I loved it!

       

Well done Josh    

That was incredible!! What a wave of emotions you took us through. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to read more of your work, you are truly a gifted writer. Good luck to all this season!

Such Power.

Such raw energy and emotion.

I sit here before this screen hoping nobody at work will see the tears welled up in my eyes.

I'm at a loss to fully understand where these emotions come from.

Having had to make some tough choices in life that resulted in no kids of my own...and seeing the years fade and not having that "connection?"

Or the pure raw energy that coursed thru my veins with the hunt?

Or having to see myself further down that path knowing my own age has already robbed much of the "someday" dreams that this old body might not allow anymore?

Doesn't matter. Each of us was drawn in and related in different ways and at different levels.

Joshua, that was pure poetry in motion.  I don't know where you had go to emenate that level of emotion and feelings, but we all thank you for taking us along for the vicarious ride.

Excellent! May all broken relationships be so mended and with time, all hearts revealed so healing can begin!

Beyond excellent,Thanks for sharing.      

excellent story

doug77

Joshua, excellent journey.  Thank you my friend.
Shick

Thank You and Well done! Maxx

Bravo! Well Done Josh.      

You brought-up emotions I didn't know were there. I have a daughter 9,000 miles from me that I haven't seen for 16 years. Oh, to share a hunt with her and maybe make things right between us.

Good Luck this season, I hope you run into a Monarch on your mountain.

great job!! Thanks for the ride.

Cant say it any better than Smokin Feathers, "Thanks for the ride!"

Bravo!!    

Nathan

Thank You. I got goose bumps still.

What a treat!
I have been wanting someone to tell me a good story, and here you came, traipsin' through my computer screen. Happy endings for everyone, even the Monarch.

Thank you!
Killdeer

This is the best sports writing I have seen in many  years.  I mean that a bunch as I grew up reading Corey Ford, Alistair McBain, Havila Babcock, Archibald Rutledge and Nash Buckingham just to mention a few.
   
Your spinning of words and placement of characters is exquisite.  I was drawn further and further into the multi personality plot of man, place and animal. I have  literally hung on each installment.

You are gifted.... Do not let this lie below the surface of who you are.  Continue to put your "minds tales" in print...  please, at least, so an older guy can read stories that are not presented in "bytes" and live a life (although vicariously as I likely will never get to hunt elk again) with characters deserving of our attention.

My God this was good.......

This has been GREAT ,Thanks!!!

Great job of writing. I think hunters, more than most sports people, realize that at the end of a successful hunt something usually dies. Sometimes it's a better hunt when you've been challenged, didn't make the kill, but came away with something even better.

Keep these stories coming. There is so much garbage published that it's a treat to read something really good.
Ron

Oh my goodness, this was head and shoulders above any thing I have read in a long time.  You are an extemely talented wordsmith, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your gift with us.

The sub-plots in this is amazing, when is the next season? Please don't make us wait a year!

Bravo,