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Losing the urge to hunt.

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Archaic2021

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Discussion starter · #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?
 
#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.
 
#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!
 
#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.
 
#15 ·
25ft-up said:
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.
Click to expand...
I stood on limbs for yrs! Glad to hear someone did also
 
#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.
 
#19 ·
WyoJonMadeIt said:
Ive recently been wondering, does archery cause shoulder problems, or do archery people just notice shoulder problems more?
Click to expand...
Shoulder problems are a HUGE part of those who think they need a 100lb bow to hunt, or need
a heavy traditional bow to hunt with. I am not saying all, but throughout the years it seems to
pop up time and time again......

As they slowly lower their poundage from 70# down to 45#. By that time it might be to late for
some.

Others do fine with heavy equipment....not saying one shoe fits all.
 
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#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.
 
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