Any old bow hunters over 75 that are still doing it. What are the changes in the hunt that is being done? Was just thinking when I first came on here in 97 at 45 yrs old and not seeing some old handles that were here.

Not 75, but pretty close. Still at it. There are folks here older than me...some in their 80's. Larry Hatfield is in his mid 80's, and Ron LaClair is maybe in that 80 range.

Now 74 years old, just completed 62nd year bowhunting.

jjs, you asked, "What are the changes in the hunt that is being done?

OMG! Almost too many to mention! Of course the most obvious change is in the equipment used. Much of today's modern "hi-tec" gear bears little resemblence to the tackle of the fifties.

The hunting methods have changed drastically also. About the most sophisticated hunting aids we had in the fifties were buck scent, WWII camo, and Jon-e hand warmers. No game cameras, tree stands, food plots, GPS, baiting, or any one of dozens of modern "aids" designed to make hunting the hard way easier.

But perhaps most importantly I believe bowhunting is different today because of the expectations involved. It seems many now seek almost instant gratification and a desire to disover the easy route to success. Back in the day we knew it would take a few years to get your first deer (mine took seven!) and we did not expect to get a deer every year. That's all different nowadays, guys expect a big buck their first year and then another and another in succeeding years. For many, if they do not get an apportunity at a big buck, they do not shoot.

The expectations are different today,...not for everyone,...many traditionalists still share the "old" philsophies. Good on you mates, I applaude you. I hope all of us with that approach live forever and never die.

What are the changes from the fifties to today? ....it would take a book!

hi jon, 76 yrs old here and still hunting , got my first deer 50 yrs ago this month. had to slow down a little this year from bad knees but still at it! if you don't use it you will lose it! thats what they tell me anyway... but i've got a little edge as my daughter, grandson and son in law are all rn's so i got little help. lol old iowa cedar shooter

79... and still at it. But moving a lot slower. Hunt on the ground a lot and much lighter bows. Wish my legs would get me where I really want to hunt. But feel blessed to still be at it.

79 in January and still doing it. Took a mule buck this year. I find still hunting a must and realize I had been doing it wrong all these years. Harder to pack one out also.

I am 68. Biggest change is the crappy attitude of the public about those that hunt Remember buy a dozen bear arrows with broadheads at the Navy exchange, could find 'weapons" at most stores, some of the best were Sears, Millers Western Auto. If you were absent from school the first day of hunting season no big deal, Remember going bird hunting after school and having my shotgun in the back seat of the car while it was parked in the school parking lot!

I'm 72. My lt. knee replacement is great , although I did tear the same knees' MCL when my right foot slipped out from under me in the woods an my fiull weight came down on the new knee.. No problem ......knee brace. I just walk slower when I hunt, which is an advantage. Since I didn't get an animal this year...yet... I don't know about packing it out. R.K.K.

Intersting, my old hunting bud last hunt was at 87, turned 90 in Aug, had to help him to get to his stand and another friend and I dragged his deer out long with him, his back couldn't take it any longer. My father last hunt was 87 w/ cap&ball and killed a Ia. buck that dressed out 247#, his brother-in-law was 91 that was with him and they had to find the farmer to get a skidder to drag out, both of them said that was it and going out on top, my father lived to 93 and uncle lived to 97. My old 90 yr old bud when we talk is about the memories of the hunts, if his body didn't give out he would still be at it. Like he told me to keep at it that it is like your last hunt and to take everything in and give thanks for it, when it is gone it's gone but the personal memories.

Not yet but I will be. Getting in the best shape of my life to hunt mountain sheep.

DDave

I too am 76 and still "live and breath bowhunting" with the same old bows I used in the 60's. Biggest change I've noticed is my vision. Lol

I am 72 and still love it. Biggest change is that I don’t feel pressured to get a deer anymore. I enjoy the hunt more than the kill. I have slowed down and see more standing/walking deer than I did in my teens and 20’s. My biggest goal is to have my 12 year old granddaughter get her first deer with her recurve. She has seen them but hasn’t had a shot yet.

2 months short of 81 and this is the first year I didn't do any hunting. Last year a friend, and fellow bow builder, and I did a DIY elk hunt in Colorado and that will more than likely be my last hunt. Still in good health but lost the drive. - - Marc

76 so far. Hunted Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario Canada for the 40th year in a row. Shot under a 4 point buck at 16 yards. The kill does not matter anymore. Just the experience and the fun.

76 so far. Hunted Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario Canada for the 40th year in a row. Shot under a 4 point buck at 16 yards. The kill does not matter anymore. Just the experience and the fun.

"A BOY'S DREAM, A MAN'S LIFE"

The bow and arrow spoke to me when I was five years old

It said, come play with me young lad if you should be so bold

The singing string and whispering shaft was music to my soul

I knew it was a part of me when I was twelve years old

The bow was small for a lad so tall as I grew so long and lean

A new bow I sought, and finely bought, when I turned sixteen

The years they flew and at twenty two, a bow for the bride I took

Together we hunted for whitetail deer from our camp by a babbling brook

Soon a little bow hung along side the bows of mom and dad

Then another,.. and still another,.. three little bowmen we finely had

As time went by the children grew, then Grand children came along

Once again, the bow sang, it's captivating song

This new generation was soon to learn the wonders of stick and string

They watched as Grandpa showed them, the joys the bow could bring

No one can count the arrows that this old man has sent to flight

Someday he'll shoot his very last shaft into the murky night

But for now there's great grand children to teach before my time is through

This old man, still loves his bow, at the age of eighty two.

TO BE CONTINUED

Dad's 85 now, and he gave up bow hunting 3 years ago. But he still goes to 3 D shoots.

Like the poem Ron.

My friend Guy is 81 and was in his ground blind yesterday with his 40# recurve. Still at it!

Started bowhunting in 1952 first kill in 1956, have taken at least one deer per year every year but 2 since. Being on supplemental oxygen has really slowed me down but still doing my best to fill the freezer. At age 70 had to start shooting left handed and has worked out very well for me. I will soon be 82 years old. Denny SturgIs Sr

Well, I don't quite fit in a I'm only 72.

I'm 81 years old and still hunt the same way as I did when I was 21. It's all a "state of mind" so KEEP YOUNG.

I know Jack is still hunting at about 87. He shot a long range deer with a very nice borrowed rifle a couple of years ago. Said it was the kind of hunting us old guys ought to try. So now I do.

DDave

Hats off to you guys still doing it at 75 or more! I am not that far behind you and really hope I will be able to continue at that age.

Getting old happens to everyone, but how you let it affect you is what will allow you to hunt or not as you age. I see guys in their late 20's who have trouble tying their shoes so I suspect that unless they change their lifestyle, they may struggle. You don't have to be a gym monkey either, but you do have to take care of your physical being along the way, at least in a moderate way.

I'm 71 and still at it. I got my dad into bowhunting in the mid to late 70's. He killed his last deer at 82, however he always shot a compound, an old PSE with fingers and sights. Dad still hunted a few years after that, and had a chance to take deer, but always said it was just a little one. Dad turned 93 on Nov 2.

76 and still climbing trees but after this year maybe more ground hunting.

James

Be 80 in February and hunted the early season here in Wisconsin with a longbow. Started back in the 50's with a recurve and been with it through the years, with a break every now and then due to family and work. Retired in 97 and hunted with a compound, experienced some shoulder problems so went to a crossbow. Had it one season and dumped it because it just was awkward and didn't seem the same as bow hunting. Went back to recurves and longbows, now use a 45# longbow and hunt from the ground. It's getting tricky dragging a deer at this age alone, especially with a knee replacement but I try to hunt with a partner to make the drag easier. Guess I'll keep at it til the body just won't do it anymore

72 and still at it. In no hurry to get to 75 but it is coming before long. I struggle sometimes to deal with the impact of aging but so far I am managing to stay active. Like others I have reduced the weight of my bows and am more selective about where and how I hunt. And I stay on the ground these days.

Not quite 75 ( hit the 74 mark next week ) & started bow hunting in 1970 with a Bear Grizzly recurve. I have always shot & still do shoot recurves. There were times when I was shooting a 65# Howatt Hunter, but now I am in the 50-55# range. I don't put in the days I used to since I just don't have the drive now. I do spend time on trips to Canada, Wyomiing, etc.. for rifle hunts, fly fishing, and various other fishing excursions. Seven knee surgeries including a total knee replacement have definitely made an impact, but I still spend a day wading streams & deal with the pain later. As others have stated, you just keep doing as much as you can & enjoy every moment of it. I take a lot of photos & video for future reminiscing. I still enjoy making my own arrows & helping the grandkids learn the art of archery. It is great to see so many of us elders still out there making footprints in the woods.

I'm 78 and still think about "bowhunting" every day: although it's now more getting out into the mountains and being alone for a while. Killing something is not as important any more. Actually, it never was with me. Wife's care accident prevented me from deer and elk hunt this year. But I hope to give it a try next Fall.

I'm 78 and still think about "bowhunting" every day: although it's now more getting out into the mountains and being alone for a while. Killing something is not as important any more. Actually, it never was with me. Wife's care accident prevented me from deer and elk hunt this year. But I hope to give it a try next Fall.

72 in Feb. still kicking.

I'm getting there, 71 years young and still get the itch to hunt with my longbows and recurve. Just love making my own arrows and other stuff. Been bow hunting for over 40 years now.

I am only 70, but family issues over the last 10 years have made me realize that ALL my hobbies are just different forms of escapism. I no longer care whether I ever shoot a deer with an arrow, as long as I could if I needed too. If I know I am going to leave this carcass within hours, I will be wishing I could do more for my family, not spend more time in the woods.

I'm 83 and still bow hunting, and have for 60 years. Have two new knees and a new hip but can still stand behind a tree for 2 to 3 hours waiting for a deer. Shoot a lighter recurve and thankful for the supercurves to get more foot pounds with lighter weight. Used to hunt from tree stands but the past three years have become a ground hunter. Plan on doing lots of hunting in December. Joel

Just went out to get the mail. A big-bodied 8-pointer when bounding across the pasture by my driveway. Didn't even make the adrenaline flow.

Agree Jim, my family is more important than anything. I've been out just two hours this rifle season and if I go again it will be with my bow. I'm actually look forward to the late season and some tracking snow to look for rabbits. Haven't had fried rabbit for way too long. Gonna use the osage selfbow that Brad made for me.

I still hunt. I'm 75. My bow is weaker. I hunted with a 70# recurve for a long time and now I hunt with a 51#. I miss the heavy bows I used on earlier hunts. And now I'm shopping for a lighter bow yet. Hunting and shooting were easier than now and I was a better hunter and shooter. Also, I enjoyed it more, to be truthful. No one enjoyed bowhunting as much as I did. I still hunt and don't plan to quit yet.

Haven't been out in 5 yrs.now...mostly due to a lack of anywhere to hunt.Did get in 50 good years though! Have a spot lined up for next year finally,but will have to use a tractor or skid loader to retrieve something IF I decide to shoot...can't drag deer anymore. The last one near killed me getting it in the bed of the truck. Field dressed 210 lbs.

kudos you guys

I’m a 1942 model. Still enjoy the hunt, but going with family and friends more satisfying. Great to hear “ you old guys” are still going strong!

I am 67, this blizzard we are having is putting a crimp in my 'cruisin for babes' today. Of course, it also puts a crimp on the opening day of the gun season 1, which may be a good thing. Five years ago, when I was young, I shot a deer with a 64 pound bow in conditions far worse than this, much colder and whiteout visibility.

I still love to hunt from the ground, I have lived in Florida 60 of my 72 years and it is flat and being that we have no winter to speak of the vegetation grows year around so we don't have such a thing called clear woods like you fellas have up north, even Georgia has very clean woods. What I am getting at is it is hard to hunt down here in some areas, I don't see how the Seminole Indians did it. 200 years ago.

I use a non laminated bow now with cedar arrows and still love to hunt, but I don't take game anymore except hogs. Kind of lost the need to eat game. I still have the strength to drag out a deer because we have no hills ..Ha!Ha! By the way at 70 years old you don't need to get a fishing, or hunting licence, big deal, by then you probably can't use either one....LOL!

74, almost 75 here. The biggest change has been hunting more on the ground the last couple of years. My biggest quest now is to seal the deal on a Sika deer from the ground. I had one jump the string in Oct from 17 yards. I'll do a little more climbing next year, mostly from ladder stands but I did buy myself a sit and climb upper for my Lone Wolf bottom.

Another big change was to start using a 4 wheeler in the marsh. Otherwise, I just can't walk as far. I also use a cut bamboo for walking in the marsh. Not as sure footed as I used to be.

I have been hunting for 57 years. Mostly moose and some deer. At 54 I found the joys of the bow. Now I just deer with my selfbow. Oh. I'm about 1 month short of 77 and still treestand hunt.

Stay motivated fellas! I've enjoyed reading into my future! Advice from the elders is priceless.

Just turned 65. Don't bowhunt as hard as I used to. Hunting around here is a crapshoot, and I haven't travelled out of state to hunt in several years.

I prefer 3D because on any given weekend I -know- I'll get to shoot thirty animals, and unless I'm setting up the club course I don't have to drag 'em ;-)

Next fall, I'll be retired, it will be a bit different. Have my eye on a new area.

I've started to slow down a bit at 70 but I still managed to get out about deer hunting 70 days here(still 30 days left). Losing hunting property has become an issue for me. I did a spring bear hunt in Ontario, that's about as relaxing and enjoyable as it gets. My annual Antelope hunt was fun even though I didn't get one. The buddy I do these hunts with called in Oct. and said we should go to Kodiak this Oct(2019). After careful consideration and a few miles on my bike I agreed so I guess I'm going to have to get to the gym this winter. We have our 2019 Bear hunt, Antelope hunt and I should get drawn for Iowa this year. I have dropped in bow weight, now 55-60# feels pretty good.Being retired is pretty good. Maybe I haven't slowed down that much!

"Memories of yesterday" by Ron LaClair

Yesterday, when I was young

there were so many bows

just waiting to be strung

so many feathered shafts

to send upon the wind

I never thought the time

for that would ever end

A thousand hunts I planned,

I dreamed they'd be so grand

but some just slipped away

like weak and shifting sand

I never seemed to have

the time to make them real

now late in life it seems

I've lost some of my zeal.

Yesterday, when I was young

the hills I climbed were steep,

but I crested on the run

now it seems the valleys

are where I prefer to be

my legs are old, no longer

do they want to carry me.

Youth and strength it seemed

could conquer anything

no challenge left untried,

no bow I couldn't string

I gave no thought to what

the future held for me

I only knew that arrows

on the wind would set me free.

Now Yesterday, has past me by

but I still like to watch

my arrows as they fly

the bows I shoot are not

as heavy as before

and I don't shoot them

quite as often anymore

Those hunts of years gone by

though they're in the past

I have such sweet memories,

and those memories will last

So I can relive again,

those Golden times back when

back when,... I was young

Ron you are a man with many talents. Thank you for sharing one of your gifts with us. Ed

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