Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting The last hunt...

Tell us the rest of the story. Please.
Did you or a member of the family keep the rack?

Jim

My bud Chuck has been battling cancer for the last 1.5 years. He didn't get to make the WI deer season this year because he was bed ridden. He wanted desperately to have one final hunt, and, perhaps a chance to put a good one on the ground.

The only option open to us just prior to Christmas, and, before his short window closed, was a game preserve. I was seriously conflicted about that sort of thing but was hell bent on making a final wish come true.

I searched to find one that could accommodate a last second schedule and special needs of getting around. The place - the 1000-acre Forest of Antlers in Minoqua. It's a three hour drive from home and hospice wouldn't hear of him staying overnight so we planned on several days of driving back forth if need be. (actually, hospice didn't want him to go, period )

The owner, Ron Lee and his staff didn't have high hopes as the weather was spitting freezing rain.

With a fair amount of work we got Chuck into the elevated blind overlooking a food plot and bundled up for the afternoon sit.

Well, the big guy was looking down as he made for a pretty quick sit as a couple of bucks entered the food plot. I had a "budget" deer in mind, but true to my prediction, Chuck would want a bigger one. After a lot of positioning and repositioning, I got my .243 in the right spot for him to anchor the one he wanted. I didn't even have time to get my ears covered as Chuck put one through the buck's boiler at about 90 yards.

Lots of tears and laughter ensued. I was both happy and honored to have been able to share that last hunt with him. A huge thank you to Ron Lee and his staff - finer folks you'll never meet.

We laid Chuck to rest yesterday. RIP buddy.