My brother hosed me....

[ShirtGuy77]

Was supposed to fly over to Idaho on Thursday for the long weekend to go scouting.  Well, he got called out on a fire in Utah and is heading over there first thing in the morning.  Said it's going to be a 14 day trip.  Was just getting prepared tonight so I didn't have to go crazy doing it tomorrow.

Sucks for sure.

[bobcat]

He probably need to make some hunting money!  It does suck for you though. If he's gone 14 days will that interfere with your planned hunt?

[ShirtGuy77]

It definitely helps him out, as this has been a slow year for them from what I understand.  He keeps apologizing, but I have told him he needs to do what he needs to do.  The chunk of coin he can make for his family to get them through the offseason is much, much more important than him and I scouting.

Won't affect our hunt season, since we hunt early November.  But we are heading to higher ground this year in hopes of locating the elk, so we need all the scouting we can get.  Have another friend that hunts the same unit over there and think we may be able to hook up and still make it work.  And I would still get to spend some time with my nieces and nephew.  That's always a good time.

[ffgus]

Been there, done that. I got a chance to be deployed to a fire in California 2 days before Elk opener in 07. One of the toughest decisions I ever had to make. I ended up going to Cali and missing all of Elk season. I am glad I did, we had a great 14 days in Cali. Might never get to do that again.

[Skyvalhunter]

But you missed out on a chance to get that book bull!!

[ffgus]

Not that year, but my dad and I both have Peaches Ridge any bull tags this year. I won't be taking any fire assigments in October this year.

[cle elum bowhunter]

ffgus- I tagged out on a cow the 2 days before we left for Cali in '07.  Had my buddy deliver it to the butcher.  You sitting on a modern tag?  My Peaches tag opens next tuesday. 

[ffgus]

Cle Elum - Yep, we have modern tags. 11 years to get em. We hunt the 346 side.

[ShirtGuy77]

Well ffgus, thanks for what you do.  Having many in my family that either continue to fight fire, or have fought before, I know the life.  You guys don't get enough credit for the hard work you put in, and it can be taken for granted.

So thanks for fighting those wildfires...

Gary

[bobcat]

Ah heck, they don't fight fires for "credit," they do it for CASH!   

[ffgus]

Well thank you Gary. Its something I really love to get out and do when I get the chance.

I caught the wildland firefighting bug when I was 20 and got hired on with DNR where I spent 2 years on one of their engines. I made $6 an hour, not exactly doing it for the cash. Once I got hired as a career FF on the westside, getting my wildland fix was tough. Now I am fortunate to work for a department that allows me to deploy to Eastern Wa a few times a year and see some action. And yes, the cash is much better now..

[ShirtGuy77]

Ah heck, they don't fight fires for "credit," they do it for CASH!   

precisely my point.  Police and structure fire guys do it for money as well.  No credit for what wildlfire crews do.

It's a shame.