Give up most hunting?

[bj]

I have been an avid hunter for more than 30 years. I have always enjoyed it and have generally been successful. In recent years, however, I have started to enjoy it less which is happening at the same time as I have started to be less successful. Part of the problem comes from the amount of time I am able to put into hunting and I wonder if I should just give it up.

When I was younger I had a lot of time to put into finding places to hunt and in honing my hunting skills. I knew where to find deer, elk, doves, pheasants, ducks, etc. The places that I have always hunted are no longer as productive. Between family and work, and the little bit of fishing I am still able to do, I don't seem to have time to scout and find new places to hunt. I can start to see why people either give up hunting or spend money to get into clubs or take guided trips. I'm in no position to do the latter, so is it time to hang it up? Anyone else out there in the same position? Been in the same position?

[Legacy]

Sometimes "hunting" is just an excuse to get out of town and enjoy the outdoors. Things have surely changed over the past 30 years, but we have to adapt. There are many opportunities out there, we just have to create them for ourselves. If you like being outdoors, who cares, just go and don't look back! I didn't draw squat this year, so I bought a Northern deer tag. I have no intentions of pulling the trigger, but it's just an excuse to get out and have fun for a few days. And If I do see a big enough buck, I'll take the shot! I guess if it gets to the point where you don't enjoy it at all, maybe it is time to find a new hobby.

[Stick_man]

+1 Legacy.

bj, I am in much the same boat as you are. As much as the spirit wants to get out, the old body doesn't seem to care so much. However, I believe that the thought of giving up hunting is paramount to blasphemy. When the honeydo's pile up and the kids are more and more demanding of your time, it is easy to get feeling in the dumps.

There seems to be nothing more rejuvenating to an old, tired body than some quality time with those you love in the outdoors.

Don't think of giving up hunting, think of all the additional opportunities you have to hunt. Think of how you now "get" to hunt for a place to hunt. Think of hunting for time to spend outdoors. Think of hunting for excuses to get your favorite rifle or shotgun out (like that will be tough) and warm the barrel.

As we get older, times get rough. Sometimes they are not too kind to us. Sometimes we need to consider the unthinkable for a period. Finances, time, kids, honeydo's, etc., have been imposing on my time for the last 20 years now. I can now see, however, the light at the end of the tunnel (hopefully it is not a train) to where I will be able to once again enjoy more time in the outdoors. I don't expect I will ever get to spend as much time outdoors as I used to, but anything is better than nothing.

If you need somebody to go hunting or fishing with, feel free to pm me. I'd be happy to join you. We could discuss the good old days and beat the rabbits, doves, deer, etc. over the head with our canes (jk)

[Loke]

If you are losing the urge to finish the hunt or are discouraged by a lack of time during the open seasons, try getting a good camera and you can hunt all year whenever you can find the time. I was feeling much the same until the last couple of years. I started hunting waterfowl for the first time, and even went so far as to buy my first real hunting dog. And if I don't get her out either training or hunting as much as she wants, she'll drive both me and my wife crazy. Then my wife will "send" me out with the dog. Whatever motivation that it takes, I guess.

[tumblingwings]

I felt that way for a long time, raising three kids alone for 15 years. They have moved out and I find that I am glad that I never gave up hunting. I have been able to hunt more since they moved out. I have found that I enjoy bird hunting more than big game hunting, thus I no longer hunt big game. I have a 30-06 that just sits in the gun safe and collects dust. Then if you are lucky like myself, your wife will just tell you to go hunting and get out of her way. My wife is very supportive of my habits I mean hobbies.

[RuttCrazed]

Get a dog! I enjoy watching my GSPs work birds just as much, if not more, than actually shooting a bird. You can spend the fall and winter hunting (or trialing) and the spring and summer perfecting your training. It is very addictive. Get out to a trial and see a great dog do it's thing and you will be hooked!

Rut

[miked]

+1 Rutt, once I got my dog it not only renewed my hunting passion it also renewed my Dads. I have also done 2 trials and it is addicting.

[Surfer Coyote]

I have found that it has become increasingly difficult to participate in all the hunting I want too. I find myself concentrating my interests more towards a few species than the whole gambit I did before. Sure, I put in for my LE and OIL tags every year, and will use them when I draw, but my main interests have shifted from big game over to predators. Likewise, I got tired of the WMAs being crowded and shifted my focus to field spreads for geese only. When my favorite spot for hunting pheasants became restricted I got introduced to chukar and grouse. In a way I'm thankful for some of the hardships because they have introduced me to brand new experiences that I may not have encountered otherwise. Even though I can't always spend the entire duration of the elk or deer hunt out on the mountain, I try to get out for at least part of the weekend to spend time with friends and family if nothing else. I think what I'm getting at is that once I changed my perspective on what a successful hunt is I became less frustrated. If I get out into the outdoors even just for a little while, well then mission accomplished. Sure, it would be nice to shoot a big deer every year, but the year's I strike out make the ones where I score so much sweeter. Find a reason to get out there. Start photography, get a dog, take a child, or introduce someone new to the outdoors.