Any more non-hunters out there?

[pab1]

Sorry to hear this Sidelock. You must be a true hunter and know the difference between hunting and shooting an animal. All respect Sir. :hatsoff:

Best regards, Skychief

Maybe share some memories with us?

B :thumbsup:

I'll echo both of these posts. Sorry to hear that Sidelock.

 

[wattlebuster]

I hate to hear of someone having to give up what they love doing. I know my time for that is coming one day cause now at 54 I noticed myself hunting smarter instead of harder. I have noticed hunting harder hurts more these days

 

[Critter Getter]

The memories are priceless and as long as the long years don't take those from you, life will be good! Pictures, stories, and precious memories with good friends........ greg

 

[smo]

Sorry to hear that you are having to stop hunting.But that is a decision that we will all have to make at some point in time. I realized this past year at 59 I can't do what I could do 10 years ago. In part due to a fall that I took at 50 years old, but mostly because it just takes to long to recover from my actions. This year I looked back at the last 15 years and how quick they have gone by.Then I realized that in 15 more years I would be 74............. By know means is 74 a death sentence. But in my case if things continue the way they are going. I'm not so sure if I will be able to continue hunting at that time. So it's time to sloooow down and smell to roses along the way. :thumbsup:

Now I'm not one to shoot anything but a varmint from my porch... But when these deer start tearing up my fruit trees and leaving nose prints on my windows that's where I draw the line in the sand. :haha:

 

[BrownBear]

They love to look in my windows--- go figure???????

I'm betting it's their reflections. Horses will do the same thing with shiny new finish on a truck. Of course, horses being horses, they'll try to bite the horse they see. You wouldn't believe how many times and different places they need to do the biting before they convince themselves it's not really a horse. And they can sure mess up the finish. Ask me how I know! :surrender:

 

[Vaino]

At the age of 84 I no longer hunt and because of personal physical and mental reasons, I've decided that it's the way to go....after having hunted for 72 yrs. Age is a valid, relative reason that varies w/ the individual.

Many former hunters due to mental attitudes resulting in a lack of motivation and changing priorities, no longer "feel" the need to hunt.

Many others who have "quit" hunting do so because of physical disabilities.....this is a much more "real" reason because why do an activity if it's painful or impossible?

Some others who no longer hunt weren't really "diehard" hunters to begin with and for many reasons that are important to them have decided not to hunt.

So....why hunters are no longer hunters is a complicated and very personal subject.....Fred

 

[Grumpa]

My heart is with you. As a former Railroader, I walked far and hard all my life. My Wife and I still hike 4 miles at a time in the woods, once or twice a week. I am in my 74th year. I sometimes have to push through the arthritic pain in my joints, but movement is the best cure for that.

I find my old hunting friends falling by the wayside, too old, painful feet, neuropathy, too tired. One friend uses a "Gator" to get him out where he hunts (stand). Last deer I shot, I called a friend to help haul it out (just to be safe). Don't know where I'll be at 80-something, but I'm trying to fight the good fight.

I live in the suburbs, lots of deer in the backyard, including the biggest bucks I've ever seen alive. They have always been safe there, even when I had neighbors who wouldn't have called the police at my shot. I went out Saturday by myself for 5 hours, Opening day for ringneck, and the last hour for Seniors' Any Gun Antlerless Deer. First outing this year. Walked hard, and enjoyed sitting on a log until it would have been too dark to gut my kill.
Never saw any ringnecks or deer, but it was a good day.

Just keep enjoying Life as long as you can. :hatsoff:

Richard/Grumpa
PS: My Wife said you are blessed to live in Bitterroot Montana, and able to enjoy the beauty you wake up to everyday.

 

[M. De Land]

I'll be 67 in a few days and have reverted to raft hunting on one of my favorite rivers as I don't have to walk far to get a shot.
I've been a glazier (glass worker)since starting my apprenticeship at 15 and my spine inside the left shoulder aches like a bad tooth when lifting now days but I can still row a raft and field gress caribou and moose.
I have a fine son-in-law , grand kids and a good hunting buddy that helps me out now so will keep going until it quits being fun.
Lived in Alaska 45 years this summer and there hasn't been one day I wished I lived else where.
When I can no longer walk or float it I'll still get to look at all the beauty and grandeur God made.

 

[graybeard]

I'm 84 also, and plan to shoot a deer this fall with a flintlock musket, a Tulle replica. Got one a couple years ago with a flintlock rifle. Had to have a hip replacement last winter and it still bothers me some, but I guess I am a dyed in the wool hunter. :metoo: I'll limp a lot but won't give up hunting until I have to. If you see an ancient hunter hobbling along carrying a long barreled flintlock, say "Howdy." I'll be ready to sit and rest a bit. graybeard

 

[ZUG]

At the age of 84 I no longer hunt and because of personal physical and mental reasons, I've decided that it's the way to go....after having hunted for 72 yrs. Age is a valid, relative reason that varies w/ the individual.

Many former hunters due to mental attitudes resulting in a lack of motivation and changing priorities, no longer "feel" the need to hunt.

Many others who have "quit" hunting do so because of physical disabilities.....this is a much more "real" reason because why do an activity if it's painful or impossible?

Some others who no longer hunt weren't really "diehard" hunters to begin with and for many reasons that are important to them have decided not to hunt.

So....why hunters are no longer hunters is a complicated and very personal subject.....Fred

Very well said Fred. For me it has to do with physical ability - can't walk long distances any more. I also enjoyed hunting with members of my family sadly most are gone now or also too old to get around.

 

[Patocazador]

Sorry to hear it.

I'm 73 and just had open heart surgery in August plus lung complications. I've been hunting ~3 times/week for almost a month. My cardiologist is freaking out about it but I told him I'd rather take my chances than quit hunting.

I may quit hunting before I die but the "fire" will have to go out first.

 

[Grumpa]

:grin: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Give me a shout if you need a hand dragging out that deer...or rabbit! :grin: :grin:

Richard/Grumpa

 

[wpjson]

Last night I stopped at the local Taco Bell on my way home from 2 days of hunting and not seeing anything. 2 deer were walking down the street and came up to my truck and looked in the windows. Only deer I saw all weekend.

Another note on elk licking windows. Not a window but a trail camera I have set up near my cabin by a wilderness area. Elk seem to be attracted to the lens. I have several pictures of elk noses and eyes.

 

[Mean Gene]

I'm not a hunter, my famly never hunted and I just never pursewed it. I do a lot of hole punching with my muzzle loaders and I to like the challenges that black powder guns give. All of my friends use cartridge guns and look at me like I'm crazy because I like shooting front stuffers.
Even if I'm the only bp shooter in sixty miles I like it and ain't given it up.
Guess I'm just crazy!

 

[LEM]

As I say: "I do not comdamn hunters anyway - I just see no point to be one. In France, we've got approx 240 000 licensed shooters for 1.1 M registred hunters (out of 66,6 M population)... so sounds like I'm in the ninority range. "

That is pointing out that we (you and I) have different context and so opinion, but I do not condamn nor disagree about the fact somes (1.1 M in France) do have different opinion (and eventually needs), and I am not comparing situation between USA and France.

I do agree with you on the point that if no shooters nor hunters, probably no more guns. Hunters being more numerous, we could sumarize by "no more hunters, no more guns", yep.

 

[TFoley]

I see and respect your POV. Like you, I don't hunt, or, as it is called here in UK, stalk.

I have no problems with those who do, but it is not in my life style, in exactly the same way that it is not in the life-style of almost the entire population of UK

You do the math - 65,000,000 citizens v 160,000 hunters.

tac

 

[Larry Pletcher]

I hesitated to get in here, but here goes. I hunted Indiana game for many years. At least I did until I tore up my right shoulder. A number of years and three surgeries left me unsure if my shoulder would stand shooting. I shot light calibers, but by the time I had confidence in my shoulder, I was out of the mood to hunt. It's now been 10 years or more, and I probably won't get the hunting habit back. If I did it would have to be a flint gun. I have no desire to carry anything else. I have no problem with hunting - who knows what the future brings.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[Stumpkiller]

Elk seem to be attracted to the lens. I have several pictures of elk noses and eyes.

Whitetail as well. I have some blurry snozzle images as well.

 

[wpjson]

Just is odd that they do that

 

[rmark]

I haven't hunted since college, now I just shoot paper.

Happy to discover that at 55 years old I'm apparently the youngest person on here