The loss of an Uncle and hunting partner

[NYAZHunter]

I got back from my Oct. Coues hunt to learn of my Uncles sudden illness . Was home a day and got on the plane for N.Y. in hopes of seeing him before he passed . I made it , I had about 5 hours with him . He would open his eyes a little bit , couldn't speak , however I would like to believe he heard me talk about all the times we shared at our cabin.

 

Uncle Art was one of those guys who lived to hunt . My first deer was taken from ' Arts' chair ' by the 'Jim Green' swamp. My second deer was one he burned during a drive and I got him. My 3rd was another he pushed to me . We built many a stand together , always disagreeing with the exact placement. I guess you get the point that he was there for me. As we aged , I was the one pushing to him and gutting and dragging his deer.

 

Over the years , he had both hips replaced , his electrical system for the heart go haywire , enough so that they would have to stop his heart and restart it to get him back in rhythm. I never heard him complain , he would just talk about the next season. It kept him going . After a particularly strong infection in one of his hips , he put a nail in the bottom of his cane and there he was , going through ice and snow and rocks to get his his stand. He was climbing into tree stands at age 82 , much to my worry. I was always amazed with his excitement with the hunt.

 

He was active in all of the hunting federations in his area , was involved with the 'white deer ' in northern N.Y. he owned a gun shop for many years after he retired . He traded for a new rifle only a few days before he went into the hospital. My dad , his older brother, also gone , bought my first .22 from him , a single shot Ithaca , my first deer rifle , a used marlin 30 30 and I bought all of my new guns from him. He talked guns and hunting 24/7/365.

 

He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict( war) and the only things he told me about it was how cold he was and being shot at and returning fire. He lost his son , my cousin in '78 to a motorcycle accident and it was many years before he could talk about it. If there is one consolation to his passing , it is that he will see Mark again.

 

This N.Y. deer season will be my first without him. I will toast him often at the cabin this year and shed some tears at his passing and while life will go on , it will be with a little less spark for me . We used to speak every week to ten days , always about the cabin , hunting and guns.

 

I am so incredibly sad.

 

Jim

[Mrs125coues]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like you have a lifetime of memories to keep you going.

[Non-Typical Solutions]

Heck of deal, sorry for your loss, may you find comfort in knowing that he is in a great place and now keeping an eye on you better than ever before.

[bonecollector]

Sorry for your loss. I am sure he will be watching over you while you sit in your stand this yr.

[twigsnapper]

Uncle Art sounds like our kind a guy. Good luck on your hunts, maybe he will push a giant buck your way.

[NYAZHunter]

bonecollector,

I am the designated driver (only in the woods). Several years ago , after 4 drives , Uncle Art asked for another . It was decided if he wanted it , he could do it . Thus , we headed back to the cabin for libations. He had no quit in him when it came to hunting. thank you all for the sentiments.

[coues..crazy]

Sorry for your loss.

[Ernesto C]

Sorry to hear this. Prayers for you and all his family.

[Chef]

Jim,

I send my sincere condolences.

It sounds like your uncle was a great man.

Your post does good in respecting his life and the man he was.