BIG Buck Down

[whacker1]

Do you need the PTO for the Ruby hunt?  just saying.... there are other hunts to think about.

[hunterheinz]

Nice buck bone. Congrats. Are you sure about the score though, it looks about a 150-160 class buck. Have you had it officially scored?

[boneaddict]

Yes it was officially scored.    Pathfinder and bowman have absolutely summed up the two camps or voices in my head which have been literally ripping me apart that last year or so since they have become seriously involved in sports.   Ask Idabooner.  he just shakes his head I think when he sees me pulling off the mountain early.  Even my Ruby hunt is in Jeopardy.   I have the vacation whacker, though its TIGHT.  I've burned alot of midnite oil and gas in order to make it back to not miss a game.   One of my issues with some of these sports lately though is that they don't go for a season.  They are becoming year around conflicts.  Its almost crazy.

[hunterheinz]

Damn, I better have my deer scored than, it may go over 200!

[Pathfinder101]

Well Bone, PathfinderJR is a bona-fide sports-nut.  He plays everything; football, baseball, basketball, and in the summer soccer and flag football...you get the idea.  And he LOVES that I help coach when my job allows me the time, and that I hardly ever miss a game.  BUT, he understands when I have to miss a game for work, and he has no problem if I miss a game of his for an extraordinary hunt.  Last year and this year I drew Montana, so I'll miss a couple of game in November and I know for a fact that if I cancelled my hunt because of his game, that he would feel bad.  I know what you mean, and I hate to miss a game, and if it were a playoff, or a championship game, then that would be different.  But for a general season game...?  Our hunting seasons are very short, and we don't get to pick them.  
I forget who said "What is the best time of day to go fishing? The answer is; whenever you can..."

[Idabooner]

   Ask Idabooner.  he just shakes his head I think when he sees me pulling off the mountain early. 

Ya, you got that right

[coachcw]

my little princess is now playing fallball , this softball is year round looks like I'll miss a game for my multiseason deer tag , it's gonna be crushing since 2nd grade she hasn't missed a practice or a game and i've been there to see them all and coach. now as a eighth grader she understands how short hunting season really is, bring home a huge buck and a gift from dads trip and they will be ok with it.

[coop2424]

It sure does seem like your girl really likes it when you go out hunting and bring something home.  I think if it is a regular season game go for the hunt I know it is hard just make sure to bring a big one home for your girl.. I think that is most likely what she would want but I may be wrong..   

[87Ford]

I can tell you that my dad never missed one of my high school wrestling matches. He even quit his job so he would be able to watch me wrestle my last matches in the Tacoma Dome.  I am glad that he was at every one of my matches.  Nothing better then looking to the top of the bleachers before a tough match and seeing my dad give me the fist pump meaning "Lets go....Leave it all on the mat."

I just happened to run across this post from my son, bowman.  He's never before told me how glad he was that I never missed a match.  Maybe it never crossed his mind that I could miss a match.  I was just always there.  As time goes by and he looks back at his wrestling I think he'll appreciate even more that I was always there.

I used to work with a guy who would often wonder out loud why his adult son rarely came to visit.  Come to find out his son played high school basketball and he NEVER went to a game.  Hmm?  I think that says something.

For me, I wouldn't trade the pride I felt every time my son stepped on the mat for a world record Muley.  And that's the truth.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Funny that you mention making it to the youth sports activities as parents now.  My parents never made it to my Baseball or Wrestling events. They were into sports at home, either listening to the radio or watching television but not into the weekend or evening events I was participating in. There were excuses.. I knew.  They just weren't as competitive as I was. I was the little guy at school and always seemed to be proving myself as a tough guy.  Now our boys, maybe on the smaller side of the croud, but not the smallest, have become accomplished athletes on thier own in their chosen sports. I don't miss a game/contest at all if I can help it. Momma either. One of us are at games even if there are schedule conflicts. We have switched from the Soccer field to the Baseball field across town at half time. We've been torn, when one kid is competing across state in an academic or sporting event, and the other is committed to a sporting team in the other direction.  Last night my eldest had an indoor Soccer game at 11pm in Bellingham. (yeah, on a school/work night) After a little task of the evening with Testar77, I just had to run into town and watch him play. I didn't even think twice about it.

The oil companies love us!

The boys 'say' it's not important that we're there. Still, I know they appreciate it. And I hope down the road they do the same for thier kids. Every kid is different. Every set of parents is different. I have been fortunate to see divorcees standing on the sidelines rooting on thier kids with ruthless abandon. Civil. Cordial. Countless times I see parents embrace at the successes of their kids. Makes a parent proud, grinning from ear to ear. Even a tear once in a while. Tears of joy! Seldom sorrow. Even when there is sorrow, there is shared sorrow with that child. That's how we grow. That's how we teach them that everything isn't going to be handed to them. They need to work hard to be successful in athletics, academics, carreer and relationships.

I do not have a big buck down as the title of this thread pronounces. (Boneaddict)  I had some time in the high country mid/late last week. At times I wished I'd have started the high hunt many years ago. But that would have been through the youth sports of my boys. Even one extra week or two of hunting when they are little and starting flag football or basketball in the fall is a loss for a parent. Now, they join me for general deer season. The youngest hunts ducks with a buddy. Someday all too soon they'll be so tied up with college or starting adult lives of their own that they can only make it to deer camp for a short while. Hopefully after that they'll be able to sit around the fire again for the whole season. Maybe even bring one of our then grand children and/or thier wives too.

There will be time to hit the hills. Then I'll feel guilty for not making it to one of the grand kids games and rush home to the scrimmage line.

-Steve

[quadrafire]

Well said Steve!

[ICEMAN]

My real thought is that there needs to be balance. It is important to do both if possible, but it is not always possible. We have two kids in two sports which occasionally conflict. One event may be bigger than the other..IE: A ballet performance versus a routine Takewondo event. One is bigger than the other. We go to the performance. We explain it to the kids. They understand.(Or at least they say they do...)

The other balance which is important is regarding the parents need for their time as well. I am not sure that a parent should miss out on something which they absolutely live for, which cannot be done at another time versus a routine children's event.  Your kids know your passion. They also know you love them. Occasionally as a parent we miss stuff. Life happens.

I would ask for the child's input to help reach the decision.... An understanding child can give the gift of a guilt free trip to the parent and feel really good about themselves. Not very often that a child can get involved in decision making and also be in the position to give something to their parents. Kids are smart. They can see that their parents too have a life outside of just being a parent. My kids see this. They understand.

[boneaddict]

A couple great posts guys, definately some of the best out of this thread.  I think Ice they'd be happy or wouldn't mind at all if I go hunintg.  My youngest has even said you deserve it dad (this last week) coupled with a hug.  However, I am alot like Steve.  I think its more me than the kids.  I am learning that I finally justify going hunting, yet when there, guess where my mind is at.  It seems I have "wasted" alot of gas this last year committing to hunting, then making a midnight run off the mountain because I decided missing their gmae was just something I didn't want to do.  You guys are getting a larger dose of Bone then you need.  You are getting into the mind of a solo hunter.  One of the hardest emotions a solo hunter has to deal with are these kind of things. I've probably missed a lot of sheds this last year, coming home early to see the hundreth basketball game.  I'm sure its only going to "get worse". 
Idabooner helps out a bit, but is also a good Dad and sits back and lets me come to my own conclusions.  He sees me struggle at times out there when we are on our trips trying to justify me being away.    Good thoughts guys.  I enjoy reading your opinions and feelings.   

[hunterheinz]

Is this a hunting site or cosmopolitin. I'm sorry fellas but I love my kids just as much as the next guy but come on this is starting sound like a womens magazine article. Lets talk hunting!

[boneaddict]

I'm glad you are so manly heinze.....You should go get another 200 incher or 300 pound cub.