Do any of you wallers have hunting friends that are dropping out of hunting. The neighbor kid (who is in his mid thirties) is dropping out it seems. Today is opening day of small game season. I asked him if he wanted to go squirrel hunting today and he said “kinda hard to hunt with all the leaves on the trees. Heard it before from many. Beginning of the end

I know several who have quit hunting for various reasons.

Not everyone is a diehard.

The older you get, the more you see it happening.

It's not just hunting either. Archery (especially trad archery) is the same.

People just get to the point where it isn't worth the effort to them.

I'm a do until I die ( or wish I was dead kind of feller ). :)

Rick

One of the serious obstacles to hunting in some areas is the availability of a place to hunt. Where I live is a perfect example.

If it weren't for having access to a little private ground my hunting, and deer hunting in particular would be seriously hindered.

Archery is a different thing. I like all types of archery and I suspect I will dabble in it till I die.

Seems like when in my 30s a few guys got into (compound) bowhunting then faded away with new hobbies or lack of success or whatever. ME...raised a country huntn fishn kid I just enjoy getting out in the woods or on the water no matter if I'm successful or not.

Sadly many people get to a point where they say hunting or fishing or other things are not worth the effort. That is the beginning of the end for them. Not just is these out door activities, but in life. It is my opinion that one should never allow the attitude of "it's to much effort" to take hold. Life is effort and work! Even the things we love require effort. Just getting out of bed at times take effort. Each of us that can is blessed and we have an obligation to ourselves and those we love and not to sound preachy, but the the good Lord to get out butts in gear and enjoy each day that we are fortunate enough to be alive! Good luck to all who get out into the woods this season. And if all you can do is get out in the yard and fling a few arrows or into the work shed to make a bow or something else, good luck to you also. Respectfully - Joe

Age and money.

Kids follow there parents in all they do

fdp is correct.

It’s laziness. We are getting lazy as a country. If I didn’t own land I’d hunt public land. But that’s just me. If you are too lazy to hunt and fish you are too lazy. JMO.

A place to hunt within a reasonable distance from home is my biggest factor that keeps me from hunting. Yes, age has a lot to do with it as well. Just not as much engery as I had even 5 years ago.

Michigan is great for lots of public land. I keep hearing about declining hunter numbers and I don't see it every 5 acre wood lot has someone hunting it. With onx the public land is seeing lots of hunting also.

I know some people that have had had to drop their hunting leases because of the price of groceries, household items, gas, insurance, utilities, rent etc..

All good things come with trials, suffering.

Feeding kids ain't easy. Especially with a bow.

For me , I don't hunt no where near as hard as I used to, and having a place hunt is no problem as I have property to go to. I love being out in the woods, especially in the fall. But I guess as I get older I'm getting a little soft-hearted when it comes to killing anything. I killed a decent buck last year during our gun season, first good buck I've taken in several years, and after the shot I found myself almost regretting taking him. I'm mainly going to concentrate on bowhunting from now on out. But if I do give up hunting, I'll still enjoy shooting my bows and my guns.

Age and health are the reasons I see.

X2 J-J

Big money land leases are destroying hunting also.

Most of the guys I know are not deep in bow hunting tradition. Those who use stick bows mainly do a few shoots, they are not stickbow hunters. All of my friends I used to shoot with now hun buckst with crossbows, shoot their bows at targets and does.

Life is full of other things to do, I can understand how some want to fill their tag as quickly as possible and move on to other interests.

There is a theory that as humans live longer lifespans, that individuals age out of the ancestral genetic memory of hunting. Also, that testosterone decreases. Age related problems, disabilities, infirmities. And as the culture reinforces hunting less and less, that 100th monkey thing is gone as an incentive. I used to have a dozen people I could compare notes with. Very few of them now, and they are younger than me.

I’m not real pumped up about it as I used to. Thinking about selling some of my bows because they just sit in the rack. Kind of ho hum about it now. If I go i go if I don’t I don’t. Sucks. ><> del

I agree with Jed about Michigan , I sure haven't noticed less hunters around the last few years . Even where deer numbers are very low , in November it seems like every deer trail goes to a bait pile . In this modern fast paced high tech world its all about instant gratification and success for the majority of younger people. And then theres the TV show industry that is so unrealistic and misleading to the novice newby hunters , big bucks everywhere , and no competition on pristine hunting lands . Little kids to small to even carry the weapon to the elevated deluxe blind shooting big trophy bucks like its no big deal .

being a care giver took my time -then dealing with her struggles just to live -kinda really softened me up now- not sure I would want to kill anything after dealing with this for 10 years

Killing for necessary food has a longer lasting purpose than killing for the sake of sport killing. Trophy hunting is not appealing to many, even some hunters.

For me, it is all about adapting or making sometimes some pretty big changes just to keep doing what you love to do. 4 wheelers and forearm crutches to hunt. The boat is now out for fishing, I no longer bass or crappie fish but I carp/catfish from a flat bank where I can sit in my big chair. Trees have been replaced with enclosed blinds, for comfort and to hide my constant moving and "water" breaks. But I am still pushing on, not the ways I want to but still doing it. However, I am more picky about what I have to endure. it is what it is.

Well 72 and still giving it my best shot. Just being a bit more cautious. Don’t climb up in the trees anymore and waiting for a hard frost to kill off all the mosquitoes. Bad year here in the Northeast for EEE and West Nile !

In Michigan I would guess we have more crossbow users than archers in the woods. I don't consider them archery hunting weapons.

I’m still gonna go. I’m glad I’m tied in the tree cause when I see one close I get tore up! They see or hear me shaking the tree probably. But I don’t see a lot lately so that could be why I’m gung ho about it ><> del

3 hour and 20 minute round trip hinders it for me especially at the price of gas/gal for the time being, especially driving alone. All I have ever hunted is public land. The 2 public places I/we use to hunt (and we knew quite well) were managed by the State but privately owned. The private owners of the land ended up selling it off for one reason or another. We have found another spot of public land we hunt now, which is the longer drive. Being older we just haven't had the energy to explore like it we did the other 2 places. It is a beautiful where it is at, but the amount of Multiflora Rose that is there, also make it difficult to explore as much as we would like like to. One of the nice parts of this public property it is not "heavily" hunted during bow season, but you still do run into other hunters from time to time. So I don't hunt as much as I use to because of the drive. DANNY

If you want to hunt, you might. If you have to hunt, you will. I haven’t bought a license in a couple years, but that is because I’m raising my kids, just moved, etc. I might fall back into it, but time will tell. I think everyone that really wants to hunt has plenty of opportunity. I would never tell anyone that hunting is a waste of time, but they might think that it’s not the best use of their time. So be it. I get tired of the whole “everything was better back then crap”. We have more choices now. And yes, I’ll stay off your lawn! Lol!

Thinking about it lately, been threatened on public land several times for hunting someone's spot. Had stands on private land stolen, cameras stolen, and yesterday morning the neighbors nephew left a note on my truck saying he will slash my tires if I don't leave the area. I mentioned this to my neighbor and he said he'd have a talk with him. Not sure if I want to risk a simple hunt on property I have permission to hunt over a price of full size truck tires. Very disappointed in people during hunting season Greed. I can see why folks quit .

Unfortunately for many these days, hunting has become a competition. That brings on the bad behavior, trespassing and disrespect for other hunters being big ones.

Guys -

Sometimes your interests/priorities change or you just outgrow things, I did.

Viper out.

Still love archery, but now the rare time I get to spend in the woods, I would rather hit a hiking trail, backpack somewhere overnight, or a couple days, just to unwind, take in the views and hammock camp..

For 14 years I've hunted alone. Still chomping at the bit to get out there at 66. But since they legalized cross bows here not many will hunt with any other archery gear. 10 years ago I bought my own hunting land and glad I did.Now I travel less and enjoy the hunt more.

I guess I'm kind of dropping out. Didn't buy a small game license this year and I'm still making my mind up on the deer tag.

Why? Simple...no place decent to hunt that I can afford to get to. Not for small game or deer. On top of that they nearly doubled the price of the deer tag last year.

I feel like a chump when I pay for the tag.

Being my wife's full time caregiver it's difficult, but the hunting areas anywhere near here are all gone due to over development, I have more game in my backyard than there is in twenty square miles.

I have hunted for meat not trophy for many years, mostly hogs, love squirrel but you don't want to eat them except in winter, rabbit and dumplins is one of my favorites, never cared for venison at all.

I have done my share of bow fishing also, I did that up until my wife was diagnosed with dementia.

I don't need the meat and it's a lot of work processing a pig. The county is dumping so much sewage into the rivers I wouldn't eat anything out of there anyway.

It's not so much the hunters as it is the environment being ruined by these money hungry get rich and dont care what they do to nature. I used to see panthers, bobcats and a lot of other wild life, now we have to be on the lookout for snakes that can eat you because of these people who think they are someone important because they walk around with python around their neck.

I just love it when I hear a family pet just ate one of the owners, stupid morons.

Like I said I don't need the meat in this stage of my life and I never hung part of an animal I got for food on the wall.

Hey guys I just butchered one of my bulls, I think I will hang his testicles on my wall.

None of us probably ever needed the meat. The meat was a treat and a reward for a successful hunt

I love venison. Especially smoked venison kielbasa and smoked venison sausage. Venison back straps are awesome to. The only time I dropped out of hunting was the eight years I served in the U.S. Army.

I was at the store this evening and was going to buy a steak. It was $29. I could not make myself pay that for a steak. Unreal. I love venison but like a good steak better. But I thought to myself I need to kill some deer this fall. I am not paying that for a steak. I need to kill some does off of my new place anyway.

I agree fully with fdp. I used to have plenty private land to hunt, 40 years ago. Then I got out of bow hunting for a few years. Couldn't get back in to where I had hunted because too many others were there the years I wasn't. Lots of public land to hunt, and there's deer there, but it's surely not the same. But I can't imagine giving it up completely.

Jack, Some of the best steaks I ever ate were elk steaks. Elk steaks are delicious. It's been a while since I ate a good elk steak.

My mind says go, my body says no.

Yes Jimmy, if I can find a river that is not polluted I would go back to bow fishing, that was fun, hey guys you ought to try stalking a tilapia, they have eyes on the top of there head and they can see you coming, you have to ambush them, what fun!

Yes guys we needed the meat. Not for a long time now, which is good because we would starve now. All the orange groves are gone most all the farmland is gone swamps are being filled in. I think everyone in the US is moving here. ha!,ha!

Yes Jimmy, if I can find a river that is not polluted I would go back to bow fishing, that was fun, hey guys you ought to try stalking a tilapia, they have eyes on the top of there head and they can see you coming, you have to ambush them, what fun!

Yes guys we needed the meat. Not for a long time now, which is good because we would starve now. All the orange groves are gone most all the farmland is gone swamps are being filled in. I think everyone in the US is moving here. ha!,ha!

Yes Jimmy, if I can find a river that is not polluted I would go back to bow fishing, that was fun, hey guys you ought to try stalking a tilapia, they have eyes on the top of there head and they can see you coming, you have to ambush them, what fun!

Yes guys we needed the meat. Not for a long time now, which is good because we would starve now. All the orange groves are gone most all the farmland is gone swamps are being filled in. I think everyone in the US is moving here. ha!,ha!

Yes Jimmy, if I can find a river that is not polluted I would go back to bow fishing, that was fun, hey guys you ought to try stalking a tilapia, they have eyes on the top of there head and they can see you coming, you have to ambush them, what fun!

Yes guys we needed the meat. Not for a long time now, which is good because we would starve now. All the orange groves are gone most all the farmland is gone swamps are being filled in. I think everyone in the US is moving here. ha!,ha!

The OP makes a pretty sweeping statement because one guy found it tough to hunt when the leaves were on the trees.

That might be like not wanting to take the boat out for fishing because there's icebergs on the lake.

Isn't there a guy on the bowsite that is in his 80's that is still going strong hunting. I think he recently killed a moose in Colorado.

Yep Paul Navarre. 84 years old and still bowhunting hard, Awesome.

Yep. That’s him

I can't imagine not hunting.

I think the lack of interest in hunting may be caused by a number of reasons, but probably the biggest reason is simply the modern mentality.

lets face it, it is a different world compared to say even 30 yrs ago. Peoples priority's change, mentality changes etc...

Do you know how many people in this country presently that have never even eaten venison? a lot, or how many people there are that do not eat wild game regularly ?...again A LOT!

Wife and i were in a restaurant eating, she mentioned "i need more roast" She was talking deer roast, i knew that, that's the norm for us. But i'd be willing to bet if i went around that whole restaurant i'd find that it's not the norm for most everyone else.

I'm fine with non hunters....or casual hunters, actually not a problem at all to me.

It only becomes a problem, when non hunters....think i have to be a non hunter also....now ya got problems.

I used to make about 60 trips a year to my deer hunting leases. Because of my busted-up body and inability to drag a deer or even carry one out in pieces I no longer hunt the places I once did.

I bow hunted some last years, I probably won't this year. I have two bone spurs poking into my left Achillies tendon that get very painful if I walk up hills and stay that way for days after I stress them. If I kill a deer, I need it DRT if possible, no blood trailing across the hills and hollows I live in.

I have 4 acres of woods below my house that the deer pass through, I can hunt my neighbors 50 acres. I have one ladder stand and 3 lock-ons up but at 77 this deer season I can see my ground hunting increasing.

My goal every year is to have a fat doe or young buck in the freezer plus one for my sister-in-law, I don't always meet my goal but I have several whack-em and stack-em younger friends that help me out.

I have hunted with my selfbow and flintlocks for years, the modern artillery may come out his year if I am going to have a full freezer.

The sight was acting weird this morning.

My wife worked for the hospital and would chit-chat with the patients. She would ask the men if they hunted. The answer she she usually got from the older men was "I used to." Lost of spot, lost of friends or decline of health were the common reasons given.

A “kid” in his mid-30’s doesn’t want to go squirrel hunting because of the leaves on the trees, and he is assumed to be dropping out…? You couldn’t pay me to go squirrel hunting.

This topic or some form of it has come up before here as well as on bowsite. Some cite a decline in license sales and hunter numbers. I have yet to read or hear from an avid hunter that says they see fewer overall hunters and hunting pressure where they hunt.

Interest and ability to hunt wavers and declines for many reasons. As posted numerous times above, lack of opportunity, cost, health (both physical and mental), time and other priorities, loss of buddies, etc. are all factors.

Whether it is the decline in places to hunt or the decline of game animals (in some areas), or the decline of availability of licenses/tags, an increase in hunters is not sustainable. As a matter of fact, I think more and more will drop out for better or worse.

If I didn't have my little piece of ground just outside the back door it is unlikely I would hunt much, the nearest public land is about 50 miles away and not worth the effort to drive to.

I plant a food plot on my land, here is the view from my tree stand.

And my current deer dragger;

For me it comes down to the amount of regulation just to get my foot in the woods that get's frustrating. They don't make it easy to enjoy a day out. Happiness comes with a stiff cost which makes some wonder is it really worth the effort. And sometimes we are our own worst enemies. There is an outdoor archery club on LI that I would love to join. But I can't get my foot in the door unless someone sponsors me. This makes it hard for someone looking to get involved in the sport.

The public land in reach of me is just way over hunted. I was there yesterday to see how many and where they were congregating...9/15 is when they let you put stands out. By 11 am there were more than 30 singed in addition to small game and other uses.

I saw many vehicles hauling as many as 6 ladder stands. This is just the first half of the first day.

The weekend before now opens is the "youth season". Dad's bring their kids and cannons out and shoot the place to pieces.

We have more deer here than you would believe but I've been hunting our public on and off for many years and I rarely see deer there during the season unless their pushed by bird hunters or something.

Any of this sounding like fun? I suppose if you put in enough time you might eventually get lucky and kill something but fun? I don't think I've ever even drawn my bow there.

The small game hunting is just as bad.

I still go, get excited, prepare, tune, make arrows, at 62 and hope to till I'm gone. I believe for most younger people exposed to hunting it is the effort that is required. This generation after the boomers do not want to exert themselves for gain. Too much work to do it when they can do video games, or athletic sports that they only do for a few years then sit around. Pretty sad if you ask me.

I first started hunting when I was 18. Fell in love with varmint hunting, and spent nearly every weekend for 10 years out chasing coyote, fox, bobcat and the like.

Moved to NW Washington, and switched to archery deer hunting, trapping to go with the varmint calling. Life got in the way some years, but I always managed to get out bowhunting for a few days.

Got to a point about 2005 when I just didn't want to kill any more animals. I'm surrounded by hunting land...forests, meadows, and loads of elk and deer. At 65, I still like to hunt 'em, just don't want to kill 'em any longer.

As for archery, I'll continue to fling arrows until the time comes that I can't.

My hunting buddy went from hunting every day to not feeling like even going out. Mostly health reasons. Myself, I have a special needs son and a sick wife that needs me. I go when I can, but only stay out about 2 hours. Usually in the early morning when my family is still sleeping. I have always looked at hunting as the cheapest therapy available. I have left a lot in the woods over the years.

I still spend time on the property When the rest of the year.

It comes down to priorities. In many cases not just access, and cost, but raising families has gotten considerably more costly. Time-deciding what takes priority in daily life as a family, and if the budget allows for other things. As some say-Life gets in the way. It comes down to how important is hunting within ones family structure. Do we have time, money, a place(access), equipment to hunt, or are other things more important and of greater priority in our lives. I feel very grateful and thankful. I own land, and have been able to travel to hunt, and due to health issues(another reason for some) have greatly slowed down. Health issues that surprise a family can quickly stop all hunting. I can tell you from experience-when your wife is diagnosed with terminal cancer that all hunting abruptly ended and a whole new set of problems and priorities instantly came into my life. As time passed and a new normal came about-I hunt, but at a slower pace.

I haven't hunted in about 14 years now. Lost all my hunting partners. My nephews have expressed an interest, time will tell.

My oldest brother stopped bowhunting when he was 72...he has had both hips replaced...also has one leg pinned today gether from an accident...he has shot plenty of game over the years ...combine that with the fact it's way harder to get around ...at least in this case it's not about being lazy.

Yeah, in most cases, it's not about being lazy..

I simply don't have the desire anymore. Not exactly sure why because for many years I got so excited getting things ready for bow season, but the guys I hunted with for 30+ years just stopped including me in the plans--no explanation given even when I asked. That is a large part of why I almost never hunt now, went once last year, but also I will turn 81 in about three weeks and have no desire to hunt alone and maybe have to drag a deer out of the woods and hollers by myself even though I am in great shape for my age.

Wow this is so depressing. Now I see why this site has migrated from a mostly hunting site to what it is today. I’ve lost all my buddies too. I can’t even get em to go to a 3D shoot anymore. I’m the last of about 30 trad bowhunters in my area. I had one guy hang on and he is now crossbow hunting.

Men eventually let the old man in the door. I'm 70 and the old man has started coming to the door. Usaullay I open the door and tell him to keep his ass out. Usually, but not always. Eventually he will walk in and stay. But not yet. Not yet.

The whole Planet has changed including people.

I’m not quitting now, just reached retirement age.

Wanting to go hunting, fishing and being outdoors in general is constantly on my mind. I can't imagine ever losing the desire, although my techniques may likely have to adapt with me later in life as I age.. Good luck to everyone who's still getting after it this fall!

I’m 65 and I still have the desire to hunt as much as I’ve always had. I mostly deer hunt alone unless my sons join me. I do welcome their help dragging out deer but I can drag out deer by myself if they’re not too big with the aid of my deer cart. Hunting is a big part of my life and I hope I never lose the desire to hunt. Come Oct. 15 I’ll be out there after them God willing.

I'm a senior bowhunter...the desire to hunt is a big deal...I've not hunted much in the middle years of my life...family/kids...working second shift...retired a year ago...I'm eating to go....Im way behind in the archery kills column

When I was in my late teens thru my early 40’s, I would go several times a week. Then it changed to a few times a month. A couple years ago we got kicked out of our lease cause they didn’t want a female at the lease. I sold em my stands and told em they could keep it. Too much bs to put up with. Now I walk behind the house a couple times a year when the wind and temp is right. It’s usually with a gun but I need the meat and don’t get to go much so I have to take advantage of every opportunity I get. Public land around here is crowded and dangerous. I pass on that.

All I can tell you hunting is a mentality and lifestyle for some. For others it’s a hobby. The lifestyle guys ain’t leaving

Foggy Mountain X2.

I have a primal urge each fall when the leaves change to hunt, not sure what it is but I HAVE to be in the woods. I grew up fishing and hunting as a way of life then raised my daughter doing it also. Now getting grandkids into the lifestyle, hope I live long enough to get all 3 grandkids into the woods and on the water. I have friends who talk about going but may spend 1 or 2 days a year hunting. I'm fortunate to have my own land, but my state has thousands of acres of public land to hunt if you so desire. I bowhunt whitetails about 45 days a year at age 65, hope my health allows me to do it until I die. It's all about choices, some people live to drink. I live to spend times in the woods and waters.

Foggy Mountain X3

For me,..my life long hunting partner developed Parkinson’s, and is fading fast. It’s very unlikely I’ll find someone new with like attitudes on hunting. Secondly, I respect the lives of all animals, and it sickens me when folks brag about how many kills they make, traveling from state to state, country to country. Just my feelings. Richard

I grew up on a farm. We raised black angus beef cattle. If you want to see something sickening and disrespectful, go visit a slaughterhouse. It will sure change your perspective when shopping at a supermarket.

If I waited on buddies to go hunting I would never hunt. I’m slower than I once was but I have all the things I need to get my game out of the woods. I use a Rokon for all the hard to reach places and drive them right into my garage and they get hoisted up and moved to a walk in cooler. Once I retired I made it easy to hunt solo.

Foggy Mountain X4

I'm glad I still enjoy hunting and being out in the woods. I have nothing to prove so I just do it for fun. I've got some nice bucks on the cameras but since there is a lot of illegal baiting and poaching I'm not sure I'll get a crack at them but I'm thrilled just shooting does and letting the small bucks walk. I go to my archery club every Sunday and really enjoy shooting our 3D course.

Foggy Mountain nailed it.

Lost my honey hole this year but is it going to stop me from hunting-heck no. At 73 with two artificial hips I am as anxious to get out to the woods as much as when I was younger. Do I have to kill something-maybe not but sure won't pass a clean shot. I have killed a lot of game, small and larger, but still like to take two deer for the freezer each year. I do have several younger friends who have said if I get a deer and need help getting it out they will help. These men are in the 40,50, and mid 60's range and all are avid bowhunters. Good to surrounded by like minded friends.

Keep at it curve 51

I pretty much quit deer hunting when I lost access to nearby private land, and by “nearby”, I mean 45 minutes with light traffic. The Public in CT gets absolutely hammered.

Right now I’m taking a couple days off to help my mom around the house here at 8600 feet up. Last night I hiked up about another 1500 feet and saw a couple mulies and probably a cow Elk, but all at ML range, which is pretty spectacular for a 2-hour outing when there are e-bikers chattering away as they criss-cross an area that you’re trying to still-hunt.

I’ll be at least 60 when I buy my next Elk tag, but am still willing and able to do the work; just wish that the area I’ve been hunting since the mid-‘90s hadn’t been so affected by the population boom up here. Between the added pressure and the massive die-off due to pine beetles/deadfall nightmare, the Elk simply aren’t using the area the way they used to, and this may be my last year trying to hunt the drainage right above the house….. At about $800 for a tag, it’s awfully discouraging to feel whipped right out of the gate, but tagging along with my 28-YO nephew as the Designated Grouse-Potter in his lottery unit was entirely worthwhile…

I don’t know why they call it “bushwhacking” when it seems like I was the one getting whacked!!

I didn’t realize how good I have it, until I read this. At 71, I still love it all. Target practice, stumping, being in the woods in October, November. I even love the smell of the woods in the fall.

Sharpening my broadheads, knives, Deciding where to hunt, seeing wildlife. Taking a grandkid with me. Meeting friends for breakfast or just coffee, and shoot the breeze.

Only saw one deer in the woods all last year, but still had a blast.

I think about this stuff most every day.

The changing of the seasons from summer to fall, the colors of the leaves with this change, the smell of the fall woods and the first smell of wood smoke in the cool fall air is what it's all about for me.

And of course the harvest moon. :^)

Someone asked me if the deer come to my food plot 45 yards from the house. I see about 25 different deer on my trail cams, they cover the plot up at night and may be on it at any time of the day, mostly at daylight and dusk.

After I plant, I put up an electric fence to keep the deer out until the food plot mix of wheat, oats and rye is a foot or so tall. Without the fence the deer will nip off the young seedlings as soon as they come up and even pull up the roots turning the plot into bare ground.

That is my ground blind in upper left corner of the picture. The ground blind is more effective for killing deer than my tree stands, once the deer catch you in a fixed position tree stand, they will be looking for you every time they come through.

I am invisible in the blind and have a nice place to sit.

Blind view, I have shooting port cut in the walls.

Well, I don't know where that above picture came from, I have never seen that bow but have had such a random picture crop up on this site in the past.

Blind view, again;

I really liked the way Rick Barbee said it the only thing I would add to his post is "This is a Lifestyle not a fab" and yes in the 48 years I have been hunting with a bow I have seen a lot come and go.

On the plus side, I loaned a fellow a test bow and sold him a B Hunter I bought to see what the craze was about(good bow I guess) He sent me a vid of him with his longbow passing a smaller buck yesterday.

My 38 year old son is wound up about bowhunting for the first time in several years and shooting my backup bow well.

So keep on keepin on guys.

I’m with you Eric. I hunted totally from a ground blind the last couple of years. I set up a millenium chair against an uprooted pine, added a couple of downed trees and was perfectly comfortable. I enjoy being in the woods!

It was perfect. A nice deer trail that ran between two fields, multiple scrapes. Just wrong timing I guess - I didn’t see a deer from this stand , but it sure looked good. Still, it was a good time.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned phones ,way I see it they have really taken over just about every thing,hard to shoot a bow with a phone in your hand,and I dont buy into the not having money part cause most phones cost more that a quality Bow ....I could easily have any Black widow model for what my phone cost! Heck I seen a homeless guy pushing a bike the other day had it loaded down like a pack mule,what did I see two not one but two phones in holders on the handle bars yet he's homeless LOL people can't even drive without being on the phone it's more addictive than any drug believe it!they are having issues with kids in school being on phones instead of learning...I love my bows have three and one on order:^)

I had to quit due to two surgeries and other physical issues. Really makes me sick and depressed I can't do something I've done since I was five years old.

People pay for phones? Anyway it's kind of tough to get by without a phone.

Not sure what phones have to do with having money for hunting. To have quality hunting I would have to travel or buy/lease land. Those are the things I can't afford.

I looked for a lease last year when I was still working. I didn't find anything I could afford that was close enough to do me any good.

52 years behind the recurve. never missed a season. already planning my trip back to africa. just got back a month ago i moved from massachusetts to wyoming just to bow hunt. now i'm in new mexico warmer weather lol

I'm basically saying if you can afford a phone you can afford a bow or equipment to hunt,once you have a bow and a few arrows it'd basically cheap fun.....I was just having fun with the even the homeless have phone when they had nothing else.....

And yes unless Mommy And Daddy are footing the bill most pay for their phones and monthly bill,I had one free phone through my company for a short while, but like having my own better!

Just pointing out archery is one of the cheaper hobbies I've had,until I started buying custom bows :^)

There used to be four of us. Two people I always hunted with have passed on and the 3rd person can't hunt anymore because of a medical condition. I guess hunting will always be in my soul.

I cut my teeth on small game and a fox had a $4 dollar bounty and a great horned owl a $5 dollar bounty. Today where I live small game are gone. The Feds have outlawed shooting all hawks and owls, no bounty on fox and coy dogs get all that's left. Deer are far between on public land and if a kid doesn't get something for his effort the first few times out they will find another activity. Last year I saw 3 turkey while hunting deer. If I was a kid today I would no doubt give it up just like my wife and daughter have.

Poor hunting access, shoulder issues, lousy state Fish & Game stewardship, age effects, loss of hunting friends. It all adds up to a general loss of enthusiasm and interest in partaking of the exercise over time. The thirst tends to lessen when circumstances keep hocking clams into the punchbowl.

There are a few things about hunting I have begun to hate. I hate the loss of land access.. I hate crossguns used in archery season...I hate the increasing number of outlaws & poachers in the hunting population...I hate the way Game Commissions oversee the game population when the only interest they have in the dollar...I hate hunters who kill doe after doe after doe not caring that doe are the future of deer hunting.. I hate trespassers... I have pretty much lost interest in whitetail hunting in Penna for the above reasons but my passion is still trad hunting for pronghorn in Wyoming & Montana. My goal was to get 10 with a recurve...3 weeks ago I got # 7 and still love it. I'm 73 and Don't envision giving that up even after 3 shoulder replacements, a knee replacement, a completely rebuilt crushed right wrist , 2 steel rods in my spine. I also hate the arrogance of the ones who look at hunting as a right instead of a privilege !!! However I'm not ready to throw in the pronghorn towel yet !!! If I do, I'll be fly fishing in the fall !!! Harley

Everyone thinks they gotta have an excuse....i don't buy into it.

we live in a different world now, from internet, to cell phones to......yea you know, lets not even go there.

instead of making excuses why not just simply say "i'm not into hunting anymore" ?

If you really wanted to hunt.......you'd hunt, one way or another.

lots of people still do....some don't anymore....some never will.

just the way it is, like i said before, i don't see the problem here? till somebody say's i can't hunt.

2003Harley, that is a great post and puts things in perspective.

We are just making conversation here. When it comes down to it, I don't feel like I owe anyone an explanation on whatever I choose to do... But like many others it's amazing how the timing of operations, or deaths of family members, strokes, serious health.issues seem to come in the fall and they obviously take priority over hunting..Your " way of life" has a way of changing things..

Silent but deadly said..."I'm basically saying if you can afford a phone you can afford a bow or equipment to hunt,once you have a bow and a few arrows it'd basically cheap fun.....I was just having fun with the even the homeless have phone when they had nothing else..... And yes unless Mommy And Daddy are footing the bill most pay for their phones and monthly bill,I had one free phone through my company for a short while, but like having my own better!

Just pointing out archery is one of the cheaper hobbies I've had,until I started buying custom bows :^)"

I don't think many (would be) hunters are thwarted for lack of funds to get a bow. Many of us are hindered by lack of access to quality hunting.

A couple weeks ago my wife and I were out of town visiting family. My wife broke her phone. We walked into a verizon store and got two new phones that list for over $1000 each. I paid sales tax and a $35 upgrade fee. That's nothing compared to the cost of hunting access.

7th post down says Age and Money that's what I was replying to and with the phones it's not just the cost but the fact most would rather spend their time on the phone vs shooting a bow or hunting....

For me the thrill of the hunt was gone when my Father inlaw hung up his gear...I still like to shoot but the hunting part is pretty much over as he's the one that made it as fun as it was with all his hunting camp stores ect....

And yes my phone is like you describe plus $300? for insurance....crazy!

Well, I'm 78, completely torn rotator cuff, right side. Damaged left ankle and right knee, (football), but still gonna be flingin' arrows at those wily whitetails this fall! Love to hunt, fish, hike and travel as much as the old body will tolerate, til I die. Just too much fun and adventure I guess! And hey, do what you like when you like, and don't worry about what others think! Also, I shoot my sticks every day, mostly! Love archery and all that goes w/ it!

2003harley then you would really dislike our DNR concerning killing does. I can walk in to the store and buy 5 doe permits at a time.

I’m still at it at 65 , I never have been one to really care if I kill something or not. I just like being in the woods. Scouting for the deer sign or food source is as much fun as the hunting. I think the modern hunting mindset of lots of folks takes the excitement out of hunting. When you have cameras telling you when and what deer are coming to your corn pile so the wannabes can shoot them with their x bows . Well that just doesn’t sound very exciting, I’d probably hang it up too.

I enjoy just being in the woods hunting. I don't care if I shoot a deer, don't really want to drag one out of the woods. If I have the opportunity at a shot, that is a big thing for me.

Yep that's the fun part finding travel routes, feed like white oaks and red oaks,scrapes and rubs picking two trees in cause the winds wrong then having the deer come to you Awesome:^)

2003harley, good post. i enjoyed it! :)

I'm going to be sitting out my second season in a row this year. Enjoy your health while you got it.

Sorry to hear about your health Red.I'll be trying my best to hunt this year.I will be trying new to me public & private land area's.

I spent more time scouting the local WMA (Indiana calls them FWA). I already mentioned how many people were signed in last weekend putting out tree stands. There's been more since. I retired this year so I planned on scouting hard this year and giving this place a more serious effort. The crowds have always put me off. It's really the only place I have other than the couple acres I live on where the wind is always wrong. There are other state areas but they're all just as beat up.

My scouting located a bunch of tree stands and trail cams. Trail cams on public land is just awful creepy. And their all on the edge of the woods filming the access roads/fire breaks (or whatever they are) where they're going to record everyone who comes and goes.

When does this get fun? I really have to push myself to buy a tag and go out there at all. Then it's hard to really conduct a serious hunt when you have absolutely no confidence...over the last 25 years I have rarely ever seen deer there during hunting season and then they're usually being chased across a field by bird hunters or something.

This is why people stop hunting.

Cameras should not be allowed on any public recreational lands.

Arizona said no to cams for game use. I appreciate the fact that good land to hunt is scarce for some ( many?). Got to have game,actually present, ultimately.

Seems planning, getting the "other stuff" completed so you can hunt w a clear mind, is the skill many lack, as we get older. A lifelong friend asked how some hunt and kill out of state, in multiple states. I replied that it seems to be money, time, and ultimately planning.

There are things you can't plan for or plan away. As they say...Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans.

Will hunt until I no longer am able to.. Hunter is what I am, not what I do.

Jed, I like your post.

Life can deal some hard blow's for sure. I have had the opportunity to see different Guys age and loose mobility and strength. One thing I have noticed is the one's who love to hunt and be outdoors adapt and overcome. A friend's grandpa lost the ability to keep his bow arm shoulder still under pressure. He tied his shoulder to the tree. Ron LaClair continued to out shoot a bunch of us though time was nipping at his heels. I also knew a few that were just disgusted over changing hunting grounds and regs. What I noticed is that a sour attitude is bad for your health. I wish all of you guys the very best and hope you still pursue your passion to the best of your ability. Here's a picture of my youngest at the beginning of the journey.

I see the Heart Doctor this week but I have a feeling I got some serious problems. I’ll be lucky if I get any hunting in..

Some with age slowly stop hunting, others life's responsibility's, make it hard, careers etc....

I find most of them have memory's though, and they will share that..."i used to hunt"...and then relate to hunting with a few story's of there own.

It's the ones that want to take my rights i worry about....the ones that know nothing about hunting or our reasons we hunt (if you can put that in words)....They will try to rob your rights little by little..chisel away at the 2nd amendment, little by little.

Those are the enemies of hunters....not the "i used to hunt" guys

My dad stopped hunting in his mid 70's. He couldn't tolerate the cold anymore.

I'm moving on 69yo and I still enjoy hunting and can tolerate the cold fine, however, I lack the enthusiasm to 'get up and at 'em'. I'm kind of a crack of noon hunter anymore. Still pretty successful at it.

I'll always hunt as long as I know what I'm doing.

Quit in 2017 with no regrets, but still make wood bows ,and target shoot frequently.

With me, I always liked shooting more than hunting, so hunting was a secondary excuse to be out with a bow/rifle. I nice day at the 3d range is about as good as a good day not seeing game in the woods (though a day where I did see some deer was pretty great).

Once I had kids - who have exactly zero interest in it - my hunting slowed to a trickle.

Then we lost access to the farm our family had owned and we're the most memories and meaning was held. It was almost painful to hunt knowing I would never get to hunt the old place again.

For those of you who still do it, good for you. But it's not some moral failing that we don't all hunt.

Most of my friends who have hung up theie camo did it for one reason. Lack of access. Seems like leasing and outfitting is the new norm....they simply dont want to pay thousands of dollars to hunt.

COST OF EQUIPTMENT

I hunt and I work. I do one so I can do the other.

Good post Harley

Here in NW Alabama, there are at least 100K acres of public hunting areas. If you bow hunt in the areas away from Huntsville, Wheeler Refuge is close to Huntsville, it is unlikely you will ever see another hunter.

Most of the management area hunters cluster around the planted food plots, if you get off the beaten path you have the place to yourself. Freedom Hills is 30K acres, walk in only on many of the roads. When I hunted there I never saw another hunter, even on gun hunt days.

I am 64 and do not hunt nearly as much as I would like now living in Florida, but I do travel north to hunt 3 weeks out of the year. Love the sights and smells of Northern hardwoods.

Eric Krewson X2. When I used to hunt Alabama management areas I never hunted close to food plots or main roads. I had several areas I hunted and all were far back usually accessed by gated woods roads. I never saw anyone while bowhunting but it did take lots of walking and dragging out deer was difficult. The buck in this picture took me 3-4 hours to drag out.

Indiana expanded weapons to the point a toddler can kill a deer in archery season. A 300 win mag is now a legal deer cartridge on private. A 350 legend which is a 3030 is legal on state ground. We have urban sprawl. Leasing...outfitters.....i really dont blame anyone for hanging it up....state ground sucks....it all started changing when whe let the one buck rule come to town....then the idnr just wanted to maximize money and sell tags. The hay days in indiana were the 1990s. Its a shadow of what it was....even our turkey population on state ground went to crap.....if your on private lease life is grand....public......sucks.

I'll second that...public land in Indiana sucks. I've said it before but I really think this will be my last year buying an Indiana tag.

Even the national forest has gotten messed up with crowds and reduced access (parking and camping). My son and I are going to try one more time. This time we're going to canoe in if the water level is high enough to drag the canoes through the mud and the state will let us park for more than 48 hours. It's a big "IF".

Two trips down there last year and the only deer I saw was right before other guys ran me out of my spot. That was in October. I went to check on that spot in November and they had the parking closed off...maybe I could do an air drop. LOL but I sure can't walk umpteen miles to get to my spot. I would if I could but I can't.

Seen my Cardiologist yesterday and she sent me for X-rays to see if I had Pneumonia because I was having trouble breathing. She did a EKG and told me I had another Heart attack since my last EKG in July. This might be the 1st season I’ll missed since 1963. Hunting is important to me but right now I’ll be happy if I see another Xmas.

Will your on my prayer list.

Prayers from Michigan Will

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