Not just hunting

[MT.music]

Today I chased a bobcat up in some cliffs and when I got to the top of the mountain I sat on a rock. Looking down across the valley and below me I seen my dad on the road leaning against his truck. Now he has had hounds all his life pretty much and he is 56 years old. He has diabetes and has had a kidney transplant and multiple heart surgeries and has no toes on one foot and only one or two on the other. In and out of the hospital for 20 years now all kinds of health problems. Just got out of the hospital for congestive heart failure and the day after he is going hunting. Hunting is basically killing him all the toes he has lost on his feet are from sores from snow boots and the diabetes. Now anyway, back to the rock as I was sitting there looking down on that old man leaning on his truck, because he can't hike anymore. Only goes to listen to the hounds hoping for me to bring him a bobcat or a picture of a mountain lion just to bring back some old memories or make some new ones. He sits in his truck from hours on end from dark, to dark until I get back just listening to the hounds waiting for my story. Anyway I guess where I'm going with this is it made me realize that is isn't just hunting. It isn't just the partnership between man and dog or being in the mountains or on the river or wherever you may be. or the good comrodery that comes with it. The beautiful view and all the things one sees. But maybe a combination of all things. But it means a lot to me and a hell of a lot more to the old man. Anyways, it is not just hunting is it? By the way, the cat i was chasing went in a hole in the side of a cliff where he sits 4 another day

[Patrick]

You are damn right.
Only it wasn't my father, it was one of my few good friends.
It isn't catching the game that makes them hope to hear the strike, maybe some cold trailing, and part of the race. To hear the stories about the tree, and maybe if all goes well a good jump out race.
Pat

[blueliggs]

thats cool as it gets u need to get him on here to give us new guys good advice.

[Clarka57]

Thanks for writing, and you are completely right. I agree with blueliggs if you can have him share some stories with us.

[Ike]

Thanks for sharing the thoughts and story about your father with us MT.music, cause putting stuff out there like that (the personal stuff) is tough. Time passes and aging or health issues touch all of us.

It's not just hunting, but the memory of our youth; a time when each of us were young and strong. Your father is lucky in some ways, as he can watch you follow the hounds and relive his youth through your eyes, your legs, and those stories you return with.

ike

[mojo]

That is one of the best stories I've read. It really touches home plate. Starting to run dogs I've learn for the Men that have done it from the start. It isn't about the hunt or the kill it's the love for the dogs and the time that you have put into the training and the hunt itself. Nothing better than to watch your dogs light up a race treed or not they still did their job and you go home happy. Lets just all hope that we can sit at the truck and listen to the dogs and hear the story from our sons or daughters.

[TUCO]

Mt. music.Thats the best read ive seen on here in awhile ...is your fathers name Ed H. ??

[Big Horn Posse]

Wow! That choked me up. You hit the nail on the head there. My son Charles tells me all the time that the best times of his 21 years were the ones he spent on the mountain with me. I had to hang it up due to a knee injury, but I still long for what you described, hearing the hounds, the views looking off the mountain to the Wyoming prairie below, the excitement of getting to a tree with Charles and the look on his face when he sees a lion in the tree and how proud he was of his pups he had. Those were the best times of my life and the bond between a mother and son that is unlike any other. He tells everyone proudly how it was his mother who taught him the most about life and made him the man he is today because of all those years we spent on the mountain following hounds.

I hope to get back into hounds slowly but surely this year. Might never be able to hunt like I did before, but I am miserable without having a hound and being on the mountain.

[Powder River Walker]

Man that was a story that hit me hard. I lost my dad a year ago he was 54 and died of cancer. We never hunted to gether but we team roped and after reading that I should have appriciated the little things like that more. They need to save this story so people can read it for days to come, because every one can relate.

[Mike Leonard]

Excellent post and right on!

There is so much more to it than just another hunt. We all should stop for just a minute the next time we are out there and just say a word of thanks for the blessing of being able to experience it.

[sourdough]

I have to agree with the above. Great story and life lesson count your blessings.

sourdough

[O'Hare Taxidermy]

Hey everyone, new to the forum. First post Ive read since I became a member. Was compelled to say very well put!

[twist]

Very true, I have found out without your HEALTH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS a person has nothing, enjoy every minute. later, Andy

[Daniel Tremblay]

Amazing post. Its things like that, that make life worth living. Keeps you motivated and striving to go on. I'm only 23 and barely getting started in the life of hounds but its people like your dad that motivate us young guys to keep going at it. If he has that much love the music of the hounds than that just goes to show its a life style worth living.

[MT.music]

thanks every one 4 righting back and remember to save a few cats 4 next time i can still hear my old hound dog barking chasing down a who do there ccr