A tribute to a fallen friend

[muskrat man]

My father and I planned a bowfishing trip today, to canoe down a river and get picked up at dark to come home. The bow was a bear super magnum. a short 48" recurve that has served my father well for the 30+ years he has owned it and served me well the 4 years I have had the pleasure of owning it. My father bought the bow new sometime in the 1970's and hunted with it the entire time he owned it. I hoped to get my first archery deer with it this year, but it has done it's time and it' tired and needs to rest. Early this year the limb split, but we repaired it and it kept on going strong. This bow has taken more fish and game than most men have ever seen. It was a sad day when the limb split, and it was only a matter of time before it finally went. Sadly today was the day. We were dropped off and put the boat in, we floated up on the first big carp, I eased the bow back and the lower limb broke straight off. Luckily no one was physically hurt, but my heart was broken to see it go. I'm afraid it cannot be repaired this time. This bow was like a member of the family, but everything wears out over time I suppose. Knife blades get sharpened away, chokes and riflings get shot out of guns, tires wear down, cars gain mileage, bones become old and brittle. Everyone and everything eventually wears out. And like all people and things that eventually go, we're sad to see them go from our lives. Here are some photos of past years of bowfishing action and what's left of the bow as I lay it to rest .


This grass carp weighed in at 25Lbs and made a formidable opponent.



A good day, last year.


It has seen this sunset many a day


No captions required for these photos

[sunburst]

A fitting tribute my friend to an old reliable companion, thanks for sharing the joy and fondness of it's adventures...

Great Pics MM, beautiful country..After seeing the number of fish in the picture I can understand why the bow broke...You wore it out..

Sunburst

[El Lobo]

Great story and great pictures...thanks for sharing with us Kaleb.

Bill

[MITCH RAPP]

Great Story! When's the fish fry?

[cstricklen]

So does the retired warrior get glued back together and hung on the wall? If not, I think I saw a special set of muskrat handles hiding in the pivot point of that old bow.

[justold52]

Your photo with the 29 fish made me think...

Just to make you smile again MM.

Whats the difference between a Lawyer and a Catfish ???





One is a scum sucking low life bottom fedder and the other one is a fish.
... I hope this made you smile MM

I would glue her and hang on to her, just for old time sake.
You know the pack-rat in us...