Deer Hunters! Cherish the memories you're making

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written a column, and I want to apologize to my readers. I want to start by thanking everyone who reached out to my wife and our family regarding her father’s passing.

We cannot thank you enough for being there during our grieving time.

In 18 months, Tracie and I have both lost our fathers.  Death is never easy, and losing a parent is one of the most challenging things you’ll ever encounter.

November is here, and it used to be an extraordinary time for me. For the past 30-plus years, I spent every fall with my dad, deer scouting and hunting.

Last year was my first deer season without my dad.  He hadn’t hunted much the previous two years, but we still shared the experience by looking at deer cam photos, and I would go over what I saw each time I went hunting with him.

I went hunting once last year, but it didn’t feel right, and I couldn’t bring myself to go again.

I know it’s not what my dad would have wanted, but it just didn’t feel right knowing I couldn’t share the experience with him.

My best memories of my dad are tied to hunting and fishing.  The outdoors was a bond we shared.  As I got older, I realized how special this time was and cherished seeing it come every year.

My dad and I have hunted exclusively on our own property for the last several years.  The biggest reason was it was an easier hunt for Dad.

Before that, we always hunted on public land, mainly in the Red Bird Wildlife Management Area.  That’s a special place for me as it’s where my dad taught me how to hunt.

But it was more than just hunting. It was a time of bonding. It was a nearly hour-long drive to our hunting location on Sugar Creek, and the ride was filled with stories from him and my uncle Casey Smith each time. Over time, Casey stopped hunting, leaving Dad and I to trek to Red Bird.

Around 2008, chronic wasting disease wiped out the WMA deer herd.  That forced us to find other public land locations to hunt.  The closest was Britton Branch, just down the road from our home.

On Saturday, I felt nostalgic and made a trip to Sugar Creek with plans to revisit where my dad had harvested so many deer over the years.  It was surreal making that drive myself, thinking about those stories and all those times we spent together.  It was sad, but it was also a happy memory.

I didn’t reach the location, as a tree was down and blocked my path. I drove around in other areas of the WMA and did a little deer scouting. I went to the places he always told me to go. The memories were strong; it was almost like he was there with me, in a way.

I also spent the weekend in Britton Branch, visiting places where we harvested deer and reminiscing about those great hunting trips.  

Hunting by yourself is not much fun.  Part of the hunting experience is sharing it with others, and in June 2023, I didn’t just lose my dad; I lost my hunting partner.  

I told you that to say this: hunters, cherish this time with your family and friends.  Make the best memories because someday, that’s all you’ll have to hold on to.