Yeah, I know, we haven't even got 2011 underway yet.
Took my weekly phone call from Dad a few weeks back and along with came some bad news. He told me has been diagnosed with Advanced Macular Degeneration. For those who do not know, this is a degenration of the macula on the retina and can cause legal blindness. He's 74. It's hereditary and with my check-up last week (I'm 48) I show no early signs of the this. Here's a link for those who want to read up a bit; he has the dry version:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amd.htmHis eye doctor has told him with amount of degeneration he presently has that he would guess that anywhere between 2 and 5 years he will be legally blind.
With the above said, I want to take him on what very well could be his last elk hunt where he can be the one behind the scope. My last hunt with him was in 2006 in Montana, so I am WAY overdue to have another father/son hunt. This time, it will be 3 generations. Add my son-in-law to the mix.
Dad is a Montana resident, since 1999, retired. Since 2000 we have hunted together 3 times in MT. Prior to that and over the years, I have hunted another 6 times there. I have hunted 4 different areas of the state; Crazy's, Absaroka's, Bitteroot's and Sapphires. The one place I have not ventured into is the Bob. It's on my bucket list. This may be the time.
Physically, Dad is in excellent shape for his age. No real limitations on where to go. He just doesn't move as quick at 74. Go figure!!!
Give me some other ideas if you would please. No problem going back to where I've been before either.
