Is anyone here suffering from hunting depression? No one to go with. No real place to hunt nearby. Selfishness. Laziness etc

Since I lost my wife 5 years ago to cancer not much seems to be important to me anymore. If I go to a shoot, OK and if I don't OK. If I hunt and shoot a deer OK and if I don't shoot a deer OK.

Tool Maker, I wouldn’t call it depression..but I feel the same. The hunting spots are hard to find and they are not that good, the shoots are not great or well attended.

At 69 and sort of a LoneWolf with pieces of me not working as well as they used to, my motto is to keep moving everyday. Short term Goals, as old age does not last that long. :)) An on going list of things to do to support hobbies and chores around house/land. Gathered a lot of stuff and trying to shed some of it so fun selling bows I am done with in the collection. Getting Organized, donating stuff if I can't sell, working towards a clean get away when the time comes for me. Bottom line to Topic: look forward to hunting, plan, read, work the plan to get in the woods. Live today, look forward a bit to tomorrow.

I enjoy my backyard shooting more than hunting. I still like to sit in the woods and watch wildlife. My wife puts it better, “He’s taking his bow for a walk.”

I'm 70....was away from traditional archery for more than 20 years. still had all my tackle, a few longbows and re curves. My Little Grandson got Me back into it two years ago, I could hardly draw a 40# bow. All the places I used to hunt are pretty shot. either people on 4 wheelers or new land owners who put up treestands with feeders....and trail cams. I have a state park not far away with an archery range that I can call mine as I usually am alone there .I bought one of the Moreel Archery targets last November and have shot a hole thru it at home. Just hanging around the Leatherwall has made a huge difference in My life. I just came in from shooting My Yellowstone Renegade flatbow . Everyday We can Go out and shoot some arrows IS A GREAT DAY. I can once again shoot My 55# H.H. Wesley Special, Two years ago I couldn't string it. This world is full of people in Hospitals who would change places with US in a Heartbeat . Go For it Rocky...

WT, your bows are a lot luckier than Frisky's, they just get to wear ugly "earrings"!

Really can't afford to hunt in Texas. Go to public land 2 1/2 hours drive North to hunt hogs. But not much chance to hunt anything else.

I hear you…. CT public land gets HAMMERED; they limit shotgun season tags to 1 gun per every 20 acres, so guys like Willd Bill who can get out and find them are to be commended and then some…. And I suspect it has only gotten worse since they authorized crossbows for all “archers”… It’s just not terribly Productive.

Last year was my best season in probably 15 years, because I went home to CO and went after it like I meant it. Really thought this was gonna be My Year, but I didn’t draw, while my brother & nephew both got Bull & Buck Mulie tags and looks like I may have to cheer them on from a distance….

I myself am more apt to get up and go if I have someone else to go with. But I realize some of us don’t have even that. I mentored a younger guy into the sport, which has been a blessing, but he is away at school now, so back to square one.

The Fellowship angle cannot (IMO) be overstated — I’ve been hiking with friends from the Archery Club lately, and because we’ve each had a trip to prepare for, we’ve been knocking out anywhere from 6-16 miles/day — 8 and change this morning, with about 1500 feet of Gain on the loop, and a few of us usually load up the packs with between #10 and #25 of dead weight, plus (in this heat) I’ve usually loaded 5 L to drink…

Crazy thing is how fast 4-5 hours can go by, just chatting along the way. And I’ll be honest — on my own, it’s been a LONG time since I could suck it up and leave the house at some early hour on my own, but when I’m meeting up with The Guys, I can do it….

But let’s face it— none of us get as much in-person interaction anymore; it’s good fer ye….

I have not been physically able to go in about 3 years so yea kinda of depressed. I hope to be able to go some this fall.

I was out of archery all together for several years and just now getting back into the swing of things. I’ve lost the private places I used to hunt but I’ve moved closer to some public land, about 3 minutes from the closest spot. I’ll be out there this fall but it won’t be the same without my dad or my daughter going with me.

I am like Larry, trying to shoot through another rotator tear this year and the last several years it has been one physical happening after another, been usually before the season opening but it has been focusing me on the big picture in knowing Jesus Christ, had many years of hunting and have been blessed, life is just a vapor.

I have 0.0 acres of private property to hunt.,.call me lazy...I have knocked on a few doors (not enough)...can't complain there is probably 100000 acres of public land within 1/2 hour drive of my house ..I make do with that....I am happy to have what I do have .

This time of the year I would spend hunting ground hogs with my bow. It seems like the coyotes got all the ground hogs on farms, so I now go to 3 D trad shoots ,still lots of those in my area.

I hunt by myself all the time. If I depended on my buddies wives to let em go I’d never hunt. It take work. Get out and find a place to hunt and work at it .

Since moving here 10 years ago I have not had that “need” to hunt. Every fall I would get this “feeling” that only hunting satisfied. Had it every year since dad took me hunting as an 10 year old. I lost that “feeling “ for some reason and now I just can’t get around like I used to even 4 years ago. I was never a good sit and wait type anyway. I liked roaming and that’s hard on my old body.

I hope I never get like that. I do have a lot of patience however.

Hunting used to be very easy. You just parked wherever and went. Now it takes a bit of work. Every year I spend hours and hours getting permission. I drive around, write letters to out of state landowners and every year spend about $1000 thanking all that grant me permission whether I hunt there or not.

Every area is different but im lucky that in my area if you put in the work and treat landowners with respect you can find places to hunt. It only takes one yes and your set.

Actually I have some good places about 15 minutes from my house. It’s just the nobody to go with part that’s depressing. I have many great spots up in the NE part of the lower peninsula. Some areas have not been hunted since the 60s. Haven’t hunted snowshoes since the 80s. And yes the wall is what keeps me going.

It’s hard to find someone to hunt with, at least someone that shares my values. I’m 65 retired at 60 ( toolmaker also ) . I like to hunt weekdays since I can but that makes it harder to find someone. I used to want to be by myself but as I get older the companionship is more important than the actual hunting or at least the killing.

82, knees shot, still hunting and shooting, would love to go to 3- d shoots but would never make it up and down the hills. ..just glad to be able to shoot at home and still sling them arrows!

My hunting ideals have changed a lot, all because of major health issues. When you can barely even walk, distances drop to yards and I mean under a 100. No climbing and pretty much inside blinds. I go when I can get away from my 87 YO father and his needs plus me even feeling like it in the first place. So, unless my wife decides to come sit with me and she has several times, it is all alone. I may leave the bow and everything in the blind after dark, thankful for a headlamp to light the way for my forearm crutches. If I want to hunt, it is behind the house, close enough to get back if needed with my dad. So, it is what it is and I still mean to go spend time in a blind that I may not even see a deer from. But at least sitting in it gives me hope to see one and maybe even shoot one. I am 67 but the milage was terrible getting here. My relationship with my Lord has enabled me to keep on keeping on. I get to live thru these young people that I get started into Trad and hunting with Trad. Their excitement is what I have to get excited about with them. My doctors can't believe that I can shoot a longbow much less try to hunt with it. Life is still what we make it, I surprise these young people when I do shoot, heck, stringing a bow that they can't. I don't have time to be depressed, I am too busy trying to figure how I can somehow keep doing something. I have learned to be thankful for being able to do anything, even those things that take me forever to do and then, barely doing. Yep, millions of people would gladly swap places with me because they can't even do what I can barely do. My Lord let me know to quit focusing on what I couldn't do anymore but to focus on what I can still do. But some days are still trying. I still have some great memories. I once complained about being a has been, a friend told me that a has been was still better than a never was. I had never thought of it that way. Seasons change, most involve changes we don't like but there isn't always anything we can do about them. So, hopefully we figure out ways to adjust to these changes.

Hang in there Cedar shooter. You are an inspiration to me.

I’ll never quit. The Native American say that to quit hunting and fishing is to not appreciate what the Creator has given us. At 63 years old I see things that disappoint me. Or maybe don’t see. I don’t see neighborhoods kids playing football basketball or baseball. I don’t see young adults out rabbit or squirrel hunting.

Agree Tool maker.

No private land to hunt and the local public land is crowded and overhunted.

The good news is that I just semi- retired so this year I can try hunting the weekdays.

Not much chance of actually killing anything but things could be a lot worse.

Idk guys. I’ll never get it. The outdoors aren’t what I do. They’re who I am. I mostly hunt alone, don’t have great spots anymore, have had bad shoulder issues. In 2001 the Dr told me I HAD to have shoulder surgery. Never did. There are days I’m in a bit of pain. Who cares. I’ll shoot slower. One arrow at a time. Take more breaks but 53 years from shooting my first arrow I don’t wanna do it any less. Shoot I was up at 2:00am this morn checking woody weights n broadheads, touching a bow and wishing I could go outside n shoot. There are days I might not be as hell bent but as tired or beat up as I was the second the sky starts to lighten, birds start chirping, man best part of the day starts and I’m glad I’m there! Outside of deer season I’ll go out just to time lapse the sunrise or take pics. Guys I can’t hear out of one ear so I can’t triangulate sound to tell direction. Can’t see from my once dominant eye too good. After my brain surgery I couldn’t walk. If I told you I hands n knees crawled up a hill in the dark to get up a couple steep mountain ridges to hunt I’d not be lying. There’s someone somewhere wishes they could still draw their bow, in a hospital looking out a window. Wondering if they’ll ever walk the woods. Smell the leaves rot, hear the leaves rustle. Fellas don’t wait til that’s you. After my surgery I went from drawing 70 lb bows to not even being able to draw a 42 pounder. All I wanted to do was get better so I could watch an arrow fly. Guess I’ll never get the no desire thoughts. And I should thank God for that. As a kid I was always in trouble. The desire to hunt and remain free cured that. I was bed ridden, the desire to hunt kept pushing me to rehab harder. Here’s an idea, find a kid. Introduce him to our world. Offer to help him prepare, take hunter ed and go on his first hunt. It’ll be your partner, your motivation,.. might give you a reason to look forward to it plus give you someone to help you drag. Hey and in your quest to find a mentee, don’t forget the little girls, they hunt too if given the chance.

I guess I'm the odd man out. In my golden years I've preferred to hunt alone and am blessed to have a couple acres in the Blue Ridge and permission on surrounding property from landowners to do it on. Grandkids are the exception and have a standing invite. Been going up as often as I can for 40+ yrs. Retired, volunteer most days at the local Outreach, above ground as of this AM, can still climb trees(slowly)...God is good!

I have a couple of friends that still hunt but most of my old friends don't hunt over a couple of days a year-sad. I have 2 friends I talk to by text/call almost every day in hunting season. The 2 friends that live close that still hunt are younger, I don't see younger people hunting much anymore. But I stay busy on my little place improving the land for the next person-which I hope are my grandchildren. I don't have time to get depressed, taking care of wife,daughter ,grandchildren and mother in law.

Grandkids are the exception. Well said Richard. I am blessed to have grandkids to hunt and fish with. There’s nothing like it but there’s an institution called school that interferes so I mostly hunt alone. My 10 year old grandson is quite the outdoorsman. Here’s a pic of last Tuesdays fishing trip.

I spent my adult life in various hunting clubs and hunting private and public land. At about 65, after my wife died, my old body started protesting all of the days I spent hunting. When the hip went and I had it replaced (bad job) that was a turning point, next it was the knees started causing be grief.

Everything that I had injured over the years started adding up to make even shooting a bow uncomfortable. I even have a hernia mesh that stabs me when I shoot a bow over just a few shots.

I can hunt out my back door and have a food plot and numerous stands scattered about which I do use. I think I am done bowhunting for the most part so I have gravitated to my flintlock. I need one deer a year for the freezer and prefer a young buck or fat doe. I let just about every deer I see walk unless the freezer is getting empty.

I will be 77 this season and can't drag a deer 5 feet so I have to kill one in a place that I can hook my 4-wheeler to it or load it in the bucket of my tractor. Now I just like to sit in the woods with the flintlock I made and pretend to hunt.

i was all-in for most of my life. eat, sleep, breathe as they say. killed deer, elk, bear, and antelope.

about 10 years ago i really lost motivation and i am not sure entirely why. sure i have slowed down but physically i am in good shape with almost no limitations.

lots of factors i suppose - a hunting buddy moved away, two others got older and stopped hunting (one recently passed away), decline in the quality of hunting, work and more work, etc.

last year i decided to put in for and drew a rifle elk tag. i did kill a bull but it did not kick start me like i had hoped. i just wasn't into and excited about it as much i thought i would be.

i would give almost anything to get back to the way i thought about and approached hunting.

i did not apply for any tags this year but i see there are still a few left-over tags i could buy. i have been thinking about it and at this time, i plan to at least hike into an old hunting area in september. i won't be carrying a bow or gun but i am somewhat looking forward to it.

fortunately i remain interested and motivated to bird hunt. i hunt chukar quite a bit with three knuckleheads.

RonP,

Your 3 knuckleheads look like a riot on legs!

I sure don't have the drive I used to have. At 80 I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I am in great health for my age though, but some changes have had a negative effect on my desire to hunt. I have always cherished the time spent hunting with good buddies (Glen St. Charles said, "A guy has to have his cronies") but two great buddies have passed on and two that I spent more than 30 years shooting and hunting with for reasons never explained to me just dropped out of my life. At my age, my wife prefers I not hunt alone anymore. Still love to sling arrows though.

I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, but am still in fairly decent shape. Haven't lost my desire to hunt. In fact, given that I can see the light at the tunnel beginning to dim, I'm even more driven.

Lost my main hunting partner to a disability a few years ago, but I've never minded hunting alone. When I lose a hunting spot, I go out and knock on doors until I find another. Offers of a little sweat equity in exchange for hunting privilege often help gain access.

Planning an elk hunt this year. At 78, I hope it's not my last. I'll keep doing it until they plant me.

After reading all of these stories, I realize two things, one : the things we have no control over are beyond numbering and two : How really blessed I am after hunting and shooting a bow for seventy years. Actually my dad took me hunting when I was six and I shot my first raccoon. That would make seventy-four years hunting. PTL.

Jon, I'm so sorry for your loss.

I get depressed when it's 110 heat index this time of year... waiting for cooler weather to come.

I told my wife ...I should have been born a Yankee, I hate hot humid weather.

Well Jerry (Orion) as the guy going with you this fall I fully expect to be packing out an elk with you, (no pressure;)!

Romp Like the knuckle heads

Got one that keeps me rolling

I don't have the experience of most of you. Have had older friends who have gone through stages of this. It has always made me think of the following poem: Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

At 66 I'm in good shape and still do everything that I used to do. I'm blessed in that regard for sure. The hunting instinct still burns strong; though I'm more selective in 'how and where' I want to hunt. I'm fortunate to own land... and also have a hunting club just 8 miles down the road so having a place to hunt 'deer" (not big bucks) isn't really a problem

But about depression part of this great post...I posted a thread a couple of years ago about how many of my friends had stopped hunting and some just have passed on. The few good friends I have either have their own places to hunt or have evolved to a whole different perspective on hunting than myself. We still make an out of state hunt together now and then but lately I have been going by myself on a more regular basis on those out of state hunts.

Back to the old thread that I posted a couple of years ago....I was looking for someone to go with me on some of these hunts; a person that I could share the experience with and hunt together closer in thought and mind to the way I see things. I had some people respond to me but I discovered our goals weren't the same.

I eventually decided to problem was me. I think I'm just too narrowly focused and I missing the bigger picture. In my case, I probably see more 'loaner' hunts in the future saved for those few special and rare hunts that my old pals and myself get to spend together.

78 years old, and going Elk hunting is inspiring. I want to hunt Javelina in Arizona, after driving from Las Vegas to Phoenix to Yuma and back a few times, I really want to hunt there.

Clay, it’s humid up here in yankeeville too.

Never give up never say can't, won't or never. That's my story & I'm sticking to it.

I've spent most of my life hunting alone. I may go and camp with a friend but we always split up when it was time to hunt. the only exception was hunting brown and grizzly bears. For obvious reasons ya need a friend with a gun along. I got used to hunting alone and now days when no one wants to go I just pack my tent and hit the road. I don't need someone to go with though it's nice in the evening to have someone to BS with but never a reason to stay home.

Lots of good advice here and some success stories. Some things just don’t work out. One thing for sure is that when I go by myself I seem to get along with everybody

Usually the last evening of hunting season gets me thinking about hunting with my dad. He’s been gone about thirty years now.

Usually the last evening of hunting season gets me thinking about hunting with my dad. He’s been gone about thirty years now.

Brian, at least yal have 4 seasons....lol

I’ll be 69 next week, I’m lucky enough to own land in Texas that I grew up on started hunting in 1967. I always hunted alone growing up , my sons and grandsons with me as teenagers now hunt alone again. I’m probably will have a knee replacement soon but will still try to hunt.

Been putting off knee replacement, on the plus side I don't have to carry a compass, can't walk far enough to get turned around.

After a two year battle with stage four cancer, having my chin replaced with a bone from my leg, the chemo and radiation losing sixty pounds. Yeah depression comes with that. But I've battled back. Shooting my fifty pound bow again. I plan on hunting this fall "GOD willing".

Good for you BowenAero. Hang in there and stay at it.

I know depression is very real and effects a lot of people but I really don't understand it except for true life-altering changes like sickness, death, family or workplace issues or other things completely beyond our control. I'm not minimizing the fact that people suffer from depression, it's just my feelings about it.

I don't suffer from "depression" but am impacted by life changes. After my son moved to Colorado my hunting seasons changed. When they sold the farm I hunted for twenty-five years, things changed. In the past two years I've hunted only a few days, and then it was mostly just getting out for a walk with my bow, because of heart issues and cancer. I was set for this year but the cancer is back and the treatments they are talking about will likely put me on the shelf until early 2025. Things change for a lot of us but, honestly, if you have your health you have a lot. You can always find a place to hunt. With forums like this and other internet sites it's not that difficult to find someone to share a hunt with. It may take a little work but be grateful you can do the work.

Things do change. Having your health is a blessing for sure.

Health is everything, especially after retirement and 'loss of purpose'. For an absolute fact you gotta be physically active -every day- to maintain your physical and mental health. To keep your mind agile and alert, your mojo working, your libido, your power. All related to being active instead of sit on your butt all day sedentary.

Part and parcel to this is, imo there's NOTHING worse for good physical AND mental health then sitting at the computer, or messing with iphone all day, instead of actually doing something productive. IMO that's a big reason people are so pissed off and or depressed, irritable, impatient, and have road rage. There are honked off people everywhere nowadays.

The only thing worse than that is smoking eating fast food and drinking alcohol while doing so. Nowadays the computer, internet and iphone is the bottom of the health barrel.

I almost hate to say it but, “Life is what you make it!” I had a double knee replacement about seven years ago and one just didn’t work out. That took out motorcycle riding which I had done for 52 years, makes walking in the woods much more difficult and is a constant source of pain but…… I have a group of friends I shoot bows with a couple times a week and we hit all the 3D course and shoots that are close by. I’m in the process of restoring a 100 year old Buick Touring car (not the brightest thing I’ve gotten into) but something I really enjoy. I get out and hunt a few times a year too.

As I said, life is what you make it. Cotton

I do most 95% my hunting by myself but I am never alone the Lord is always with me.

HAVE NOT! Drawing a General UTAH Archery Season Tag In 3 years Ready to GIVE UP!!

reading some of the above I'm perty lucky and great shape

no major health problems and a 1400acre farm with plenty of deer all to myself during bow season

I havn't hunted in 10 years being a care giver and have that alpha gal from a tick bite so couldnt eat it anyway

the farm is only 6 minutes form my house and I grew up with the farmer

have free use out there- I get out there about every day for stump shooting roves with the dog but can't stay long due to care giving duties- so all in all I'm in good shape

Prayers for you guys with those health limitations-I can relate seeing what loss of health causes in my wifes situation

I'm 70 and have slowed a little but Not ready to quit for a while yet.

I have never camped alone before, but I always hunt alone. I have 4,500 acres of unexplored State land with deer, small game and beautiful campsites only 15 miles from home. I might have to do a solo camp and hunt, I kind of like the idea.

B.T. that sounds like it would be great

some of you are having a tough go at it with health issues. you are an inspiration, and a good kick in the pants for those of us that need to be getting after it. best to you.

Where do you live in Michigan ? I am over in the thumb , also don't have anyone to hunt with so i know the feeling.

I live in Kent City.

I’m 71 retired 4yrs now I take a 30min walk everyday do 100 sit ups I hunt groundhogs squirrels and other wildlife I go to the rifle range at least once a week I hunt deer with rifles Muzzleloader and archery I don’t hunt with my son much but I do hunt with my grandsons I shoot my bow everyday you got to keep busy if you don’t bad things start to happen age is just a number my friends

Tool maker, I'm just north of you in Grant.

Tool maker and Jed. I am over in Norton Shores. Maybe a get together at the Muskegon Bowman one evening as my guest as I am a life member there. Go shoot a round to give you guys something to laugh at,lol.

Retired 68 year old who still loves to hunt. Problem is 23 years putting in for elk in CA and may not be drawn in my lifetime. Was drawn for Oregon elk this year, which is great but will take another 3 to get drawn again. Then at 71 will I have the desire to climb into a 30 foot tree stand?

Like Iowacedarshooter-knees shot but I still manage some competitions and hunting for sure.. Less, but still in the game. I am so thankful for those blessings. At my age, sadly I know many who passed & never had the chance to enjoy much of anything. think about that. No one to share with, go to some local archery events & "try" to make a friend or two.. I have made so many friends through going to events.. Hell, one place their range is so hilly I no longer shoot it BUT, I go & enjoy a day on their practice range & visiting with archers. Many are friends now.

I've been dealing with health issues for the last year. No hunting last season and no groundhog hunting or bow shoots so far this summer. I got two new bows last summer with "old man" draw weights. Can't draw them more than a few inches. Sitting in a chair looking out the window gets old real fast. Yes, it is depressing, very depressing.

The hope of better days ahead and the good Lord above are what keep me going. I'm in contact with my buddies all the time and get live reports from the shoots. A good laugh feels great when you are down. It helps a lot to have a good support team!

at 66 yrs old still love to hunt. headed back to africa for the 6th time . 30 days to go can't wait

You going too the traditional bowhunters jamboree?

Muskegon Bowman’s. I was a member there. About 35 miles from my house. I’d love to go and shoot there again. Long way to go to be a member but I think I’ll join it again though. It’s a real deal archery club. I could pick up Jed on the way over.

I gotta quit whipping this dead horse. He ain’t get up and win the Kentucky Derby

In the greater picture, hunting is not that important. No depression here, save that for the big things, things that matter.

I would be up for some shooting with you guys!

It’s a small world, I have taken Route 31 to the Heights Ravana road exit many many times.

BT you get over this way again let me know and we will have lunch "on me".

3-D season... bow fish... exotics? Spring bear... Africa? If a man wants to bowhunt... he'll find a way.

Agree Jarhead

But I get being disable too. Lots of guys just lose the desire to hunt and that is ok too.

Jon, That sounds like a good deal.

I am 73 and in fine shape despite a knee replacement, a rebuilt wrist, 3 shoulder replacements. steel rods in my back and still do all I used to do.I am losing interest in hunting ( I am a 100% trad hunter ) because simply there is nothing left to hunt. My wife & I own private woodland for hunting but the property owners around us killed so many doe that deer hunting is pathetic ( I never ever shoot doe ) so I solved the problem...Bow hunt a few days in the season and then stop worrying about it. I grab fly rods and spend a lot more time in the fall fly fishing for smallmouth bass and trout. I also do go to Wyoming or Montana with my recurves and hunt pronghorn if I draw a tag.. As for whitetails, I'll be throwing a long line on the water instead....No worries at all... Be safe...Harley

I am also 69 and agree with Sasquatch 73 ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. If all you do is sit back and watch life go by every day one of these days you won’t be able to get out of that chair.

I'm 76. Opening day. Bow and pack or in the truck. Stand hung yesterday afternoon. It's a few minutes to 5am. I'm heading out the door now.

Well, this season is going to be different. My "happy hunting grounds" is in the western N.C. Blue Ridge Mtns. I went up Sat. AM just to check on things, but not hunt. Almost wished I hadn't... you can't "unsee" some things. No damage to my camper, but I'm probably 200 yds. off the New River. Those that were closer are mostly gone as well as houses that have been there for 100 yrs. Bridges that I've never seen the water close to in 50 years are under water. No phone service, so no way to get help for many and no way out due to downed trees. I went 25 mi. out of my way and had to turn around and backtrack multiple times. I got lucky and there was only one way in. Most of that was main 2-lane that was barely serviceable 1-lane where they just cut the treetops out to weave through. Nearly all secondary roads are impassable. I may spend more time delivering supplies to what neighbors are left than hunting this year!

Thank god I bought and built on my own land about 22 years ago.I also have 3 neighbors who don't hunt that allow me to. All my friends that I used to bowhunt with have quit. I have a group text with 5 other guys during the season, but only 3 of them hunt anymore. I also text with one guy from here on the leatherwall and enjoy seeing his texts about what he has seen or shot. It does get a little boring without any nearby buddies to shoot/share/hunt with anymore. But this is a lifestyle for me, I do musky fish but other than that it's just me and wife traveling.

From time to time, I miss my father so much! My best hunting buddy. I hope he is scouting heaven for us.

I wasn't sure I wanted to respond to this but here goes. Turning 81 in a few months and I lost my enthusiasm for bowhunting. I sold the property I hunted on 7 years ago and sold my climbing stands, and ladder stands. The owner said I could still hunt there but he is a young fireman and works outdoors until dark all year keeping the deer from coming through the property like when I lived there.

No problem because I have several other hobbies and pursuits to take its place. I now play golf twice a week and love it. Laugh if you may but I'm having a ball. I carve decoys, bass fish, shoot 3-D, and still am a member of an archery club. I also rifle hunt for sika deer and duck hunt. I remain a very active 80+ year old, just don't bowhunt.

I guess I am in a little bit of a hunting depression, basically because I am stubborn and lazy to a point. I had two deer killed by this time last year and getting a lot of action, deer sightings, etc.

It's been pretty dead this year, but I have a favorite spot with fixed stands that I like to hunt, but the wind has been all wrong from the beginning of the season. I tried to hunt it a couple or maybe three times this year on a real chancy wind direction and got busted a couple of times. I am not going to hunt it anymore until the wind is in my favor. But between the wrong winds and thermals, I have must been screwed, so far.

I thought about doing a long walkabout to get the wind in my favor, for a slow still hunt, scouting trip, but requires a bit more commitment than I have wanted to take on, as of yet.

I can relate to several of these replys , so yes I have at least a little hunting depression . Things have changed a lot in the last 10-15 years . Some partners just got to old , some just lost all interest , some just drifted or moved away . And between harsh winters , wolves , liberal hunting regulations and poaching the hunting is'nt nearly as good as it could be . In 1997 I built an off grid remote rustic cabin surrounded by thousands of acres of open hunting lands , in the beginning camp was crowed during some parts of deer season , these days I'm basically the only person that even goes there . And to be honest I just dont have the determination and drive I once did .

Im setting on state ground as i speak all by myself. Im used to hunting alone.

I had everything planned and ready to go for the opener today. Then I had a meeting scheduled for the following week had to reschedule for this evening. Plans all shot to heck. I've got all sorts of other work related things planned until later Saturday afternoon. I hope I have enough gas in the tank to pull myself up in a tree Saturday afternoon. If not first chance will be Sunday.

Put my wife of 53 years in a home 2 months ago with dementia, so nothing seems to matter much anymore. I still make wood bows, and shoot them as medicine.

I lost one of my best hunting friends this year. We hunted deer, elk, pheasants, grouse, and fished some too. We road the hills in South Dakota on motorcycles many times. We never had an argument about anything, as far as I can remember.

He was a leader in Vietnam and in life as well, but he never quite got over Vietnam. We talked about that a lot, on our hunting trips.

I decided to dedicate one of my bows to his memory. We will never hunt together again but when I use this bow I’ll remember one of the very best friends I’ve ever had.

Well, a month later & I’ll say this…

I logged about 150 miles last month (Sept) at a minimum elevation of 8600 feet and on up to 12,000, backpacking in under heavy loads — about half my weight — and chasing my foot-taller-than-I-am, 26 YO godson over hill and yon… or is that hell and gone?? LOL

I’m now just about 10 weeks shy of 60, and out here, the fire still burns bright. In CT, not so much, but I’m hoping that I will get home and find that I just need to keep up that same level of activity. And Lord knows my eye for movement has sharpened up a TON… Still working on pushing my envelope out another 10 yards, though…

I’m discouraged by the lousy public-land hunting in my state of legal residency, but I’m really not ready to give it up.

While I do have a good place to hunt, I don't hunt as hard as I used to anymore. As I get older, I'm 71, I don't have anyone to hunt with these days that's really into bowhunting, especially hunting with trad gear. All the guys that got me into the sport back in the late 1970's,have passed away. The big majority of those guys were all at least 10 years older than me. So I'm having a harder time getting enthused about hunting or even shooting my bow.

My Dad got us 4 boys into now hunting for deer in 75. Fast forward..just me n my younger brother still hunt. My son loves to hunt but we don't get to hunt together much anymore. Having said that, at my age, I'm thankful I can still get out there n do it. I'm very thankful. My Dad is almost 96 so he can't get out there anymore. Mostly me n my brother hunt together some.

The public land I have in reach has me pretty bummed out. Add the age and bad lungs to that and it's all starting to seem like more trouble than it's worth.

Planning a week long canoe/hunting trip with my son during gun season (middle of November). I'm going because it's my son. I fear the cold, humping heavy gear around and trying to hunt those hills and probably no deer is about more than I can handle...certainly way more than I can enjoy.

I'd didn't read through this thread, so I might be way the heck off topic.

My comment seeing depression on the thread title is, exercise is absolutely necessary for good mental health.

If it's possible for you to walk, walk. Walk every day. Get up. Get dressed. Put on your shoes. Open the door and go out for a walk. Even just for fifteen minutes. Go walk. DO IT.

"No. I don't want to." Force yourself over the threshold of inactivity. Get up and walk. You WILL feel better.

The downside to our electronic world is depressed people. Horrible mental health results from people sitting on their butt all day long, doing absolutely nothing but tapping their fingers on a keyboard. And walking to the fridge every hour for a little snackie makes it worse.

Sitting is VERY BAD for your mental health. Get moving. Go for a walk. Go on, do it. I guarantee you WILL feel better, and what I just typed will make sense.

Good luck.

I will sit the entire season out. Had to have ligaments and trndon work along with a total knee replacement. I will heal, and God willing I will hunt next year.

I totally agree with Bob Rowlands above comment

get a dog- that will make you get out to walk

I'm 70 and still enjoy hunting and it's mostly by myself. I'm blessed with plenty of public land close by and after the rut there are very few hunters. I'll be out there as soon as the biting bugs are gone.

I agree with Bob too. My doctor told me once the longer you walk the longer you can walk. Makes since. Easier to stay walking than try it after years of inactivity.

The only "Hunter Depression" I'm suffering from is being stuck at work when I wish I could be out hunting.

Memento Mori

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