My Grandfathers life will soon come to a full circle. I never had a father figure except him, he had tought me alot. He is why I am the man I am today. He got me started in the outdoors, and tought me to respect wildlife. He never deer hunted but rabbits and squirles were dinner lots of nights. I have a new Widow coming in around 2 weeks, and will give them a call to put my grandfathers initials under my name. Its sort of a tribute to him. His body is tired and heart weak, but his mind and spirit is still in the out doors. He can't get out hunting anymore so I shoot enough squirels for him and my grandmother. I was just wondering how many of you fellow tradgangers has done something similiar?
First and foremost, my condolences to you and your family.
My paternal grandfather was the one who started me in the outdoors. When he died in 1988, it was a huge loss. I still think of him and miss him a lot. Shortly before he died, he made a new set of hunting arrows for himself. Sadly, he never got to take them afield. For the past several years, I've capped, crested and fletched my arrows identical to that last set of his. It's my way of taking him with me every fall.
The three on the right are my grandfather's. The one on the left is mine.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/wesbrock/arrows.jpg)
He'll always be with you, whether or not he is around physically. My Paps died before I really knew them.
My Father died when I was 7,my Mother remarried when I was ten.Within days he built me a slingshot. A month later I had a BB gun. His two sons cared nothing about hunting or fishing so he became my Dad real quick. When I wanted to try bowhunting at 13 he came up with an old fiberglass bow and some arrows. At 17 I sold my deer rifle and bowhunted exclusively. He thought I was nuts but helped me in ever way he could. I could`nt get him to try it until he was 66 years old. I bought him a bow arrows,and quiver and taught him how to shoot. He killed one his first time out. It was wonderful I could do some little something for him for all he had done for me. Even though he was`nt my father he most certainly was my Dad. And like you I am the man I am because of him and I miss him dearly.
Frassetor, That's a fine thing to do.I offer my condolences.
I lost my father in 97(car accident). He wasn't a bowhunter, but he got me started in archery by getting me my first bow(one of the old solid glass ones). I still have it and shoot it sometimes.