I lost the desire

[Kf338]

Everybody in my hunting groove has died now it's just me and my dad I'm 60 and I don't get around as good as I used to be my dad. He can't hunt this sits in camp but he's got health issues. I never thought I'd have to give up hunting.

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[Kruel J]

Maybe you could ask around and find another hunting party? Do some solo day trips? I know it's not easy but if you still have the desire to do it I'm sure your dad will understand.

 

[osprey]

I am your age and don't plan on giving up hunting any time soon! I am a step slower and hunting partners have come and gone but I still have the desire. The camping and camaraderie are great but it is really the 1:1 with the animals that keep me going. I stand hunt more than I used to and I still hunt much slower these days and I actually feel I am a more effective hunter than I used to be.
I do enjoy company but I have no problem taking off and hunting alone either. Solitude has heeling powers for me.
I am sure you could find a crew to sign on with if you tried. I had a younger crew kind of adopt me and it has worked out well. I have mentored them a bit and I have even picked up a few tech tips from them.
Lack of people to hunt with is very solvable and I would encourage you to try some solo action as well. You might find you like it!

 

[SamBrown]

I am very sorry to hear that.
I'm hoping there's a youngster around, maybe a grandkid, neighbor's kid.. If you still have some desire, find out where they do hunters safety (fire dept, vfw, legion). Offer to show a young buck the ropes. It'd be a shame for your knowledge and tradition to not be passed on.

Not trying to beat you up in any sense, just hoping you can rekindle that spark and share it.
Yes, I am a hypocrite. While you've got some experience on me, I hope for myself I can find the situation and make the time one day.

Or just that you'll still get out there. That a morning walk in the woods, not even putting one in the chamber can bring some happiness and good memories.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Maybe try some grouse / small game hunting...
This can be a simple one day kinda hunt...or a weekend camping / hiking with a cool gun kinda thing.

While you do walk a lot ....it can be done at a slow pace.
Plus with grouse and small game...you don't have as much meat to clean / bone / etc...
And can be cooked right there over your camp fire.
Andy

 

[P7M13]

Recruit some kids and teach them the ways.

 

[Joe13]

Just as I was starting to get the hang of big game hunting, my 2 buddy's left to live in other states and hardly anyone (I.e nobody) wants to bring new/er people to their spots.

I have friends in OR that would take me but I'm not paying $900+ for tags.

Heck, my wife's family all go out and fill all of their elk tags every year and we all get along great but even going from hints to outright being blunt about it (in a nice way) I have never actually got an invite to go.

Recruit some kids and teach them the ways.

Yea, bring some young bucks to do all the grunt work and share your wisdom with them. They will take that with them the rest if their lives and you don't have to do any heavy lifting.

 

[dplev4]

71 here, closer to 72, actually now. Two titanium knees, a fused thumb, couple of shoulder surgeries and probably need another one, and some worse non orthopedic things I got past. Primary hunting partner is my son who moved to Southern Oregon. So I go solo up here, and find time to hunt with him down there. I don't hike back into the woods like I used to, cause getting out an animal is too tough but I am not road hunting either. instead of elk camp, I find day hunts mostly now. I haven't harvested consistently, but that's not unusual for Western Oregon Archery Elk even when I could go ten miles or more into the backcountry to find a herd.

There just aren't that many bad days to be had in the woods. So take a hike and bring your bow or rifle. You won't regret it. Even if the hike is only across a clear cut before dusk. And if you go after waterfowl, well get a dog, mine never leaves me lonely.

 

[Will_White]

As others have said, sounds like you should find some younger people to go with and teach. Waterfowl also doesn't require much hiking and is mostly sitting and waiting

You could also start hunting paper, you don't have to do competitions but just shooting for groups will maintain skill and also serve as a way to meet others at the club that might be looking for a hunting partner. I've met most of my goose hunting buddies shooting sporting clays.

 

[Kruel J]

I spent many hours in duck blinds with my dad. It's cold and wet but otherwise not bad on the body. A good dog makes all the difference.

 

[Twilight]

Man that hits hard. Hunting's always been as much about the people as the deer or elk. If you can't do the big backcountry hunts anymore, maybe scale it down, shorter walks, ground blinds, even just sitting together on the edge of a field. Time in camp with your dad still counts and those memories end up being just as valuable as the hunts you used to do. You don't have to "give it up" just let it evolve.

 

[Retired Guy]

I can sympathize. I'm older than you and have health issues. All of my hunting partners have either moved to other States or passed away. I really miss waterfowl hunting.

My current solution? Sage Rat shooting! Take dad out to central Oregon and shoot Sage Rats! No hills to hump. No deer to drag. No sitting out in the cold waiting for ducks.

 

[Xmark1]

Just as I was starting to get the hang of big game hunting, my 2 buddy's left to live in other states and hardly anyone (I.e nobody) wants to bring new/er people to their spots.

I have friends in OR that would take me but I'm not paying $900+ for tags.

Heck, my wife's family all go out and fill all of their elk tags every year and we all get along great but even going from hints to outright being blunt about it (in a nice way) I have never actually got an invite to go.



Yea, bring some young bucks to do all the grunt work and share your wisdom with them. They will take that with them the rest if their lives and you don't have to do any heavy lifting.

I can buy a lot of steaks for $900.00

 

[P7M13]

I can buy a lot of steaks for $900.00

About 27 or less of the kind I really like.

 

[orygun]

My desire for hunting ebbs and flows. Often due to how busy the year may be, or in one instance I didn't hunt for nearly a decade. I was still very involved with guns, just didn't feel like hunting. In fact, when my uncle and cousin came out to go elk hunting with Dad, I didn't have a huntin rifle and hunted with a handgun!
My wife hunts, too, but due to our work schedules we don't often hunt together. Fortunately we have a small chunk of property that we can easily day hunt from home.
The few years we shared elk camp with my Dad were really enjoyable, but most of my hunting has been done alone.

 

[echo1]

At 73 I know how you feel but I still have younger friends who've adapted for me. My one older bud got a handicap permit to be able to shoot from his rig. He killed several good-sized Kali 6 pointers the last few seasons before he passed. I bird-dogged for him with the pheasants. PAX

 

[Xmark1]

About 27 or less of the kind I really like.

Are you gonna get 27 of the kind you like off just one critter?

 

[P7M13]

Are you gonna get 27 of the kind you like off just one critter?

Nope, but I'd take elk over cow any day.

 

[SamBrown]

Another thought, I've worked volunteer projects all over the state and have met nothing but great people. Mostly hunters but all ages, all walks of life just out there doing good.
If it's something you're interested in I could put you in touch with someone from RMEF, OHA, BHA, TRCP or NWTF to find the group or contact in your area.

 

[Kf338]

Sounds good