trophy/man rooms?

[brake man]

Jacksbuddy,

I know Dad will be honored you are adding his quote to your signature. He'll get a big kick out of it, too. I will look forward to each of your posts as I will be prompted to think about the finest man I know.

[The Waterfowler]

Great memories for you. Even looking at the 90's pictures I can see a vast change from the 70's and is even more today. I agree that more hunters are stiring the pot a little too much. When Dr. Chub ran things at the Beaver Dam Club it was often only one or two parties of hunters on the lake and depending on the wind, you usually couldn't hear them. He and I would often drop guys off at Doc's Pool and then paddle the Ducker up to Round Pond, shoot our limits then paddle back to be towed in when all were finished in the Pool. He expressed sorrow at the turn of events down there, commercial shooting, strangers among all the members, the death of Ms. Owens and the escalating cost of the lease. It took a part of him when he lost the old Club. Even though he could still hunt with Bobby and others, it was never the same. I know now why some of the old timers talk about the good old days and the way it was. It's not bragging, it's their life slipping out of them. Duck hunting has lost many of the Greatest Generation. Those Old Guys that were a part of the history and legends told in reverent stories around the modern day duck clubs are disappearing. Family atmospheres have digressed to commercialism with waterfowl being the pawns for a quick buck. Many consider them just a way to make a living and aren't enamored with the romanticism handed down from past generations. The enjoyment of a crisp morning with natures bounty is sadly just another day at the office. I wonder what my club will be like when I'm gone. I see changes already and am almost to the point of keeping me a pit just for myself and an aging dog that gets the same thrill as I do as we watch the magnetic turn of a flock for their last pass. I think many don't have a true sense of values about what we take for granted. Hunting in many third world countries with waterfowl like in the good old days here, I often wonder if the people there know what they are missing. Then I realize they can't afford the money we drop on leases, trips and hunting gear. They will never have the chance to do what we basically do for free in our country. Things were much simpler when I used a half-dozen Sears paper machet decoys and a single shot 20. I had just as much, if not more , fun and got as much gratification as I do now. Things change, Beaver Dam certainly did.

[Bonecollecter1111]

Mr Pat,

I am truely honored to have been through your man house on several occations, to hunt with You, Patrick, and Stephen, several times for geese and a coupla times for duck. My wife and i were invited once to eat with your family for an occation right after our honeymoon which she still reminds me of. I have spent the last while reading this thread, and your stories have given me pause to reflect on the several last hunts that i have had with my Dad(last hunt Jan 2009), Granddad (Dec 2004) Mr Powell (Dec.2004),Kate 1996, and bishop 2005, and i have tears streaming at how Our Lord God has blest me a reletivly young hunter to have been so fortunate to have been there with them and shared such memories. and to be blessed to have hunted in some of the finest places that are still left to waterfowl in the south.

you are right that the loss of dogs in many ways is worse than the lss of a human friend, because no matter what kind of dog they were they were yours and they were 100% completly devoted to you, there only love and master.

Mr Pat I always enjoyed your company at camp, and the stories that naturally came if people would be quiet long enough to let you tell them. I want to thank you for the opportunities i have had to be in camp with you, and also for being such a rock for young men to see what a true Sportsman should be! the invataion to you and your familiy to come down and hunt is always open.

on an end note, you are definatly the finest waterfowler and sportsman i know

RK,

[The Waterfowler]

You're welcome to come most any time, Robert.

[pntailhntr]

What happened to the pics of the Trophy/man rooms??? THis turned into a hunting pic thread. Lets get back to the topic, I'd like to see some poeples Trophy rooms as well.

[The Waterfowler]

I hesitate to answer your comment, but I will. First of all a trophy is in the eye of the beholder and owner. Whether it be an old shell box, duck call, picture, story or memory. It just isn't a mounted bird or mammal. I have over 750 mounts but only posted a few. If you will read the subject topic you might see that. A man room is not just a museum of death, it's a celebration of memories. I've buried plenty of friends and good dogs and a picture or story about them is a more lasting memory than anything else I have. The history shared by some posting here is well worth reading if you care about something besides killing. I'm sure if the topic was mounted ducks that what the thread would be.

I'd like to see your mounts but what you posted won't open up for me.

[LawDawg]

I hesitate to answer your comment, but I will. First of all a trophy is in the eye of the beholder and owner. Whether it be an old shell box, duck call, picture, story or memory. It just isn't a mounted bird or mammal. I have over 750 mounts but only posted a few. If you will read the subject topic you might see that. A man room is not just a museum of death, it's a celebration of memories. I've buried plenty of friends and good dogs and a picture or story about them is a more lasting memory than anything else I have. The history shared by some posting here is well worth reading if you care about something besides killing. I'm sure if the topic was mounted ducks that what the thread would be.

I'd like to see your mounts but what you posted won't open up for me.

well said, Pat.

[FinalDescent]

Wow, Thank you Pat for all the wonderful stories and Pics.
I recently shared a hunt with my grandfather this past spring that I hope won't be our last. He will be 90 next month and I was able to call in a longbeard which he killed at 40 steps. He reminded me several times after the hunt that he "still had it" lol. I cherish every moment I spend with him whether it be, in the woods, on the water, or just a truck ride. If you listen and give people time to tell "their" stories you can often learn alot about "yourself". Thanks Again

[Bonecollecter1111]

The wise ole Owl lived in an oak, the less He spoke the more He heard, the more He heard, the less He spoke, why can't we be like that Ole Bird!!

I know that this ole saying has many authurs, but i heard my Granddad say it many times, and it stuck, I guess thats why I love to be in camp with guys like PP, and the like, they have soo much to teach us if we will just shut up long enough to listen to what hey got to, and want to tell us.

[Bonecollecter1111]

I know that this is nothing to what the Waterfowler has, but its mine, and there are soo many memories in each thing that i have here, i thought i would put it on here before the new lil hunter gets here, and i no longer get a room dedicated for this sole purpose

[Bonecollecter1111]

here are some more

[Bonecollecter1111]

and some more

[Bonecollecter1111]

last ones

[Bonecollecter1111]

i hope that every hunter will one day become a collecter of cherished memories afield, not just a collecter of trophies, i feel very fortunate to have spent so much time afield with those i love most and am proud to have the memories that cannot be made again. I am proud of evry picture, mount or display that i have, not because they were expensive(if you couldn't tell, most were self done), but because of the huge numbers of memories that go with them.

I think that a true Man's room/Trophy room, should be in honor, or at least a testimony to those that blazed the trail ahead, and for us to be the hunters and sportsman we are now.

[Deltamud77]

As the season draws near, just wanted to bump this thread, my favorite thread, and respectfully ask that the Waterfowler (and any other willing participants) grace us with some imagery to stoke the fires to get us through the next 4 weeks before first shooting light returns yet again.