Completely.

 

Sounds like you had a good run and got your share.

 

No stopping father time my friend.I refuse and will not accept the still hunting farce label.I sneak and stalk and slither thru he woods.That term was introduced by some mag writer and has no merit unless you are 100% immobile like on stand.

 

"A man's got to know his limitations."

 

So true, time marches on. I can still do everything I used to do when it come to hunting.....I just don't do it as fast. It's all good, it's life and the nature of things.

 

Last Buck I shot, 3 years ago, took Me about an Hour to drag it 300yds. The missus would carry the Guns and I would drag it a few Yds then rest up . A History of Heart and other issues kinda prays on your mind when doing this. But, i really kinda enjoyed it!! Don`t really care if i get another Buck but I do like an eatin` size Doe and they are much easier to get out of the Woods. Old Pappy time has hit Home for me also...

 

I'm only 38. Where I buck hunt the first day is a long way back in. I keep a cart in the truck. When I get a buck I walk all my stuff out. Strip down get the cart and hike back in and get the deer. Usually around a 5 hour ordeal. Me and my buddy were just talking about it this year. We know that this honey hole we have won't last forever. It beats us up so bad when we get our bucks. 2 years ago we both shot bucks first day and it took us just short of 7.5 hours to get them out on that cart. Its funny because 10 years ago it didn't bother me one bit. Now the next day I have trouble getting out of bed. I can't imagine what I'll feel like 10 years from now.

 

It won't get easier. I do the same thing you do, usually in archery. I was 5 when willyp started hunting so I'm not far behind him. I still run and lift year round to keep in shape. The running is not very fast anymore.

 

 

At 67 my thoughts today...
The deer are where <span style="text-decoration: underline">they</span> find me.

Why should I hunt the deer, they ain't lost.

Snoring will not scare deer however waking up and holler'n "holy ****" will!

Bill

 

My dad is 76 and he does a good job of getting "back in" off the beaten' path to hunt. However, he cannot stand for more than an hour any more on cold days. My 77 year old father in law has bad knees but he's still at it also. He obviously can't get around much.

I'll be turning 50 on Thanksgiving Day this year but can still run and gun. I will attempt to defeat Father Time but I know I will lose....

 

I'm not there yet..lol

 

Seems many of us are learning how false our science teaching was, mainly that the hills are eroding. Any hunter getting advanced in years knows the hills are really growing steeper and higher yearly! Hang in there younger guys you will learn this too.

 

God love ya. As long as you are having fun you are hunting the right way and in the right place.

I hunt with my brother 20 years older than me. I have watched how he has followed the same path you described. I can only hope to do as much for so long. The good part of hunting with someone like this the vehicle is always warm when I find my way back. Waugh!

 

It amazes me with each passing year how obvious the "overlooked archery hotspots" are and how satisfying it is to find one and hunt close to the truck!

I still like to adventure farther than the other guy during gun season, though...at least while I still can!

 

Amen brother!
I use to wonder how hunters could just sit it elevated hunting stands and miss out on the excitement & experience of "Still Hunting" deep into the big woods of North Central PA. Several years later a hip replacement, a few other operations, grandkids starting to hunt, has tempered my view quite a bit. I still sneak off on solo hunts but have found that sitting in a warm dry hunting stand conversing and mentoring a grandchild an awesome & fulfilling experience as well.

 

Been fighting that battle for awhile. My double knee replacements have slowed me down some, and my son has some health problems, so we usually try to plan our hunts accordingly. We killed a pair of doe last season. We were only about 1/2 mile from the truck, but took us almost two hours to get them out. We decoded it might be in our best interest to only shoot one at a time from now on.....

 

At 50 I was still running ridges. At 55 my lungs started to go, I was diagnosed with emphysema, and it became harder and harder to hike and climb over the next 9 years to the point that now, at 64, I can no longer climb hills at all, and certainly can't hunt alone which was always my preference. No other issues... heart, blood pressure, muscular/skeletal, weight, all good, but when you can't breath, not much you can do about it.

Pretty much limited now to stand style outfitted hunts, and am fortunate enough to have the resources to do two or three each year. I'll continue to do those as long as I physically can travel and my money holds out.

 

I can relate, as I am starting to slow down too. Still doing the hills and valleys because I am stubborn, but it is beating the heck out of me these days, and my recovery time is no longer immediate. I keep saying to myself, "I will not be able to do this in a couple of years, so I better get it all in now."

 

I see i am not alone with this ! I though i would state my feelings and be told i was a sissy !!!!!

 

This is a good post, I'm enjoying everyone's replies.
My buddies and I always seem to be talking about this issue a lot these days .
I'm " only 46", and am fortunate that I can still do most of all the running I want to do these days, but I have noticed one thing as I sit on stand, or wait out a stubborn gobbler. I CAN stay out, and keep at it, but I get " satisfied" with my experience for that day and I go home feeling good. Mostly without anything !
It's comforting to know this seems to be what I am reading, and what's in my future as well.

 

My dad is 75 and gets around really well. I drug his last PA deer out for him. 8 yard bow shot on the top of the ridge. Sucker ran straight over the ridge and ended up in the creek at the bottom. Biggest deer ever killed from our camp based on age and body size. Thankfully the hardest part of the drag was getting out of the creek and onto the ridge. From there it was all down hill on a logging road.

But there have been many long drags coming out from 1.5 miles deep in the east branch of Hicks Run!

 

This was a great post to read. At 43, 20 plus years in corrections chasing inmates all over the place, 8 years in the military, I can definitely feel the wear and tear. Luckily, I work out 5 days a week, still have a 400 lbs bench, but age is slowly working its way. Last year, I saw a older brother dragging a doe out, having a tough time, carrying his crossbow and gear. Well, I took over for him and made sure he got to his vehicle. Lets make sure, those who can still do a lil extra, we look out for those who are still out there, enjoying this sport.

 

Also got my first hunting license in 1958. Feets and knees began to cramp my style years ago, but I keep after it in deer season anyway, best I can.

I though i would state my feelings and be told i was a sissy !!!!!

I'm a sissy. Haven't killed a deer in the past three seasons.

Could've killed multiple deer in each of those seasons, had I chosen to wade across a creek running waist high to fetch it; Not minded climbing a steep hill to get a dead doe; Had I wanted to shoot yet another 14" six pointer, like we did many times back in the "good old days".

Get to cover some ground on opening day, maybe some on the second day? After that, all bets are off now. I sit and wait (and wait). Never could sit still when I was younger. Now that I'm an ol' sissy, can sit all day.

 

LOL...at 57 I just realized I'll have to try and spend the summer months trying to turn the clock back a few years. Overjoyed to have the granddaughter draw a 1st choice CO cow elk & buck mule deer tag and I drew a cow elk tag as well. The thought of sharing a lifetime experience with her is the incentive to lace up the boots for a few more months of "I think I can" hikes to recapture some measure of endurance.