I am a younger guy of 18 but I hunt some dangerous territory, and it really wasnt untill this year that I realized it. So I carry a knife and flint with me at all times. I think that is important, along with a small medicine bottle of random over the counter drugs, like tylonal, asperine, and that type ting, on the outside there is probably 40 yards of fishing line, and to keep the pills quiet there is cotton balls. Which also double as a spark catcher. More important that having these items is being able to use them. I do carry a cell phone most of the time, but again where I hunt there is absolutely no reception. I was able to get a bar on top of the mountain last weekend!

As far as making the climb easier, I like to pick landmarks and shoot for them, mabye take a break and then pick another. For those that are not used to mountains, that is important at least here in the Appalacians, because they are not very tall compared to out west but they are strait up! I have learned over my short hunting career that if you do that age has no meaning!! Litterally, my buddies and I ran into a 77 year old man up on top of a ridge line, with his old henry in hand!

That is what I know! Dont let our younger physic fool you, although we are suppose to be in better shape, we are usually not used to getting up so early. So even though you older guys may not have as much stamina as we do, we are hiking asleep!! Really in the end it is 6 of 1 and half dozen of another!!! When dad and I are hunting we know where each other is, although I move around ALOT as does he, we know the general area, so if something does happened, we can direct help! Best of luck this hunting season, and please stay safe!!
Chris

I’m not sure age is the determining factor here, you’ve got a few years on me yet but my knees are shot, backs not far behind and I carry to much weight, that said I just hunt more slowly and thoroughly and cover just as much ground. My young dog works to hand signals (and the odd curse) really close, I see more and enjoy the day as much as I ever did.

Three weeks ago I was working the dogs with a guy of 77, must be something about that generation tough and stubborn, I know he had had enough by the end of the day but so had I.

Quality not quantity, that’s going to be my new motto.

Mark.

Well… almost 54 so not a spring chicken either. I hike all year round. Bring my dog with me. Dog shows no mercy with the gate of a german shepard.. it’s almost like trail running. I make sure I stay on top of any med’s I should be taking and also take vitamins every day – a good multi-vitamin, 500MG Vitamin C and 300MG Fish Oil. When climbing hills and mountains, I over use the switchback method, longer distance but better than straight up approach. I think the older we get the more susceptible we are to the elements. I always have my daypack with extra sweater, socks, rain gear, first aid kit, etc.

I’m 52 and missing a lung from cancer. (10 years cancer free this year though) You want to talk about having to slow down! But seriously, I have actually had more chances on the ground just slowly picking my way to my chosen spot just because I’m slower. I have had deer walk right by me. I wish I had realized that going slower was better when I was about 30. The downside is being somewhat handicapped by age and in my case missing the lung makes me really think through what I’m doing because getting a deer out now for me is much more difficult if I don’t have help. Sorry Dave, but I have thought about getting a 4 wheeler just to recover game. I rarely sit in an elevated stand these days because it is hard to set them up and move them if necessary. So now I just hunt from brush blinds and enjoy being there. If I don’t ever kill another one it won’t be like I never killed my share of ’em.
Duncan

dragging out a deer is usually not a problem with us. But checking is. Like I have said, no cell service, and to top it off, they took out the only public land line in the area! Suppose it wasnt getting any revenue? So it really puts us in a bad position, if there was a emergency we would have to drive 20 minuets to get to the mountain tops to get service! An ACR has been thought about, but they are really expensive.

But as far as dragging, you can basically grab the antlers, hop on its back and ride it down to the bottom, especially if there is snow, lol! Not really, but usually we just tie a rope as though we were going to drag it behind us, but normally the dead weight really drags you down the mountain. I have not actually hunted with, with dad in a along time, we camp together, travel together and that type thing but we split up and hunt different locations within the state forest. But even though he is working on 50 years old, and he smokes! He can kick my but up the mountain, by a long shot!! Must be his Marine blood kicking in!!!

Actually that is not totally true, we had one problem with a downed animal. Dads first bowkill! He shot it when we were already downhill from the truck, and it ran down into a ravine and then back up the otherside and down to a hiking trail! We were probably close to 13 miles back the trail. And the truck was close to 9 miles away from the trail head. I was a youngster and we had to drag that deer for 7 hours strait!! crossing a creek 13 times, untill we finally got to the trail head. Fortunatlly a father and three sons whom we had the lucky pleasure of meeting along the drag stoped and talked to us. When they got to the trail head, they turned back to find us, we were not far behind them, actually we could see them turn around to come back to us at the trail head. We left the doe at the trail head and they drove us to our vehicle, which was a god send!!! That was my only bad dragging experience. If he was alone, I dont think he could have done it?

Coincidentally I just posted this pic on the “backpack” thread and it looks like it belongs here as well:

I am 63 (pic was taken two months ago at 11,200′) and a lifelong light smoker, drink some and eat way too much chocolate ice cream (of all my favorite habits that’s the one most likely to kill me :wink:). I have spinal arthritis and knee and shoulder injuries from earlier wild times. But have been blessed with staying thin and fit. My “secrets” to dealing with aging are (1) a phrophylactic dose of 2-3 advil when I have a hard physical day ahead, (2) walk less, sit and watch more, (3) if you plan to pack out your meat on your back, which I still do with elk, only hunt uphill (so you can pack out downhill), and (4) “Use it or lose it.” That is, embrace the pain as a friend. There are limits on the latter of course, but you’d be surprised what you can do with a determined frame of mind. The most painful aspects of hunting for me are lost sleep and deep cold, especially wind. “dave2old” (Snuffornot: My wife also just passed 10 years cancer clean after a death sentence from multiple docs, so we know the joy!)

dave I walk around all the time with a 20 pound back up and down mountains! I am 18 and that kills me, I give you credit, you are like my dad. Tough as nails, must be the military?

Dave Love the daypack! What do you carry for a really serious long trek!
At the age of sixty(it’s not the years but the miles) as I walk up the switchbacks just pray-” Lord, if you pick ’em up, I’ll put ’em down!”
Don’t run after the game as you did when you were younger, let them run to you.
I have a vision of all these really old decrepit bowhunters with walkers and 35# longbows- but we make meat with our Ashby extreme EFOC arrows and broadheads!
God bless and good hunting, you lovable old farts!
Bert
P.S. Pain is weakness leaving the body- the only easy day was yesterday! Thank the Good Lord for Tylenol, Aleve, Ibuprophen and aspirin- and the libation(in moderation) of your choice!

Great tread, great stories of hope and great guys, what more can a guy wish for from the Northwest Territories, thank you, thank you and again, thank you:wink:

SB

RR,
Thanks but it still gives me the willies when I have to go get a physical. I think I could quarter one here in NC as long as it is tagged and I call it in first. I have an aluminum pack frame and have considered doing that. I have boned them out on float trips to reduce weight in the canoes.
I’m also not real picky about shooting does but I won’t shoot buttonheads or an obvious fawn. A nice spike or a year and a half doe is perfect.

Dave,
That is an awesome pack you have there. Thanks for those encouraging words too, and congratulations to your wife for her 10 year mark being cancer free. I know what an important milestone it is.
I also use Advil as you mentioned and it helps. I spent so much time outdoors in the cold in my job and recreating in my off time that I have developed a little arthritis so the Advil helps with that too.
Hope all you guys are having a good season and are enjoying the outdoors.

Halfahun,
Of course! The libations. Here, here!
Duncan

Some awesome info here as well as some great people “sharing” the ups and downs, so to speak that the aging bowhunter faces.

Physically as well as mentally and emotionally, this has indeed been my most difficult year all around.

I honestly feel the physical part is due to sitting on my duff for a year due to some other health issues and it certainly took it’s toll. If allowed, this old phart is going back to the spa for some cardio and med weight training before next season.

I think David has set a HIGH standard for us but I rather doubt I could have carried that pack far 20 years ago. 😯

The legs are the first to go guys. Anyone wishing to postpone adding more limitations to your hunting as you age keep this in mind. You have to use them.

The old advice of “use it or lose it” applies to ALL your body strength and I am living proof.

I do believe I know what my “new year’s resolution” will be, if medically allowed. It’s too easy to NOT do things as we age and I see it not only in myself but in my life long friends.

An excellent thread guys and I’m happy that a lot of you are over coming life’s hurdles. You are an inspiration to us all!

God Bless,
Steve Sr.

RR and all mature bowhunters everywhere.
I’m 62 as well and really, really understand the term “sneak and peek” hunting, now. I get to hunt with the “youngsters” quite often but rather than keep up with them, I explain that they’ll see more by going at my speed. It helps to convince them you’re too old to be dangerous but just young enough to think you could be.

Guys, I can identify with almost all of what has been said and I am convinced that if I could lose about 40 lbs I could carry Dave’s pack and maybe even keep up with him if he didn’t walk too fast. 😀

RRZESCH wrote: I agree drop 40 pounds, gee that is easy to say. How do we do it?

I know its diet and exercise. Just got to get motivated again. I’ve been trying to cut back on the sugar and fatty foods but I’ve only lost a few pounds. And now the Holidays are coming up with all of that good food!

At 50 i am mentaly still 25, Physically ….:shock:

I have to admit I have really enjoyed my wife’s cooking and pampering the last 20 plus years. Too much perhaps. I am 60 lbs overweight, but can still climb a tree like a monkey and drag a bucka few miles out of big woods. My lungs are a bit taxed with climbing and my BP and cholesterol are bad. The wheels are still sturdy.

To lose weight at our age is very hard as the metabolism is way slow. I have a real hard time making the right choice in food.

Beer/wings while watching football…or whole grain Sun chips and diet soda?…hmmm which would you choose?

Amen, RR. I need to get motivated to do the same. The Doctor might give me some motivation come tomorrow morning.:cry:

In my younger days, I am 61 now, I worked at a school as a janitor. The retired head of maintenane came a few mornings during the week to have coffee with the present crew. He was 91 and walked miles every day and at a pace as fast as mine. He used to play for the Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Team. That year when he was 91 the Black Hawks invited their retired players to come to the Stadium to skate. Yep, at age 91 he went skating at the Stadium. I think his key way to stay in shape is plenty of walking every day rain or shine.

Well, as I suspected, The Doc says I have get back into an exercise routine. He did not specify a weight loss amount this time. So I gotta get moving.

Tom,
Your story reminds me of my 7th grade principal. We had just segregated the schools and everyone was about half scared of each other. The principal was I guess in his 60’s and to get to know us he would come out onto the playground and mingle with the kids and sometimes he would participate in activities. One day he came over to the chin up bars where a bunch of us were trying to best each other and someone challenged him. He is the only person I have personally observed to chin up using one arm and repaeating it more than 5 times! Either arm! Nobody ever messed with that man!
Duncan

I’m about to turn 62, so a lot of us are in the same boat. I still do a lot of physically demanding hunting. The following principles keep me going. 1. I refuse to let age be an excuse for not doing anything I really want to do. 2. I do something at last moderately vigorous outdoors regularly 3. I’ve learned that going slower means seeing–and killing–more. The last raises an interesting point. As I deliberately slow down when I’m in the field with my bow, bowhunting no longer provides me with the same level of exercise it once did. That’s why I hit the coulees with my shotgun and dogs regularly during the fall. Don

I’m turning 56 on Dec. 3 and still thinking like a 25 year old. Doc’s don’t agree with silly talk of hip replacement , and maybe a shoulder replacement due to injuries while a Volunteer Fire Fighter and EMR.I have found that if you surround yourself with young people ( I’m now a Security Supervisor in a Casino ) It helps to keep you moving and willing to try the extra mile. Along with following the advice of a good doctor.I try to walk 2-4 miles a day and do light weights 3 days a week.It’s never kept me from hunting the back country of Ontario.I also dropped 70 lbs in two years.

I passed 56 in august in better shape than I’ve in in many years. Had to drop some pounds so I could keep hunting. Started swimming and eating a better diet, no other way than to burn more calories than you take in. I have young friends I hunt with and agree that they keep you going and doing more than you normally would. I’m bit with the trad bow and just picked it up this spring. Looking forward to learning a lot from this forum.

Thanks for the reply…thinking about buying some wooden arrows from 3 Rivers, what’s your thoughts on wood or carbon?

Hiya Ralphs — You’ll get a lot better response to this question if you post a new thread, probably in the bows and arrows forum. Good darn question! dave

Thanks Dave, I’m new to this forum too!!