Karen,

Don was an avid hunter all of his life, taught as a young boy living on 160 acres. In his life time, he's taken many teenaged nephews, etc., to hunter saftey classes and out on their first hunt. He took it seriously that hunters have to have a good code of hunting ethics and to pass that code on to young hunters. He hates poachers, unlicensed and out of season hunters, baiting and other things that give hunters a bad name. And, yes, wasting the meat from a hunt.

My dad was a hunter, too, but for him it was more about the male bonding trips up north, having a good time in the cabins and cooking on camp fires.

I have been out west many times when Don would go elk hunting but when I was in the mountains with him he mostly camera hunted because he respected my desire to never to see an animal die. But what I've learned to appreciate over the years is that game management is necessary here in the lower states and hunting seasons are very important. They both save a lot of animals from dying of starvation over the winters.

I, too, have good memories of being in the mountains and woods in upper Michigan---the views, the scents in the air, the crispness of fall, the sense of peace and belonging to something so universal and as they say, from the basement of time. Don hunted every year from the time he was a boy to his stroke and most of the time he didn't even come back with anything but good memories and lots of stories. The 'kill' or the 'trophy' was just not the most important part of the process for him. His big retirement dream was a hunt up in Alaska with a guide like your husband.

Jean

hI,,, my hubby was also a hunter and also enjoyed the male bonding in the camp...he took our two boys with him and introduced them to the sport ,...which they have not carried on with because they would rather fish...all his buddies are either too old to walk the bush or have passed on so he is going to sell his guns soon I hope, and put that era behind us... I got to be a fairly good wild game cook though...and sometimes miss a deer steak cooked in the fireplace over wood coals yummy....he has a trophy deer head for the best mully in Sask.. and it is mounted but hanging in our shop cause I won't let him put it in our living room....I suppose one of these days we'll have to do something with it too ...our insurance agent says it's worth big bucks?????? any one know.....

My dad was a hunter and I know he loved going into the woods. I was not allowed (by my mother) to go with him. Dad did take me in the Spring when he was training our beagle., and He and I went fishing together.

He taught me a great respect of the woods and walking softly..to respect life and nature. To see the beauty in all.

We were raised on game and fish, I made the comment the other night, about eating what you catch or kill. He would not shoot unless he had a clean shot.

He was Very upset if he came across a wounded animal or one left to rot..

Hi Deenie - check this site for taxidermy appraisals. It appears the value has a lot to do with how much it would cost to replace the trophy. I thought it was funny that they have appraisals for divorice and appraisals for insurance.

http://www.taxidermyappraisals.com/

Jean - I do believe that Don and Rob would have enjoyed being in the field together - both having appreciation for high ethical standards, in search of an experience they value.

-Karen