Kinda sad, hunting tradition has ended

[RayKnobs]

I just found out today that we won't be going down to my buddies camp in the southern tier to hunt this year. His dad listed it for sale last May. We have know for a couple years that he wanted to retire and move to Florida. Last week he dropped the price, cleaned it out and didn't tell any of the crew that there was no hunting this year. We had to ask.

It sucks, I have hunted there every opening weekend since 1999. There are so many great stories. I always thought some day my kids would be down there. I assumed my buddy would inherit the place from his dad. He doesn't seem interested in pursuing that.

So, I have no place to hunt rifle season now with a month notice.
If anyone is in the market for a camp. I got a nice place for ya. Sleeps a dozen guys, satellite tv, AC, walk in cooler, outdoor pavilion with a pig smoker

[DarthVader]

That sucks Ray,it would have been helpful if they would have gave you a better notice at least back in spring to give you time to at least look for another place to hunt..

[Cgrutt]

Sorry to hear that. Any chance your usual hunting crew can buy it from him? Have no idea what the situation is but he might be willing to finance it and/or give you a better price with his son involved.

[Sailor Jerry]

That is bad news so close to the season, never ran a full fledged hunting camp but have friends that lease land and hear some internal dysfunction. Same few doing all the work, no shows, whiners, slobs, cheapskates, self invitees, etc, not saying that was your groups problem, just some of the typical fallout from camps. Leasing amongst a group might be an option so close to the season or maybe lease from your friend before it sells.

[thughes]

I feel for you, we had the same situation with a fishing cabin up at Black lake several years ago.

[24Pink14Stink]

Bummer. I think you posted up pics before. Nice looking cabin if I recall.

[harleyhutch]

That blows, hope you find a place. I hunt up north with a camp some weekends but not a serious partier and they have different ethics than I do so I hunt there for the camaraderie not the success. Several of us go up but buying in and being a junior member would only amount to frustration for me,anyways. There is always ball busting but forbid pistols although several of us can shoot them as well as these guys with a rifle at 70 yards, our average shot up north. Funny as two of the original members, now deceased, hunted exclusively with hand guns, so its funny to read about the dynamics of personalities.
Again good luck

[Figment]

That is a downer, no doubt. I used to hunt a wonderful 360 acre property in Maine, with another 300 across the street we had access to from my high school years through my mid 20s. This was with friends of my Dad's and their sons, so it was kind of a special thing. Eventually the owner got so old he couldn't hunt himself, but still had us up for several years because he loved being with the group and hearing the stories. So many memories I'll always cherish. But, alas, all good things come to an end sometime and his kids were not interested in keeping the farm, so he sold it to a paper company. My father has been back to the area, but without the group it's just not the same. I'll never forget though, no pagers/cell phones, no cable tv or internet, use the outhouse if you have to #2 (even at 10 degrees), and no heat upstairs. I loved that farm, it formed a lot of my ideals about what hunting with your dad and friends should be like. It was a whole different world. Time moves on though, I hope you find a new place to make wonderful memories with your friends. Remember the good times, and although you'll always miss it realize life is about phases, that sometimes sadly come to an end.

[lefty]

Ray, how are things looking this year?

[RayKnobs]

Camp is still for sale but we are going up to our own camp in the ADK's We will still hunt opening day of the southern zone down there if it's available. Also picked up a local spot 20 minutes away I can put a stand in.

[RayKnobs]

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/81...ndtofriend-hdp

[RayKnobs]

You can see a picture of Farmer Bob (R.I.P.) cuddling with a blow up doll in one of those listing photos

[BigJohnH]

I feel your pain, a few years ago the place I hunted for 20yrs that was owned by a family friend was leased out to some woodchuck easy chair hunters and then was sold.

[lefty]

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/81...ndtofriend-hdp

Looks like a real nice place, I sent the link to my boss in FL, if he buys it I'll put in a good word for ya Ray! LOL

[BigJohnH]

Hell I've been by there probably 1000 times.....