dlance said:

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ursusguy said:

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Here.

Got to know Neel personally starting 7-8 years ago. After my dad passed away 3 years ago, he was talking to me about how he might help with grandfather type activities. He wanted to help facilitate and be present for my son's first deer.

I'm going to miss the random phone calls. He had a knack for really odd times and inopportune moments.

But with NW80, you got a a man of his word, even if is did lead to odd encounters. 5 or 6 years ago, I was hunting near Jarell. I called him a week before and he invited me to dinner (the dude could cook really good). Wrap up my hunt, call him and he had forgotten. "Oh sh--, that's right. Damn I have plans. Hey, I'm just going to dinner with a friend, come on down". Turns out he is going on a date with a lady he had been dating for short time, but was serious about. I try to hint that dragging your internet buddy along for the date might come off as a bit odd, but off to Saltgrass we went. Now odd bit #2, for number of years NW80 was legitimately friends with Tommy Lee Jones. Neel had just gotten a new puppy and wanted some advice on naming the dog. So here I am, sitting in Neel's new Ecodiesel apparently going on a date with him where he meets this lady's mostly grown kids...yeah this ain't odd at all. But before that, let's call Tommy Lee Jones and discuss naming this puppy. Initially Neel really wanted to name the puppy Blue Duck. TLJ went off the evil connotations associated with the name Blue Duck. This was a serious conversation that went on for several minutes, and they settled on Blue being an acceptable name......and then I went on to participate/witness one of the oddest date experiences I have ever seen.

I'll miss you man.

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NW80 treated TLJ in 1998 when TLJ got thrown from his horse playing polo out in Sealy. I wonder if that was the beginning of their friendship.

RIP NW80, you were a great one.

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03ki11erAG said:

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Never knew him and I feel like I missed something special. Here.

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jpistolero02 said:

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He told me the story about this big Texas bull. I am sure many of you heard it. Thought you guys might enjoy seeing it. I had no idea elk like this existed in Texas that weren't brought in and released on a ranch.

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jpb1999 said:

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jpistolero02 said:

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He told me the story about this big Texas bull. I am sure many of you heard it. Thought you guys might enjoy seeing it. I had no idea elk like this existed in Texas that weren't brought in and released on a ranch.

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Can you retail it? That is awesome! Where was that? Is that him?

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ursusguy said:

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I have seen massive heartattack while trout fishing in NM.

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jpistolero02 said:

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I can't do the story justice and I hope someone else can fill in more of the details. I forget the exact area of Texas where these run wild, but I think it was a buddy of his that managed a big ranch out there. NW80 always told his buddy that he wanted to shoot a free ranging elk in Texas. He got a call from him to come out and fish and possibly hunt for elk. They were fishing, drinking and having a good time and his buddy suggested they go scout for elk. Like most places they are not typically seen at the drop of a hat and I believe this was summer time because there is no season in Texas. They are in the truck and I want to say he threw a few rounds in his pocket not thinking they were going to see anything. Also, I don't think this was a large caliber maybe 6.5 something. They get to a spot and start glassing and damn if they don't see some elk and this bugger comes walking out. Needless to say his buddy says shoot and Doc was already on him. He had to shoot the bull 2-3 times before it went down and I think he maybe had a bullet to spare. I am sure I have butchered this story, but listening to Doc tell it was a hoot.

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Badace52 said:

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jpistolero02 said:

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I can't do the story justice and I hope someone else can fill in more of the details. I forget the exact area of Texas where these run wild, but I think it was a buddy of his that managed a big ranch out there. NW80 always told his buddy that he wanted to shoot a free ranging elk in Texas. He got a call from him to come out and fish and possibly hunt for elk. They were fishing, drinking and having a good time and his buddy suggested they go scout for elk. Like most places they are not typically seen at the drop of a hat and I believe this was summer time because there is no season in Texas. They are in the truck and I want to say he threw a few rounds in his pocket not thinking they were going to see anything. Also, I don't think this was a large caliber maybe 6.5 something. They get to a spot and start glassing and damn if they don't see some elk and this bugger comes walking out. Needless to say his buddy says shoot and Doc was already on him. He had to shoot the bull 2-3 times before it went down and I think he maybe had a bullet to spare. I am sure I have butchered this story, but listening to Doc tell it was a hoot.

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He shot it in the Davis Mountains from what I recall.

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