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Losing the urge to hunt.

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3.8K views 55 replies 44 participants last post by  drmevo  
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#1 ·
I am 52 and have hunted since I was 14. Over the last few years, I have developed some nerve damage in my right arm from a shoulder surgery from years ago. This is affecting my ability to even hold a x bow in my stand. I also feel that I am losing the ability to harvest an animal. Not sure if the latter is an age related thing? To be honest,it's pretty depressing.

Is anyone else going through this change?
 
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#5 ·
I’m 52 and been at it since 15yrs old. Still enjoying my outings while hunting. but the hikes in feel longer and the climbing is a bit harder. My knee hurts after a few hrs on stand and I limp a little after I get home, the tendonitis in my draw arm aches after drawing back after sitting in the cold. I let the does and fawns go and try to only hunt for mature deer. I like it best when my son and I hunt together or hunting with a friend to share the experience with. But yeah I feel ya it’s hard to keep up the enthusiasm for the hunt like I used to. I don’t hunt in the pouring rain I don’t hunt as hard as I used to. if I’m off for week I’ll hunt hard for a day and a half then its time to take a break and recharge build up some anticipation and I’m off to the wood agains
 
#8 · (Edited)
You are not alone. I used to hunt with my father as a young child maybe 8 or 9 years old. I hunted with him until, I left for the Army. I came home for a few more hunts until his death. I hunted but it was not the same.t

I fast forward to the time, I get married and have two wonderful kids. I teach them the joy of the woods and water. They grow up since they are away at college and living their best life I am stuck home alone. I have few hunting buddies to go with but its always been me with my girls.

I hunt but it's nothing like it used to be.
 
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#10 ·
Im 40 and have been in the woods as long as I can remember. Before 5 for sure. This is the first season I have been having to dig deep to find the desire to go out. My situation isn’t health related as yours is, but the outcome is the same. I went squirrel hunting the other day for the first time in years with a shotgun. Took me 7 shells to bring home 1 squirrel! Truly humbling! I remember knocking them down every shot in my youth! Maybe let the deer go for a little and hunt some small game or birds. I went for deer on Wednesday and had an amazing time in the woods. No kill, but a lot of action. It’s got me excited to get back out. If you love being in the woods and hunting, deer aren’t the only animal out there. They’re not even the most fun to hunt in my opinion. They’re a Big Bang for the buck freezer filler. I love hunting them, but just shooting at and missing squirrels was more fun then sitting for hours in the cold!
 
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#12 ·
I’m 74 still use climbing stands and have some pain from a spinal cord injury, double drop foot from same injury cause was an injection in my back entered into my spinal cord, was paralyzed from the waist down and had to learn to walk again, but still love to be in the woods.
Close to my creator
Good luck and hope you get to feeling better.
 
#13 ·
I've got 16 years on you. Was feeling a little down at one point before switching to a crossbow and hunting on the ground. It was a new spark that re-lit the fire. No more pulled muscles under the shoulder blade or carrying stands. Can easily move around to hunt. Both biceps are torn but can put my knees up when sitting on the ground to help support the crossbow, and can hide in many more places with it. Completely changed how I hunt and am really enjoying it more than ever. Yes, it is getting more difficult to get on a deer as I get older. Bad knees, hips, and lower back along with a pulled hamstring makes it harder to scout farther and longer. Also harder to sit still for long periods. Used to stand on the limbs of trees for 5-6 hours before portable stands. Our abilities change as we age. Have to adapt to it and love just being out in the woods. Have surgeries during the off season. This year I had colon removed. Next year it will be knee and something else if there's time to heal before the season. Shoot, I was pedaling 100 miles a day on a tandem with my wife at your age. You're young yet. Get fixed up this summer and get back into it.
 
#16 ·
The older I get, the MORE desire I have to get out…but LESS desire to take an animal. I’d rather watch deer and other wildlife than to shoot one. Maybe I’m getting soft but I still enjoy the hunt. I’m pretty much a buck only guy now, for some reason taking a small buck is easier than taking a large doe. Don’t know why but it is what it is. 🤷‍♂️
As far as pain, well, welcome to the aging process! Lol.
 
#18 ·
78 & had triple by pass first of Aug. & just got back to the woods bow hunting yesterday for the first time this year & loved every minute of it. Really SUCKS to get old & have health problems that keep you from doing what you LOVE to do.
 
#20 ·
Fellas Fellas Fellas---

I am 53... But I am NOT having these issues. My guess, and I could be wrong, is that the majority of you 50 plus fellas are overweight, have joint inflammation and are not super active.
Now if this is not you, ignore this rant...
If it is you- READ the rant- Its time to take your life and health into your own hands. Eat clean meat, veggies, some fruit. Anything else dont eat.
No soda! No or very low sugar!
Start exercising daily again. Walk and lift weights. EVERYDAY. You only need 30 minutes of good exercise per day and clean eating and everything will reverse.

Do what Clint Eastwood does.. Wake up everyday and say to yourself "Im not letting the old man in".

Ive been hunting since I was 12 years old.. Each year the fire burns as hot as the last. I cant imaging not climbing these mountains and packing out a Bull elk. Stalking a deer or antelope and belly crawling to get to bow distance. This is living.

The only reason you feel you might need to stop is because somewhere along the line you did stop--- you stopped taking your health seriously and you bought bigger pants.. You started buckling your belt in a different hole..then 2, then 3..

You decided to come home, eat crap, drink soda or beer and sit down for the evening..

It's time to reverse this and only YOU can do it. So make a decision and GO...

Rant is now over. I wish you all the best and unless I die or get a serious injury I intent to be packing a bull elk out on my back in 25 more years with my sons and grandsons. And I'll be leading the charge.
 
A
#23 ·
sambone said:
Fellas Fellas Fellas---

I am 53... But I am NOT having these issues. My guess, and I could be wrong, is that the majority of you 50 plus fellas are overweight, have joint inflammation and are not super active.
Now if this is not you, ignore this rant...
If it is you- READ the rant- Its time to take your life and health into your own hands. Eat clean meat, veggies, some fruit. Anything else dont eat.
No soda! No or very low sugar!
Start exercising daily again. Walk and lift weights. EVERYDAY. You only need 30 minutes of good exercise per day and clean eating and everything will reverse.

Do what Clint Eastwood does.. Wake up everyday and say to yourself "Im not letting the old man in".

Ive been hunting since I was 12 years old.. Each year the fire burns as hot as the last. I cant imaging not climbing these mountains and packing out a Bull elk. Stalking a deer or antelope and belly crawling to get to bow distance. This is living.

The only reason you feel you might need to stop is because somewhere along the line you did stop--- you stopped taking your health seriously and you bought bigger pants.. You started buckling your belt in a different hole..then 2, then 3..

You decided to come home, eat crap, drink soda or beer and sit down for the evening..

It's time to reverse this and only YOU can do it. So make a decision and GO...

Rant is now over. I wish you all the best and unless I die or get a serious injury I intent to be packing a bull elk out on my back in 25 more years with my sons and grandsons. And I'll be leading the charge.
Click to expand...
I have exercised regularly for 40 plus years. My shoulder tear affected this. Your post was a huge inspiration and TRUE. Thank you. Just what what I needed to hear.
 
#21 ·
Here's my 2 cents which is worth a lot less these days with inflation. I'm 45 and grew up hunting, fishing, spearfishing, trapping, and netting. I was in Special Ops for 20+ years and am still healthy, generally speaking.

I've seen it a lot and experienced it in different ways. The lack/loss of motivation to do the things we love. It seems there are a lot of factors for me: social, mental, and physical. I've had to look for other ways to get out and enjoy the outdoors after feeling like the effort wasn't worth it anymore.

Look for new people to engage with, travel a little to new areas, change style of hunting, shoot more for fun, compete (even a small bet with your buddy can be exciting), etc. Just need to change things up sometimes... take the risk, it's worth it. This approach changed my life at times and helped my perspective turn positive.

For me, the worst thing is to give up on living and become "OK" with a sad life. The outdoors is a huge part of our lives and it takes real effort/courage to change and find ways to enjoy it again. I'm really glad I did.
 
#22 ·
I agree that changing your situation will help. Do you hunt alone? If so try to find someone to go with .

Injuries slowed me down for a number of years. I couldn't even draw a 25 # bow comfortably. I had to quit but still liked the dream of going into the woods. Only problem if I killed a deer I had no ability to drag it out and I won't kill just to kill.

I finally had neck surgery and had two vertebrae fused together. Took a few years for me to pull back even a light bow so I gave up hunting and just shooting.

I'm 72 and just started picking up the bow again. I have the desire but not the means to go hunting. I'm looking for someone that can help me get tot he woods and get an animal out if successful. I do target shoot now and that's building up my anxiety.

Don't rush it. Take your time for your health to improve. If you can, go out with a camera. You can brag about the buck you shot and don't have to worry about carrying it out. When the interest comes back start shooting squirrels, rabbits or even birds. It's the rush just being in the woods that you need to regain.

Good luck and good shooting. Hope the best for you.
 
#24 ·
Long ago I had a bad fall. Ladder kicked out and I tried to hang on. Fell about 12". Tore my bicep ligament, tendon across my collar bone and rotator cuff with some busted cartilage. Surgery and a lot of PT. After I was released I tried to draw my bow and couldn't. Was painful and I just didn't have any strength. I put it down for twenty years. I was devastated. But didn't bow hunt. I tried hunting with firearms again but wasn't the same. And I won't use a xgun. Like a giant mousetrap by your face.. Then one day while cleaning out the basement, I found my old bow. Still in the case untouched for 20 years. Surprisingly I was able to draw it with ease. And it didn't blow up. That was a year ago. And I regret ever putting it down.
Point being don't do something you may regret.
Or if your bow does become impossible to draw maybe consider a xgun. They say they're safe but I'm a wimp.
 
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#26 ·
I just turned 57 and I often feel tired and worn out while hunting. Sometimes I don’t feel like shooting a deer because I know the work involved. The thing is, after I shoot one I find out that if I just go slow and put one foot in front of the other through the tracking and recovery process that it is easier than I thought it would be. That’s just me though.
 
#28 ·
I am 76 and believe me,I feel just as you do. The only thing that changes is that one step in front of the other gets slower and slower. My cousin who I hunt with is 86 and it takes two of us to field dress a deer now. Sure sucks getting old and it sucks more the older you get.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Maybe go on a hunt you have always wanted to do. I just started doing this. I just got back, didn't kill a buck of a lifetime but am already drooling waiting for next year. As for shoulder issues rehab and strengthen it along with trying to increase flexibility and ROM will improve your quality of life down the road.
 
O
#31 ·
Like i said, im almost 55. Its not that im losing the urge, its the amount of time plus wind and cold sits waiting on a deer that i wanna shoot. I pass so many decent bucks, that most wouldnt believe it. When you wait on those kind of bucks for 35 yrs it takes its toll. The best time ive had was last December when we declared war on some does and inferior bucks. It was fun
 
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#32 ·
I still have the same enthusiasm to hunt as I did as a kid. Like others have mentioned it’s increasingly hard to find the motivation. It’s a lot of work and preparation, doing laundry, trying to get to bed early, actually getting back out of bed lol! Them there’s the hour drive, 30 minutes to prep at the truck and the a 30 minute hike through the hills to my stand or blind. By the time I am settled in it’s be 4 hours. Once I’m settled it’s all good. Still takes some mental effort to get me to do it though. Evening hunts are easier but still work.
 
#35 ·
Archaic2021 said:
I am 52 and have hunted since I was 14. Over the last few years, I have developed some nerve damage in my right arm from a shoulder surgery from years ago. This is affecting my ability to even hold a x bow in my stand. I also feel that I am losing the ability to harvest an animal. Not sure if the latter is an age related thing? To be honest,it's pretty depressing.

Is anyone else going through this change?
Click to expand...
Elk season I watched 4 big shooters every day go and bed in the same area, 7 days straight.
I was by myself and knew for a fact the meat would ruin before getting it all down the hill if I shot one, back discs and knee and Achilles messed up.
Back in the day I could do it no problem.
It definitely will make a difference on tagging a animal sometimes but I really enjoyed getting away from everything the most , something I wish I could do more often.
When you are slowed down sometimes you start to see things you overlooked over the years and the hunt can be more fun.
 
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