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Post by drs on Nov 24, 2014 8:33:05 GMT -5
Yep....the old thrill is gone. I still enjoy it, but not near as much. The fellows I used to hunt with are dead and gone(a couple more now have cancer) or moved on to greener pastures. I basically hunt all by myself. The hunting fellowship and camaraderie I used to get after every hunt at the parking spot has been replaced by Hunt-Indiana.com folks. Great folks here, but it isn't quite the same. I'm a people person. I'm the Last of the Mohicans where I hunt.. Each season I wonder - Will this be my last? I do know there are a LOT less seasons in front of me than are behind me. Know what you mean, Woody. Like you "the thrill is gone or going" and I also still enjoy hunting, but not quite the same when I was much younger. I am a lone Hunter nowdays as my Hunting Friends, whom I hunted with in Western Ky have sold their farm, and I've lost contact with all of them, where there were five of us, hunting & having a generally good time. My last hunt with them was back in 2006. When I first started Hunting on my favorite Squirrel woods, at the end of the season I always said good bye to the woods and thanked it for good time hunting. Also said "I hope you'll still here next season, for my hunting". But now, or at least when I hunted on that Indiana farm, I starting saying (after age 58) "I hope I am physically able to hunt next season". I do the same thing down here on my property saying: "I hope I am able to hunt next season" ~ Got more seasons behind me too & less in front of me.
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Post by swilk on Nov 24, 2014 8:55:08 GMT -5
I have my short moments of getting tired of it .... more to do with the way I hunt than the hunting itself. But every time I tell myself I am going to take a short break it lasts less than a day.
I will say that I can take or leave turkey and small game hunting. I enjoy going but I wont re-arrange everything else in my life just do I can go like I do with deer hunting.
I just turned 40 and have about 30 years under my belt ... I am likely somewhere in the middle of my deer hunting career ..... hopefully my kids enjoy it as much as I do and give me even more reasons to drive ahead in my future years.
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Post by hornzilla on Nov 24, 2014 9:17:12 GMT -5
I have 30 plus years of hunting behind me. I'm sure I won't have 30 plus in front of me. But idk have a Grandfather that's 93. Still turkey hunting. Deer season last just became to cold for him. He's still a tuff old bird. But some of the spark of the deer woods has left. It was a drive for me. Now it's something peaceful to go do. It's peaceful. I manly hunt now to get away from a job as a machinist. Clear my head and get back in the game of getting ready to go sprint car racing. That's where my drive is now. And it's became worse in the last 10 years. The racing has somewhat replaced hunting.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 9:19:41 GMT -5
I am a young hunter for my actual age. I am 47 but I'm only in my 15th year as a deer hunter. I am still making my journey through the stages of the hunter. The fact that I bought my own hunting land 2.5 years ago added a new and exciting element to my hunting. I would suspect that could play a role in people's excitement too. Change of venue could add a new element of spice to a hunter who has lost their spark.
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Post by oilcan72 on Nov 24, 2014 9:29:19 GMT -5
highcottonguide,
I took a break from deer hunting for about 8 years, this is my first year back and it has paid off, I got a nice doe during archery, and the biggest buck of my life on Saturday evening. So yes sometimes taking a break helps you come back with a clearer mind and renewed enthusiasm. I took up waterfowl hunting those 8 years and I had a great time, my hunting partner is getting out of waterfowl so I had nobody to go with, back to deer hunting. Hope this helps.
oilcan72
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Post by hornzilla on Nov 24, 2014 9:46:39 GMT -5
I am a young hunter for my actual age. I am 47 but I'm only in my 15th year as a deer hunter. I am still making my journey through the stages of the hunter. The fact that I bought my own hunting land 2.5 years ago added a new and exciting element to my hunting. I would suspect that could play a role in people's excitement too. Change of venue could add a new element of spice to a hunter who has lost their spark. Met. You are sure right about the fact of owning your place that you hunt. I have 40 acres of heaven. I sure do enjoy being on it. Working on it. That does make a difference. But still. Hunting has changed for me. I'm 44. Took my first deer in 82. Have taken one or more every year since.
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Post by swilk on Nov 24, 2014 9:47:16 GMT -5
I am a young hunter for my actual age. I am 47 but I'm only in my 15th year as a deer hunter. I am still making my journey through the stages of the hunter. The fact that I bought my own hunting land 2.5 years ago added a new and exciting element to my hunting. I would suspect that could play a role in people's excitement too. Change of venue could add a new element of spice to a hunter who has lost their spark. Owning property is makes a huge difference.... its a year round hobby now. I filed all the proper paperwork this past year and will be clearing 7.5 acres of ground this winter for food plots. Planting trees in other places. Pumpkins next fall for the kids. Thought about planting some trees to be used as Christmas trees for the next 20 years but floods would kill them. Owning my own has contributed to keeping my passion strong without a doubt.
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Post by drs on Nov 24, 2014 10:21:26 GMT -5
I am a young hunter for my actual age. I am 47 but I'm only in my 15th year as a deer hunter. I am still making my journey through the stages of the hunter. The fact that I bought my own hunting land 2.5 years ago added a new and exciting element to my hunting. I would suspect that could play a role in people's excitement too. Change of venue could add a new element of spice to a hunter who has lost their spark. Owning property is makes a huge difference.... its a year round hobby now. I filed all the proper paperwork this past year and will be clearing 7.5 acres of ground this winter for food plots. Planting trees in other places. Pumpkins next fall for the kids. Thought about planting some trees to be used as Christmas trees for the next 20 years but floods would kill them. Owning my own has contributed to keeping my passion strong without a doubt. I got several more years of hunting time than your young age of 40, Swilk. I remember back in 1979 I was mostly hunting a private area in Pike County east of Oakland City, and hunted that area until 1990, also Hunting out in Colorado & Washington State. Then I started hunting down here in Ky. with the friends I spoke of in my post above yours. Now my hunting is on my property, here in Central Ky, and I agree owing your own property is a fantastic hobby, and requires some hard work to make it work for you. Later on I too will be busy planning out ideas & applying them to my property. Just this past weekend I found another place to place another ladder stand for next years Deer Season. Seen a lot of nice Deer in this spot this season and Deer Hunting here on my place gets better each year. ~NOW if I can just hold-out....
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Post by chubwub on Nov 24, 2014 10:33:50 GMT -5
I have sung solos and in quartets in front of many hundreds of people. I have given speeches and presentations before large groups. I have shot pressure free throws in front of more than 9,000 screaming fans. Still...nothing...NOTHING tears me up like the moment of truth between me and a buck! I am addicted to the incredible rush of adrenaline and emotion that come flooding over me in those moments before, during, and after the shot. I am humbled by the connection I feel to every hunter throughout history who ever experienced the same feelings. At that moment, we are all Daniel Boone, Fred Bear, even Zoog the Caveman. The anticipation of that moment keeps me awake late at night in anticipation in the weeks leading up to October. And, I feed off it through the long winter months until I can get back in the Spring woods. I may, one day, lose that drive, but I can't imagine it right now. It is at the core of who I am. I am a deer hunter. You would be so much fun in a duck blind! I know right? Duck hunters are the worst at being all sentimental and poetic about their magical marsh hunts. Met would turn into a redneck Shakespeare adrenaline junkie in no time after he killed his first duck.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 10:43:09 GMT -5
You would be so much fun in a duck blind! I know right? Duck hunters are the worst at being all sentimental and poetic about their magical marsh hunts. Met would turn into a redneck Shakespeare adrenaline junkie in no time after he killed his first duck. LOL! "Redneck Shakespeare"...has a nice ring to it!
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Post by piercings4u on Nov 24, 2014 10:46:36 GMT -5
I still go out every once is awhile, but more for the fact to say I did than anything else. I only hunted one day by myself this year at that was opening day of gun season. I did have a buddy come down and we hunted the whole first week of November. Didn't carry a weapon. Just sat in the tree with him and rattled for him. I have one reason and one reason only I gave it up. I just got to the point where I have too much remorse for killing one. Several years ago I shot my last bow buck. I went out several times last year during muzzleloader and actually stalked deer in their bed. Just couldn't bring myself to shoot them. My argument to myself was they made it this far, they deserve to live. The one deer I have killed since then was an argument with myself of why I did it and what was the worth. Anyway to answer your question...I bought a whole pile of beagles. Do I kill many rabbits? No. I put to many restraints on my dogs. The dogs have to circle the rabbit at least twice for me to shoot and the rabbit has to come back to the exact spot that it was jumped. I have out that many restrictions on myself that my dogs have caught as many rabbits as I have shot.I feel the same remorse for them as I do any other animal. I do enjoy taking other people out for deer and rabbits and whatnot and seeing the excitement on their faces. Seems after my dad died something just left me for the want to see an animal die. Maybe getting soft in my age. I don't know. Just don't like killing stuff anymore. ^^^^^this is me....and the fact that i dont get the adrenaline rush anymore ...
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Post by shouldernuke on Nov 24, 2014 10:52:47 GMT -5
Actually never quit deer hunting since I started 40 years ago. But I several years ago stopped waterfowl hunting and also stopped about 5 years ago small game hunting as well and stopped Turkey hunting as well.I do once a year go bird hunting with my boys .But I do not think that will happen this year .I did not just make a conscious decision to quit doing those things I just slowly quit by going less each year .
If I quit deer hunting I will have stopped all my outdoors hobbies and that will not happen Heck I work instead of fish now in the spring .Damn work life gets in the way and wears a man out in his later years .
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Post by deerhunter23 on Nov 24, 2014 11:54:02 GMT -5
This year ive hunted more than any of my previous years, due to a couple different factors. I spent almost 6 years in a combat mos with 2 deployments. Those 6 years have taken a toll on my mind and body. Im 80% disabled according to military and civilian doctors. I recieve a monthly check that has allowed me to do as i want when i want. Meaning i dont have to work if i dont want to and quite honestly i havent much at all since oct. 1st. Also a huge thanks to my wife!! Anyway, ive sit alot of hours this year and i mean alot! Almost daily morning and evening. I have yet to tire out or lost the drive. I love the sport, i love the woods, i love learning, i love witnessing things such as a leaf falling from a tree that will never fall again, that nobody else in this world will ever see that leaf hit the forest floor. Its a great big picture with millions of never ending little details that make each hunt different. I think i can honestly say also, that there is nothing that comes remotely close to consuming my life like deer hunting does. Every minute of the day im thinking about deer, reading, watching, im doing something that has to deal with my passion. Dont get me wrong i do take breaks from the woods, not because i dont want to go but just to back off on the pressure. Im very thankful for the opportunity to be where im at in my life. My kids and wife push me as hard as anyone, in fact they are usually more upset when i come home empty handed. That gets me down because the look on all their faces when i come home is so much better when the first words out of my mouth when i come through the door are "i need help"...they all know what that means! My kids are still to young to get into the woods for my liking, but trust me they are ready! The wife this past sunday finally had a very good shot at killing a doe, her first deer ever and first real chance of scoring. The doe was 10 yards broadside staring at my wife, i let her do it all, didnt say a word (Her demands)! She did very good and won the staring match, but by the time the wife had her gun up and ready, momma doe had moved into the thicket with no shot. I tell that story to say this, the moment it was all over and my wife finally turned to look at me, tears in her eyes and shakin like a leaf with a smile bigger than the day she married me, no matter what happens the rest of the season, ill cherish that moment and this season forever. Over a doe ive seen 30 times this season, that calmly walked away as she ways does. Those moments keep the drive alive and well until my body says no more..i look forward to watching the sunrise and set with or without a deer. In the end its all in gods hands anyway! Sorry for the long read..but i love this topic and could probably sit here and type forever! God bless!
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Post by indybassin on Nov 24, 2014 12:20:02 GMT -5
Deer hunting and bass fishing are two of the things I like to do. I've never killed a big buck, but it isn't something I really focus on. I used to fish a LOT of bass tournaments when I was younger. Always gone, burning up every single vacation day and money I didn't really have, all thinking I was going to win big tournaments someday.
I remember after one rough weekend on the Ohio, my brother and I got stormed on, the water just beat us to death and we couldn't catch a thing. Got home late Sunday night, tired, knowing I had to get up for work in the morning and obviously grouchy and complaining over the way things turned out.
I remember snapping at my wife over something stupid and she unloaded... "You have a LOT of F'ing nerve coming home and yelling at everyone because you are tired and grouchy. You have been gone ALL WEEK ON VACATION while we sat here. You know what's even worse MISTER BASS PRO? Your own d*** kids don't even know HOW TO FISH!!"
Yeah... that hit a nerve. I had taken something I was passionate about and tried to make it more. It became work, not something I loved. So I quit, walked away from tournaments. Even went a few years without having a boat. Got poles for my kids and took them out.
Moral of the story is, if it's fun... keep it fun. I started deer hunting a few years ago, so everyone I get now is like a trophy. Sure... I still get out In the kayak and chase big bass... but for me.
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Post by hornzilla on Nov 24, 2014 12:39:24 GMT -5
Deer hunting and bass fishing are two of the things I like to do. I've never killed a big buck, but it isn't something I really focus on. I used to fish a LOT of bass tournaments when I was younger. Always gone, burning up every single vacation day and money I didn't really have, all thinking I was going to win big tournaments someday. I remember after one rough weekend on the Ohio, my brother and I got stormed on, the water just beat us to death and we couldn't catch a thing. Got home late Sunday night, tired, knowing I had to get up for work in the morning and obviously grouchy and complaining over the way things turned out. I remember snapping at my wife over something stupid and she unloaded... "You have a LOT of F'ing nerve coming home and yelling at everyone because you are tired and grouchy. You have been gone ALL WEEK ON VACATION while we sat here. You know what's even worse MISTER BASS PRO? Your own d*** kids don't even know HOW TO FISH!!" Yeah... that hit a nerve. I had taken something I was passionate about and tried to make it more. It became work, not something I loved. So I quit, walked away from tournaments. Even went a few years without having a boat. Got poles for my kids and took them out. Moral of the story is, if it's fun... keep it fun. I started deer hunting a few years ago, so everyone I get now is like a trophy. Sure... I still get out In the kayak and chase big bass... but for me. Very well said. I give all I can to sprint car racing. It has become my most passionate hobbie. But it is just that. A Hobbie. I have said several times. I wouldn't want to race for a living. I love sprint cars to much to make them a job.
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Post by 3ptbuck on Nov 24, 2014 13:48:23 GMT -5
Deer hunting and bass fishing are two of the things I like to do. I've never killed a big buck, but it isn't something I really focus on. I used to fish a LOT of bass tournaments when I was younger. Always gone, burning up every single vacation day and money I didn't really have, all thinking I was going to win big tournaments someday. I remember after one rough weekend on the Ohio, my brother and I got stormed on, the water just beat us to death and we couldn't catch a thing. Got home late Sunday night, tired, knowing I had to get up for work in the morning and obviously grouchy and complaining over the way things turned out. I remember snapping at my wife over something stupid and she unloaded... "You have a LOT of F'ing nerve coming home and yelling at everyone because you are tired and grouchy. You have been gone ALL WEEK ON VACATION while we sat here. You know what's even worse MISTER BASS PRO? Your own d*** kids don't even know HOW TO FISH!!" Yeah... that hit a nerve. I had taken something I was passionate about and tried to make it more. It became work, not something I loved. So I quit, walked away from tournaments. Even went a few years without having a boat. Got poles for my kids and took them out. Moral of the story is, if it's fun... keep it fun. I started deer hunting a few years ago, so everyone I get now is like a trophy. Sure... I still get out In the kayak and chase big bass... but for me. couldn't agree more. Bass fishing and deer hunting have always been what consumes me. I also reached the point that fishing was more work than fun and 'retired' from tournaments 4,5yrs ago. I loved it, was pretty good at it but just got to the point that the work and stress of it overshadowed the fun. Man, seems like it was every weekend, sometimes 2 per weekend..I loved it. Guess I could go on and on but I can understand everything you said. Unfortunately I can tell the deer hunting gets close to that point for me every year as gun season approaches. Luckily I have a little girl to take now that brings back all the fun and excitement for me when my own season is consuming me and becoming more work than fun. As long as she shows a love for it, I'll never quit. No better feeling in the world than watching her be successful or just watching and teaching her everything I can think to tell her on our hunts.
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Post by boonechaser on Nov 24, 2014 14:30:02 GMT -5
Everyone has experienced some low time's in deer hunting, but I don't think I could ever give up deer hunting permently. So much of my life is devoted to it, I think I would be lost. AGREE owning your own property turn's a hobby into a full time obsession.... As I get older the actual harvest has become secondary to just enjoying the great outdoor's, whether it be working the land for food plot's/source's, habitate improvement, summer glassing, watching the local deer throughout the year and actual time spent on the stand, it is all enjoyable to me. Reckon I will be doing it as long as I am able.
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Post by ridgerunner on Nov 24, 2014 15:28:56 GMT -5
Glad I'm not the only one..I've been a die hard bowhunter for 25 yrs. The past 2 years I feel like I'm losing the passion. Had some serious health issues in my family, spent some time in the hospital myself last winter very sick, I've had many things happen in my life this past year that made me re-evaluate my priorities..I've spent an average of 200 plus hours a year bow hunting over 25 years...that's a whole lot of time I could have spent with the kids, my wife, my brothers, parents, friends, in church on Sundays.all just to kill a deer.
I'm 44 yrs old now, guess i too am getting old and soft..Killing a deer just doesn't rank as high on my list of things to do anymore..I'll still hunt, but not as hard,I won't pressure myself to kill that big buck every year, I won't stress out over eating a deer tag, I won't shoot just any deer to fill my tag..I find in my older age I'm much more selective, I let deer walk almost every time I hunt..I killed a ton of deer, several wall hanger bucks, but it cost me, big time..There's a price we pay..not to mention the constant battle with people these days...just to deer hunt my own property I've had to deal with issues regarding 3 out of 4 of my neighbors..and that drama. Every year it get's worse..and I'm tired of fighting it..people just don't care anymore and the constant issues with them takes the fun away from hunting also...times are changing..Things aren't like they used to be.
I guess I'm only willing to give half as much today. Next yr maybe less than that, who knows.
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Post by ukwil on Nov 24, 2014 15:39:41 GMT -5
I don't reach a point I wanna quit, but I do reach the point where I have to take a break or try something else. I've done more small and upland game hunting the last 2 years than I have in a long long time. I'm starting to really enjoy dove and pheasant hunting. I've been asked to join some coworkers for some waterfowl in a couple of weeks and am really looking forward to that. Plus with a 4 and 6 year old coming up I'd rather have the fast pace action of small game to keep them interested. Don't want to burn them out before they really enjoy it.
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Post by caliber on Nov 24, 2014 16:48:49 GMT -5
I hunt public ground exclusively. Every year, I am close to quitting because of; too many hunters, too many idiot hunters, too many hunters (yes, it's a problem). Reading this forum, I have learned two key items. 1) save to purchase my own ground. Wifey agrees, but wants to be in Louisiana. 2) I need to spend more time re-defining 'my spots'. There are thousands of public acres. 'My Spots' are easily accessible to me, and everyone else. I need to find time to discover other places to hunt.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one that struggles.
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