Bittersweet two week elk hunt.

[Elk4me]

As many of you know by reading Fishseeker's post regarding the Bethel Any Bull Tag that he and I got drawn for. We did go hunting. This was the first time in many years that my brother and I went elk hunting together. We hunted the first week and did not see anything besides a couple two point bucks and a couple does. I had to come home to work a few days on the second week but my cousin and his friend were there in camp with John. I came back to camp Thursday night and we went back up on the mountain Friday morning. Around 8 AM a few cows and a small spike came out of the trees and as it turns out I was the only one to have a shot as he stayed surrounded by the cows. I had to hurry the shot and missed the first. The second one hit him but not enough to drop him in his tracks as the last four I shot. Fishseeker came down and we went into the brush after him. He was wounded and we eventually found a spot of blood and I did finally get him. We all worked on getting it cut up and out and even as bad off as John was he managed to carry a front quarter to the bottom of the hill, then he gave it over to one of our partners.
It was a good two weeks and during those two weeks I had the gut feeling that this was to be our last hunt together. As most of you know now from reading my post in Virtual Campfire this is the case.
After drawing this tag that John had been waiting 15 years for he had convinced the doctors to delay a surgery on his neck to remove lymph nodes and repair damage from the cancer radiation. He had the surgery Monday and did not come out of the anesthesia. He is now on life support and the family is gathering as I type this.
Everybody, please don't delay that last opportunity to gather with friends and family, especially out in the woods be it hunting, fishing or just enjoying our great outdoors that our God put here for us.
I will cherish the past two weeks forever.
Scott Murphy

[jason stevens]

This is a sad day we've known john and kathy for a long time they stayed with us for awhile last year suck a wonderful man he even helped replumb my moms house for free when she was dying I'm sickened by how this went down. With all my love to the family if you need us were here.

[et1702]

Sorry, having far too much experience w/cancer lately myself (i.e., wife's Ovarian cancer), I was one of the guys telling John not to delay and get his butt into surgery ASAP.  However, it sounds like he went out doing what he loved most.  Time spent in the woods this season w/him was a precious gift.  Although I was asking him to get it taken care of right away, I'm not sure I would have done it any differently myself.

Prayers & Condolenses to you and your family.

ET

[jackelope]

Prayers continue....sorry to hear this. Glad he got his hunt in, wish it didn't go down like this.
Best wishes...

[quadrafire]

So Sorry to hear this news.

[C-Money]

Prayers sent, Really sad news, cherish your hunt memories.

[idahohuntr]

Everybody, please don't delay that last opportunity to gather with friends and family, especially out in the woods be it hunting, fishing or just enjoying our great outdoors that our God put here for us.

Sound advice right there.  Many prayers to you and your family in this difficult time.

[Curly]

Sorry to hear that news.  It's nice he got that hunt in. 

[FordGuy]

My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family!  I would probably do the same if it were me.  We too were in the Bethel unit with three any bull tags.  We ended up filling just one tag but, the memories of hunting with my brother and aging dad will never go away.  Sorry to hear how this hunt has ended up, but it is very cool that you got to spend spend some great quality time together!  You will remeber that hunt for the rest of your life!