Brandon Yuchasz
Well-known member
Its odd that a man I never meet in person could still have such an impact on my life and its experiences. Steve and I would chat now and then mostly through PMs about Sharptail grouse,dogs, chasing Sharptail's in the west, hunting chuckars with the old dog before she gets to old, regrets of not hunting chuckars with the old dog that is now to old and other general hunting banter. I admired Steve and the way he had at least in my mind structured his life to chase his passions without neglecting those he loved. To be honest, I get to chase my passions more then many and yet I was always envious of him.
So Steve influenced me by the choices he made, the conversations we had, the trips he took, and the photos he shared here.
But Steve also influenced others, shared those same type of conversations and even mentored and befriended others on this forum. for example, Dani.
This fall I had the opportunity to take a real western upland trip for Sharptails and Sage Grouse. Dani, was generous with advice and we chatted often before the trip and even more often during the trip. She helped cut the learning curve tremendously by helping me learn to identify the correct habitat and conditions to find birds. Now I don't want to sell Dani short because she is an outstanding outdoors person in her own right and much of what she shared was certainly her own knowledge. I do however, think its worth acknowledging that at least some of the knowledge she so freely shared with me came in part from Steve and the shared experiences of hunting together. Although it might be going to far to call that a legacy it certainly is his continuing influence on this world. I truly miss that I can't drop him a message this fall and chat but at least I can drop Dani one and for that I am grateful.
I wish I had a pile of great photos to share with you all but I managed to leave my batteries for the DSLR on the charger when I left for the trip and my cell phone was not up to the challenge. I do however have a few that Andrew Menz took and Ill post some over the next few days.
Here is one he snapped.
View attachment IMG_20200912_093727744.jpg
So Steve influenced me by the choices he made, the conversations we had, the trips he took, and the photos he shared here.
But Steve also influenced others, shared those same type of conversations and even mentored and befriended others on this forum. for example, Dani.
This fall I had the opportunity to take a real western upland trip for Sharptails and Sage Grouse. Dani, was generous with advice and we chatted often before the trip and even more often during the trip. She helped cut the learning curve tremendously by helping me learn to identify the correct habitat and conditions to find birds. Now I don't want to sell Dani short because she is an outstanding outdoors person in her own right and much of what she shared was certainly her own knowledge. I do however, think its worth acknowledging that at least some of the knowledge she so freely shared with me came in part from Steve and the shared experiences of hunting together. Although it might be going to far to call that a legacy it certainly is his continuing influence on this world. I truly miss that I can't drop him a message this fall and chat but at least I can drop Dani one and for that I am grateful.
I wish I had a pile of great photos to share with you all but I managed to leave my batteries for the DSLR on the charger when I left for the trip and my cell phone was not up to the challenge. I do however have a few that Andrew Menz took and Ill post some over the next few days.
Here is one he snapped.
View attachment IMG_20200912_093727744.jpg
Last edited:
