My mentor died today. Thankfully it was a quick heart attack, and not altogether unexpected, as he had just had a pacemaker put in a few weeks ago.
He was 15 years my senior. He and my father were lifelong good friends, and because I came from a non-hunting family my father in his wisdom introduced me to him when he saw that I had a natural born passion for things of the wild. You could say that he was my second father in a lot of ways. My father instilled in me my core beliefs and character, and my mentor instilled in me my passion for the woods.
He taught me how to hunt, fish, trap, shoot a bow and gun, took me on my first bowhunt, and was with me when I shot my first deer. We trout fished in the spring, and then fished for smallmouths and bluefish in the summers. When I moved to Wyoming he came out there to visit and we had some great hunts.
His livelihood was in the outdoors, and I worked for him for four summers learning all I could about trees, plants, and other facets of outdoor construction. It eventually became my livelihood also.
He was THE best all around woodsman I've ever known. The last time I was able to deer hunt with him was in 2006, and although it was the first time he'd ever been on the ground I'd been hunting for the past 12 years, he showed me things I'd overlooked. His main thought was to observe EVERYTHING in the woods. Everything has a reason for being where it is, and there's a reason why any animal does what it does. A lot of that has rubbed off on me.
I last saw him when I went back to New Jersey to bury my father in 2010. We had a VERY lovely last evening together with our families and that of my best friend and his family. I will never forget that.
I know his physical being is gone from this earth, but as long as I have the capacity to go into the woods, he WILL be there with me.
In the wind, Fred Walter, save me a spot at the campfire. I will be along in a bit....
Best raccoon hunter was my dad. Best bowhunter a frind of mine named Danny R (he's never been on Bowsite, doesn't do the online thing)
"Best" deer hunter period depends on whether you measure by skills, or kills.
Skills? Danny R, kills, me :) I like venison.
Most famous (and maybe the best)
Probably the best all around hunter/outdoorsman I ever knew is a fella from Newfoundland, named Dave Evans.
My inspiration was an old guy named Larry Palluh (not sure if that is how you spell his last name), but he ran a sporting goods store off of Colorado and 112th in Thornton back in the late 80's. He was a super guy and just really got me into archery, fishing, and things (other than my dad).
He was the one who pursuaded me to get into trying for a sheep tag, among other things.
I have an 18 month old little partner in crime running around trying to copy my every move and it amazes me how what I used to think was important or a priority now pale in comparison to what my little buddy has taught me. I pray that when he is older he still thinks its "cool" to hang out with his old man.
A guy I've yet to meet, but have had numerous conversations with and that is well rounded on North American game animals, Is Eddie Claypool. From all I've heard, read or seen, he's top notch and someone I look up to. We live a few miles from one another and are going to meet up soon and "chew the fat". I look forward to that and will be all ears.
Growing up, the majority of our meals included rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, trout, and venison. He taught me to value the life of every single creature, and that they had a place in the ecosystem just as we do. Most importantly, he taught me that unless I was going to eat it (or it was going to eat me!), I had no reason to take the life of any animal.
He taught me the skills and patience needed to become a successful hunter, even when I was not so patient or skillful. Now that I have a 13 year son of my own, I'm realizing the agony I probably put my father through, all those cold days when I wanted to go back to a warm house... or, after 10 minutes in the stand, I was POSITIVE no deer were coming. He would just hand me a turkey sandwich and a thermos of hot chocolate, and tell me to be patient. It turns out, that he was right most of the time.
My biggest hope is that 20 years from now, my son still wants to go hunting with his dad, just like I do. It won't even bother me if I'm not the best hunter he ever knew...that honor belongs to his grandfather.
Just saying
The best hunter I know is usually the best guy I know that hunts....
How they treat the endeavor,their quarry and ultimately their hunting buddies carries the day for me.
I think what amazed me the most about them, was how this one hunting party took off into the bush for a week, WITH NOTHING MORE THAN THEIR WEAPONS, A WATER GOURD AND THE CLOTHES THE HAD ON!!! No problem. They knew where to find food, water, shelter, whatever. Modern day sport hunters carry more in their fanny pack for a hunt 200 yards from the road than what the Bushmen's entire village owns.
And then there's their tracking skills....OMG! They tracked a wounded giraffe OVER ROCKS!
Pete Buist, aka Pete in Fairbanks. Great hunter and great person.
Big Dan. I will get to hunt with him for elk this September.
Straight Shooter here on Bs. Great guy who knows how to get it done.
My brother in law who will never give up. Great attitude in camp regardless of weather and game.
I would love to share a camp with Randy Bomars, Jake Ensign and Randy Newburg. All on Bs. They have all been great contacts and great people.
I have been blessed. Can't pick just one.
TBB
He ain't too good to shoot a Big 8 etter....
John
kellyharris's Link
I guess the little guy needs to prove how (BIG) of a hunter he actually is to everyone out there!
How does that song go (I want to be like Nick)
Lots of the ones mentioned are big well known names along with some old time legends. If I had to pick someone I personally know..... a regular guy who is an all around great hunter who always gets the job done and is good person to share a camp with it would be Hunter Andrews aka Hunt Man. Puts a lot of other people on game beside himself too. Top shelf guy.
Paul was such a good all around hunter and could shoot under fatigue, pressure and stress which is one of the main tests for truly great bow hunters. Paul loved to hunt all different types of animals and really didn't hunt just one species as some with more notoriety have done. He was also an athlete which isn't a make or break skill set but as a former wrestler and football great, he would go to extremes and never give up or be discouraged. Montana seems to be a great proving ground for many of the best bow hunters we've had simply because of opportunity for so many animals and different hunting styles. You have guys and gals here that are well versed in stand hunting, stalking, run and gun and calling and still hunting from prairies in the east to mountains in the western part of the state.
Nowadays, it's hard to measure purely from animals taken since many now are hunting unpressured animals on leased ground or managed land of their own. There has always been some of that going on but it's a growing segment now combined with better equipment and technology.
I can think of 3 or 4 guys that are really high caliber bow hunters in Montana right now that are fairly young. They are very successful and sacrifice nearly everything to be out there each fall. They exist in every state but like I said before, a state like ours gives someone the opportunity to be experienced in varied hunting styles and conditions.
I hadn't heard of some of the previous mentioned guys nominated earlier in the thread, but I would bet they'd be a blast to share hunting camp with.
No disrespect to some of the TV hunters today but they aren't even in the same league as the guys above.
Not sure I could name the "best hunter" I know or knew. Have known and know a lot of guys that are or have been excellent hunters in their time. Some big names and some that stay under the radar.
