A 100 Year Old Man

[RRock]

Boy, am I gonna be in the minority here. Let me back track just a bit.

The past month I watched my best buudy of 14 years go steadily down hill. My best buddy C.J.
got to the point were arthritis wouldn't let him get up out of his bed without help most of the time. His sight was going as was his hearing. There were times he was confused and I could tell he didn't know exactly where he was.

Sure, he had day's that he was better than others. Last Monday I finally let my head over rule my heart. Last Tuesday I let him go, one of the sadest days of my life. A big hole in my heart. I know as painful as it was I made right decision, not an easy one but the right one.

Now, back to the "Old man". I know that I would have made that same decision with my heart if it had been me. But, after watching C.J. I might have thought differently. Could I have imagined that grand old man being unable to get up out of his bed, not being able to sustain himself with food and water and the end result of that. Worse, not being able to get out of his bed and being and easy meal for the coyotes. I hope not, but that's my head doing the thinking.

I suppose, if I were there I would have let my heart do the the thinking, not that my heart would have been right after what C.J. taught me.

I'm just glad it wasn't me. For the love and respect of the Whitetail, what is the right answer?

By the way, C.J. was an Irish setter who in his day could find birds with the best.

Just so there is absolutely no confusion, I am not finding fault with Barry's way of thinking or what he did or didn't do. I guess what I am saying is because of so recently seeing the age in C.J.'s face and the pain in C.J.'s eyes, I might have transferred that to the grand old buck. If I had, I'm sure I would have felt pretty darn sad, but I usually do when I take a whitetail.

[sheephunter]

Can see both sides of the page, taking into account what RRock said. Had to put my buddy down a couple of years ago because of the same type of situation.

But on the other hand, you generally do NOT regret the times when you DON'T shoot as much as when you take the shots you DO have to debate inside your head.

My two cents.....

I can applaud your decision not to shoot Barry and thanks for sharing.
Simple fact of the matter is that it was your decision to make at the time and if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

Great read, Barry!

Bisch

Great read, Barry!

Bisch

[DesertDude]

Pretty Cool.......The things we see.......

[Dirtybird]

Very cool perspective Barry.

[Burnsie]

Kind of choked me up just reading about it. Thanks for sharing Barry.  I would like to think I would have made the same decision, but its hard to tell unless you're actually put in that position. The end nature has in store for the Old Man could certainly end up being cruel and ugly, making a swift, sharp arrow through the heart seem like a gift. But I'm going to put aside all the thoughts of the many unpleasant things that might await him and instead believe he will peacefully fall asleep for good, some cold clear night.

[cacciatore]

You did the right thing letting this old buck go his natural end.this is for sure,if not the only one,one of the few to have complete its cycle!

[Sixby]

That was a great tribute to one that survived against all odds. I agree with your perspectives and respect.
God bless you, Steve

[Keefer]

Barry,
 That's why we love Traditional Archery so much..It isn't all about the Big trophy's we love to hunt but it seems to find through all this hate,violence and life we live in today that we have a soft heart and we respect what God has givin us each day...It truly shows what Thansgiving means to some of us..You were Thankful to have the privlage to witness an old Buck that survived the elements and still see how Great our God is to let this buck see another day...It kind of makes one wonder that as good of a deer hunter you and your brother are and as much about the whitetail you have invested in your life that this one has taught you the most important lesson about Traditional Archery and yourself and that is you  "Praise Him" for His creation of the Whitetail Buck from the birth of a newborn Fawn to the day it lays in it's last bed...Great story Barry and I enjoyed it very much...Glad it happened to you.....God Bless,
                                  Keefer's <><-

[Sockrsblur]

Great story Barry thanks for taking the time to post it!

[Quickblood]

Barry, your decision was the ultimate display of RESPECT!

[centaur]

Those who don't hunt have no concept of our love and respect for the animals we pursue. Thanks for putting some of those feelings down in writing, Barry. Let's hope that old deer meets a peaceful end.

[Big Ed]

Fantastic story!!

[Tater]

Barry,
     Great read.....only a hunter could understand the range of emotions you experienced while watching that Buck.

    You did the right thing out of respect..

[Bert Frelink]

Great Story Barry,
Thank you for sharing so many over the years.
Regards.
Bert.

[meathead]

Great story Barry.  Thanks for sharing.  Can't wait to see the pics.

[Mudd]

The common denominator between both sides of the choice that had to be made is... both sides are showing respect for the animal(s).

I am blessed to share the same cyber space with you folks.

God bless,Mudd

PS: Thank you Barry for bringing honor with you in your story and sharing your thoughts with us.

[katie]

Very cool.
I have an old man at my place as well. I passed him last season. Only have him on camera this year. His rack has lost loads of mass in just one year. It is now all twisted looking.
I ponder the same question when it comes to shooting him.

[GRINCH]

I'm glad you passed on him,it's extremely hard for a deer to get to his age,he deserves to finish his life in peace.