What a week this has been...
Sunday I awoke to a phone call bearing the news we had been dreading, our brother in law had lost his battle with cancer. He was 53, one of the greatest outdoorsmen I knew...
I was fortunate enough to do his funeral service on Tuesday, hardest one I have ever done...
So I just need to blow off some steam and get some fresh air in these lungs...
I called a friend today and asked if I could just go walk around his place with my bow in hand...He said sure!
I arrived around 2:30pm, and grapped Maximus Stealth, my Mike Baker Longbow, 60" 52#@28". We went off on a long 3 hour journey together, the whole time with Mike,my brother in law, on my mind and in my heart...
Throughout the walk I could just sense what he would say or do in certain situations...at one place down on the creek, I just stopped, I have no idea why, then I looked over my right shoulder and a big Mule deer doe was 40 yards away in a thicket just looking at me very peacefully...I watched her for awhile and then she just meandered off on her way.
I continued on and I walked up the ridge of the creekbed to see if I could locate a turkey decoy I had left in the spring...Sure enough, I walked right to it and found it not 10 yards from where I had laid it down while stalking some turkeys. As I stood on the edge of the creek looking down, I had a big cedar tree at my back, again, I don't know why but something moved me to slowly turn around and look over my right shoulder...sure enough, 30 yards away stood the biggest muley buck I have ever laid eyes on, his antlers forked and then forked again, his body was huge...Again we just looked at each other for awhile and I even pulled up my monocular and gave him a good sizing up...He slowly tired of my admiration and eased off to the west..
I picked up my decoy and started to the south towards my pickup, what a day this had been...
As I was walking out, I stopped behind some cedars just to absorb the spirit of the day and breathe deep some fresh air...then off to my right walked out 5 gobblers...Now I had been trying in the spring and some in the fall to kill a turkey on this ranch...I watched as they crossed in front of me at about 20 yards...
I decided that even the rancher would encourage me to take one, so I quietly nocked an arrow and picked out the biggest of the bunch...he was third in line...
I drew Maximus to full draw and then heard all of you whisper,PICK A SPOT, so I did just that, and next thing I knew that arrow was on its way.
Just as I released, the big gobbler took a step to his left right at me...the arrow hit him just to the right of his beard. He was down...My heart was racing...
I ran over to him as his last breath expired from him...What a day this has been...
After gathering up my stuff and beginning the drive out of the ranch, as I was going up the ranch road with the sun setting in the west, a 20 bird covey of quail got up right beside my pickup...
My brother in law, Mike, was truly an outdoorsman and when you were with him you always saw game...I truly believe his spirit was with me today!
By the way ole gobbler weighed 22 lbs, had a 10 1/2" beard and 1" spurs...
Not a bad fall day to remember
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Thanks for taking us with you! Sounds as though you found some peace.
-Jeremy :coffee:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Froggy
Excellent story.....and I believe that Mike was walking right beside you all the way.
Winterhawk1960
"Speechless" !!!
Truly sorry to hear of your loss. Your story is very touching, and I'm sure your brother-in-law would be honored by the way you spent the day. His spirit was surely there with you, as he will be everytime you venture afield. Our loved ones live in our hearts after-all. God Bless.
Sorry for your loss.
Been there.
God bless
Sounds like a great day to me!
It was a great day, Mark. One I'll always remember...
Hey Barry, sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. I'm really glad you had maximus with you and made the perfect shot. That bow will be special from now on. By the way, if I recall, it was YOU who aquired the wood for the bow form, bought the materials and glued up the limbs. That bow has just as much you in it as it does me! I can't wait to chase some hogs with you soon! Mike
That sounds like a great day and a great way to remember some one special. Thanks for taking us along too.
I really envy anyone who can shoot a turkey traditionaly, because Lord knows I've TRIED! Great job ....Phil
Sorry for your loss.Mike will be glad to walk again along you.Congraqts for your shooting.
i think your brother-in-law would have been proud! he was with you when you went out in the feild and you saw alot of game. a wonderful day in the feild for sure. and you have a wild turkey for thanks giving how cool is that? thanks for sharing. ruddy
:thumbsup: :archer: :archer2:
Great Job Barry! Happy Thanksgiving Buddy! :goldtooth:
Barry,
Very good read there and I have things that happen sometimes in this life that I just say Wow God has just sent me a little pat on the shoulder to let me know He is always watching us wherever we go and that He is really who He says He is...When a loved one has departed from this earth sometimes we wonder about them so deeply and where their soul has ended up and then a unexplained thing happens and then you know our creator God Himself has that person in His arms...Just think one day all this will be explained to us in the next life...Sometimes we need to just go into the wilderness to hear God speak to our hearts and it sounds like He just spoke to yours...God Bless , Keefer's <")))><
Thank you sir for sharing that with us! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks for the story. Made me want to go down to Texas and hunt. That's a big bird! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Sorry about your loss, thanks for sharing.
:clapper:
Wow thanks Barry,
Barry, sorry for your loss.
Congrats on the gobbler. I'm bettin Mike was right there with you.
Thanks guys and yes Kenny I believe he was with me! By the way I love my new bow!!!!
:)
:clapper:
Sounds like the Good Lord gave you just what you needed that day.
Fine way to remember a great outdoorsman,believe he was along if only in spirit.
May God Bless you and your family.
Sorry to here of your loss. May Mike be with you on all your outings.As I feel my dad is with me.