remembering

[boneaddict]

I can tell you where I was to the minute this day 30 years ago.   It was my first hunting season and I was 10.  So many memories and traditions.   The smell of wet sage in the fall.......
I can only hope that there are some young hearts out there that are experiencing the same that I did.  Bless my Dad for all that he gave to me.   People talk of tradition.  I know that I have lived it.  I have come to hate change and time. 

How would I have known 30 years ago that I was building a foundation of who and what I am today, and that what I was living would be etched in stone in my memory.  Simply amazing.

[Austrian Hunter]

I'm not that old so I can't tell you what I was doing 30 years ago.      You getting OLD Bone! 

Great post and so true! 

[Bigshooter]

22 years ago was my first hunting season.  Hope the next 22 are as memorable as the last 22.

[Green Lantern]

21 Years ago for me. I can still remember every detail like it was yesterday. Thanks Dad.

[Hyde]

For me, it was 39 years ago. I was thinking about my first hunt all those years ago, and how excited I was. It made me wonder how many first timers were lacing their boots for their hunt today.

As I sit here in my clear cut with a full cell signal, I realize things have changed a lot technology wise, but nothing has changed with regards to the excitement of opening day.

[DuckDr.Duke]

My first deer hunt with a rifle was when I was 12 that was 1990. I remember it vividly because it snowed the entire time and I missed a 1 x 2 muley. I wish I could have made it out this year.

[mulehunter]

When I finished 10 grade Highschool before Summer tyee h.s., My mom kicked me out.    Moved back  Search a place to live as Studio Apt by H.S. Ephrata. live myself from summer before 11 grade H.S. until today with out any help.  I am glad that Guy I grew up decide to show me the good future and spend every Sagebrush I walk by learn millions way from guy and taught everything about hunting Big Mule, Pheasnt, quail, Rattlesnake, Coyotes, Many stuff.  It was 22 years ago.  If I never met those farmer family Name Tim and Dennis. I thank lord for them to stand next to me. I probablly end up jail or no where to live and probablly never be a hunter.  Every year I remember great moment thing I learn about hunting tradation.  I am very very thankful today what I became who I am today.   I am looking forward spend more time with my daugther in future.

Enjoy hunting season.

Mulehunter.   

[Idabooner]

I feel sort of empty this morning, like something is missing. This is the first hunt I've sat out for many years, guess I've made the circle. I can still remember every detail of my first solo hunt 65 years ago, I was 11 years old.  The fresh smell of the fir trees, the warm sun breaking through the fog patches, the fresh track in the trail and there he was standing there waiting for me to shoot.  The pounding heart, the open sight picture of the 32 special jumping around, trying to hold steady on his lung, then the shot and he run 50 feet before dropping.
Iv'e had many many adventures since with Bone and the other boys, but now I will just wait for you guys storys.  My old legs won't get me out past the pumpkin patch any more.  It's the hunt that I always enjoyed more than killing something.  Have fun out there.

[CedarPants]

Great post Bone.

14 years ago for me.  Wasn't a hunter growing up, then Grandpa bought 20 acres in 97' when I was a sophmore at EWU.  He handed me an old Winchester model 88 in .308, handed my dad a Ruger M77 in 7mm Rem mag, and said "let's go hunting".  That moment changed my life.

Dad shot his first buck and I shot my first buck one week later.  His was a 2x2, mine was a 5x5.  The memories created around the campfire are something I cherish.

I've since bought the 20 acres from Grandpa and will soon be taking my boys to hunt up there.  Dad and Grandpa don't hunt much anymore, but they both tagged along and hung out at elk camp 2 weekends ago.  The smiles on their faces seeing me bring my first elk ever into camp were even bigger than the smiles on their faces 14 years ago when they saw me bring my first deer into camp.

[cle elum bowhunter]

32 years ago, we camped up the Chiwawa even though it was only a 30 minute drive from the house.  Open sight 30-30, and dad let me venture out of camp on my own since I was a mountain boy and knew my way in the woods.  I "snuck" through the woods all weekend and never saw a deer.  Did hear shoots fairly close around me a few times though.  I am sure that my sneaking was more like a bull in a china closet.  Took me about 10 years to learn to sit still for more than 2 minutes, and then I started seeing more deer.  4 years ago I took my son out for his first season, walked into one of my honey holes from when I used to hunt modern in the dark.  Sun came up and saw two guys sitting about 200 yards up the ridge,  decided to move over the ridge.  I suggested we relocate to a draw just over the ridge,  we hadn't gone 200 yards when shots rang out behind us.  Guess after all these years I am still good at pushing deer.  Thats why I love bow hunting, at least I don't know how many bucks I push to other hunters.

[7mag.]

I sit here at work, remembering opening mornings of the past. When I turned 12, my dad put me through hunter safety and let me start tagging along with him on his hunting trips. Opening morning immediately took the place of Christmas morning, as far as excitement level for me. I still love the rifle opener to this day, even though the hunting usually isn't that great this early. I pains me to have to be at work on opening morning, instead of taking my son hunting with me.

[matt345]

I was 11 or 12, about 25 yrs ago and my dad took me to hunt down off the river near Cottonwood Idaho, I shot the biggest buck I have ever shot 32 inch spread Mule deer( I need to ask my dad if he has any pictures of it) with my 22-250. What a memory, it is forever burned into my brain. Working on creating that with my boys now!

[steen]

I didn't come from a hunting family but my sister's husband got me started at age 27.  Our kids are starting at 11-12.  They already have the feel for our traditional hunting camp, which we are not doing this year.  They miss it already and so do I.  Normally I'd be on top of a mountain today soaking up the warm sunshine.  It is fun looking through the album and seeing the kids grow up in hunting camp.  One is getting married next summer, oh my!!! (to a hunter , of course)

[bearpaw]

I can tell you where I was to the minute this day 30 years ago.   It was my first hunting season and I was 10.  So many memories and traditions.   The smell of wet sage in the fall.......
I can only hope that there are some young hearts out there that are experiencing the same that I did.  Bless my Dad for all that he gave to me.   People talk of tradition.  I know that I have lived it.  I have come to hate change and time. 

How would I have known 30 years ago that I was building a foundation of who and what I am today, and that what I was living would be etched in stone in my memory.  Simply amazing.

Great post..... know what you mean. 

[silverdalesauer]

It's been 27 years since my first hunt. I'll never forget when my father took me out - it was on my grandfather's woodlot (800 acres at the time) in northern Maine.  I remember the cool October morning, the smell of pine and apple trees and soft earth from the muddy logging road we walked. I'll never forget carrying grampa's 20 gauge side-by-side shotgun (it was heavy for a 12 year old).  We had stopped to look at some deer tracks in the mud when all of a sudden my father turned around, jacked in a round (he was carrying his .32 Win Special) and BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! 

   My heart was racing and I stood there shaking thinking "What the heck just happened?"   

While showing me how to identify a deer track he heard and spotted a big buck in the brush right next to us. It was likely the deer from those track we were looking at. And as soon as he shot the deer bounded through the woods.  Later, we found it dead by a log and found a hole through his ears (must have been hit when he jumped).

Oh, I'll never forget my first day and all those memories that come sweeping back. Its better than Christmas - It's Deer Season!!!

Can't wait to get out next week for 5 days!