Well, it finally happened

Matt Valinsky · 08-02-2018, 12:53 PM

My hunting buddy has hung up his spurs. We've been hunting together for so long I can't for sure recall when we started, but it's been awhile. Last year in the U.P. he had a little trouble moving along with the dog but I thought he did just fine.

Last night my wife asked me what now are my plans for this fall. Before I could open my mouth she said, " At your age (71) I'll tell you what your not going to do, drive 12 hours from home with two dogs for two weeks by yourself to heaven knows where. End of story". I guess she might be right maybe this one time.

So it looks like me, Maggie dog and Gus dog will be chasing the State of Ohio "put and take" ditch chickens, the occasional woodcock and perhaps, just perhaps we might hear the last two grouse in the state flush. It would be way to much to ask to actually see them.

Well, I might have lost my hunting buddy but I still have a buddy and I sure in hell hope this isn't the "end of the story", for a long time.

Dean Romig · 08-02-2018, 01:23 PM

Matt, you just need to find a willing partner to share the two weeks with. Don’t despair - he’s out there somewhere.

.

Mills · 08-02-2018, 01:34 PM

That is not good. Like Dean says, try to find another hunting partner.

davidboyles · 08-02-2018, 01:49 PM

I turn 72 in Dec and I've been at this game since my Dad took me at age 8. I walk , I practice shooting and get goals out there for hunts that are challenging. I try not to hunt by myself anymore but if I have a credit card and my dog and open roads to the mountain states from Tx I'd be on my knees for a kitchen pass!!! Find a new buddy you may be surprised what's out there when you network. PGCA good place to start!!

Randy Roberts · 08-02-2018, 01:51 PM

Been there Matt, actually I am there right now with a member of our group that has been going to South Dakota for a number of years. Dementia has been working on his memory for a number of years and last year it was bad, really bad, so bad that he is not making the trip this year. I have watched this man enjoy hunting for over 40 years now, he is 74 years of age and as fit physically as can be. He can still walk the fields all day. Sad to see it happen.
Good luck with your search for that hunting partner. You never know that person may be at the Hoosier SxS Classic this month, see you soon.

Harold Pickens · 08-02-2018, 03:00 PM

Hell Matt, rent a nice cabin and take the wife with you. Make a side trip or 2--like to Iron Mtn. one day and up to the Picture Rocks or Marquette up on Lake Superior another.
Never did get to talk to you about your hunt last year, was only about 30 miles away.

Tom Flanigan · 08-02-2018, 06:08 PM

That's a sad situation. I won't have that situation since I prefer to hunt alone most of the time. I guess it goes back to the seed planted in my brain when I started hunting. My grandfather forbid me to take anyone with me and said that the only company a boy needs in the woods is a good dog. I do like an occasional day in the field with someone with the same sensibilitites as myself. But I prefer to go solo most of the time. It's the same with my fly fishing. I do the Rockies for greenback cutthroat trout for five days a couple or three times a year and it is alway solo. For me, being about 10 miles from the nearest human for almost a week is wonderful.

BRDHNTR · 08-02-2018, 07:58 PM

Matt, give William (Bill) T. Esham MD a call in Portsmouth, Oh. He will go out with you. Bill was my hunting buddy when we lived in Minford.

charlie cleveland · 08-02-2018, 08:03 PM

hope you find another hunting partner long as you got a dog with you your in the best company there is...my grand daughters little jack russel follows me and does whatever i do today she helped me cut to yards she rides anything i ride...last year after my heart attack for a while i could not walk very far had no interest in hunting at all...but about 3 months ago suddenly i had the urge to shoot my guns again work some on my old cars and my strengh has come back alot it s tuff growing old....maybe you will have lots of hunts left...charlie

birddogdoc · 08-03-2018, 09:22 AM

There's a great story of the late author John C. Phillips, MD who was found dead (while grouse hunting) slumped over his double gun and bird dogs beside him...although I believe he liked to hunt grouse dog less.

Here's a little piece I wrote in 2010 on the Upland Ways blog:

https://uplandways.com/2010/04/15/odysseus-of-groused/

That's the way I hope to go!