This is What it's All About

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410.bird.shot

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A couple years ago I moved out of state due to my bride and me finding work there. I grew up hunting birds and deer with my dad and those are some of our greatest shared memories. Unfortunately, I've had less and less time available to go hunting with my dad since 2008. Today, I called him up to see if he was going Pheasant hunting in October, and to tell him my wife and I had decided we'd make whatever sacrifices it took for me to be able to join him.

I was driving down the road at the time, but I heard a rush in his voice and I could tell he was on the verge of happy tears. It was a real gut check for me as well, as my dad lost his 58 y/o pop when he was 25. Dad's 63 now, and I'm 29. I am so excited that it hurts, and I can't wait to walk across the plains with him again.

The funny thing is, we live in the Southeast, so it's a 22+ hour drive to South Dakota...with dogs, gear, and a few pit stops along the way. That doesn't matter to us, though, becuase this gives us the time to be together doing what we love to do. And that's what hunting is all about for me. To say the least, you can bet my kids will be in the fields with me one day.
 
Treasure it while you can buddy. My dad died when I was 19. Hunting memories are the best I have with him.
 
That's really cool! Hope the hunt is successful! Although whether or not you get anything I'm sure it will be a great time just hunting with your dad again!
 
Enjoy your time in SD. I was born here and have lived here my entire life. Chances are I'll die here. I couldnt wait to move when I "greww up"....then I grew up, and realized there wasn't any place I'd rather be. Few people, good gun laws, and excellent hunting and fishing....I don't need a whole lot more to be happy. Just curious, whereabouts in SD are you hunting. I grew up in South central SD, but live in the capitol city these days...
 
You are very lucky, I wish I had that kind of relationship with my dad. My son is 2 and my daughter is 4 months old. I really hope that when they get older we can go hunting together. I think those are memories that will last a lifetime.
 
Have a great time. Most of my best childhood memories involve hunting or fishing with my dad. We still do elk season every year together. I am certainly thankful for the time I've spent and the relationship I have with my dad.
 
I will turn 61 in a few months, so I'm your dad's age. I have a daughter than I brought up fishing, but not hunting. Having a son that loves to hunt must be a fantastic thing. I never had a dad, really. My dad died a few months ago at age 91. He was a jazz musician, lived in Houston, and left when I was 3. I was raised in the outdoors by my grandpa. So, I guess, I can relate a father relationship to my grandpa. He got too feeble to hunt (according to him) in the late 60s, but we fished together until he passed away in 1981.

Savor the relationship. It's not that common. :D
 
Cherish those times with your dad, take lots of pictures! My Pop passed on 6 years ago, how I miss fishing with him, hunting elk and deer also. Some of the best times in my life were with him, enjoying the mountain lakes, riding horseback and watching a huge gang of cow elk calving one early morning, we just sat and watched them for over half an hour....... precious memories! Sure miss that man.
 
This is great.. as stated Cherish it all!

I did the same thing you did about a decade ago.. I miss the mountains I grew up in and the outdoor activities I used to do. Fishing was me and my dads thing and hunting was with good friends that were more like brothers.

My dad is in mid 70's now and those moments on the lake are fleeting day by day.. Opportunities offer less and less windows as we get older remember that!

I am near 50 and me and my bride have looked each other in the eye and made the "what are we doing so far from home statement"

We have this year started downsizing eliminating debt and making plans to be on that lake and live below our means to not even need a hectic job in order to hopefully spend a few years with our parents.... I hope it all comes together soon.

But make sure you come back and show us some pics of the Great Pheasant Hunting Reunion of 2013! We will eagerly await them :)
 
GOOD FOR YOU!

And good for your dad. I'm 63 now and I think back and wonder many times..."if only..."

We all have regrets as we get older. You are doing something to prevent that. Wear it with pride.

My dad passed when he was 50 and never lived to see his grandsons. He could have taught them things about an earlier time and been so valuable to them. I'd like to hunt with him again.
 
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