Keeping Older Hunters Interested. How can it be done?

[9x56MS]

Took my first hunter safety course in 1971 then took it again with my children in 1985 then again with my grandchildren in in 2017. Nothing but respect for the dedicated people who take the time to ensure the next generation can hunt safely.

 

[HOWARD J]

I put in 40 - 45 years + running around in the woods & swamp.
Now me & my walker still make it to a shooting range quite often.
My buddie are all gone & I miss them more than hunting.
Have fun & enjoy the hobbies.

 

[27hand]

One thing I could have used last year.
After shooting a decent 8 point (crossbow), it tumbled, slid down a steep hill behind my house.
The creek at the bottom had a 5 foot high embankment next to a road I could drive down to and recover the deer.

I couldnt get that deer up the embankment so called a buddy who helped.

This year, I thought I'd weld a trailer hitch crane untill I found one for 129 bucks with free shipping.

2021-07-12_05-16-46 by poofy27, on Flickr

2021-07-12_05-16-29 by poofy27, on Flickr

I'll put a stiff leg or leveler crank on the vertical.

Getting old and lazy.

 

[hps1]

Been there, done that; learned the hard way about mechanical advantages . Hard to tell from the pictures, but you might need to mount your vertical closer to the receiver hitch. There's a lot of mechanical disadvantage in the long horizontal runs.

Bad back when I was younger started my quest for lifts to assist in recovery and back hasn't improved but size of critters has over the years. Built this one in alte 60's. The 1 1/2" pipe boom telescoped into 2" base and swiveled about 260* on an old 61 Ford and it handled whitetails and hogs pretty well.
Built mount for pickup in '03, but hunting some larger exotics and 30+ years made it obsolete.

The schedule 80 1 1/2" pipe proved to be no match for a large nilgai cow so changed angle and added a couple of guy wires. Later moved to the TJ and that worked a while.

But, I transport the critters back to camp hanging from the bumper mounted receiver hitch & wound up pulling the threads on bumper to frame bolts. Moved the base for boom as close to hitch as possible and have had no issues since.


Yours will probably be fine for straight lifts and loading onto tail gate, though. Sure a lot easier on the back!

Regards,
hps

 

[27hand]

That's great stuff. Thanks for posting.
Mine is rated for 400 lbs.
I've never shot a deer over 175.
The stiffleg addition should offset the distance off the hitch and its designed with a swivel to rotate the game onto the tailgate
I'm quite surprised sched 80 buckled.

 

[Howland937]

Had a buddy that mounted 4 wheeler winch to his trailer, then parked the trailer under a big limb. Throw the winch line over the limb, then lift the deer right onto the trailer.
He had a similar rig for lifting logs onto his splitter.

 

[Electrod47]

I'm 74 and am fortunate to have over 100 acres full of Deer and Hogs. But, the biggest thrill is getting my 14 year old grandson from Texas his first deer and a 10 point at that. Mississippi has a long deer season even an extra 2 weeks with a primitive weapon (45/70) and a lifetime hunting license for over 65's at just 5.00.
I have 3 roomy shoot houses to pick from and go out every afternoon watch turkeys deer and a mamma sow with piglets etc til dark and come home to a cozy fireplace and a warm meal. I am old but, I yearn for summer to END right now in this horrid MS August and get back to my winter routine one more time.

 

[hps1]

That's great stuff. Thanks for posting.
Mine is rated for 400 lbs.
I've never shot a deer over 175.
The stiffleg addition should offset the distance off the hitch and its designed with a swivel to rotate the game onto the tailgate
I'm quite surprised sched 80 buckled.

Missed the stiff leg in original post. Also figured your northern deer would be heavier than that. The buck pictured on my truck field dressed 175 and is also the heaviest buck I've shot, the exotic cows can weigh up to 400#. I was surprised that the schedule 80 buckled, too, but that was a larger cow, recovered in some pretty rough terrain and she swung around a bit which didn't help anything either.
Was also surprised when another nilgai cow hanging on the back of the TJ popped the bumper bolts swinging back there; sounded like a rifle shot went off in the rear seat . It was a real bear to fix. The bolts were metric (fortunately) with nuts welded inside the box frame. No way to replace the nuts but fortunately the metric thread was small enough that I could tap out to US SAE thread and get about a 90% thread. It has held so far, at least.

Had a buddy that mounted 4 wheeler winch to his trailer, then parked the trailer under a big limb. Throw the winch line over the limb, then lift the deer right onto the trailer.

an ATV winch is perfect for that application, that's what I use on my rig.

I'm 74 and am fortunate to have over 100 acres full of Deer and Hogs. But, the biggest thrill is getting my 14 year old grandson from Texas his first deer and a 10 point at that.

It doesn't get any better than that! Congratulations to you and your grandson on a very nice first buck! Enjoy those hunts, they grow up all too soon.

I was 74 when I started hunting exotics and had the pleasure of taking my grandson along. Fond memories, for sure.


Regards,
hps

 

[Thomasss]

To answer your question, I think it has a lot to do with with getting together and enjoying each one's company for a few days. I'm a hunter and that is good for me. But others like to go "out on the town" after hunting ends and play pool at the local watering hole. Or bringing some unusual food to deer camp and sharing with others as we play cards. I for one was the camp cook for many years and I also make wine which everyone enjoyed. Bacon and eggs, pancakes, toast or oat meal and especially home made jam. I knew people that came and didn't hunt, but just wanted to be in the festivities at night. I think if you ask around you will find that all of this combined keeps hunter friends coming back.

 

[EddieG54]

At the age of 60 I had lost all interest hunting. Seemed to be to much effort for very little gain. But about 5 years ago my then 13 year old granddaughter told me she would like to go deer hunting after hearing all the hunting stories my son and I had told her. She shot her first deer 3 years ago with just me and her in the stand. It took a few days to get the smile off her face and even longer to get it off mine. I have a renewed passion for hunting and several more grandkids near hunting age. Life is good.

 

[Sniper66]

At the age of 60 I had lost all interest hunting. Seemed to be to much effort for very little gain. But about 5 years ago my then 13 year old granddaughter told me she would like to go deer hunting after hearing all the hunting stories my son and I had told her. She shot her first deer 3 years ago with just me and her in the stand. It took a few days to get the smile off her face and even longer to get it off mine. I have a renewed passion for hunting and several more grandkids near hunting age. Life is good.

This is a great story. I introduced a young friend (I'm 75; he is 32) to prairie dog shooting and watching him have a great time was much better than the joy I get from shooting. Sharing my strategies for finding dogs and giving him the opportunity really accelerated my interest. We are eagerly planning our next outing. Makes me feel younger!!

 

[1eyeedshooter]

I am 75 and have not lot the will to hunt not even a little, but i have friends younger then me that have, i hunt out of a nice warm blind and lots of hot coffee !!

 

[27hand]

I just had my 72nd birthday a couple weeks ago.

My friends are either my age or a bit younger.
We just had our 3 day old mans rifle doe season.
I went 2 of 3 days. None of them went
The new knee is 8 months old and is giving me some problems. I'll cancel the Wyoming cow elk hunt because of it. crap.

I'm still not sure how I'll drag a deer out but let's not put the cart before the horse as I'll have to shoot one first.

I was gifted a 1974 Remington 700 in 7mm mag and took that although no decent shot presented itself
This morning, I climbed up a ladder 20 feet to my hunt platform and stayed till about 10 with my Ten Point Wicked Ridge Stealth.

I still have the desire. My body is starting to nag me about it.

I can't wait to shoot one just to see if I can still drag it. Ha

I gave my buddy's son a compound and sold him an older crossbow. Neither have gone out .

Only one friend my age still makes a good effort to get out.
Another younger Marine buys all kind of hunting stuff. His wife tells me he maybe gets out once a year.
Damn. I.feel like just about the last one of us to still keep at it.

Ok. I will. You guys don't have to convince me

 

[WisBorn]

I just had my 72nd birthday a couple weeks ago.

My friends are either my age or a bit younger.
We just had our 3 day old mans rifle doe season.
I went 2 of 3 days. None of them went
The new knee is 8 months old and is giving me some problems. I'll cancel the Wyoming cow elk hunt because of it. crap.

I'm still not sure how I'll drag a deer out but let's not put the cart before the horse as I'll have to shoot one first.

I was gifted a 1974 Remington 700 in 7mm mag and took that although no decent shot presented itself
This morning, I climbed up a ladder 20 feet to my hunt platform and stayed till about 10 with my Ten Point Wicked Ridge Stealth.

I still have the desire. My body is starting to nag me about it.

I can't wait to shoot one just to see if I can still drag it. Ha

I gave my buddy's son a compound and sold him an older crossbow. Neither have gone out .

Only one friend my age still makes a good effort to get out.
Another younger Marine buys all kind of hunting stuff. His wife tells me he maybe gets out once a year.
Damn. I.feel like just about the last one of us to still keep at it.

Ok. I will. You guys don't have to convince me

Sorry to hear about your knee surgery, not being what you hoped it would be. You are still in the healing process, so keep doing your pt.

Good luck hunting and be safe!

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think comfort and convenience are things that keep the older folks into it. Comfy ground blinds or very safe and accessible elevated box blinds with staircases instead of ladders. Post kill convenience is good too.

My dad has a nice blind, hunts 600 yds behind the house he lives at on his own land in which he drives his ATV to…..and he still wouldn’t hunt if I didn’t come up to MI every year to hunt to help with processing.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

My father is 77. He shot 2 doe this past week. He told my younger brother to learn to hunt. He wont always be around to get him a deer. My brother just got into guns the past few years.

 

[Milt1]

My twin brother and I grew up hunting rabbits with our father and his six brothers behind packs of beagles. I've killed Whitetail and Mule deer along with Antelope, and numerous Rockchuck, Snowshoe Hares, Doves and Ruffed Grouse to mention a few. In my middle years I came to the realization that animals love life as much as we do. No, they didn't tell me that, it's just an inside feeling. I haven't hunted in years and don't intend to ever hunt again. If you still have the love of hunting in you I completely understand as I had it for years!

 

[Sniper66]

A number of friends around my age (75) have given up hunting because they don't like killing anymore. Hasn't hit me yet, but certain animals I would not be willing to shoot; bears, moose, mountain lions, bobcats, rams, just to name a few. We all draw the line somewhere. I've never had a fellow hunter object to my choices and I'll never object to their's.

 

[borrowedtime69]

I switched to coyote hunting when my health started getting me down. Drive from set to set and not much walking.

 

[Edcnh]

I am 66 and still enjoy hunting. I have a couple of friends, one late 70’s and one early 80’s who still hunt. Although the weather plays a large part in their going out on a particular day. Most of the time I hunt alone as they are not interested in going out early in the cold. But at least they go sometimes if the weather is good. I hunt now more for the enjoyment of being in the woods than anything else.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I completely lost interest in deer hunting in my mid 30s. Deer are thick and a nuisance here. Bucks are decent but I don't have any mounted. I let a lot of people hunt my land but I quit enjoying it years ago and why freeze and bother with it if you don't enjoy it.

The last few years I cared for it I would get excited about October. Line up guns and bows. Put out cameras.....then come time to hunt id take the cameras down and maybe go twice unwillingly. Shoot 5 or 6 for the freezer and quit.

I may well go again this year. May catch the bug someday and love it. But as of now I don't intend to hunt

 

[.308 Norma]

I'm 73, my wife is not that far behind, and we still hunt. We really, really like venison, and pheasant too when we can get it.
However, the truth is that neither of us get all that far from the truck anymore - a bad pneumonia filled the lower third of each of my lungs with scar tissue in 2005, and my wife had to get a Disabled Hunter Permit (so she can legally shoot from a motor vehicle as long as it's not moving or on a public road) due to the atrial fibrillation she contracted a few years back.
Nevertheless, we still like to get out and drive around during deer season, and as I've done for 40+ years, I'll be out pheasant hunting on Thanksgiving morning while my wife is home roasting the turkey and waiting for our kid's and their families to arrive out at the house.
BTW, I said we really, really like venison. We do, but both my wife and I would rather one of our grandsons shoot it.

 

[jmuv]

At 63 years I still have the desire to hunt. I am able to buy meat but not venison. I guess I hunt for the same reason that I garden. Because I can. I guess that one of these days I won’t be physically able to harvest my own protein or raise my own fruit and vegetables. Until that day comes I plan to continue not because I enjoy the killing but because I enjoy the life. We as hunters are members of the oldest of professions. I take the greatest of pride in providing food for my family. I had back surgery two weeks ago and the doctor cleared me today to start moderate activities today. My first question was “does that mean I can go sit in my ground blind tomorrow ?”. He said I could. Even if I don’t get to shoot I will be happy to witness another one of God’s great sunrises.

 

[Tirod]

Im 68. Three years ago the sun rose on a 14F morning, so I snapped shots of frost flowers growing in a meadow. Took more shotswith a 5.56 at a deer crossing thru, and later went home after lunch. I've hunted in pouring sleet, wet snow, 84F in a t-shirt, frost growing on my gear, no sun all day, hot sun all day, easy walking leaf mold under ancient trees, blackberry thickets and tops from trees broken down from an ice storm. All in the same 4 square miles for 45 years.

What I would like is a quick way in, some kind of shelter from the wind, and a way to haul the deer out without wrestling it for 4 hours. With that I would even give up the infra red drone overhead tracking my deer. Turning 68 hasn't made my most challenging parts easier. I still have to walk in, do the best with expedient materials, and a good day hunting is if I see one. Not going hunting would be like giving up the keys to my truck.

I refuse to quit. Yet. I just alter what I want to match what I can and go from there. So I hunt closer to the truck, leave all the drag gear and lunch in it, and pack lighter to make it easier on myself. An ATV and private land is what many can do, I do with what I can.

 

[.308 Norma]

Even if I don’t get to shoot I will be happy to witness another one of God’s great sunrises.

Absolutely!

I posted this elsewhere in this forum. It’s a quotation from what my wife’s and my youngest daughter wrote for the photo album/scrapbook she and her older sister gave my wife and me for our 50th wedding anniversary back in June this year:

“Two of my earliest memories both involve hunting and I think back to them both as examples of the values that you instilled in this family through the years. The first is sitting on a ridge just before sunrise, my back to dad’s back, and listening to the stillness. I remember dad saying this was the best part of hunting, the good part of it, before you ever take a life. And I remember later sitting with mom after she shot a deer and watching her quietly cry. Not because she wasn’t proud of feeding her family but because she honored that animal and appreciated its sacrifice.”