Have you ever lost your motivation

I am recently retired and have lost my best hunting buddy to Parkinson's disease. I was going down the road the OP is on (soon to be off of hopefully) until I got myself a new Black lab puppy. I had owned labs most of my life but with the death of my last one I had no ambition to replace and carry on. I went alone bird hunting about twice (no buddy no dog) and I came home early each time. My wife noticed I wasn't going out anymore and asked why. I answered her question with the solution, I wanted another dog. Hunting buddies are hard to find. I hunted with a few new guys but each were disasters when it came to safety, helping out with chores and paying their fair share of hunting travel costs. Recently I started hunting waterfowl with a young fellow that works at the local saw mill. Between the dog and a new guy who hunts and carries his weight it is right back to where I was a young fellow again. Lots of pre trip anticipation and lots of fun. Just have to get the achy joints and old injuries to stop acting up. Don't give up OP just keep plugging away and go when you want not when you have to.

Darryl
 
Try and find a younger and eager hunting partner to get you excited. They will have a lot of questions before you hit the field, at the range, and have age on their side to drag in whatever you shoot.
As for Ontario, if you’re in the Big Smoke good hunting seems so far away when in fact it’s not. Most people are unwilling or have a hard time finding a place 2 to 4 hours away. Also they have spent little time in the bush and find it overwhelming.
At least here it isn’t hard to find someone who needs some help getting started.
 
I lost all motivation to hunt when those GD three and four wheeled ATV's came on the market, with their lazy SOB owners.
Used to be a fellar could go for a good 5 mile trek without seeing hide nor hair of another human being. Not so anymore.
Rant over, technology won.:mad:
 
Haven't lost my desire to hunt, just not always chomping at the bit like I use to be. Don't put in for draws anymore but still buy open tags. Even if I never get out the money goes to good things. Living out in the country is a plus in that I can spot something and try to chase it down. It helps that my son and I have always hunted together and he'll prod the old man to get out. Still like hunting elk off the forestry trunk road, just slower and need more breaks, Any day with the mountains as a back drop is a good day .
 
Still haven't bout my license or made up my mind but I still get out walking with the dog. We jumped two deer tonight but no uRge to hunt krt into my mind. It was fun just seeing the wtf is that look on the pups face when he spotted the deer.


It just seems that all I want to do is to walk about in the woods. Seems to be peaceful and stress free. I guess the need for the rush of hunting will come back at some point but for now we will see so no fire sale on a crap load of guns and reloading gear just yet :rolleyes:
 
It just seems that all I want to do is to walk about in the woods. Seems to be peaceful and stress free. I guess the need for the rush of hunting will come back at some point but for now
we will see so no fire sale on a crap load of guns and reloading gear just yet :rolleyes:


That says a lot. Just carry a rifle when you feel like it. Enjoy the outdoors.
 
trebor2880 said:
I lost all motivation to hunt when those GD three and four wheeled ATV's came on the market, with their lazy SOB owners.
Used to be a fellar could go for a good 5 mile trek without seeing hide nor hair of another human being. Not so anymore.
Rant over, technology won.:mad:
Click to expand...
I'm just new to hunting myself, but as to the main thrust of your post: Amen.
 
trebor2880 said:
I lost all motivation to hunt when those GD three and four wheeled ATV's came on the market, with their lazy SOB owners.
Used to be a fellar could go for a good 5 mile trek without seeing hide nor hair of another human being. Not so anymore.
Rant over, technology won.:mad:
Click to expand...

Those atv's kept a lot of old farts hunting, not just lazy SOB's. We have members in our camp that for one age related reason or another, wouldn't be able to go hunting without the use of an atv. Not only that, but atv's opened up areas that were previously only accessible by plane. I understand what you're saying about getting off the grid, just get yourself a 4 wheeler and go further ;)

Patrick
 
Turkey hunting keep my motivation alive, for the rest ( deer, moose, caribou), it's always a gathering with my boys, without this reunion, not sure i would still go for big games... JP.
 
I used to get concerned about ATVs, road hunters, guys with tree stands within 400 yards of a road, and all sorts of things... I slowly came to the realization we live in the second biggest country in the world, and the best one for hunters. Hunting spots often get overrun, places change, and we have to move, change, and adapt too. If you're tired of ATVs, change it up and hire a floatplane. You won't see a soul out there, for only the cost of a very affordable short flight. Sure, it'll cost a little more than driving, but it's also a hell of a lot more hunt.
 
Sometimes it is only my stubbornness that gets me out of bed on cold, bitter mornings... published an article about that very thing a few years back.
 
phinton81 said:
Those atv's kept a lot of old farts hunting, not just lazy SOB's. We have members in our camp that for one age related reason or another, wouldn't be able to go hunting without the use of an atv. Not only that, but atv's opened up areas that were previously only accessible by plane. I understand what you're saying about getting off the grid, just get yourself a 4 wheeler and go further ;)

Patrick
Click to expand...
Amen to that, a boat works well too.... Headed to our new semi remote moose camp in a few weeks. Getting in involves hauling a boat and all your gear off the highway and tossing it in a small creek, no access by ATV or truck. That little fact has kept people off the lake for the past six or seven years, still plenty of peace, solitude and moose if you're willing to get off the trail a bit.
 
I spent a good chunk of time and money baiting bears this year. Had everything set up, Multiple bears hitting the bait. Finally got a few days off work to hunt and I just didn't have motivation to go. I still went, But sitting in my tree stand was boring. I just lost my interest in bear hunting. I ended up only hunting that one day, Left long before dark and havnt been back. Let my younger brother and my old man hunt my spot. They both shot 2 young 100lb bears 2 days apart. I went fishing instead.



Don't really have much interest in moose hunting this year either, Cow tag between 15 guys and I have zero interest in shooting a calf.


Might just skip the moose hunt as well and just focus on waterfowl and bowhunting whitetails. Couple big bucks on trail cam are getting me ansy.....
 
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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Call your son up, and tell him what you told us.

My Dad wasn't much of a much, but I am and will be for my boys. I hope someday they are the kind of men who'll go hunting with the old fart just to make him happy.
 
I guess I'm fortunate to have two sons who are avid hunters and two young enthusiastic grandsons who are in the apprentice program. I hadn't really thought about it until I read this thread but in doing so I realize that without them my enthusiasm would be far less. Not only is my hunting time with them precious, there are percs as well. For instance I get relieved of most of the bull work and usually able stand aside and watch as the deer is gutted or the moose is field dressed. Another benefit now is that after dark or if the weather is bad I get to ride in the passenger seat of my truck.
 
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Hunting alone is nice at times but after awhile it does get lonely.

Have you considered getting yourself a hunting dog or two, Training and hunting with your dogs is the best!

Small game hunting is fun fun fun, are you tired of sitting in a tree all your life...?
 
Over the last few years I've found myself in the same boat, so to speak. With a hectic work schedule, it just always seemed like it was so rushed. It wasn't the relaxing pastime that I remember from my youth. The enjoyment level just seemed to ebb a little more every year, until it started to become more hassle than it was worth.

Then I went to the grocery store the other day and steak is now $9.00/lb. I am suddenly motivated to hunt again this year.
 
The last few years of my father's life I spent a great deal of time and effort taking him hunting, not very much on my own hunting. I didn't realize until he was gone how much that revitalized my enjoyment of the sport, which had probably been waning somewhat for years. Years have passed and now I hunt alone and quite enjoy it. I don't mind the early mornings, I enjoy doing all the work myself, and I still feel a bit guilty if I stay in on a bad-weather day or have a nap while out in the woods. Certainly, the process of hunting is now much more important, and success in making a kill has fallen far down the list of priorities.

I wondered sometimes if I would ever stop feeling the desire to hunt. I couldn't imagine that ever happening, but the fact that I was losing a bit of my fervor made me question the possibility. Then, a few years ago I was involved in a serious automobile accident that left me with numerous broken bones and other injuries that had me laid up at home for months. I completely missed all of the fall seasons, as well as the entire winter coyote hunting season. That was torture! I realized that I absolutely wasn't ready to forego hunting, and being forced to do so by circumstances beyond my control made that crystal clear to me.

I leave in a week for Wyoming...can't wait!
 
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