Hi from SE Michigan. I have been on RS for a long time but never posted.
I turn 65 in December and didn't start hunting until eight years ago. My wife was working at the local gun range and got me a gift certificate for sporting clays instruction and I was hooked on that, eventually getting into more guns and finally decided to try hunting small game and then turkey. I added firearm hunting for deer, and then added a crossbow and in the past two years a compound bow. I learned on my own, watching videos on the Internet and reading books, followed by a lot of trial and error.
I only hunt public land but I have it almost out my front door. The first year I tried turkey hunting it took me most of that week before finally bagging one and that was it, I loved the interaction with calling in the birds. I have been fortunate to get one every year, usually on the first or second day of the season. Deer hunting was another story. Only having a gun I was limited on the time to hunt and wasn't successful, but a few years later added the crossbow to extend the hunting time and finally got my first deer.
I haven't always been fortunate during deer season but have managed at least one most years, and I have been trying new things with better scouting and using a saddle to hunt from to increase the odds. I enjoy the time in the woods whether I have a shot or not.
I wish I had started when young, especially growing up in the country on acreage with an apple orchard, but nobody in the family hunted. I enjoy it now and my oldest son actually started before I did and now all of his kids are active.
I turn 65 in December and didn't start hunting until eight years ago. My wife was working at the local gun range and got me a gift certificate for sporting clays instruction and I was hooked on that, eventually getting into more guns and finally decided to try hunting small game and then turkey. I added firearm hunting for deer, and then added a crossbow and in the past two years a compound bow. I learned on my own, watching videos on the Internet and reading books, followed by a lot of trial and error.
I only hunt public land but I have it almost out my front door. The first year I tried turkey hunting it took me most of that week before finally bagging one and that was it, I loved the interaction with calling in the birds. I have been fortunate to get one every year, usually on the first or second day of the season. Deer hunting was another story. Only having a gun I was limited on the time to hunt and wasn't successful, but a few years later added the crossbow to extend the hunting time and finally got my first deer.
I haven't always been fortunate during deer season but have managed at least one most years, and I have been trying new things with better scouting and using a saddle to hunt from to increase the odds. I enjoy the time in the woods whether I have a shot or not.
I wish I had started when young, especially growing up in the country on acreage with an apple orchard, but nobody in the family hunted. I enjoy it now and my oldest son actually started before I did and now all of his kids are active.
