What keeps you from going?

[Jimmer Negamanee]

This is indeed one of the most interesting threads in a long while.  We're all fighting the indefensible assault of time but stay in the fight! 

Now that you're retired, maybe think that your job is to train your body. As you said, you still have "the heart and desire to get out there in the woods and hunt, camp or fish" and now that you have more time maybe think about your job is to "train for the adventure." 

Movement is medicine.  I have a friend who says "Motion is lotion. Rest is rust." He's right. I find it helps to think of the hunt when the inertia tries to drag me down and keep me on the couch.

Thanks for a thought provoking post.

[Coues79]

Use to love hunting alone. Having kids come along changed me. Without them around I have a hard time wanting to go anymore. It's just not the same. Sports and other activities make it challenging. Camp, packing in etc doesn't really bother me. Days of silence and no one to share the experiences with just doesn't sound good anymore. 

Cool thread. Thanks for thinking it up 👍

[KaibabHunter]

I’ve had some burnout out in the last couple years helping new to hunting guys (asking for my help) that don’t match my style which is hunt hard, serious, and grind it out to give urslf a chance. Coupled with spine, neck, shoulder issues I started losing my drive to hunt. Some guys need to have somebody to hunt with for whatever reason, social interaction, inexperience, or basically just to be guided without putting in any effort themselves in tags they’ve waited so long to draw. I don’t feel that I need any help, have zero issues being by myself and my success/failure is based on me and me alone. I enjoy helping people but am getting back to my solo roots where I can do my thing on my own and only be frustrated with myself if I screw it up. Tough solo pack outs are just part of the reward and experience.

[deercrazy]

This is me almost exactly.  I have threatened to just go camping on a Monday thru Thursday, just to get out of the house.  All my friends still work, and have too much stuff going on to go.  I have 4 brand new guns that I have not done anything with except to bore sight because every time I talk myself out of going for some stupid little problem or another. I will admit that at 62, I should have kept working at the job I hated, and I left too soon, but can't go back, so now what.  I have wanted to volunteer with the  Arizona Elk Society a dozen times, but the weekend is the only time I get time with my wife.  Maybe we all need to find an easy spot to set up a camp and get our asses around a campfire and worry about the aches and pains of cot, mother earth camping for another day.

[Flatlander]

Kids, church and work are about the only things that stop me. I’m still pretty young.

Sounds like it’s time to start the TRT for a few folks on here. Take your lives back men! You’ve worked a lifetime for these opportunities!

[mbiewer]

Marriage! its a trap, dont fall for it.  Just kidding. 

 I did get married later in life (mid 30s), then the kid/family/time obligations went through the roof.  Took the step son out a few times, but never really took hold for him.  In the beginning there was a lot of questionable conversations of "it's not your tag, but you still have to go?" lol.

The new life goal is  Starlink, then we can both go not that the kids are older and starting to be more independent. (she can work while im out, then spend time around the campfire)

[trphyhntr]

probably because its old hat, and youve done it 1000 times. the hunting and fishing here isnt that great or abundant you gotta really want it. unless you get a rut tag to get excited about you either gotta go with someone younger or someone who doesnt care that its mediocre. my advice is get 2-3 friends and go to puerto lobos fishing.

 

[HuntHarder]

I just wish Lobos wasn't such a shiitthole....   If you get blown off the water, there is not a whole lot to do.  I much prefer going to Jj's or relaxing in a decent house. We used to play golf on the windy days as well.   The house we rent in Lobos is rough imo.  Maybe  there are nicer ones, but not where we stay.  The ONLY reason I go there is because the fishing is generally pretty dang good.  

I'd rather be in the cool woods, shooting my bow, teaching the kids to shoot or scouting than, sitting on shore.  To each their own.  

[trphyhntr]

3 hours ago, HuntHarder said:

I just wish Lobos wasn't such a shiitthole. 
 

 

It’s not for everyone, thats why you don’t meet many soy boys down there. that’s why it’s great. but there’s at least 3 nice houses to rent.

[trphyhntr]

3 hours ago, HuntHarder said:

I just wish Lobos wasn't such a shiitthole....   If you get blown off the water, there is not a whole lot to do.  I much prefer going to Jj's or relaxing in a decent house. We used to play golf on the windy days as well.   The house we rent in Lobos is rough imo.  Maybe  there are nicer ones, but not where we stay.  The ONLY reason I go there is because the fishing is generally pretty dang good.  

I'd rather be in the cool woods, shooting my bow, teaching the kids to shoot or scouting than, sitting on shore.  To each their own.  

Catching 80lb groupers, yellowtail on poppers and youre talking about golf. 

 

You and OP get your test levels checked 

 

Was just a suggestion to Op 

[HuntHarder]

1 hour ago, trphyhntr said:

Catching 80lb groupers, yellowtail on poppers and youre talking about golf. 

 

You and OP get your test levels checked 

 

Was just a suggestion to Op 

Lol. Simmer down, dick so hard it engraves diamonds. 

[25-06]

23 hours ago, Jimmer Negamanee said:

This is indeed one of the most interesting threads in a long while.  We're all fighting the indefensible assault of time but stay in the fight! 

Now that you're retired, maybe think that your job is to train your body. As you said, you still have "the heart and desire to get out there in the woods and hunt, camp or fish" and now that you have more time maybe think about your job is to "train for the adventure." 

Movement is medicine.  I have a friend who says "Motion is lotion. Rest is rust." He's right. I find it helps to think of the hunt when the inertia tries to drag me down and keep me on the couch.

Thanks for a thought provoking post.

Great post, my brother always says that if you sit around to long you'll rust. So true 👍 

[100Shots]

This discussion is quite fascinating. You really must go; exercise and spending time outdoors are the wellspring of youth.

[arizonian]

Welp, I let the old man in this past week. After 2 days, my brother bailed on me so I was hunting solo which I have done plenty in the past. Friday thru Monday were hot with very little deer movement. The wind and a bit of rain came in on Monday evening and Tuesday morn I climbed to a knoll and saw deer across the canyon playing tag or something. After I settled in, I glassed up 3X3 and a spike feeding not far from the playing deer. Ranged the 3X3 at 225 yds...     And my right knee said nope. Crossing that canyon alone with a deer, rifle and pack was something I was not willing to do, so I watched them for an hour until they went over the saddle. For the rest of the hunt I ignored the knoll and tried to find something closer to camp.

[AZbowhntr]

Great thread! I have had this exact conversation with friends recently. I always thought as I got older I would have more time to do the things I like to do like camping and hunting.  But in reality I have less time.  I feel like most of my time is planned for me between my kids and grand kids. And if I am idle I feel like I should be doing something work related.  Then add on top of that the fact that it is so hard to draw a decent tag that it is hard to get motivated to even hunt anymore.  I recently picked up a bunch of brass to do some reloading and don't even feel like loading it because I will never be able to use it. Hopefully when the grand kids get old enough to hunt it will re-energize me. Only a few years to go.