Sad news, my father has decided to quit hunting.

R

rookie wildcat

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It was with great sorrow that I received the news this weekend. My parents have sold thier home in the country and have decided to move to town. As I was grwoing up, my father had only one rifle for hnting, a Winchester '94 .30-30. Being the oldest,I have been told that this rifle was to be passed to me upon the death of my father. This was understood (my two younger brothers were to get his .22 and shotgun) throughout our lives. I am perfectly prepared to wait for this rifle to enter my possession.

However, this weekend, I was informed that my father, at the age of 77, has decided that due to health and age-related mobility issues, once he moves to town, he will no longer hunt. This is indeed sad news. My father has hunted my entire life. Fond memories still linger in my mind's eye of him preparing to go hunting, bring home a successful kill, or coming home empty-handed, skunked for the day. I remember him taking me on my first hunt when I was old enough to get a tag. He gave me my first gun, single shot 20ga. Many rabbits, grouse, crows, and even a few deer fell to that gun. Throughout my teens, hunting provided most of the meat to a family with three growing boys. For a few years, we were able to get 4 tags a year in our household. There was good eating those years, although we never lacked for a meal otherwise.

Now that era will end. Although I have not hunted with my father in the past 12 years (he is in NS, and I am in AB), the chance still existed. Only one brother hunts still, My nephews do not hunt, only one of my sons hunts. I have helped men in theri 60's start hunting (or take it back up again) and I have taken out several young men to get them started. Please tell me that others are doing this as well to keep our sport alive.

I know there are older guys here than me, so someone, please, tell me that I have more than 25 years left before I, too, have to hang up my guns? Hunting and shooting are my favourite hobbies and I must say that I am somewhat depressed this morning to know that it will end much more quickly than I want it to. If the past 50 went by this fast, the next 25 will be a blink. This is not really how I wanted to inherit this rifle. I figured, another 20 years would go buy before it happened.
 
RW; Sorry to hear that your pop has decided to leave the hunting ranks.
Some are willing to stay with it longer though.

My father never hunted, so my mentors were close friends, not family. Had an uncle who hunted, but he lived far away.

My BIL's father, who is now 84, hunts with us every year. Amazing man.

When I was a younger man, I had a mentor who had 70 hunting seasons behind him. [He was 88, the last year we hunted together]
A wonderful, kind patient man who had so much to share. I lapped it up like warm milk.
He was along when I shot my largest Mule Deer.....I miss him a lot. He lived to be 94.

I am now 68, in decent shape [just lost some excess weight] and have zero health issues.
I intend to hunt as long as I can physically drag my a** out into the woods, lol.

So, if you are now 50, and maintaining your health. [BP normal, not smoking, etc], you may well have 25+ years of hunting remaining.

Like yourself, only one of my two sons hunt, my 3 daughters hunted at one time, but are all busy raising families at present.
My youngest son has little interest in hunting, and while a bit disappointing to me, it is his decision to make.

I have a moose draw this year again, and fully intend to take advantage of it once more.

You take care, and relay my regards to your parents, who have left a fine legacy.
Eagleye.
 
Enjoy your situation friend with like minded souls. If I'm lucky one of my two daughters might inherit a few. (keep in the family some treasured hierlooms) However there are a couple of younger members of my family whom I really would have some serious misgivings about passing along some of my bangsticks. Rookie Wildcat, personally I view this as an early gifting between two hunters that trust one another immensely. I suspect this conveyance of a treasured item, gives your father some solace that he will personally see that it lands in safe & deserving hands.

Cheers!
 
You may look at it a different way too, RW, you had 35 years of hunting with your father or the possibility of it at least. My father detested guns and bordered on being an anti, so I have no fond memories even of early days hunting with my father. In fact he took great pains to berate me for my hunting exploits and all that "wasted" money and time that could have been put into something productive.
Cherish those memories RW as some of us don't even have those. Everyone will hang up their rifles sooner or later for many different reasons and it sounds like your dad has his, health is a good one for sure. Many have hung it up for much lesser reasons.
 
I can understand where you are coming from, my older brother & I used to hunt together... His time in Afghanistan changed things for him, he came home & sold his guns and no longer hunts.

I have encouraged several young guys to take up the sport, buying two of them guns & paying for ones licence. I allow other shooters to try my 'cool' guns, hoping that they will also go out & buy one...

Here's hoping that your efforts & everyone elses efforts, mean that the hunting & shooting sports will live on.

Cheers
Jay
 
I was fortunate to have a father who hunted, but he was too busy to teach me much or take me when I was young so my brothers were my regular companions on the hunt. Dad was always encouraging and supportive even when he wasn't with us. Dad's hunting increased a lot after he retired and he hunted big game and waterfowl with us right up until he died at 85.

I teach hunter ed classes that keep growing in size each year, 22 students this year compared to classes of 12 or so a few years back. I have some apprentice hunters to mentor each fall. So take heart, if you have good health you don't have to quit as soon as your dad did, and know that the publics' interest in hunting is far from "dying out" but seems to be growing, at least in our local area of Saskatchewan.
 
If this is your fathers decision then all power to him. Some do not get to make the choice. Share your hunting exploits and harvest with your dad. Your ability to keep on hunting is up to you. Keep healthy ( mind and body) and all that might stop you is that big bull moose. (having to drag him out of the bush if you get him, or someone drags you out if he gets you) . Good luck to all. (includes the moose).
 
FALover said:
If this is your fathers decision then all power to him. Some do not get to make the choice. Share your hunting exploits and harvest with your dad. Your ability to keep on hunting is up to you. Keep healthy ( mind and body) and all that might stop you is that big bull moose. (having to drag him out of the bush if you get him, or someone drags you out if he gets you) . Good luck to all. (includes the moose).
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I have noticed that I am having a little trouble keeping up with my coyote hunting partner the past few years (he is 27) when the snow has been deeper. Perhaps that is the final straw for my Dad. No one to help him get the aminal out once it is down. One of the loder gentlemen I got back into hunting had stopped because his health kept him from walking around too much. I convinced him to get a Rhino, and told him that I would handle any of the chores he found too difficult. He has since harvest a nice white-tail doe the past two years. Guess I am just not around to do the heavy lifting for my Father and fewer people want to hunt with a crochety old man (NOT gentle, EagleEye).

Thank you all for the wonderful posts, I feel much better having read them. There are currently no health issues to hold me back, just a little slower moving lately, so I am sure that I can go on for awhile but last year's moose convinced me to finally buy a quad. And if I can entice someone younger than me to travel through the years, better still. Maybe my son will come home...

Thanks again.
 
Its become a cliche, but a man has to know know his limitations and apparently your dad has found his. Perhaps you could encourage him to keep up game bird hunting, but the choice is ultimately his. Cherish and hang onto those memories of an earlier time.
 
Never fear, my grandfather is around 80 and im damn sure he'll not stop hunting until hes gone. In fact he'd probably prefer to go while hunting, fishing, or on his trapline.

I know im not going to give it up any time.
 
rookie wildcat said:
... someone, please, tell me that I have more than 25 years left before I, too, have to hang up my guns? Hunting and shooting are my favourite hobbies and I must say that I am somewhat depressed this morning to know that it will end much more quickly than I want it to. If the past 50 went by this fast, the next 25 will be a blink. This is not really how I wanted to inherit this rifle. I figured, another 20 years would go buy before it happened.
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No one can assure you with certainty that you yourself will live to see even one more hunting season. You probably will have many more, but take this situation as a hint to reflect on how fortunate you have been to aquire those powerful memories of your father hunting and taking you hunting. And be glad you have the chance to hunt with your father's old rifle while he is still around to see how much pleasure it gives you to inherit it and use it and report to him some successes with it.
 
The hunt camp I'm with is mostly older gentlemen, but every year there's 2 to 5 younger guy's in camp. I must say that these fellows have been brought up proper and are very respectful. When looking for help in camp or dragging deer to the boats you don't have to look far they are usually around the fire pit or woodstove shooting the breeze or listening to the older members. I would also like to thank them for their assistance 3 years ago when my health went downhill just before deer season and I did not know how badly till we got home. THANKS GUY'S

ALEX aka THE BEAR.
R/W : not wanting to be thought of as hijacking your thread just wanting to show that there are young guy's coming along to take our plac
 
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My dad is 68, retired at 65 and has missed 2 days of work since then.

I moved away for 20+ years and came back in 2011.

He is the happiest guy around now that #1 son is back. He loves having someone to hunt with.

My last year in the Yukon I flew him up for a caribou hunt and he nailed a dandy.

They're starting to talk about moving to the city as the house is a lot of upkeep.

He's worried that he won't be able to hunt much. I told him his guns and gear are welcome to stay at my house and if need be I'll pick him up and take him hunting.

To the OP, maybe a short drive in the country looking for a grouse or rabbit is what your dad needs.
A thermos of coffee, some cookies, and just reminisce of past hunts.
 
I hunted with my dad up to his last season, he was 87 when he passed.

the last 5 years I was the camp cook, driver, swamper, gutter, and retriever of animals. It was a lot of work but worth it.

Last 3 years now I've been hunitng mostly solo, sometimes I go out for a day or 2 with the BIL or my brother or other friends.

I have not set up the 2 week hunting camp out in the bush.
 
I grew up duck hunting with my Dad and he was with me on a lot of great hunting trips for moose, bears and deer. He's given up everything except for our annual deer hunt. My 10 year old son came out with us last year for the first time and there were three generations in the hunt camp. It was great. My Dad just doesn't seem to have the same drive that he once did. Although, he did shoot a little buck when my son was there. It made the whole hunt. I sure hope he never gives it up. I love hunting with him.
http://pbr20.photobucket.com/albums...1-103GenerationsofDeerHunters_zps0dc006b3.jpg
 
Great news!! My father has decided to postpone his decision to quit hunting. Both my brother (who lives in Dawson Creek) and I (Cold Lake) have decided to go home this year for a week in November and go hunting for one last trip with our Dad. Not sure how much hunting will be done (or if we will fill tags since deer are few in NS), but we will have a hunting trip out of it!! Then, perhaps, he can retire from this hobby a little happier.
 
Great news on the one last year. Be grateful for the time and memories you've had with your dad doing something you love. Remeber not all of us have been so fortunate. My father was easily one of the greatest individuals I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I never played ball, hunted hiked or such things with my father as he went blind when I was 5. Still he made it up in other amazing ways and now passed away far too soon when I was 30 and he was 61. You'd be happy to know that I was born and raised in the city and had no background in hunting. I took an interest in it myself and taught myself mostly by asking questions, so you could say I'm a product of these boards. Been hunting now for 3 years and got 1 deer per year. Along the way I've got my wife to start hunting, my brother, one other brother had come out with me and is now taking the courses and my third brother had now expressed an interest. Also my wifes brother has started and her sister has taken the courses. I've also gotten 2 work mates and an old family friend to start up. So if your worried about old hunter's not being replaced I think that fear is unfounded. Anyways I hope you have a great hunt this year with your dad and hope that it settle into your memory bright and livid till the end of time.
 
My father in law is 71 and has been hunting for 35 years. Most of his old hunting buddies have passed away or quit, so I took the CORE course 4 years ago and have gone out with him every year since then. I make sure and try to do all the heavy work, but for a 71 year old man with back problems, he is one tough bugger and is an incredible hunter. I learn new stuff every time, the man is a veritable wealth of information about the bush and hunting techniques.....
 
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