Yesterday was the end of an 11 year wait for me. WHITE RIVER!!!!!! WHAT?? I am going to share something that the people on this site might appreciate.
My dad grew up in Lead, South Dakota hunting whitetail to help feed his family. For this I will forever be thankful. Dad was a scientist and later became super religious ( I know it doesn't make sense ) so we were never really close except for the 1 week a year when he took my brother and I hunting above Twisp . I believe for those 7 days dad didn't struggle with his inner self. when I turned 18 I stopped hunting with a riffle and went to a 30/30 contender (pistol) to make deer hunting a little more challenging. Well that didn't work either, dad taught his son to think like the food you hunt. On to the bow. Holy crap I was hooked. Yes It was hard wearing orange careering a cheap bow during modern season.
Life changed in the home front like it always does and one day, poof, no more hunting with dad in Twisp. Forward a few years .... brother moves to Alaska and we start hatching a plan. The three of us had not hunted in years together. Dad's parkinsons is pretty bad by now making this trip we are planning requiring even more thought. No guide, lots of maps , rented a pontoon boat , satellite phone , lots of mountainhouse chile mac , 30 miles of river that has more forks than an all you can eat buffet. fast forward ... got a nice moose or what dad would say " we got meat" .
Fast forward again ..... dad has past on. That had been his last hunting trip ever. I have continued to hunt because it is in my blood and I love the meat. I have never taken a record book animal but that's ok. Like dad taught us you can't eat the horns. I miss dad a little bite more than normal before the start of hunting season. This year is going to be a different. I love you dad but
" I AM GOING AFTER THE BIGGEST , STINKIEST FREAKING ELK IN WASHINGTON"
