One Of My Best Friends Last Deer

[ciRe]

Friday night we went out to dinner like we always do before opening day. Same place we go every year the day before season. Saturday morning around noon he wanted to go to lunch but I had deer in front of me so I told him to go to the truck without me. I ended up going about an hour later I decided to go to the truck hoping I could talk to him to see what he saw this morning but he was already back in the woods. So I ate a quick lunch and headed back out. Around 3 I heard a shot from his general area so I turned the radio on for him to tell me he shot a 10 pointer. I told him that we would drag it out when it gets dark out because it was actually cold enough this deer season to leave them out. I didn't see one big enough to shoot. Walked out and drove my truck to where he was at. We walked down the hill to start dragging out his deer. I am 26 and he is 61 so I do the most of the dragging. I made him take breaks and he even laid down for 5 minutes about half way there. After the half way mark I dragged his head and he grabbed the back legs so they wouldn't get caught on anything and did the last half of the drag that way. By the time we made it to the fence of the pasture I made him take another break as I dragged him closer to the truck. I jumped up into the truck and grabbed his antlers and was able to pull most of him in until the back half where I needed his help again. We got him in and we were both tired but were always joking around like always have. Even when we were dragging him he would tell me to slow down because I was doing most of the work and I would always say "so what's new" and "well it's a good thing you shot another little one" even though he would always get a nice one every year with me. We were at the truck when I told him "you smell like dung" as he did clean a deer and where the deer ran is where the farmers put their dead cattle so of course you can imagine that smell. We hopped into my truck and as I was driving threw the pasture he started making a snoring sound right away thinking he just fell asleep but that was never like him. About 5 seconds later he started jerking his body uncontrollably and the race was on to get to the farm house as fast as possible. By the time I got 45 seconds away from the house he passed out. I ran inside and called 911 and the farmer came out to asset the situation as I was pulling him out of my truck to start CPR. I did CPR for around 20 minutes until the ambulance showed up and ems to take over. However I feared the worse. They were there for about 20 minutes before they left to go to the hospital and I was following. They didn't have the lights on. They weren't going fast so I was expecting the worst. When we got to the hospital they put me and the farmer in a different room and told us the bad news that he passed away. I already had told his wife and 3 of his daughters that we were going to the hospital and they needed to be here. I didn't tell them as they were heading up to give them a little bit of hope for the 2 hour car drive. But when they showed up the priest met with them at the door and they lost it. They knew what had happened.

I share this story because I want people to realize that anytime during deer season can be dangerous. We always said rifle season is the scariest of them all but this could have happened anytime during bow season with us. We even talked the night before about getting a 4 wheeler so it wouldn't be hard on us dragging them out. Our family has have heart conditions ever since I can remember. So if you are an older hunter dragging out a deer take your time. Take breaks. And if need be ask for help from neighboring farms. It's not worth losing a love one over. And I'm not trying to say if he didn't drag out the deer it might not have happened but you never know.

He was my uncle, a father figure to me, but mostly he was one of my best friends. We would always hunt and fish together more than I have with anyone else. He would always be there for me and I would always be there for him.

RIP Vince

[Bird Watcher]

Wow. No words. Sorry for your loss

[ruthead]

Sounds like he was doing something he enjoyed with someone he enjoyed doing it with. Sorry for your loss.

[jpb2187]

Sorry for your loss.

[BilletHead]

Bless you and your family ciRe. We are truly sorry and if there is any consolation in this be happy you were with him. He and you will always have and remember that,

Mr. and Mrs. BilletHead

[tho1mas]

This must have been a bad deer season for such things. Sat. my best and last of seven hunting & fishing friends told me he has stage 4 cancer of the liver. He has known since Aug. didn't tell anyone until after the hunt.

Sad.

[ciRe]

Thanks everyone. I'm very happy it waited for me to be with him instead of me looking in the woods worrying about him. In my mind this is the way he would have wanted to go but not the time he would have wanted to go. I figured he would still have a few more years of hunting with me. I dropped the deer head off at the taxidermy today so that my aunt can have something to remember his last day on earth was. I'm having a good friend of his make a state of missouri board to put behind him because he always talked about it but never did get one like that.

I always thought the worst part of anything in this situation would be giving CPR as I've gone through training several times but it's calling his love ones and telling them what happened. He had two other daughters that I didn't notify until after his wife knew. Just happened he had 3 of his daughters with her.

Thomas that sucks he has cancer. Sorry to hear that. Sounds like he wanted everyone to be by him when he told you guys.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Sorry to hear this, hope you heal inside.

[ScottK]

Wow. Very sorry for your loss.

[Justin Spencer]

So sorry