Previous Thread | Next Thread |
Print Thread
Hop To
| Page 3 of 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160079711/21/16 | |
S ST50 Campfire Regular | |
 ST50 Campfire Regular S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 942 | No trophy's for me anymore unless I happen to be in the right spot at the right time. I plan on eating a doe or two every year. Saturday I helped my son in law recover his first buck. First deer and it was bow killed. Made me very happy for him. |
| GB1 |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160081511/21/16 | |
R Reloder28 Campfire Ranger | |
 Reloder28 Campfire Ranger R Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,873 | My favorite, no doubt, is Squirrel hunting. At age 58 I have more desire than I do places to do it. I plan to hunt Antelope next year if God wills. If not, I'll go chase an Axis. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160093711/21/16 | |
22250rem Campfire Outfitter | |
22250rem Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 10,484 | I turned 66 this past February and retired end of April. Now I can hunt whenever I want as long as the season is on. Around here gun season started Sat. 11/19 and I spent 10 hours in a blind I have on a friends property. Didn't get anything but it was nice and relaxing and I enjoyed it a lot. Was in a thick woods overlooking 2 deer routes that have had cams on them all summer. Shots would be close so the 44 mag 7.5" scoped Redhawk got the call. Tomorrow I head down to about 6000 acres of state land in the hills of the Finger Lakes with a Kimber sporterized Mod. 96 Swedish Mauser with a 3.5-10x Leupold to take a walk in the woods in all the fresh snow instead of sitting most of the day. I got a buck tag and 2 doe tags for 2 separate areas. If I get something that's great; but even if I don't I'm enjoying the hell out of it and never realized retirement could be so much fun. Seems like I spent my entire hunting life trying to get free from school, work, or family stuff for limited hunting. Now I can really enjoy the experience regardless of if I fill the freezer. |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Reloder28#1160094111/21/16 | |
badger Campfire Tracker | |
badger Campfire Tracker Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 7,476 | It's become an excuse to get to the woods for me. A place to escape the stress of day to day life. I've passed on a few deer this season that I would have taken in prior years, simply because the "need" to bring something back to camp isn't as strong as it was. The very act of being there, is therapy enough for me. It also doesn't help to have bison in the freezer. While I like venison, it ain't bison, and I still have about 6 months supply before I start planning for the next one. To anger a conservative, lie to him. To annoy a liberal, tell him the truth. Promoted to Turdlike status 03/17/12 |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160106011/21/16 | |
CCCC Campfire Ranger | |
CCCC Campfire Ranger Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 15,491 | Have pretty much been a "solo" hunter for over 55 years and locating the game always has been the core. Ravages of aging have taken some toll, and more recently have given time helping young ones and relatives learn more about the sport - very good thing to do. But, a hunter is a hunter - the focus seems never to diminish. NRA Member - Life, Benefactor, Patron |
| IC B2 |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160108911/21/16 | |
GeoW Campfire Ranger | |
GeoW Campfire Ranger Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 17,237 | The atmosphere of the deer camp and the memories of hunts and friends is what it's all about now. That and the old copper coffee pot that's always hot... Geo "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." GeoW, The "Unwoke" ...Let's go Brandon! "A Well Regulated Militia" Life Member |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160113811/21/16 | |
S StoneCutter Campfire Outfitter | |
StoneCutter Campfire Outfitter S Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 7,843 | I'm not old yet. I'm only 55 and I've found I'm much more selective. In the past 15 years, I've averaged about 12 per year. Last year I only shot 8. Part of that is because the coyotes ran the does off. How times have changed. When I first started deer hunting in high school, I was clueless. The second time in the woods for deer, I shot my first doe. I had an old Winchester single shot shotgun, no knife, and no rope, walking aimlessly through the woods. Luckily, my neighbor was there with his father and he gutted it for me. I drug it by the hind legs backwards 1/2 mile to my car. Luckily, we had 2" of snow on the ground. I had to lift it over the fence, I looked like a monkey trying to F^ck a football. About 20 years ago, they upped our bag limits so you could kill as many as possible. Me and another guy at work used to have a contest to see who could kill the most. "If it's brown, it's down". I did 16 one year, and another year he did 23. Those days are gone. Several years ago, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't shoot any bucks with less than 6 points. I really started to kill quality bucks at that point. Now, I have a hard time pulling on an 8 point. I've grown up. I'll fill the freezer, give away some, and donate the rest. The good part of donating is that you have to give it to them on the hoof. I also give them a couple of hundreds of dollars to cover the processing. I love deer hunting ALMOST as much as I love my family. It's not the killing, although that can be a fringe benefit, it's the sport and just being in a peaceful place. I think that for those who don't hunt, they're missing out on experiencing something that god gave us to enjoy. I can get a lot of problems solved in my head sometimes too. I've gotten smarter too. I've put away the climbing stands and I'm lucky enough to put up ladder stands where I hunt. I'm sure the day will come, but for right now, I'm loving life, even though I work too much. Last edited by StoneCutter; 11/21/16. "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160117911/21/16 | |
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 12,100 O Orion2000 Campfire Outfitter | |
Orion2000 Campfire Outfitter O Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 12,100 | To quote Ortega y Gasset "...the hunter does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, he kills in order to have hunted." I stopped focusing on chasing "wall hangers" a while ago. More than willing to shoot one if it happens by. But not my main focus. Main focus now is supporting and encouraging the grand kids. Oldest daughter and her husband both hunt. Her kids are "in the fold". Neither my second daughter nor her husband hunt. However, her daughter is interested. As a result, my "Job 1" right now is to ensure that grand daughter gets the time and support she needs to be successful in the hunting fields. (She finally tagged out last night on a small 8 pt'er!) At this point, all of the grand kids who actively hunt have tagged out, but one. Still need to tag a doe for myself for the freezer. But, even if that doesn't happen, it's been a good year. |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160122511/21/16 | |
R RoninPhx Campfire Ranger | |
RoninPhx Campfire Ranger R Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 16,000 | A environmentalist of sorts, a guy by the name of edward albey. He wrote a book among other things called "the monkey wrench gang." I read a quote of his something like another quote. THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160128911/21/16 | |
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 3,003 U urbaneruralite Campfire Tracker | |
urbaneruralite Campfire Tracker U Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 3,003 | How many times can you read your favorite book? When you get to the point where you can pretty much go make meat when you want, and have killed enough older bucks to know its just a matter of putting in the time, the shiny kinda fades from the penny. Once I've scouted out a buck and figured him out I'd just as soon someone else shot the thing. They'd appreciate it more. Living in a world of G17s and 700s, wishing for P7s and 202s |
| IC B3 |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160136111/21/16 | |
Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 96,121 S Steelhead Campfire Oracle | |
Steelhead Campfire Oracle S Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 96,121 | I ain't got there yet I guess. Sure, I don't spend all day, every day doing it. I think that comes more from learning. There are days that I expect to see stuff and days I don't. Moon, weather, mood etc all factor in when they didn't when I was younger. Kind of like the old cliche 'Why run down there and f*ck one when we can walk down there and f*ck them all' That said, I like killing shiet on my terms. I might be able to kill the biggest buck of my life along the #1 line in NY, but I don't want to hunt there so I don't give a sheit. I also don't want to chase deer when it's 90 out. Give me a nice crisp fall day or a cold, gray winter day and I want to kill something. I still love venison so much and so does the wife. I know of no other way to get free range, no antibiotic etc venison then by killing it myself. I don't like hunting evenings though. I have no desire to f&ck around with a dead critter in the dark. So in short, I love it just as much and I appreciate it more now than ever, but I am selective about the days/times that I hunt. When it's time to kill, it's time to kill. "Dear Lord, save me from Your followers" |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Dutch#1160147911/21/16 | |
luv2safari Campfire Ranger | |
luv2safari Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 28,172 | Originally Posted by Dutch After killing a couple of decent public land bulls, the need to prove anything faded. Now, all I want is to hunt for a few hours over my dogs, and bring a few birds home for the pot. Dutch, these are my feelings exactly. I love to see my dogs having fun, and a couple of birds is now a bonus. My grandson gets my lazy butt off the sofa these days, God bless him. Hunt with Class and Classics Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary” |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160148611/21/16 | |
V VarmintGuy Campfire Ranger | |
VarmintGuy Campfire Ranger V Joined: May 2003 Posts: 23,002 | Armednfree: Now that I have harvested at least one Deer for the 57th (fifty seventh!) year in row I to have had "changes" in my priorities! |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. VarmintGuy#1160153411/21/16 | |
B Bighorn Campfire Tracker | |
Bighorn Campfire Tracker B Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 7,002 | Today, my wife and I went hunting with our Lab for chukar at a hunt club where we belong. Watching her point birds is a hunting experience I will never tire of! I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave.... |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160154211/21/16 | |
C cabindweller Campfire Member | |
cabindweller Campfire Member C Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 171 | I am almost 53. I also don't care to hunt as late into the afternoon as a I used to. I still get after it…Up at 4:30 and on the stand or still hunting by first shooting light until about 3:30 or so. I also no longer like the idea of dealing with dead dear much later than that. I enjoy the time in camp with the guys, the food, and especially hearing everyone's stories at the end of the day. My wife and I love eating venison so I typically shoot the first legal deer I see, and then hunt more selectively after that. I don't really care if I shoot a big buck or not, but enjoy it when I do. This past season which wrapped up yesterday, I shot a doe 5 days into my hunt after passing on some other deer, including a buck that didn't really offer the type of shot I prefer. I really don't care to hunt as much, or as long in some types of weather anymore. Overall my progression deer hunting into middle age is very enjoyable as I no longer feel compelled to do anything in particular that I don't already automatically just do. This has freed up energy and time for some of the other details of the hunt and camp that I used to take for granted, which are all the best things. |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160158711/21/16 | |
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 14,408 R rem141r Campfire Outfitter | |
rem141r Campfire Outfitter R Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 14,408 | i'm the same way. i was a hard charger for decades and got my boys into hunting and we have a ball at camp. but any more i enjoy planning the deer season menu almost as much as planning the hunt. i still hunt dark-dark most days of regular rifle but don't really care if i get a deer anymore. i just like pushing deer to my boys and brother. last year i bounced a doe out of the thicks and it ran right past my boy and he downed it. we took it back to camp and skinned it and stood around all afternoon bsing and drinking beer. we were just talking this evening about doing the same setup this year. my goal for my old age is to be camp cook and biggest liar. My diploma is a DD214 |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160162511/21/16 | |
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 8,721 T TBREW401 Campfire Outfitter | |
TBREW401 Campfire Outfitter T Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 8,721 | Deer hunting is what you make it. Hey, Life don't suck in deer camp!! |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. rem141r#1160164911/21/16 | |
L lvmiker Campfire Outfitter | |
lvmiker Campfire Outfitter L Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 9,377 | For many years I prioritized climbing and skiing before hunting. Most years I could only devote 10 days/year to Elk and Antelope. I have always been able to get after coyotes on a regular basis. Nowadays I enjoy the wild places more than ever but cover less ground and don't plan on packing out anything larger than a wolf. Even when I don't carry a tag and rifle I take my binos and rangefinder on every hike to see what I can find, and stalk as close as I can. Learning never stops. Even though methods have changed I enjoy the hunting more than ever. mike r Don't wish it were easier Stab them in the taint, you can't put a tourniquet on that. |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. GeoW#1160165611/21/16 | |
jorgeI Campfire 'Bwana | |
jorgeI Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 42,583 | Originally Posted by GeoW The atmosphere of the deer camp and the memories of hunts and friends is what it's all about now. That and the old copper coffee pot that's always hot... Geo Cover is for me as well. A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…” |
Re: How many older hunters feel this way. Armednfree#1160168311/21/16 | |
Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 14,115 E earlybrd Campfire Outfitter | |
earlybrd Campfire Outfitter E Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 14,115 | I'm 31 and hunt hard for big horns but it seemed a lot funner when I was a kid to shoot whatever I wanted.Ive got a 10 yr old now I let him shoot what he wants to fill the freezer for us but between the two of us we both missed shots at two bucks this year and time is ticking going into desperate mode now whatever comes by is fair game. |
| Page 3 of 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Moderated by RickBin
Link Copied to Clipboard
| AX24 |
| 546 members (10gaugeman, 204guy, 007FJ, 06hunter59, 1eyedmule, 1beaver_shooter, 50 invisible),2,944guests, and 1,239robots. |
Key:Admin,Global Mod,Mod |
| April | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||
| Forum Statistics |
Forums81 Topics1,190,594 Posts18,454,365 Members73,908 |
Most Online11,491 |
