Just wondering if I'm alone. I'm 47 now. Killed my first deer, a small buck in 1984. Instantly hooked. This is year 37 for me. When on to walk away ( not the smartest decision) from a college baseball scholarship to go out west and be a guide. Guided in Montana, Idaho, Colorado and even South Georgia for quail, hogs and turkeys. However, each year it gets a little harder to get outta bed etc, etc. As a kid opening day was better than Christmas. I used to look at people during season and wonder why aren't theyhunting today. I have always wondered, why the fire burns out and sworn it'd never happen to me…. But it is.
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The flame is burning low
- Thread starter Monk74
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If it wasn't for my dad, I wouldn't deer hunt much. I will always turkey hunt though.
But, I will say that I am looking forward to when my grandkids can go.
So, if you have opportunity to introduce a kid or even an adult, it might rekindle the fire.
But, I will say that I am looking forward to when my grandkids can go.
So, if you have opportunity to introduce a kid or even an adult, it might rekindle the fire.
I still have the fire to go and so does my kid. That is probably why I still have the fire. My dad is almost 70 and over the last 15 years I have seen the fire leave him. He likes to go, but mainly just to hang out with us. He could careless if he kills one. Also, his hunting range keeps getting closer and close to the truck.
We all have seasons in life but I'd have to disagree on the thought of going west to guide being a bad decision. No telling the sights and landscape you were in and all the memories you made for folks.
I don't feel the least bit bad about an evening sit. Also, shifting to saddle, archery only, etc keeps it spicy. Always a new challenge
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
Last couple bang flops for me brought on little to no rush, adrenaline or whatever it is. It was like, yep dead deer. Used to get the shakes and ears ringing immediately after the shot. Not sure why, but that feeling has gone, and long ago I said when it did, it may be time for me to think about hanging it up. At 52, and having had some health issues that led to recent surgery, wondered if meds or other factors around that may have come into play. I still have some desire to get up and go, but for how long, dunno.
Rancocas
Well-Known Member
This is my 63rd hunting season. I'm 73 and have been hunting since I was 10. Deer were scarce when I started, and small game was the big thing. We had beagles when I was a kid and did a lot of rabbit hunting. Later, as an adult I switched to English Springer Spaniels. Raised them. Trained them. Field trialed some. Did a lot of grouse, pheasant, and duck hunting with them. My last dog died a few years ago. Not many upland birds to hunt here in Tennessee anyway.
I actually began deer hunting when I was 12, so 61 years of deer hunting. Like I said, deer were awful scarce where I grew up back then. Just seeing a track was a thrill.
My job moved us around some, so we have lived in 6 different states. I've hunted in all of them, plus a couple of other states, and in Canada as well. Some places were better than others, but all offered either different game or at least different terrain.
Through the years I have had few really good hunting partners. All of them have now either passed on to that "happy hunting ground", or they just put away their guns and stopped hunting.
I continue to hunt alone. I'm not physically able to get into the far back country like once did, and having to sit in a blind in a woodlot listening to highway traffic all around me is not my idea of hunting, but at least I am out in the woods enjoying the sights and sounds of what wildlife might be there. It has a calming effect on me. When in the woods I don't think of the political and social problems that plague the US and the world today.
Now, in general deer numbers are high and small game seems to be at a low point. I go for deer, but it really doesn't matter to me if I get one or not. I got a good 7 point buck last year. So far, this year all I have seen is tracks. And, I'm okay with that.
More than anything, I think, I really miss my spaniels and hunting grouse in the north woods.
I actually began deer hunting when I was 12, so 61 years of deer hunting. Like I said, deer were awful scarce where I grew up back then. Just seeing a track was a thrill.
My job moved us around some, so we have lived in 6 different states. I've hunted in all of them, plus a couple of other states, and in Canada as well. Some places were better than others, but all offered either different game or at least different terrain.
Through the years I have had few really good hunting partners. All of them have now either passed on to that "happy hunting ground", or they just put away their guns and stopped hunting.
I continue to hunt alone. I'm not physically able to get into the far back country like once did, and having to sit in a blind in a woodlot listening to highway traffic all around me is not my idea of hunting, but at least I am out in the woods enjoying the sights and sounds of what wildlife might be there. It has a calming effect on me. When in the woods I don't think of the political and social problems that plague the US and the world today.
Now, in general deer numbers are high and small game seems to be at a low point. I go for deer, but it really doesn't matter to me if I get one or not. I got a good 7 point buck last year. So far, this year all I have seen is tracks. And, I'm okay with that.
More than anything, I think, I really miss my spaniels and hunting grouse in the north woods.
Here's another take on it. I'm sitting next to a gentleman that is 78 yrs old and was a avid deer hunter. Well nowadays he cant remember my name and when I try to talk to him about deer hunting he doesn't even know what I'm talking about. I say that to say I guarantee he would love to have the option of getting up on a cold morning to sit in the woods one more time and actually know what he's during. Dementia/Alzheimer's is a terrible and heartbreaking thing to watch.
My "fire" for deer hunting had been dwindling for several years. I went hunting mainly for the meat and comradery at deer camp. I changed things up and started squirrel hunting again, and loved it.
Then I went out west hunting for the first time 10 yrs ago, and that lit a fire in me again, so much so I moved out west for several years. There is nothing better than elk/deer hunting the rocky mountains. That is the fire that burns in me now. Although I recently moved back to the south, I absolutely LOVE the mountains, and will move back out there in a few years.
btw, slept till 8:00 this am, opening day of deer season, and didn't miss a beat
Then I went out west hunting for the first time 10 yrs ago, and that lit a fire in me again, so much so I moved out west for several years. There is nothing better than elk/deer hunting the rocky mountains. That is the fire that burns in me now. Although I recently moved back to the south, I absolutely LOVE the mountains, and will move back out there in a few years.
btw, slept till 8:00 this am, opening day of deer season, and didn't miss a beat
chimneyman
Well-Known Member
I still enjoy going but only on my terms. I'm 66 I don't really enjoy getting up early to go (takes me too long to get going in the mornings) I have some great places to hunt so it's not hard going in the afternoons to kill something. And I only hunt where I can drive to pick up the deer. Days of dragging one a mile up down the E Tn mountains are over But I have 2 boys that really enjoy it so I let them do most of the killing. I just really like going and thinking about past hunts.
I don't know about y'all, but the first deer (smallish 8pt ) I saw on opening day bow season sent my pulse rate from 65 to 110 in about 8 seconds! I'm 59 and this is year 47 for me. I had 3 bucks all with in 25 yds and I was shaking /weak kneed so bad I had to brace my knee on the stand to keep is straight. I've hunted every chance I've had and the only thing I think I'll think is I'll be sad when the season is over. But there will be next year!!! I'm gonna go till I'm just physically unable to get in the woods.
Im on the same time line as you and I feel it coming too.
I made that same decision several years ago. I'm not going to hunt an area if I can't get a 4 whlr close to it.
Harold Money jr
Well-Known Member
Sounds like the majority of y'all are either entering or are in the sportsman stage. I would hope/suggest that as a maturing hunter who have lost (or losing) the fire to kill and still remember the thrill of years ago, would find some folks that have never had that thrill but, would probably love it. I myself can feel the need to kill diminished in my 38th year hunting. I've bowhunted more with recurves I made myself, pistols with my own reloads and old cap lock muzzleloaders with round balls, I still kill but, the method is more important now.
The biggest thrill I have is helping and training my kids and their friends about hunting and shooting. If you are looking to get your heart rate up like the first time you killed a deer then take someone who hasn't had much success and steal from their excitement. There is NOTHING like the grateful hug after a good shot on a deer and the appreciative thank you that usually comes. It's time to focus more on others than ourselves you'll find plenty of warm fire there.
The biggest thrill I have is helping and training my kids and their friends about hunting and shooting. If you are looking to get your heart rate up like the first time you killed a deer then take someone who hasn't had much success and steal from their excitement. There is NOTHING like the grateful hug after a good shot on a deer and the appreciative thank you that usually comes. It's time to focus more on others than ourselves you'll find plenty of warm fire there.
I don't have much desire this year. My son and I have different days off right now, and he'd rather duck hunt anyway. I hate the club I'm in, but it's close to home and I can sleep in my own bed, versus hunting my lease 2 hours away that I love, and camping by myself. My hunting/fishing buddy passed away 4 and 1/2 years ago, and I'm just tired of hunting by myself. Next year I'm going back to hunting the lease I love and camping.
Well at 78 years old I'm still hanging on just by a thread. Fire still burns but dimly. Have to pick and choose my days as my body say's one thing and my mind says another. Cold weather hurts me more now and in hot weather I just stay in. Still go but not like I used too. Ive enjoyed a lot of good years with the guys which by the way are almost all gone to a better place. Thanks to a younger person that takes pity on this old man and takes me on few hunts.
