victory!!

TheTexan · 10-07-2003, 12:44 PM

Keep it up! Good things happen to good people!

skein · 10-07-2003, 12:56 PM

Wow! Way to go, IP!

Is that what you call, "Earning a buck!"

Congratulations.

Skein

KROY · 10-07-2003, 12:59 PM

Congratulations! That is an awesome story. You should be proud of yourself, your son and his friends.

Ken

id. painter · 10-07-2003, 01:19 PM

Thanks you all . I hate to make a good story mushy, but the entire experience had me in tears about a dozen times ,,, It is sooo good to be alive. id. painter

Wreckless · 10-07-2003, 01:21 PM

Congrats!!

Stories like this are what makes us "outdoorsman". People who have never experienced a place like "pa's lake" just don't understand....That reminds me....I should hike down and see if my dads old stand "the rock pile" is still there......I'm sure it is.

Thanks for sharing!!

id. painter · 10-07-2003, 01:31 PM

Oh yah ,,, I have a couple friend who love to camp but have been too lazy to get up in the mornings and go out to hunt .. this year I shamed them into getting off thier duffs and doing a little walking.
Watching me , buy my self, with a big cane stagger up and down the steep rocky mountains just for the joy of being out. I think they ask themselves and "what reason do I have" . id. painter

Mtn Man · 10-07-2003, 08:37 PM

Congrats id.p.

MM

stick flicker · 10-07-2003, 08:42 PM

Way to make a comeback, congratulation.

id. painter · 10-07-2003, 11:50 PM

I have just returned from a weekend of deer hunting. The victory is not because of some monster buck I killed .
The Victory is because this is the first time i have been able to hunt since a life changing spinal injury.18 months ago.
I dont have any reason to brag to the ifishers about my personal success.But for over a year I have been learning to walk again . I mean every step has been a challange for me .
First, I spent all last summer walking on flat ground with no grass or weeds . And I dont mean once or twice ,but dozens of 10 and 12 hour days of nothing but walking. Then this summer ,I started walking in the sage on the flats . Then , later this summer , walking the aspen groves on hill sides hunting Ruffed Grouse.
I also went for a couple real long walks hunting sage hen.I have litterly stumbled and fallen hundreds of times during this relearning process.
This last weekend I went to my favorite deer hunting spot . I was very unsure about my abilities to hike the rugged mountains of central Id.
The first day I made a hike that very gradually took me to 9000 ft. I made it . Victory. I have killed a whole bunch of bucks on that hike and it proved to myself that I could still have a chance at getting a buck even with my legs.
There is a small unmarked (not on a map ) lake just above where we camp each year. My grandfather was the first to find it (for us) we called it "Pa's lake" this was in 1964. I have taken all the important people in my life to visit "pa's lake". It takes a healthy person several hours of good hard hiking to reach the little mountain gem.
One of my first regrets after realizing my spinal injury was going to change my life, was the regret of not being able to make the hike to pa's lake ever again.It is beautyful and sits at almost 10000 ft above sea level,and over looks the entire Lost River Range of mountains.
The second day of my hunt, after feeling like i was doing better that i had expected the first day .I decided to see how far I could get toward Pa's lake. I left in the dark with a big walking stick. I took me about twice as long as before but, I could have made the lake ,,, I made it to about 100 yards below the lake when a big old buck walked out across the gulch at about 75 yards . I couldnt belive it. He has a 26 inch spread big heavy horns and tall. One of the top three bucks I have killed in that area. I couldnt drag him down alone ,,, Thank goodness for my 11 year old son and his two best friends ages 11 and 13. Those three boys (young men) spent 7 hours getting that buck down for me. Victory.
I will need lots of help,and a walking stick is a must , but my life isnt over , I can still hunt bucks. Victory. id. painter

nitrobass · 10-07-2003, 11:52 PM

Thats awesome!~ Congrats

MarlinMark · 10-08-2003, 03:11 AM

Way to go. I appreciate your story. I am always pleased to hear about people "never giving up." Too many people quit too soon. But not people with the kind of upbringing that you have had. I'm not telling you your business but if I was in your shoes I would thank my parents and grandparents for the way they brought me up. I think of my folks everytime I do something that a lot of people wouldn't even try to do. There are a lot of quitters in this world. You are not one of them. My hat is off to you.

Mark

Freighter Bait · 10-08-2003, 04:43 AM

Congradulations! You have great character and passing it on to your children and others too. I commend you. Anyone would be lucky to have a hunting partner of your caliber. Hope you enjoy many more.

pdxkevin · 10-08-2003, 06:10 AM

Congratulations! Very inspiring story.

tag-a-long · 10-08-2003, 06:16 AM

Way to go IDP. Its guys like you that inspire guys like me to keep trudging along. You take for granted alot of things until you can no longer do them.

id. painter · 10-08-2003, 06:53 AM

Thanks to all for the encouragement. I am very lucky.
I will thank my parents ,, that is a perspective I hadnt thought of . You are right , I learned from them ,,, I only hope that I teach my children that same life long lesson.

"You must work hard for what you get in this life ,and only hard work will get what you want."
I am now setting my sights on Phesant, waterfoul and TUNA!!!! id. painter

HOGGEMIN · 10-08-2003, 08:08 AM

Congradulations ID. Painter. All that hard work and effort paid off now 8 months away and its TUNA time.

Crayfin · 10-08-2003, 10:46 AM

That is an awesome story. Good on You ID Painter

I remember hearing this once--"instead of complaining about the walk, think about the person who cannot"

Has stayed with me many years!

Crayfin

Don Becker · 10-08-2003, 10:55 AM

ID Painter, thank you so much for sharing your story. It's a real inspiration. You have every right to be extremely proud! Best wishes! Don

nitrobass · 10-08-2003, 01:36 PM

Its amazing how much heart and determination drive some people and how other people just dont have it. Especially in hunting and fishing circles it really seperates people. To put yourself through that and keep fighting...you've got it!

id. painter · 10-08-2003, 11:22 PM

I have an extreem love of the natural world and the thought of never being able to hike and enjoy what is so dear to me was undescribably frightening. I am sooo happy.
I spent the years from 17-35 using my legs for my living. I worked in reforestation.I would spend each and every summer out doors camping and walking the mountains . Now Im so glad I didnt waist those years sitting around the house .
If I had to do it all over again,, I wouldnt change a thing ,,, except the injury to my neck.
Im going to get my $ worth out of this old body ,, after all. Thanks for all the kind words. id. painter

fishncliff · 10-09-2003, 12:36 AM

welcome back.

id. painter · 10-09-2003, 06:36 AM

All of the responses have put smile on my face and touched my heart. Thank you all for the very kind words . Im sooo happy , I can hardly describe it. Thanks you for understanding. id. painter

blacktail · 10-09-2003, 10:07 AM

Great story! I really admire your tenacity.

Mike