how many guys go through times when they completely loose interest?

Dunno.

It is evident at some level you miss it or you wouldn't be asking the question.

Or maybe your interests have truly changed and this isn't for you. I'd want to make sure of that (if I was you) before throwing in the towel.

Or place it on the shelf and revisit some time in the future. The things I love in life never get stale and come back to me. A worn out body and the inability to do them worries me.

Honesty with yourself is a rare gift, I hope you have it.
 
I enjoy my hunting more now as I have a more laid back attitude towards it.Now I get more enjoyment out of merely woods walking with a gun instead of being super serious about bagging game like I use to be.Though I was successful being that serious kind of took some of the enjoyment out of it like I had to prove to myself or other people how good a hunter I was.
 
Sorry to hear that you lost interest, that's a real bummer! I'm 64 years old and still have that "BUZZ" to hunt and shoot, and I never did lose it in the past. I believe that deep down inside of you that desire is still there, just has to come out. Probably the best therapy is to get out and get back in-touch with nature, by going for a walk, bring a friend.
 
It can be a roller coaster with life. Career and family can throw wrenches into hunting and shooting forsure. I am going through the same right now. More so due to a move from a house and shop into a condo. No room to reload really or do anything...give it a year or 2 and I'll be back in a house somewhere with room to get back into it.
 
Could be just exhaustion , will try and get the toddler out in the bush this fall with me and see if that helps
 
Last edited:
Dealing with cancer dampened my enthusiasm over six months but successful surgery is steering me back to regular range sessions.
 
I seasonally loose interest in both hunting and shooting during the summer.

I detest shooting in the high heat, and just the thought of responsibly dealing with an animal in said high heat also stresses me out. Summer is good for bass fishing, thats about it.

I usually do one informal clay shoot with my staff in the summer, but other then that dont much touch my guns in July and August. Too much on the go those months as well. But once that first frost hits around Labour day I am raring to hit the forest and get after whatever.
 
grit said:
wondering how many of you go through times when you totally loose interest in hunting and shooting ? First time in decades its happen for me, just cant seem to find the spark again. Any ideas on how to find the interest again
Click to expand...


It happened to me once. Sold everything and let my PAL lapse in 2009 until 2013. No real reasons. I was as engaged as I am right now but I guess I had other things going in life that were a priority. I did sell most guns but friends insisted on keeping some of my stuff saying I’d be back later.

And they were right.

I got back, bought fewers guns but used them all. I kept trying new sports (I fully equipped myself 3 times for long range but never really liked it). When Chinese Flu hit, I got shooting a lot at my spot with NRs. Then the ban came… that’s when I realized that the AR15 was my center piece.

I have tried various options: can’t afford Tavors or ACR and with all respect to the effort made for the 180, this is just what I call a rebound gun. Most would never have considered it if ARs were still legally enjoyable.

So here I find myself bored again and having to kick my own ass to the range. It bores me to bring only my pistol to the range. You know what lit back up the flame for me ? The plan to introduce my kids to shooting with their Rascals during my summer leaves. I’ll see if rimfire can prevent dust from collecting on all my guns.

So yes OP, it happens. Just don’t sell eveything, keep what makes you happy and sell some dust collectors you bought and have no use for. Exemple: I’m a modern gun/black gun guy but had this No5 lee enfield that I never shot almost… cool gun but just didn’t fit in the group and had no use for it that wasn’t covered. I sold most guns with a similar history.

Either go out and shoot, store your stuff and wait or accept that interest change over time, and you and everyone should respect that.
 
gday- my post didnt work so here goes another-

most of my shooting was done when hunting early on, aussie culture to shoot ####- i really enjoyed shooting the deer when they were plentyful an problematic, since the fires and seeingthese deer as much more ive changed a fair bit and its swinging my thoughts a bit and doings.

now days so much rampant illegal / stag hunting in general, theres aplenty hinds but those stags are getting harder to find- i prefer to watch or film if i can, of stags which are not proper trophys -- even ones borderline il leave- sometimes regretting it - just to much pressure but give them a chance.

so since the hunting an shooting is down, i started getting into 'gongs' and 'long range' to a short degree with a specific basic long range setup- not one to shoot groups all day- ive found myself doing a bit more of that but mostly bonkin gongs at 300-600m with variety of guns an cals i have- but not all so often-- just enough to scratch that itch and learn a bit more-

the 22 isnt quite the same an i bore of it quickly,... shotgunnin an rimfire hunting requires effort id rather spend deer hunting- the gongs im finding are a pleasure to hit 1st shot variable distances etc.
 
I have been a passionate hunter my whole life since I could walk and my dad took me out for grouse. Over the intervening 5 plus decades, I have gone through periods where I was "less" enthusiastic about certain facets of hunting, but always had a plan in the works for something new, something that captured my imagination and got my heart pumping and the wheels turning planning the gear and logistics to make this new experience a reality. The "someting" may have been a new species or a new location or a new method or a new way to test myself in the wilderness... often pushing the limits.
When my father became too ill with PSP (since deceased) to hunt deer anymore, I lost interest in our annual deer hunt at our camp, I skipped it for a couple years until a good friend decided to start hunting at the age of 62... I brought him up to camp for the hunt that I always did with my father and found a renewed interest in that hunt again. We were actually in stands during the hunt when I got word that my father had passed away, and I realized that at that moment I was less than 50 yards from where I shot my first deer with my dad decades earlier... there was not a cloud in the sky, but it rained hard under my stand.

So I guess my advice on how to break the doldrums would be;

1. Try something new, something you have always wanted to do, but never got around to.
2. Try including a friend or friends or family member, make the experience about more than hunting, make it about relationship(s).

The same concepts would apply to shooting aswell.
 
I've never lost interest, but do find that as I age I really do not want to own as many guns and find my shooting interests are changing. I used to like medium bores a lot (35cal and 375) but am away from them now. The largest bore I have is a 30cal in the form of a 300H&H. Less recoil & cost = more shooting & more fun.

With downsizing, my goal is to have 3 or 4 BG game rifles, get a good load for them and then concentrate on a couple or three other small bore rifles for target shooting. I just bought an old 700V in 222 that really does scratch that itch as well as a couple 223s. I can see that I will be looking down the road for an accurate bolt action 22LR.

Once I retire, I expect I will be spending more time at the 5 stand shotgun meets as well and maybe spending more time out there as a volunteer.
 
Also ..... Buying less guns will allow you to spend more money on hunting.

Last year, I was all set to have an FN-98 build up into a classic 9.3x57 20" carbine. I had all the pcs assembled (including the reloading kit) except the bbl, but realized that what I was going to spend on that rifle, I could spend on a guided moose hunt in NFLD. With the covid last year there was lots of spaces to go and prices were excellent. I ditched the project, sold the parts and went hunting. It was a very good choice overall. I already own enough guns. Going out and enjoying what I already had was more important to me.

pp3UYLRl.jpg
 
Like I still come on here, and I've recently purchased scopes and new stocks and barrels for a rifle of mine. But I'm kind of in that disinterested slump. I'm out of work so part of it is trying to save as much as I can so firing off stuff at the range is kind of against my better judgment during an ammo shortage. But I'm sure I'll get back into it, I'd like to try to get into IPSC I have all the gear. Will wait till I get back on my feet though, as I can't justify the price currently.
 
Ribstaylor said:
Like I still come on here, and I've recently purchased scopes and new stocks and barrels for a rifle of mine. But I'm kind of in that disinterested slump. I'm out of work so part of it is trying to save as much as I can so firing off stuff at the range is kind of against my better judgment during an ammo shortage. But I'm sure I'll get back into it, I'd like to try to get into IPSC I have all the gear. Will wait till I get back on my feet though, as I can't justify the price currently.
Click to expand...

there has been a bit a resurgence in rim fire. do you have any that would let you compete?
That's the one ammo that's still affordable :)
 
grit said:
wondering how many of you go through times when you totally loose interest in hunting and shooting ? First time in decades its happen for me, just cant seem to find the spark again. Any ideas on how to find the interest again
Click to expand...

Is it just shooting/hunting that you lost interest in?
Or is it a subtle bunch of other things
 
SuperCub said:
Also ..... Buying less guns will allow you to spend more money on hunting.

Last year, I was all set to have an FN-98 build up into a classic 9.3x57 20" carbine. I had all the pcs assembled (including the reloading kit) except the bbl, but realized that what I was going to spend on that rifle, I could spend on a guided moose hunt in NFLD. With the covid last year there was lots of spaces to go and prices were excellent. I ditched the project, sold the parts and went hunting. It was a very good choice overall. I already own enough guns. Going out and enjoying what I already had was more important to me.

pp3UYLRl.jpg
Click to expand...

I bought a Celestron telescope 60 mm (compact)and seen Jupiter could faintly make out the red lines - can't wait to use it at the range instead of a Spotting scope -
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom