I have heard that Don Ward had passed away. Does anyone have any information on this?
It says so on another site. Said they found him passed away in his house.
Boy I hope not :pray:
Sad if this is true. I only got to share life/camp with Bowdoc for a week or so on Bear Quest 10. He lit up a room with wit, humor, and a contagious spirit. A tender & deep hearted man that I got to enjoy in a group and one-on-one setting. We met with a smile/welcome and handshake. Left with a strong hug and a friendship... May it not be so, but either way I'm thinking of Him, and praying.... :pray:
Donnie will surely be missed. he made such an impression on all the people he met. Honestly the first time I met him.. I said... What the hell have I gotten myself into? and when we parted ways the first time I couldnt wait to see him again...
He literally Cried when I saw him again he was so happy to be reunited with people... One of my favorite pics of BowDoc....
Rest in peace Brother
Got the call earlier today that Bowdoc had passed away. Pretty much ruined the whole day. I've known Donny for a long time and spent the last 8 years sharing a bear camp with him. The archery world lost a great craftsman and one of the most extensive sources of archery knowledge I've ever known and I lost a great friend. Proud to call him friend and even prouder to have known him. Rest In Peace little buddy, I know that you and Linda are together again. Say hi to Glenn for me. I know y'all are already sitting around the big campfire. You will be greatly missed.
LD
If this is so I am deeply saddened. Although rough around the edges he was a wealth of Traditional knowledge and a pleasure to talk to one on one. First met him on Bear Quest #9 and he talked me into getting a Bear T/D......I now have 4 of them. I helped him the kitchen one evening and the next night he said....."you cook tonight, I'm going hunting" and I did. :pray:
Awww, sad to hear. I never met him but very much enjoyed and benefited from his contributions here and elsewhere.
Very sad. I spent a week with him at bear quest 11. He had a big personality and could entertain the room for hours with his knowledge of Archery and his wit. I almost didn't make it that week because of personal reasons but boy am I glad I did because I would have missed out on meeting one of the true contributors to our sport.
Rest In Peace my friend.
Rick
R.I.P. Bowdoc hope they have a Bear Takedown for you when you get up there at the big camp.Kip
So sorry to hear the sad news. Don will most surely be missed!
Gary Hall called me as I was getting home from work tonight to give me the sad news.
I got to meet Bowdoc during Bear Quest 10. I'll never forget him and how passionate he was about bear hunting. I'm glad I had the chance to spend some time with him and was really looking forward to seeing him again next June. Sad.
I'd say rest well Bowdoc, but he's probably busy refinishing a bow for Saint Sebastian.
He was a unique. Could tell stories continually day and night, keeping you laughing all the time. RIP my friend
Sad news indeed. Praying for his family.
Prayers for Don's family. I pray that God take you into his arms .
A very sad day. I met Don 10 years ago in Quebec bear hunting. He's one of the most genuine folks I have ever met. He was just an awesome guy, a craftsman, historian, and a friend.
Hunted with him every year since. It felt like a family reunion every year. In a sense, it always was. His heart was always in it and his love of the outdoors, archery, hunting and people always shined through.
Don, I'll miss you, but rest assured - in spirit you will still be with us on every trip.
Jay
He refinished a very special bow for me and did so with superb craftsmanship going the extra mile to make sure it remained a family heirloom. He was a pleasure. I would have liked to know him as well as some of you did.
Rest In Peace.
Don
Was a character for sure was a pleasure to have in camp at BQ and will be missed. Bear Quest will not be the same. I was blown away about how much he knew about Traditional archery and loved listening to his story's. Definitely made a big impression on me great guy and I can say I will miss that funny little man.
RIP BowDoc
Our Brother comes to you, as swift and straight, as an arrow shot into the sun. Welcome him, to his place at the Eternal Campfire. We will see him again.....
Truly a huge loss to the Archery world. RIP Bowdoc.
What a character!! He was an instant friend to anyone he met. He will be missed for sure.
Never had the chance to meet him or interact with him thru the 'net, but his abilities of restoring old or damaged bows is legendary.
RIP bowdoc.
Don was one of a kind and had more stories to tell then time allowed. Anyone who met him would be hard pressed to forget him
I'll always treasure the week I got to share with him at BQ 10!
I'd herd stories but nothing compares to Bowdoc uncensored :thumbsup:
RIP Bowdoc, you'll be missed :pray:
Awful news. Rest in peace bd.
It is always sad to learn of the passing of one of our own. Prayers and condolences to his family and friends.
Just happened to be watching a bill Langer video the night before this was posted and he was on it from bq 3. I thought to myself if I was ever on a hunt with someone I would hope they had the same passion for the sport that he had on that video. Never met or talked to him but seemed like one of the best! RIP
Tom Phillipse called me yesterday with the news. I was out hiking, stump shooting and scouting. Like Larry said, kinda ruined my day. He was one of the few people who could make me belly laugh. and all know what a wealth of knowledge he was. I wrote his name on a cedar shaft and launched it into the air from my Grizzly. I actually feel sorry for the people who never got to know him. RIP little buddy
Rest in peace Donny :pray:
Steve Jr
I never had the pleasure of meeting The Real Bowdoc, but interacted with him on here, and heard lots of stories at Denton from Tom and the rest of the Bear Quest Crew.
He surely will be missed. Thank God he lives on, through the 101 thread over on the History and Collecting Forum.
RIP bd.
Spent a couple BQ's with him. Always fun to be around.
(https://i.imgur.com/0jeOjCn.jpg)
Bow Doc... rest in peace my friend ! You will be sorely missed ...God bless,
That might be Bowdoc shooting the only Carbon arrow he ever shot !!! He hated carbon arrows :-)
I'm glad I was sitting down when I found this out .
Just met Bowdoc this last Bear Quest , what a character and you would never be bored around him .
I was hopping to get to see him again someday ...
He will be missed ..... :(
RIP, doc!!!!!
Bisch
Washington State has lost another archery treasure ...
QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Phillips:
That might be Bowdoc shooting the only Carbon arrow he ever shot !!! He hated carbon arrows :-)
Ya. But note..... He shooting it into the resivoir!!
Rest In Peace Don
A lot of knowledge to the service of the archery world.
He'd be crying his eyes out reading all this!
RIP Doc-a master at bringing the old bows back to their glory.
QuoteOriginally posted by Matty:
QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Phillips:
That might be Bowdoc shooting the only Carbon arrow he ever shot !!! He hated carbon arrows :-)
Ya. But note..... He shooting it into the resivoir!!
Sad news.
My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Although I never met him in person I will miss his presence on this site.
So sad to hear this....
I never met him but was impressed by his knowledge and work.Condolences to his family.
RIP BowDoc
Thanks for the memories, I learned a lot. Best wishes to Don's family.
One on one conversation with BowDoc would show his sensitive and caring side. I experienced this side of BowDoc in the mornings at the kitchen table where we would sit and talk while everyone else slept but as soon as someone else entered the room it was like a switch had been thrown. He now had an audience and he turned into a comedian and the comedy act lasted all day. He was a hoot!
No topic and no person was safe... BowDoc was an equal opportunity offender. I was lucky to know him and call him a friend.
Rest In Peace BowDoc. Bear camp won't be the same without you.
:pray:
Tom, you are 'spot on'. During my conversation with Donnie the thursday before he passed, I asked him if he had heard anything about the 'Gatekeeper', as we haven't seen a post for awhile. Good to see you here.
Shick
great guy, corresponded with him a few times...
hope your hunting camps are plenty and there are bows for you to fix....
rip
Sad to hear the news of BowDoc's passing! I too met him at bear quest #2 I think it was. To say Don was character is a gross under statement. There are some great stories about Don I'm sure. While at bear camp Two game wardens caught Don in a stand one evening with out his orange vest. Don had one arrow and a self bow sitting 5 feet up a tree. They finally determined he wasn't a threat and let him go without a citation. They even gave him a tip or two on bear hunting out of sympathy.30 minuts after they left him alone he killed a bear. With his one arrow :D Him and I walleye fished the rest of the week for a great fish fry. Rest in peace Don!
I'll miss you little buddy!!
This is the Bowdoc smile I remember most...
(https://i.imgur.com/25f9zDt.jpg?3)
I think he actually enjoyed shooting bears with No Hair :)
(https://i.imgur.com/j9gTVHp.jpg?1)
RIP Doc