Elderly Hunters- When to call it quits?

[MallardSX2]

My dad is 76 this year and he hunts more than he ever has.

 

[WyoKid]

I had a similar epiphany but an equally opposite corollary: More solo hunting!

Setting up camp and packing an Elk out by myself is a chore. There are periods of boredom, which I prevent by hunting all day and coming out in the dark so there is no time to sit around a camp fire after eating and getting ready for the next day.

But, as I have gotten older, I've become more grouchy and fixed in my ways. Although not heavily opinionated or political, I don't have a lot of tolerance for those that are and absolutely no tolerance for nonsense, impracticality and complaining. So, I would rather hunt by myself these days.

 

[Weldor]

I have a few friends who probably should give it up. Some lost their hearing, some their mobility and others are just in bad physical shape. I fiqure it is up to them to decide. The best quote this year was "I'm only putting in for the early bull hunt from now on" from the guy who has almost total hearing lose.

 

[WoolOverAll]

A mental or physical disability that prevents you from hunting is the same regardless of age. 'Limiting' someone should be based on what their individual issue is. I've had to tell multiple young men that they shouldn't hunt anymore because they couldn't put down the bottle. The same would be true if they were 70 or 80.

An older hunter might be slower and need to compensate in other areas, but it doesn't mean their are incapable of doing anything. Their individual issue should be the focus, not the fact that they are a certain age. I hunt with plenty of older guys that do fine, just slightly slower than they used to.

 

[mtnwrunner]

You just have to have friends that can carry you........

Randy

 

[hobbes]

I hunted with a friend on his last hunt when he was 93. I hunted with a friend last year who decided it was his last elk hunt and he is 72. I've added stairs rather than ladders to most of my box blinds that I hunt whitetails out of.

My two truths that I live by....
1. My body is like concrete..... as long as I keep on stirring it..... it doesn't seize up!
2. You don't quit hunting because you get old..... you get old because you quit hunting!

Not a bad plan, but just so you know, concrete will still "seize up" while stirring.

I would have made sure my dad could hunt until he was ready to quit if he hadn't passed 4 years ago at 76. I'd cut my right arm off to have that chance at this point. He gave up more than enough of his time to make sure I could when I was barely big enough to pack a gun on my own and I'd have damn sure done the same for him when he was "too old" if he wanted. I hope my boys do it for me for the same reasons if I make it that far.

 

[lukebrowning]

I will never let physical fitness be a reason why I stop hunting. I’m sure I will not be able to pack into the same areas I do today but I will not stop hunting altogether.

I also think you need to balance when to call it quits with life responsibilities. If you are at a high risk and still the main provider for your family then it may be a good decision to hang it up. If you are retired, everything is set, you still have a passion for hunting, and you are already playing extra innings then let it ride until the magpies find you.