Have you ever lost your motivation

Wheel chairs......?

Haven't you heard of an ATV yet?


45ACPKING said:
I have been told, continually for the past 15 or so years, by a slough of doctors/specialists that I should be leading a sedintary lifestyle on full time disability. The pain I suffer daily, without meds btw, is pretty ridiculous.
I got serious about hunting in my late 20's/early 30's and at the time it was all about Big Horn rams. In 3rd year as a sheep hunter, in prime physical condition, I got crushed at work by a 400+ lbs liquid oxygen tank.
It took 3 years till I could manage shooting a rifle, let alone try any kind of hiking ect. But I "had" to hunt, I "had" to chase steelhead, I had to do many things, so have found the way to move past the disability and pain all these years.... With the help of a couple rock solid friends.
These days, the pain is real bad and the mobilty is decreasing and I want to hunt and freakin fish my azz off while I can still stand on my own.
My doctor pretty much looked at me last week and asked me if I realized that going back to my trade and continuing with chasin moose and deer would put me in a wheelchair by 50....
Well, I got 4 good seasons left till my buddies have to wheel me to my deer spot LOL
Some lose the hunting bug, some don't. I'll be the latter even if it kills me ;)
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Hunting motivation comes and goes for me.

I just finished a four day elk hunt with a buddy who drew a once in a lifetime tag and we passed on five bulls. The season is long and he wants the herd bull, and has plenty of time to get it. I learned a lot; never hunted elk before. And I was always a meat hunter and never passed five moose bulls up and went home without meat either - but I had a great time.

A guy can change what he hunts and how he hunts it; small game, big game, waterfowl, upland, rifles, shotguns, bows, rimfires. or just take a break and go fishing... :)
 
I have a bad habit of driving with the wrong people, 5 crashes, and they don't add up with 4+1 is 5.... Each crash introduced a whole different magnitude of pain. Motivation can be hard, any real hunting area is 100km away. My best hunting partner died 3 years ago, one of the others was the one that got me in the latest crash. So now i am unwelcome, or so it feels, i think he just doesn't like seeing me gimp around as a reminder of his mistake.

I will probably go shoot a bambi buck, and a bunch of grouse. In truth my real interest in this season ended in early July when i did not get a moose draw.
 
Interests wax and wane. If you aren't motivated, find the prospect tiresome and don't need to hunt to feed your family then take the year off. No harm in stepping back and taking a break. The worst thing would be to force yourself to do something you don't want to.

Do not sell your rifles or gear. You may change your mind next season, find a new hunting partner or find the motivation next year.
 
yomomma said:
Wheel chairs......?

Haven't you heard of an ATV yet?
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I met a guy last summer who hunts with a prosthetic leg. He has the permit to shoot from an atv but he said he hasn't used it yet. He was walking through marsh with rubber boots and never had his leg pop off although he said it has happened a few times.
 
Ardent said:
You do rather well for old and tired!
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Ya neither one of you two know the meaning of old and tired..........I don't have the same drive as I used to, nor do I have the physical condition to collect some of the last critters on my bucket list.........I'll be 60 later this year and feeling a lot like the OP. I'm living in a new area where I don't know anyone, don't know the country, don't have any desire to shoot a deer or elk just for the hell of it, can afford beef and don't really prefer deer or elk. I have no good reason to go hunting, and no one to hunt with if I did. I'm not done though, as I will work out the details for a northwest coastal bear hunt next year and a blacktail hunt maybe even this fall yet. It does take a lot more self convincing to get up and do it than it used to, hell I have to convince myself to load up the guns in my Ranger and drive 150 mtrs up into my pasture to do some shooting............I'm just getting tired and understand exactly where Powdergun is at........The time will come for me, when I chose to sit in my trophy room with a good single malt and a comfortable chair and reflect rather than venture out to collect.........but not quite yet.
 
I havent been even to the range in forever but I geuss whwn you have a baby ready to come here anyday....crosses fingers then u dont have much choice lol. 9 months seems like forever.
 
My old man will be 79 this year and he lost the motivation to hunt years ago, but he still loves being in the camp and getting outside. He shops, cooks and stays with the gear when we head out and loves every minute of it. He still likes to live vicariously through me and is at Cabelas once a week it seems looking at and occasionally picking up new gear that I will inevitably put to use. Be honest with yourself about what you enjoy and seek that out.

Patrick
 
It sounds to me like the love will return powdergun... and when it does I will enjoy the stories and photos.

Best of luck and long live everyone's inner sportsman.
 
I was raised on wild meat. Started hunting at a very young age with my grand father and now being 50+ myself still enjoy hunting.
Now my enjoyment comes from hunting with the kids and their spouses, and someday hopefully being part of teaching and hunting with grand kids (4 so far). Mentoring other peoples kids with firearm and hunting skills, I find is quite rewarding. Being part of a young hunters first hunt/kill is something you can never forget.
My motivation for hunting will remain alive and well as long as I can pass on the tradition of hunting to the younger generation.
 
Tomorrow four point mulies and whities open as well as grouse.
Black bear were open when I saw them four, but never been interested in them.
Just put the hot mitt grips on the Kodiak and not sure whether to go fishing or
hunting tomorrow.
Bit warm for fur to hang and me buddy's been bugging me to fish for salmon at the Schwap.

hm hmm hmmm hm hmmmmm...............
 
Wow did I go thru a similar where all my friends are gone and hunting alone just wasn't up to it...I joined an Alberta program "Hunters for Tomorrow" at the Genesee power site. I still am not comfortable with new people but have been appointed to mentor the program. Check with your Gov't and see if they have a similar program.

I highly recommend it and really get you back into it.
 
Aniest said:
You might say... dats deee-sishun made: git yer reelz... maybe :redface:(sorry, had to speak the 'Looky-speak' once on CGN):redface:
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kamlooky said:
Laugh2.............felt gewd?
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Excessively so: flattered to have had the opportunity. Although, I am not normally much into fishing I might be tempted to join you just for the peace, and of course the conversation. Of which is much to do about this thread: camaraderie is always good. I hope the OP finds some focus to the issue posted about.
 
powdergun said:
I am starting to get on the older side of life and it is getting really tough to get motivated this year. All the good friends I regularly hunted with have passed away and my son seems to have lost interest in hunting for now.

It isn't that there are no good places to hunt around me and for the last few years I've gotten used to hunting alone but for some reason I just couldn't give a crap this year.

Should I take a year off ? Have any of you older fellows gone through this as well ?

When I was in my 40's and younger I just could'nt wait for the season but hunting alone just is getting tiresome.
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IMO your experiencing the regular cycle of life; meaning the mind and body slows down, an aging process, desires are not as intense; therefore, motivation is affected. Not only hunting is affected, but all aspects of life. Absence of your son and hunting buddies has also affected your desires and motivation. Cure: Listen to your mind, body and heart.
 
TRACK pretty well summed it up. Generally the Killer Instinct slows as we age. The joy for me are The Grandchildren I mentor. And remember it's a sport, not a job, it's all right to skip a day. Respectfully Jim
 
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