I'm sort of going to hijack this thread a bit, but... based upon the topic, the replies and the readers I believe it is relevant. I am turning 78 years old this year. I have health issues that make walking long distances extremely challenging. My hunt of a life time happens every year when I black bear hunt, over bait in Maine with my son and my adopted son. While we are there hunting, we already are planning next year's hunt. Getting ready for the hunt is as much fun as the actual hunt itself. At the writing of this reply, 4/15/24, there are 146 days before we leave on our next bear hunt with a new outfitter; not that anyone is counting. Our hunts are primarily done with three Ruger 77s in 35 Whelen, however there are a few mongrels in there like two vintage Marlin 1895s in 45-70, a new Ruger 1895 in 45-70 (nice bear rifle), a couple of 30-06s, and a .358 Winchester. We've/I have pretty much put all of these rifles together by glass/pillar bedding, refinishing stocks and installing recoil pads on all of these rifles. So.... these rifles are "our" personal bear hunting rigs. We have already started getting to the range and shooting for our September hunt. We spend a lot of time together busting chops and competing against each other while we shoot. Every year at Christmas time I give us all a cup with the year and three memorable photos from that trip. At this time of the year I will send my two sons photos of last year's cup that I am using for my breakfast, as I did this morning, telling them both that there are only 146 days left before we leave on our next bear hunt.
I used to hunt on a regular basis and then a stopped for many years. I didn't start up again until 2015 while at a barbecue. I was sitting next to my ex-wife's cousin who was telling me about all of adventures of his black bear hunting in Maine. I am sure that there are many reader her who can relate to having one of these guys in their family or in their lives. I kept telling him that I was going to do that some day. The cousin kept telling me his stories, and I kept saying that I was going to do that some day. Well... after a few more, "I'm going to do that some day," I started to think about it. I thought to myself that I did not want to be that guy who is sitting on the front porch of a nursing home, rocking back and forth and saying to myself, "I wish I had gone bear hunting with Donald!!" So I got the phone number from his outfitter, booked the trip right from the barbecue and went bear hunting for the first time in 2015. In 2016 I introduced my son to bear hunting, and today we have the hunt of a lifetime every year. Three years ago we introduced my son's best friend from high school, my adopted son, to bear hunting and he too got hooked the first time out.
All I am saying here to you all who are reading this thread, don't "wish" for the "hunt of a lifetime", make it happen. It doesn't have to be in Africa or some exotic place, shooting some exotic, trophy animal. Make it happen today. Make memories that are going to last a "life time" with those who love/mean something to you. For me in 146 days I will be going on a "the hunting trip of a lifetime" because it could be the end of my lifetime. I fear that next year there will only be two guys on that coffee cup instead of the three that are presently on that cup!! Life is passing us buy, and... one thing we cannot buy or get back is time. While I was in my forties, it never entered my mind that I was going to be in the physical condition that I am in today. I get up in the morning, look in the mirror and ask myself, "How the hell did you get here!!???"
As for the OP, if I had a chance to go on a mule deer hunt say in Wyoming or Colorado or someplace that has mule deer and I could take my two sons that would make for a great trip. We have custom made Ruger 77s in .270 Ackley Improved cartridges, those would be the rifle/cartridges of choice. And.... it would not be a trip of a lifetime, it would be another great trip of making great memories with two people who mean the world to me.
memtb
