Tim,
  What great pictures and a superb way to pay tribute.

Grouse

Moving forward.....

Fred passed away on Saturday, he was 58 years old, a young man in all respects.  The past few days have been difficult to say the least.  Deer season is still going on here in PA and this is the first time in 23 years I've not walked through the woods with my buddy.  

Final services where yesterday and it was 2:30 when we made it back to the house, mentally exhausted.  The phone ran not long after and it was Fred's wife asking us to dinner with the family at their home.  I told her my wife and daughter would be along but I was headed to the woods.

Isn't it amazing the affect the woods have on us, nothing provides the relaxation and calming affect like sitting on stand.

I got a late start and rather than head to a property just down the street I headed to Kennett, a property Fred took me to the first time we ever hunted together.

Tim my prayers are with Fred's and your family's God Bless.

This is a heart wrencher for sure. My thoughts are with you Tim. I can't imagine how you are feeling right now.

My sincere and deepest condolences.

Paul

Sorry for the loss Tim, hunting buds are a special lot and the life long ones are too few.

TJ

God bless you and Fred's memory.  

My own version was a similar story.  A "larger than life" character that was my bowhunting mentor, great friend and we lost him far too soon at 60 years of age.

I don't know what heaven holds but I can hope there are sunsets, campfires, meat on the pole and guys like them to share it with.    

My condolences. Its hard to see the good ones go.

       you will always have the memories

Our woods here in eastern PA are covered with a 6 inch blanket of snow.  It's still soft and very quiet so I headed up the hill to a small funnel.  I have a stand hung in the creek bottom but rather than climb up and sit down I grabbed my climber and opted for a tree Fred had always hunted.

It was darn near 4:00 when I finally got settled in, late but fortunately I didn't bump a single deer and tracks were "everywhere"!          

To give you folks a better perspective....I'm hunting a small property, 12 acres tucked in between high end sub-divisions.  The wind was steady and cold from my left at 10 mph.  I was on a bit of a rise so wind changes are not much of an issue.

Not long after I noticed a small 5 pointer making his way up and past me at about 10 yards.  The second he got on my right, he caught my wind and locked up.  He was uncomfortable, but kept moving without much incident.

Not long after I caught movement to my right and half a dozen deer were headed in my direction, walking right pass the 5 pointer who just stood there watching.  About as down wind of me as you can get.          

About now I noticed that I had a bachelor group of bucks coming right at me and the second one in line was a dandy!

So tell me....what are the chances of 5 bucks running together in January and walking right at me!     :(      Kind of eerie, eh???

Sorry for Freds and your familys loss.Hunting buddys are lots more than just good friends.And his name fit him well BIG FRED.Thanks for sharing your good times together.

He was obviously "a giant of a man" in more ways than one.

I am sorry for the loss

Tim,

So sorry to hear about the passing of your good hunting buddy.  God bless!

The first buck was a small spike and he locked up for a second at 10 yards.  The larger buck was right on his tail and pretty much bumped him out of the way.  All I saw was thick, heavy, white antlers and that's all I need as the buck tag in my pocket began to burn my leg!  :rolleyes:

The big guy cut off to the right and stopped head down, eyes up locked right on me!  I didn't move and darn not breath!

All of a sudden he shook like a dog and walked away!  My arrow instantly crashing into his rib cage!  Bucks exploded in every directions, little ones and big ones.  My yellow fletch burying into the rib cage of one of the fellows.

The shakes set in as I sat down and replayed the scene.  The shot was decent, not great but enough.  It was pretty much center of the body high to low and right to left.  A liver shot most likely.  He took off hard and low providing one final glimpse at about 80 yards.

I sat quietly..........

I am getting the shakes now---I know your buddy is watching over you.    

Must have a bad monitor here... it's getting blurry.

Prayers sent for comfort to all of his family and loved ones.

OK im hooked

Man i have to go to work i will check this out latter.  

BigCountry, we must have the same monitor brand! Condolences to you and Freds family. Your day in the woods sounds just like the healing medicine you needed! Thanks for sharing and look forward to the pics.