Elderly Hunters- When to call it quits?

[Bearlodge10]

After looking through the "Elderly Drivers..." post and responses, I began thinking about a similar question about when to limit our elders in the hunting fields and woods.

I'm curious to know what people can share for insight on this. Obviously, hunting isn't a daily necessity like driving can be, but still their ability to hunt safely either by themselves or alone becomes called into question as age diminishes the body and mind.

This is something that I am dealing with my own father. He is 80, but various ailments leave him unsteady in his mobility, and I find his overall gun safety to be more lax. He still wants to hunt and is honest about some of his inabilities, but I still get uneasy now when he wants to go out.

Does anyone else have a parent whom they want to tell to hang up the gun?

 

[ReaptheHeat]

When I'm dead. Hoping I'm at a point in life where I have property to hunt easily or can afford easy guided hunts at that age.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Just shooting but I just quit inviting my father to go shooting. He was maybe 75 yrs at the time.
He still drives, maybe he goes on his own.
His muzzle control went out the window when he decided that if his rifle wasn't pointed at my A zone, he was good enough. He could still do it if he gave a hoot.
He asked a couple times a while ago but I can say "I haven't been shooting for a long time."
There are other things we do together, but I got tired of being flagged.
He was a late-bloomer with guns so there are no heirlooms and he's been thinning his arsenal voluntarily.

 

[doc holiday13]

Depends on how i'm feeling, but I estimate I'll hang up my bow in my mid 70's, which means I'll trade it for a fly fishing rod. I'll probably gun hunt till I can't stand the cold. I'll fly fish till i die

 

[LostArra]

I've just become more selective where I shoot an animal especially elk when I'm alone.
The revelation that a well placed arrow from a lighter bow will kill any deer or elk is also very helpful.
Another senior pro tip. Critters are dumber Monday thru Thursday than they are on the weekend.
I doubt I will ever quit hunting but I may do less shooting.

 

[TaperPin]

Does anyone else have a parent whom they want to tell to hang up the gun?

Did they only go hunting with you when you were able to fully be safe on your own? If you don’t like the guy tell him to kick rocks. Otherwise it doesn’t seem like a big sacrifice to bring him along, hand him a rifle carefully supervised, so he can enjoy hunting with your help. Treat him like you’d like to be treated.

 

[nphunter]

I told my wife when I’m to old to hunt, I’m going on one last hunt. It will be for a grizzly and my weapon of choice will be my pocket knife.

My grandpa just passed at 94, he still hunted until he was in his mid 80’s road hunted the last 15 years or so mostly. I don’t think he killed an animal after turning 80 but piles when he was younger.

 

[Bubblehide]

I've been an exceptionally active hunter for most of my life, hiking in to get away from the crowds, and down right stupid behavior. However, a few years ago I went through 5 back to back surgeries over a year and a week or so period of time. So instead of hiking in (I was not yet capable), I parked off a dirt road, set up camp, and joined the circus of hunters. I hated it, but it was better than not hunting. I did fill my tag.

If you have a loved one that values the experience, my suggestion is to do everything you can within their physical and mental limits to facilitate their participation, including scouting trips. That will mean the world to them, and likely you and others involved too. It will keep them active and younger both physically and mentally. Such trips should be all about them, everyone involved should be concentrating on getting the geezer (just kidding) tag filled, not their own. Unless you have a large group with some hiking in, as the geezer may enjoy others success. As the elderly hunter becomes less physically capable, their participation may be limited to Basecamp only. But I'd still try to get them to go, and babysit them, or have one person babysit them, trying to fill their tag, until they simply can't.

While I was healing from my surgeries, I tagged along on a hunt with a friend. I couldn't hike far, but I could get far enough to assist him with animal location as he stalked. Basically, I was living second hand through him. It was way better than being home, motivating....

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My Dad killed his last elk when he was 90. I was with him and he used my .300 Wby, one shot at 200 yds.

The saying goes something like this....."when I'm dead they can pry my gun out of my cold, dead hands". Oh ...I am 84 now and I hunt big game, waterfowl and upland game every year.

One additional thing....I have 2 replacement knees, a replacement ankle and 2 replacement shoulders. My first knee was 30 years ago. I played college and professional football and still excersize and walk daily.

 

[Chris in TN]

My dad is 80. Last year he killed a really nice whitetail at my house and was with my daughter when she shot a buck. Year before that he got what is most likely his 'elk of a lifetime'.

I'll simply say that I am grateful that I encouraged him to do stuff in his 70's.

 

[wildwilderness]

I say it’s not so much the age but Ability. I would draw the line when someone becomes a risk or safety concern to others it’s time to cut back.


Sure folks have a right to do what they want legally, and even hurt themselves etc but when their actions endanger others is when I would draw the line, and that’s regardless of age.

I was recently on a whitetail deer hunt and an older lady was hunting. She wasn’t seeing much from the low box blind and wanted to hunt a solo ladder stand.

The outfitter said she needed help to balance going up the two steps to the box blind, and she wasn’t strong enough to lift her own crossbow up to the shooting window.

When she and her husband said they had to use the solo 15’ ladder where there were more deer, the outfitter said Hell No, you can’t climb a ladder by yourself, strap in a safety harness and pull up your crossbow, then try to shoot it.

The older couple got mad and ended up leaving early! Outfitter said they never disclosed her limits, and that she probably didn’t think she had any. It sneaks up on you usually coupled with lack of self awareness just like driving.

Outfitter wasn’t going to put himself in a liability situation. I’m all for old folks pursuing their passions as long as it’s within their means and safe for others.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Depends on how i'm feeling, but I estimate I'll hang up my bow in my mid 70's, which means I'll trade it for a fly fishing rod. I'll probably gun hunt till I can't stand the cold. I'll fly fish till i die

Wading the river can be just as dangerous as hunting the mountain.