Hunt for kid with tumor

fishnut · Aug 22, 2009

First off, I want to thank alwayzbhuntin for putting this together. For those who don't know, he does alot of work for kids with disabilities for a group called "Hunt of a Lifetime".
It looks like he has put together a hunt for my son Bridger, on 7E in Arizona at Thanksgiving. Needless to say, Bridger is very excited to get a chance to hunt bull elk in Arizona.
Bridger has an inoperable brain tumor but his prospects are very good for a good life and he does remain very mobile so this should help on the hunt.
Bridger will have some surgery on the 31st of August to help with the bad head aches he has now and I hope he will feel great by November. Bridger loves to hunt and keeping him calm will be the biggest issue!
Those of you who are in Arizona should be proud of a state that alows these tags to be donated for this kind of activity.
There will be a guide, donating his time and services to help Bridger. I'm not sure who that is yet but thanks to him in advance.
We know we will have a great time, as we always do, in the outdoors regardless of what we see. We have never judged success by dead animals and Bridger was taught this from a very young age. It will be fun to see if I can help him fight "buck fever" if an opportunity comes up.

stinkystomper · Aug 22, 2009

thats just plain awesome. i have a tag for a 180 section ranch that has lots of 80 inch goats. i cant use the tag and it is transferable. that little rascal is more than welcome to it if he will be able to swing an antelope hunt on september 12th. however i cant attend since i will b on my utah elk hunt at that time.

browtine · Aug 22, 2009

Hell of an offer Tony. I hope his surgery goes good and he gets to use it.

Later, Brandon

fishnut · Aug 22, 2009

Don't be playing with me. He would go in a second! That is a Hell of an offer.

4blade · Aug 22, 2009

your a heck of a guy stinky...I am going to have to raise my score prediction of 09 bull.

LowCountryElk · Aug 22, 2009

Fishnut,
Get some PMing going and make this happen. I can tell when the Stinkbug is serious.....it doesn't happen a lot, but he's serious about this. Do it!!!!

TheGunClaw · Aug 22, 2009

That is a very generous offer, Stinky. Best of luck on your UT hunt.

Fishnut, the guide that has arranged to provide the guiding services for your son, Bridger is a very long time and good friend of mine, Matt Woodward of Borderland Adventures. Having hunted with him my whole life (since I was 10) I can vouch for his hunting and guiding abilities. Your son will not be disappointed. I personally have shot some very large animals with him by my side. I was very excited to hear that he got on board to help make this a memorable time for Bridger. I know he is already hard at work making sure there is a great team in place to try and make it that "once in a lifetime" experience. I can say this, no one will work harder and I will guarantee it will be a great time, hopefully ending up in a great bull! I am going to do my best to try and make it up for some of the time, at least a few days. I am sure the surgery will be a success and he will be ready to do some elk hunting! Thanks for the post. It is good to see everyone on here sharing positive hunting experiences.

fishnut · Aug 22, 2009

PM sent to stinky

FishlakeElkHunter · Aug 22, 2009

Threads like this give me new hope for the Hunting Community!!!!

Stinky....much respect man!!!! This is what makes hunting GREAT!!! all this crap and arguing VANISHES when I see something like this happen.

Many props to those involved in both hunts.....thanks for sharing...

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 22, 2009

I knew that under that tight t-shirt and oversized body there was a warm heart. Very cool!

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

HillbillyNnevada · Aug 22, 2009

It feels good to read a positive post like this one after I just finished reading all the negative "stolen deer" posts.

happytohunt · Aug 22, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-09 AT 04:23AM (MST)[p]good luck on the hunt.reminds me maybe I should be pondering about giving versus getting...tis good news from this here huntin community...again ...good luck

logslinger · Aug 23, 2009

Stinky I want one of Qtpi's tee shirts that says "I'm in Stinky camp" Great gesture and a very class act thing to do. Your going to ruin your rep if you keep it up.

elkkill06 · Aug 23, 2009

Truely amazing on all parts! Keep up all the great work to all the parties involved.
Good luck on the surgery and I hope (and will be praying) your son pulls through and recovers well for the hunt. Good luck to all involved!

joesikora · Aug 23, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-09 AT 08:09AM (MST)[p]Fishnut: Thanks for posting this story, if you don't mind, post a pix of your son Bridger so we can all see. Also make sure you post pixs of his hunt(s) would love to see them. My family will be praying for him to have a succesful surgery.

Stinky you are COOL.

This is why I love this site, and keeps me coming back. Not the crap on the 481 Elk thread.

Joe E Sikora

Gator · Aug 23, 2009

Is this hunt a close to road hunt(elk) or will horses be needed. If I can swing it,(work) I'm willing to try and put something together on the horse & mule end.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

rancher05 · Aug 23, 2009

what an awesome offer. I hope everything goes well with your son. just like the other post this is what hunting should be all about, helping others instead of competition. good luck on the hunt and tell Bridger to get a big one. don't forget to post his hunting story with the pictures when your done. we will all want an update on your sons hunt but more importantly an update on your sons condition.

woodruffhunter · Aug 23, 2009

Very nice to make such kind offers. Posts like these remind there are more good than bad people!!

fishnut · Aug 23, 2009

Wow! Thanks guys for all the kind words and offers for help and prayers. The hunting community can truely do great things for others. I will keep everyone updated as things progress.Bridger is on the right side with his cow from last year. One shot at 180 yards in bad weather. Here to we had alot of help as everyone in the area helped us get her back to the truck in rainy, sloppy weather.

stinkystomper · Aug 23, 2009

I won't say anything till I get that tag in my hand. My uncle called me Yesterday and told him his boss was giving him two. I gave one to the guy who lets me badge hunt oryx on the wsmr and was going to give the other to my father. I'm sure he'd rather have a kid have it as well. Anyways, my uncle was suppose to get me the tags any day now. He said one was free and the other was $75. Don't know what that's all about? Anyhow, he said its a done deal. The ranch is in SE NM near the base of the north side of the capitan mountains. I would appreciate it if you make him hold out for a goat well over 80". I've never been fortunate enough to get an antelope tag in NM and was going to do a father son hunt this year. Since I can't make it I thought I would give it to deserving guys. the ranch is about 1 and 1/2 hours from vaughn. Like I said I will let you know as soon as the tags are in my hand. My father, uncle and good friend will be up there if you guys want to hunt with them.

alwayzbhuntin · Aug 23, 2009

Dave, Dr. Smith is correct about Matt from Borderland, what a awesome guy to have guide your hunt, without the help from Dr. Smith, a.k.a. "The Gun Claw" who made the initial contact for us, and Borderland Adventures both, this wouldn't be possible.....hats off to you guys and you too STINKY, people like you are what makes this program a success.

Nate Medcalf
Arizona / New Mexico Ambassador
Hunt Of A Lifetime
www.hoalarizona.org

stinkystomper · Aug 24, 2009

We only got one tag. The other tag is a depredation tag and the G&F haven't released them yet. I'm not sure when that hunt will be or what the details will be. For now I can't come through since the 1 tag has already been given away to another guy. I will get with you "if" the G&F comes through with that tag. Don't know if it will be a doe tag or what as of now. I am sorry to get your hopes up.

Tony

fishnut · Aug 25, 2009

Stinky,
All is well, We do think the offer is amaizing no matter how it all turns out. Good luck to you on the Dutton. We will be excited to here the results, I'll keep everyone informed on the elk hunt. Thanks to everyone who has offered to help. You all make me proud to be a hunter and glad I am raising my boys to be part of this group. They all have great examples from you all and I hope they can grow up to return the favor to other kids along the way.