The Old Hunters Last Stand

[AL WORRELLS KID]

When I was a Kid back when Deer still outnumbered the Hunters.
 One of my fondest memories on Opening Day, was watching for The Old Hunter who each year, would stake his claim by setting up Deer Camp on a switchback along the main Deer Trail that crossed over Bethel Ridge above Hwy 12.
I seems some years back his knees had given out, so instead of bushwhacking along the ridge with the main force, he would patiently wait next to his Camper for the Herd to be chased his way.
 Just as your favorite Team, might "High Five" the Coach for luck (before heading out onto the Field), The Old Hunter could be seen holding Court around the Coffee Pot with Folks that had stopped to ask if he'd seen anything lately?
 On Opening Day long before the stars had disappeared in the East, we would be in our 4X4 headed up the Old Logging Road from Trout Lodge where I had spent a sleepless night in our small cabin on the Tieton River.
 Making the curve we could see the old Guy already out warming his innards in front of his campfire, Rifle across his knees, his uplifted coffee cup saluting our passing.
My Dad used to tell me, " If we can just get up to the top of the hill before daybreak, we might stand a chance of one of the "Brush Busting Road Hunters" pushing that Big Buck right past our stand."
 
 More than once it had paid off for each of us, driving past his camp with our own Buck mounted to the hood of our Rig, there a few other hunters were helping the Old Guy hang up his own Buck.

 Good things come to them that wait, (and sometimes they run right through your Deer Camp!) 
Doug

[outdooraddict]

I love these stories. I love elk camp. In fact today i got a stove for my wall tent and and a stove pipe. I cant wait to sleep in my own canvas tent. Just cause its mine. Even though dad has room for me. i want to use my own. Never know who is watching and years later will mention you in their memories. Driving past ur camp. Ill likely not see you guys where i camp. Mostly out of state. But the campfire is always open and the cooler always has a cold one for you to drop by and visit

[AL WORRELLS KID]

.  The campfire is always open and the cooler always has a cold one for you to drop by and visit.

Thanks outdooraddict, for the invite. 
Doug

[baldopepper]

Fun story- brings back memories, my father shot his last deer at age 87 sitting in a camp chair around the fire in our camp.

[boneaddict]

Nice story.   

[SuperX]

Nice!  Reminds me of my papa

[OutHouse]

Neat story. All right in my neighborhood. Must have been great hunting back then. I hear a lot of stories about the mule deer hunting in the 350- 360 units. Times have changed.

[huntnfmly]

Love those type of stories thanks for sharing.
About 17yrs ago during  my daughters first hunt we met one of those old timers while hunting behind perrygin lake his name was curly and was trying to help my daughters out taking time from his hunt. He Sat just off the road on a game trail for several days after that.
We drive by and noticed him at his little Bronco so we stopped and he told us he just shot a buck so we all piled in. He had a disable permit on his truck which allowed him to drive down and load up his buck.We took pics with it and my girls then we wrapped it in some plastic and got the whole thing stuffed in the back.
Drove us back up the hill to our truck that was the last time we saw him great guy

[cedarriver]

 That's what it's all about. Thanks for the story and taking time to notice and share, hopefully we will get there someday.

[gee_unit360]

Cool pic...

[Man Tracker]

Thanks all for sharing

[bigmacc]

Thank you.

[no.cen.wa]

Great story, brings back memories of many old hunters I've met in the Methow. In my teens and 20's I would marvel at their stories, now at 70 I always try to pass them on. Five generations have hunted our favorite places, I've got one more now, a great grandson, two months old, guess I'll make sure to hang around a few more years so I will have hunted with the sixth generation! Boy will I have some stories for him!
John G,
born 1948, in my grandfathers house in Twisp,,,, now thats only part of the story.

[JakeLand]

Great story, brings back memories of many old hunters I've met in the Methow. In my teens and 20's I would marvel at their stories, now at 70 I always try to pass them on. Five generations have hunted our favorite places, I've got one more now, a great grandson, two months old, guess I'll make sure to hang around a few more years so I will have hunted with the sixth generation! Boy will I have some stories for him!
John G,
born 1948, in my grandfathers house in Twisp,,,, now thats only part of the story.

would like to hear some stories and pics !!!!

[AL WORRELLS KID]

The Older I get the more I try to use my head instead of my back.
 Finding where the a main deer trail crosses the logging road and laying in wait uphill from there, makes for a much easier drag downhill to the rig. 
Doug