I lost another good friend this week. In that respect it has been quite a year. I really didn’t know Robert that long, but I certainly enjoyed his friendship and always looked forward to our time together and all of the big stories we would tell. (Some of them may have actually been true) Robert knew this area where I hunt better than I ever will, and I treasured his knowledge and insight about all of it.
It seems right after we first met Robert and I were always making some big plans. We were going to go check out somewhere locally, we were going to go scout and explore some place where we would hunt later, and he was going to take me somewhere he had known about since he was a kid. It was all pretty heady stuff to me. I was excited to have someone with his experience and knowledge as a buddy and to show me around the terrain he had been roaming since he was a kid.
Along with this we also had big plans to work on something around my camp, which I confess sorely needs some TLC. Robert was a master craftsman and contractor and I knew he could do anything he set his hand to. In truth, I always wondered when he could ever get time do anything here as he was always working. If Robert had one defining trait it was that mostly what he did was work. He swung a hammer every day and did all the things related to keep his business going and make a living.
I have always thought that we hunters and fishermen are good at making big plans. We are forever dreaming about and planning some big trip to go hunting and or fishing. These trips do not have to be for some far off state or foreign country you understand. These plans could be for somewhere nearby that you have been meaning to explore for years or a new place that you just found. The actual location of these plans doesn’t really matter, it’s just important to always have plans on tap that you may or may not get to. Here is another thing about your big plans. This area or trip you are scheming on may turn out to be a complete bust. It may prove to be devoid of game or fish and the worst terrain imaginable. The local accommodations and diners may be well below a one star rating, and the local populace could be less friendly than the proverbial junk yard dog.
None of this matters. Your job as the sportsman and dreamer is just to have big plans. Making all these plans is easy of course and usually doesn’t cost anything. We can search the wonderful internet and go through piles of old topographical maps (As I do) for hours and not spend any gas money.
Many years ago I thought I was getting serious about doing an elk hunt in the western United States. I played around contacting outfitters and talking to those I knew that regularly hunted elk. Elk was about the only thing (besides the Pronghorn Antelope) that interested me about hunting in the west. For reasons I can’t really explain, the dog ate the homework on all of these plans. Now don’t get me wrong, I am still planning on doing this.
I am still planning on doing some trips and adventures with Robert when I see him again. Just like I am with Tomcat, Doc, Walt, and others that have left before me. I hope they will save me the shotgun seat in the truck and bring a thermos of hot coffee.
As to where we will actually go, I am still planning on that.
Larry Case