in the elk woods, hunting various special areas of ours.
but pictures and video of my hunts keep my father pleased to at least see the woods.

take lots of pics on your last trip together and share pics of your future hunts.
my dad and I sit down after a nice dinner and review my elk & deer seasons in January each year.
He really wishes he could have joined me on my out of state hunts in AZ for archery deer!

[cem3434]

My dad has lung cancer, and his time with us is running short.  The last few years he has made it out hunting, but is limited to watching from the truck and taking short 10 yard walks to watch certain draws. 
It has been one of the hardest things to deal with, knowing he taugh me everthing I know out in the field. He has never taken a trophy deer or elk and has hunted on public land forerver.  I wish the state had something for people like this.....I am hoping to get one more season with him..My son is 12 and I would love for him to see my son  harvest his first deer.

I went through the same thing with my Dad. I cherished every moment hunting with him and will never forget the lessons in life that I learned while in the field with my Dad. Enjoy what time you have with him and make some last ing memories.

[Boss .300 winmag]

My dad has lung cancer, and his time with us is running short.  The last few years he has made it out hunting, but is limited to watching from the truck and taking short 10 yard walks to watch certain draws. 
It has been one of the hardest things to deal with, knowing he taugh me everthing I know out in the field. He has never taken a trophy deer or elk and has hunted on public land forerver.  I wish the state had something for people like this.....I am hoping to get one more season with him..My son is 12 and I would love for him to see my son  harvest his first deer.

Have you thought about putting your son in for a doe permit?

[Old Man Yager]

Been there with my Dad too. He's almost 83 now, but he hung it up 7-8 years ago. 2 of my best hunting memories were spotting 2 deer for him, and he was able to harvest them both. It's funny how you come full circle sometimes. After he shot his last buck, we were laughing because he said " Man, you guided me to this deer, and coached me through shooting it, just like I did for you when you were starting out! Good job, I guess you learned something from me." Thanks Dad!!

[buckhorn2]

My Dad was 83 on our last hunt it's still such a great memory. He had a cow permit and a disabled permit and were parked on the side of the road looking at some elk. A sheriff pulled up behind us and ask what was up we told him about dad and he said if he has the permit shoot and I will help Dad was in the back seat and my boy loaded his gun for him and helped line him up and he shot and down went a cow. The sheriff went back to his car and as we were getting ready another sheriff showed up and they both helped us get Dads elk out and helped load it in our truck.

[zagsfan1]

Thanks for the encouragement. Last year we went over Northeast and tried to get both dad and my son  a whitetail doe, but those darn things are fast.....Especially for a 12 year old. Maybe...he will be around to try one more time this fall.  We definitely learned a lot about how to approach them for this next season. thanks rtspring for starting this conversation. tough topic and helps to talk about it with others.