Ziegler Outdoors: 2015

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write this memoir of our most recent hunt, it will probably be the most heartfelt blog I write for a very long time (at least I hope so). The truth is we had the best and most successful hunt this trio has ever had and I could write for day's bragging on my two hunting partner's and how far their skills have come since I first watched them pick up their bow's as young boy's and kill their first deer; there is no doubt they have far surpassed my bow hunting proficiency. If I was ever the teacher, now I am the student with Tony and Jesse and I am fine with that, for me it's just a privilege to share camp with them and enjoy the experiences. I could explain how we had the good fortune to meet our guide Kelly Riggs, who's wisdom on the hideout's of our game, caring personality, comic relief and positivity is inspiring and we are proud when he call's us family. That's how this story almost went, but the loss of a young family member the day after we returned home made me lose all taste for celebration; I spent the day not wanting to talk about the successful hunt for a record book antelope after I received the news of this tragedy. Christopher was one of my second cousin's I got to spend some time with when we were young; I will always have my childhood memories of Sunday morning's at my Grandma's, (his Great Grandma's) spent playing as young kids. He was taken way too young and it's sobering realizing how fragile life is. It made me realize something I already should have known, it's not about the trophy kill, it's about the adventure and time spent with friend's.

Life is short, very, very short for some and when I am too old to hike into the mountains with my bow any longer, it won't be the horn's I remember as much as it is the guy's that I shared the triumph's, trial's and tribulations with; the kind of guy's that will hike halfway down a steep cliff after they watched you blow a golden opportunity for no other reason than to take your pack off your back and carry your bow for you and keep you positive as you struggle up the mountain in frustration and fatigue. That kind of bond of camaraderie can only be tempered in the fire's of adversity. True friendship is hard to come by, but I'm certain it's one of the greatest Blessings in life. May I never take one day or one friendship for granted again. RIP Christopher Lord 8/17/15