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Sad and Somber Day

fbwguy

Moderator
Staff member
SH Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Messages
3,059
Location
Cato Arkansas
Yesterday was the last day of rifle season in my zone here in Arkansas. But it was the last day of hunting my family’s private lot of 95 acres. 22 years ago when we bought our land we became friends with an older couple next door. They became like grandparents to my kids. They asked if we would take care of their 95 acres, keeping it bush hogged and clear of poachers. In return we had full hunting rights. My children learned to hunt here and they harvested their first whitetails. My wife became a hunter on this property. A lot of great memories have been created here. 3 years ago Jeanne died and Bill had become ill also. He died this last February and unfortunately the way he had his will written it was thrown out by Probate Court. The land was given to his biological son who lives in Thailand, who immediately put it up for sale. I could not afford 285k just to hunt so I just knew our days were numbered. That day is now here. The closing on the land is Dec 15th.
Last night as I climbed down from the stand where my children learned to hunt it hit me hard. I stood on the spot where my son killed his first deer, and cried. I’m not an emotional guy, but this is a hard change of life. I will miss this land and just hope the new owners appreciate and respect the long history of hunting this property
 
That's too bad, our family recently had a similar situation arise. Don't lose all hope though, I was able to ask the new owners and they obliged with just a few different quirks from before that weren't really a big deal for us.
 
Man that’s tough, sorry to hear!!! Had some similarities to your scenario, I still miss those days but have had a lot of fun figuring out new stuff as well. Got plenty of new memories with the kids exploring new ground.
 
I’m sorry to hear that.... sadly, I’m afraid I’m going to experience the same thing in the near future with land that has been in my family for around 70 years. Unless by some miracle my grandfather out lives his sister, she’ll sell it and I’m too poor to afford the price tag that would follow......

Think happy thoughts and remember the good times!
 
That sucks. My neighbors I grew up next have an 80acer farm I have hunted since I was twelve. I have hunted there for 27 years now. I hope they keep it in the family and as my kids get a little older they are able to hunt it with me there. But at the end of the day remember it was about the experience. Time spent together. Doesn't matter where it was. Hopefully you guys can still find some places to hunt. Maybe look into a out if state trip once a year together. Never know, you might end up enjoying something different even more. Hopefully it still keeps you and your kids hunting together.
 
At least you and your wife were able to get and enjoy this one last season out of it. Although its hard, new hunting memories are waiting to be made somewhere else. Best of luck!
 
Stuff like that burns me up to no end and is the reason I have problems with authority.

It should be a warning to EVERYONE - not just hunters or the OP - to get your estate in order before death comes a knockin'. That includes executorship, power of attorney, guardianship, living will, etc. If you have elderly parents and have not had this conversation with them NOW is the time! Don't wait until they're in hospice or on life support!

Yes, it will cost you a little scratch to work with an estate planning attorney/firm. But it will be very much worth it should you shuffle off this mortal coil unexpectedly or naturally.

The the OP - sorry and i'm sure it's not easy. Like I said above - use it as a lesson to get your personal estate in order so that you have something to hand down to your kids without having the state wrench it from their hands.
 
Thank you for sharing what was an extremely difficult and personal emotional experience. I feel for you as I'm sure so many here do. You have added more to than you've subtracted from this community, and I am grateful for your presence here.

It may just be land, and there may be other lands and opportunities in your future, but you have effectively conveyed what we all know in our hearts, that it is the experiences and the memories that the land connects you to that you mourn. Find comfort in the thought that your memories cannot truly be lost. They are yours forever.

I'm going to set my Primal plywood platform up on a tree in my yard to hold my beer, as I pop a toast to the end of one era for @fbwguy and his family, and the start of something new.

Be well my friend. Cheers to you and yours.
 
Your story brought tears to my eyes. I feel for you and your family. If I was the new owner and heard your story I would not hesitate to offer you hunting privileges. Don't give up hope completely. Sometimes these things seem to work out in a positive way. Good luck.
 
It should be a warning to EVERYONE - not just hunters or the OP - to get your estate in order before death comes a knockin'. That includes executorship, power of attorney, guardianship, living will, etc.
I, Nutterbuster, do hereby leave all of my worldly possessions to literally anybody who is not involved with any body of the local, state, or federal government. Under no circumstances shall the above-mentioned entities or their affiliates acquire anything of mine in excess of that which they lay claim to in the name of "taxes" and will take by force with no help from me or mine.

Should nobody wish to burden their existence with the taxed remnants of my worldly belongings, in lieu of them being given to the United States government, it is my last wish that they be doused in bootleg shine and lit with an unregistered flame thrower while singing "Dixie."
 
I think your gonna se this more and more.
the generations of new are more worried about their bank accounts growing and technology.

Im sure hunting will in the future be more controlled. Its already starting where i live. Certain public properties can only be hunted in wooden stands inmates have built.
its getting super common fir this too.
if we are not careful we will lose the rights to our public lands.
 
I, Nutterbuster, do hereby leave all of my worldly possessions to literally anybody who is not involved with any body of the local, state, or federal government. Under no circumstances shall the above-mentioned entities or their affiliates acquire anything of mine in excess of that which they lay claim to in the name of "taxes" and will take by force with no help from me or mine.

Should nobody wish to burden their existence with the taxed remnants of my worldly belongings, in lieu of them being given to the United States government, it is my last wish that they be doused in bootleg shine and lit with an unregistered flame thrower while singing "Dixie."

Joke all you want. When's your appointment with the attorney?
 
My mother in law is fighting with the court over her mother's house. As her mom was slowly giving into dementia, she took her to the lawyer to make sure everything is in order. Lawyer filed the will PRE SIGNED with him and 'witnesses' but forgot to have her mom sign it. So its 3 years now and the estate still in limbo because she has a brother that last she heard was in jail that is legally entitled to the house also even if they havnt talked in decades.

I keep telling her to just sue her lawyer for whatever 50% of the value is. But she's too nice, he's been the family lawyer for years, everyone make mistake, etc.....Its like believing the car saleman will take care of you because you're a loyal customer. (IMHO, nothing against saleman, everyone is trying to make a living, every dollar you save is one out of their pocket for their family. Nothing wrong with that, dont make it personal)

Make sure your wills are in order and get a copy, and READ the copy. This would of been a minor issue if she actually look at the paperwork after getting it.
 
Similar stories have plagued me for the last 25 years or so. Just this year, I have lost hunting rights on one of the first properties that I have ever hunted. I've killed many deer and bear on the property. My daughter shot her first gobbler, with a 410ga (2 1/2" #9). Last year it was sold and the new owner has plans to sell hunts on the property. Well at least I have 50 years of memories on that property. I have also learned that you can't spend your life crying over spilt milk. You must look for new areas. I ride 2hrs 1 way to deer hunt. The deer there are much bigger there, than where I grew up, and I have killed my biggest bucks 2 hrs away.

I have a friend that sits around and wishes things would return to the way they were years ago. He won't seriously look for new opportunities, and succumbs to a hunting life of misery.

I try to keep positive and tell myself that when 1 door shuts another 1 will open.
 
Since other have covered the new opportunities, cherished memories and what not, I will just add my my initial thought having been in your shoes...that freakin sucks balls.

@Nutterbuster some of us gubmint workers might find high value and good use with your belongins. Promise I will sing dixie while it's in use if'n I were to end up wid a spare boat or some decoys. ;)
 
fbwguy,

I might have missed it, but what was in Bill's will that the Probate Court threw out? Were you to be given the property in that will?
 
fbwguy,

I might have missed it, but what was in Bill's will that the Probate Court threw out? Were you to be given the property in that will?
In the state of Arkansas every blood child has to be named in the will. They can be be left out of the inheritance but must be named. He left his step daughter as the executer of the will and she had specific instructions on who got what. The probate Judge, said the will was invalid and named his oldest son as full executer. His son had no relationship with his father for over 20 years and could care less about what he had wanted. He simply put everything up for sale for liquidation

It’s amazing that you can go from non blood family and full time caretaker to just the neighbor overnight
 
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