"GO HUNTING NOW WHILE YOU ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE!"

[93marlin]

I'm almost 70 and will be going on my 10th solo Canadian bear hunt the 1st of September.
I learned after getting hit head-on 10 1/2 yrs ago to keep moving even if it hurts, even if you just can move a little today,I've a little bit more tomorrow. If you stop moving you'll end up not being able to move at all.

 

[Green Chile]

I'm almost 70 and will be going on my 10th solo Canadian bear hunt the 1st of September.
I learned after getting hit head-on 10 1/2 yrs ago to keep moving even if it hurts, even if you just can move a little today,I've a little bit more tomorrow. If you stop moving you'll end up not being able to move at all.

Good for you sir. I had a really bad wreck a few years ago but it just made me more determined. My neck hurts every day and my ears ring constantly from the wreck but I'm going hunting! I would like the last half of my life to be more successful than the first half. So far, so good.

 

[rdog]

Do it whilst you can, getting old seeks up on you, at 78 this year my rough country hunting trips with long walks are over.I have had a heart valve replacement , left wrist fuzed, right knee replacement & suffer with rheumatoid arthritis, but i will not give up hunting, my 2 sons are hunters & my grandson who is 13 put my 200 meter targets out at the range last saturday . i have just purchased a Howa 1500 in 204 Ruger to shoot feral cats , in Australia this is done at night out of a 4x4 with a light i would rather die out in the bush than in some smelly nursing home.In the 1960s prior to my deployment to Vietnam
we run 5 miles in 55 minutes with all our gear every morning, after a few weeks it was no effort at all ,
those were the days when you thought you were bullet proof. Men do it whilst you can time waits for no one.

 

[Sideshow]

Just listened to the big game pod casts and this just came up in an old one and I thought how true……log in here tonight and here it is…..like you fallas read my mind….so true get it done guys…..and thanks Chilli for pointing it out

 

[Throwback]

Chamois and ibex are on my mind. Can you share more in this thread about the physical level of difficulty on those hunts? I can walk and walk after eland or ele but the mountains make me wonder. A lot of it is mental as well. I’ve got a good mental game. I don’t quit.

Sure Green Chile. In my humble opinion of only doing 4 hunts in Europe (Romania - Roe deer, Italy - in Umbria - Roe deer and Italy - Italian Alps - Chamois and Spain - Gredos mountains for Ibex (all hunt stories posted on AH), European hunts can be tough mountain wise but these are not back country hunts. I slept in a hotel every night, hot shower, hot food, etc...

For the Chamois and Ibex we took the truck each morning to a point at base of mountains, or even a mid point and then started hiking up. I will say on the Chamois hunt we hiked all day when necessary, just about constantly and rarely sat anywhere for too long. Walk and Stalk, not Spot and Stalk. It also rained and hailed on us one day on that hunt. Since you are not living out in it each night, you dont have too much gear on you, which makes it easier. The Alps were pretty high but I did not have an issue with elevation at all.

My guide (who was 25) told me I was in very good shape for someone twice his age, literally. Im not in great shape imo but try to walk 5 miles at least 5 days a week, on flat land here in Houston, at sea level.

Romania and the Umbria region of Italy were even easier, though we did walk a lot, just not as steep but not flat either.

My take is if you can walk all day for Eland or whatever and your guide will let you move as fast or slow as you want, which mine did, you shouldnt have an issue with most mountain hunting in Europe. I purposely did these hunts when and/or where the weather was not too cold, as personally that would have challenged me more than necessary.

I second being careful about where you step. Particularly with hard sole mountain boots that can be a little clunky sometimes, those skinny trails can seem pretty skinny when next to sheer drop offs that will kill you if you go over. Again, just focus and things should be fine but this is not even a consideration on flat land.

Hey, no black mambas in the mountains where I hunted, think of the bright side of things! Cheers

 

[Green Chile]

Yea man, if the mambas were in the mountains there might not be any of us up there! Or maybe just @gillettehunter looking for his freaking bushbuck.

 

[gillettehunter]

Well I do like hunting Bushbuck. Maybe I resemble those remarks!
Bruce

 

[Mekaniks]

I have this as my signature on my profile......

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow what a ride!“

 

[dchum]

I have this as my signature on my profile......

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow what a ride!“

-Hunter S. Thompson.

From Hells Angels 1967

Love it. One of my favorites.

 

[DillonG]

As one of the younger guys, I would love to go on sheep/goat hunts now in my 30s. I do well financially, but it isn’t in my cards to do so. It actually worries me not going now. Asking, how confident would you have been in your 40s doing these hunts?

 

[Green Chile]

Remember that confidence is possibly 1/3 physical and 2/3 mental. Personally, I was stronger physically in my early 40's but my mental strength is stronger in my early 50's. Something to think about.

I would also say, you should be talking to some company like WTA TAGS about having a strategy to draw tags. Some of these take awhile. Some may never happen but they will tell you which states have the best odds, etc. It's good to know at your age.

 

[Dee S]

This is why I decided to do my cape buffalo hunt last year at the age of 60 with a bow. I knew my time is fast approaching when the ability to draw a heavy poundage bow may be too much for me and my shoulders.
So glad that I went to Zambia with Strang Middleton and got my buff. He's not the biggest, but I couldn't be happier with him.

 

[Green Chile]

Fantastic! What was your draw weight and arrow setup?

 

[IdaRam]

As one of the younger guys, I would love to go on sheep/goat hunts now in my 30s. I do well financially, but it isn’t in my cards to do so. It actually worries me not going now. Asking, how confident would you have been in your 40s doing these hunts?

I was right there where you are when I was in my 30’s. Pretty much the norm for most people I think. Wife, kids, job… Plenty of ambition and good shape but short on time and money. I was 46 when I went on my first sheep hunt and it was as physically challenging as I thought it would be, but also as rewarding as well. Fortunately I was in the best physical shape of my life regardless of my age. I was losing some of that youthful energy but made up for it with dedication, hard work and commitment to staying in great shape (sheep shape). So I believe as long as you stay fit you will be just fine. It’s a lot less difficult to stay fit than to get back into top physical shape though. When you’re young you can regain peak fitness pretty easily, but in my opinion changes start happening in your 40’s and everything becomes a bit more work. Not only that, but all those sports injuries a dirt bike wrecks start to tale their toll. Aches and pains, arthritis, etc begin to rear their ugly heads by your fifties it seems.
I wouldn’t lose sleep about waiting on a sheep hunt until in your 40’s, but I would have a plan and make it happen. The 3 F’s. Fitness, finances and a F’ing Tag!
If you are going sheep hunting here’s a great rule of thumb. When you are in your best shape and think you are in sheep shape, congratulations you’re halfway there! Keep training

 

[fourfive8]

At 74, I look back with no complaints and nothing much left undone- from DG and PG in Africa to sheep in Alaska. I’ve hunted out my back door for most of those 74 years. The most physically difficult hunts for me were moose in Alaska. I believe that I could do any of the hunts again, from mountains to deserts, if desired. Now, a campfire with good story telling would be plenty good enough. Recently, my commitment to family scattered from here to half way around the planet far outweighs a bucket list need for any exotic hunt. In many ways, I feel extremely fortunate for having good health, all that opportunity and having it all work out the way it has.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I’ve done a lot of things on my bucket list, except sheep and I’ve almost given up on getting a tag! Instead of taking a couple hunts that I really wanted to do, I spent the money taking my dad on three trips he dreamed of doing, he died before I got to take him to New Zealand. I do not regret the hunts I didn’t get to make, I cherish the hunts I got with the old man, so did he! I might be reserved to hunting elk and deer in my beloved Montana for the rest of my days due to coming home to help my Mom. No regrets though, I dream of my time in Africa and the rest of the wild places I’ve been with a full heart! I just thank the lord that I’ve got to share camp with my best friends! Never regret shit guys, enjoy everything to the fullest!

 

[Tra3]

My dad is 79 and will be joining me in africa this September. We hunted the Arctic last fall for birds. We went to Africa together in 2018 with my son (then 12). My dad and I have had the blessing of hunting together in the fall in Montana (where I grew up) since the 1980’s. He still moves regularly and rides his horses. Continuing to stay active has allowed him to continue to stay active!

I’ve had a variety of injuries from running marathons for the last 15 years. Most only take a few weeks or a few months to resolve. It is worth the rehab to stay in shape. I like the training more that the racing. I’ll continue athletics, because I can see firsthand what it allows me to do in all other aspects of life

P.s. I don’t think I really began to pay attention to my dad’s thoughts and perspectives until I was in my late 30’s. Youth clouds listening skills! The value he has provided to me by staying in shape so we can do things together is immense and cannot be understated. So, think of physical fitness not only as a gift to yourself, but to others.

 

[IdaRam]

I’ve done a lot of things on my bucket list, except sheep and I’ve almost given up on getting a tag! Instead of taking a couple hunts that I really wanted to do, I spent the money taking my dad on three trips he dreamed of doing, he died before I got to take him to New Zealand. I do not regret the hunts I didn’t get to make, I cherish the hunts I got with the old man, so did he! I might be reserved to hunting elk and deer in my beloved Montana for the rest of my days due to coming home to help my Mom. No regrets though, I dream of my time in Africa and the rest of the wild places I’ve been with a full heart! I just thank the lord that I’ve got to share camp with my best friends! Never regret shit guys, enjoy everything to the fullest!

Amen brother, wise words. I love your perspective.

 

[Sideshow]

I second being careful about where you step. Particularly with hard sole mountain boots that can be a little clunky sometimes, those skinny trails can seem pretty skinny when next to sheer drop offs that will kill you if you go over. Again, just focus and things should be fine but this is not even a consideration on flat land.

Hey, no black mambas in the mountains where I hunted, think of the bright side of things! Cheers

Thanks I’ll take the three step route…….you can keep your bloody sheer drops……man wish I could shake my vertigo lol it’s even worse when there’s a crowd…..YES ILL NOT BE TRYING EVEREST

 

[gearguywb]

One of the biggest challenges we face.

Typically at a younger age (more active and in shape) we can't afford these types of trips. As we get older, and are more financially secure, our fitness level declines.

My theory is YOLO, and you don't know the expiration date.

This slapped me in the face 2 years ago. I have always been very physically fit, 20 years in the Army (infantry and then SF). 2 years ago I see a doc about another issue and he says "you need to see a cardiologist".

Fast forward, after a major VA snafu, I end up with open heart surgery to replace aorta valve.

Time to step up! Do those things I have been putting off! I refuse to go quietly in the night. Moose and elk this year. Africa and Dall sheep next year.

I need to finish my coffee and head to the gym