Older Hunters

[Pony Soldier]

Something I haven't seen here is acknowledgement of wornout parts. Between 62 and 67 I got two new hips. I know many with new knees. My neighbor said last night that he broke the bottom of his tibula walking back to the house with his saw. No slip and fall, stumble or anything and he is in his early 50s. Hearing, eyes, joints, and heart- gents, Between working and the golden years are the rebuild years. Schedule them carefully. Surgery in January will give you time to recover. Be realistic - you aren't 30 anymore.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Careful- my doctor tells me it's rough on kidneys. On the bad days I take a tylenol for pain with an advil for inflammation. Use it sparingly.

 

[Broadjumper]

I don't know. I turned 64 a week ago.I work as a plumber (Australia). I have only been hunting for two and a half years. I love backpack hunting. Maybe I'm lucky, but I surfed and played sports all my life, still soft sand run on the local beach twice a week and feel almost as agile as I did 20yrs ago. My job is full on physical a lot of the time, but I admit to always trying to lessen the chances of trashing my back, or knees in particular. I have a small amount of tinnitus in my ears but that's about it. My max pack load for 5-7 days is 26 kilos. It can be a battle up in the high country in OZ because the place is so steep full of trees and scrub, but for the moment it's well within my capabilities . I just keep well hydrated and calories up and it's not bad. Some of the young guys are squealing after a few kilometers. I just grabbed a new stone glacier pack which should make it a little bit better still. On the subject of work, your right, we spend the best part of our lives chasing money and when it comes to retire your so busted and worn out you simply can't do those things you love to do the most. Live every day as if it's your last, hunt every chance you get. Work for a living not live for working.

 

[Ross]

Yesterday’s walk with Odin last time looking for Muleys sheds on to elk…..

 

[Roughwater]

I'm 72. Not the worst off except my knees have given me trouble the last few years. A few years ago I would work up to running a few miles but my knees won't any longer let me run. So I'm just hoping I can be able to walk fast a few miles a day to help me get in shape for this years hut/hunts. I still love to hunt though and the thought of going Elk hunting inspires me to do more to fight old age and push away from the TV and table a good bit more. I notice that when I do get more fit even at my age I think better move better and feel better and wish I could keep that attitude up the whole year. Unfortunately, it all seems to go to crap after the hunt as my body craves all the great foods available especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas. I put in for the Montana Elk combo and am just a few days away from finding out if I got a tag and I live in NC. If I draw a younger friend who never hunted Elk also drew since we entered as a party and I'm hoping I can get him into some Elk. We both just have one point each though so odds sure aren't great but there is still next year for Montana I guess. I could maybe get us into Utah if not Montana this year. I have hunted Utah too but like my chances better at getting a Elk in Montana. But either way it's still Elk hunting and still a big deal anytime I get to go Elk hunting! I have learned to enjoy and appreciate the hunt whether successful or not. Again, everybody ought to have that SOMETHING out there they look forward too in the future whatever it be, it just makes life more worth living and gives me something to strive for.

 

[Oldpuck]

68. Right shoulder rebuilt in 2013. Labrum could not be repaired. Both knees replaced in 2015. (6 knee surgeries before replacement) Left thumb fused years ago and both hands arthritic. Prostate surgery 2016. A couple other surgeries to right arm and miscellaneous parts too.

Yes, a few parts have worn out or been replaced but I walk daily, (6 miles Sunday) work out, maintain my acreage and shoot archery and the occasional firearm to stay accurate also on my property. Archery and rifle hunt. Waterfowl and fishing too, although last season was limited. That said I stopped backpacking or overnights a while ago. This year I made it official. Switched to an Exo 1800 day pack for the coming season. I can haul with it, but I don’t plan on hiking in more than five miles.

And all of it, limitations and all, have been fun as hell.

 

[Stevek]

I am 65 now and will turn 66 in about 3 months. I had retired back 10 yrs ago and enjoyed it at first when I bought my own land in South Texas. I sold that place and bought a new place up in the Texas Hill Country. I had a friend who owned a ranch in that same area of Central Texas that had been after me for a while now to manage it for him. So last fall I went back to work part-time and realized how much I missed the daily work routine. So in Feb I went back to work fulltime. I don't really consider it work so much since I get to work outdoors with wildlife on a beautiful ranch everyday and get paid to do it. I still hunt just as much as I always have and still in pretty good physical shape at my age. Been lucky to not have any major health issues but now starting to feel the aches in the morning after a hard days work the day before. With age comes experience and you learn from experience to work smarter and not harder. I apply the same when hunting.

 

[PRC_GUY]

I would say “ Randy Oldberg “

 

[Ross]

Just completed two day trip in north Idaho winter training served me well few photos…two day total 51k steps all in snow and on shoes much of it with packs 4400 vert great memories and a few antlers to stare at..no one seenfor two days took nine hrs to get here from leaving the house also anyone bear hunting be ready for deep snow for many weeks to come and alottttt if trees down….ps my hair gives me Sampson powers I know where one bull lives where there used to be ten like this

 

[mtwarden]

^ good choice on taking the stove! if my buddy didn't snore so much would have brought mine on our snowshoe trip

 

[Ross]

^ good choice on taking the stove! if my buddy didn't snore so much would have brought mine on our snowshoe trip

If one person knows it is you and stoves worth the price of admission back in for another month in my book

 

[Northernpiker]

I’m 67 now. Things are definitely getting harder now (except one thing). Just getting out of my recliner is a chore. 2 years ago in Colorado, bow hunting solo,the mountains really toke a toll on me. My biggest fear was what do I do if I get one (didn’t have to worry about that). I’ll still go, stay closer to the roads, and enjoy the mountains and the getaway.

 

[BFR]

Some days I’m old, some not so old my drivers license says I’m 74, still using original equipment body parts but they don’t seem to be as fast as they used to be.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Parts still work but the recovery is over a couple days and sometimes the pain is over a week.

 

[rayporter]

go as hard and as much as you can. dont let gas prices or tags stop you. time is limited!!!

when i was 67 i thought i had a big red S on my chest. at 68 things started sliding down hill. fast. i will miss the high country a lot.

last week we put on 17 to 18 miles a day on the ponies. but it took this week to get ready to do it again this week end.

 

[Weldor]

Just Retired, looking forward to my limitations. But no way am I quiting Charlie mike!

 

[mtnwrunner]

Keep after it fellas.

Randy

 

[Bubblehide]

I am about to turn 60. This very minute, I am laying in bed, in the hospital. I got a complete knee replacement (right knee) this morning. April 1st I had left shoulder surgery, this past December, I had right shoulder surgery. June 9th, I get prostate surgery, and when my right knee heals up, I will get the left knee done.

Simply put, I just wear out body parts. But hey, its much better than being in here (hospital) and getting fixed up, than being in the hospital for a heart condition from being a couch potato.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Damn Bubblehide.......hang in there!
Figured I would share my recovery drink with the group.

Randy

 

[Bubblehide]

Damn Bubblehide.......hang in there!
Figured I would share my recovery drink with the group.

RandyView attachment 411411

Thanks Randy, I've been fortunate enough to have had your favorite in the past.