old Wisconsin hunter with cancer

G

gary's guide service

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I'm 64 years old and have been hunting pheasants yearly in WI since 1963...I guess the reason I am posting, is that I wish to share a little about what is going on in my life. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with a very rare form of Leukemia (CMML)...there is no cure...my life expectancy was one to five years. I am living life entirely on my terms now. I only do what I want to do...I say "I am cheating death"...I love the pheasant hunt..So I have hit the public hunting grounds as often as anyone in the state. I never know when my season will be my last..Then this past October, I also had a heart attack while on the trail of a pheasant in Scuppernong. I had two stents put in for 99% and 75% blockage and was back in the blind hunting in three days and chasing pheasants in a week. I really feel we are fortunate in WI because of the state stocking program that gives us amble opportunities to hunt the bird here....Wi for the most part has become my destination hunt. The 12/07/14 Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel had a nice article by Paul Smith on myself, my dogs, my love of pheasant hunting, and the experience of hunting pheasants on public lands in our Wisconsin. Do your best to live life to the fullest.
 
Gary: God Bless you. I wish you well.

I grew up in Burlington and probably went out with Dad around 1968, hunted pheasants on my own in 1970. A lot of good memories there, leaving the house before sunrise, a thermos of coffee, shotgun and the family setter. We had family and friends with farms from Burlington out to Lyons, down to New Munster. Because of those ties we didn't hunt public lands.

I went away to college at 19 and the family moved north the following year. So it's been that long since I've hunted in the area. Have been back for weddings and funerals.

Living in the north, I hunt grouse and woodcock these days, with an annual trip to Iowa or South Dakota for pheasants. About 20 years ago I was invited to hunt pheasants with a business contact who had become a friend. It had been a long time since I'd hunted pheasants. My setter pointed several brids for us that morning, including one with long spurs and tail, which I dropped with a clean shot. The friends had that bird mounted for me and it holds a special place due to nostalgia of the old days and newer friends who recognized what it meant to me.

Take care and keep tromping the grass behind good dogs.
 
reply to ranger rick

you mention hunting around the Burlington area.....I just wanted to add that we hunted the Chart family farm west of Waterford on hwy k in the sixties, but we also hunted bong, honey creek and yes... new Munster(parked behind the firestation)...and yes the wild birds were exciting..seems to me we lost most of them during the hard winters of 1978-79 and there was not a recovery...thanks for your response...love your memories
 
I had typed out a long response, then erased it....God Bless You Sir!
 
Welcome to the forum and hope you have many years of flushing pheasants ahead of you.
 
We ALL have only a certain amount of hunts planned for us, some of us more, some less. At least you know to make the most of every day, some of us will be taken not ever knowing. Make peace with everyone but most importantly with yourself and God bless you sir.
 
Carry-on, & best wishes, Gary. Prayer sent.
 
gary's guide service said:
thank you for the offer, but I plan on pushing until I drop, not necessarily smart but that's me......I run labs otherwise I would suggest a bong hunt next fall.....again thanks for the offer
Click to expand...

That comment was meat for Wisturk. When we go hunting together, he always busts my balls for hunting too hard and not letting the dogs do the work.
He usually gets more birds than me too. Funny how that works.
 
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