I then realized I dont miss it. Went turkey hutning this year total rush had a blast. Going shark fishing in Sept cant wait. I get my hunting magazines flip through the pages and basically throw it in the recycle bin.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am getting older, priorties are changing, and have desire to hunt some animals, but overall deer, elk moose etc no desire. not sure if it is cost of hunts or what.
Whatever floats your boat u need to continue it !!we all need a outlet .
best of luck
I am enjoying a lot of new toys at the gun range lately, and thinking about joining some of the matches. I've even thought about, *blasphemy*, a rifle hunt at some point. I'm not going to fight what I like and want to do. Life is too short to not enjoy other things.
I read this site everyday, although I rarely post any more. I probably will indefinitely. I will always be a bowhunter, even if I stop for a few years. I have done more than most average hunters, but barely scratched the surface of many on this site. I have nothing to prove to anyone, including myself, in terms of bowhunting. It's OK change things up. People, priorities, beliefs, and desires change. I'm learning to accept and embrace that.
OTOH, my hunting buddy of over 20yrs started losing the desire a few years ago. Hasn't picked up his bow in 2-3 yrs, and probably never will.
I will say this to start, and at the age of 75, my passion/desire to bow hunt is stronger now than even before. Living in Colorado, we have 10 big game animals of which I have killed 8, the remaining two are a moose and a Desert Big Horn sheep. Lots of varied opportunity and seasons to keep the desire at a high level.
But I can hunt elk, deer, pronghorn every year and deer in two other states. Plus turkeys and duck/geese, I am a full time hunter and when I am not doing it, I am thinking about the various species to hunt.
There is no doubt that "other things" can get in the way but when hunting seasons are here, that is my priority. I do not bowl, golf, play cards and my wife is VERY unterstanding of my passion as I am understanding of her passions. We have both learned from each other.
I am a life member of the Colorado Bow Hunter Assoc, was on the Board of Directors and how, the NE Manager of the Becoming a Bow Hunter Program. So my passion/desire to hunt/teach is now as great as the passion to "pass it on".
As you can tell, I am still in the game.
Bow hunting Passion/Desire might be measured, as a full glass, half a glass, or an empty glass. Mine grew to a full glass and is still over flowing.
Others might have just started with a half a glass of passion/desire and it never got fuller.
No doubt life is full of twists and turns, and every human life on this plannet is unique, mine and yours, as well as the actual lives we live.
A Passion/Desire for anything is better than none at all. A passion keeps us learning and interesting and vital. A passion might be the key to more improved desire.
I am reminded of two thoughts.
1. The life we live now is not a dress researsal for the next time around.
2. We only go around once in life, so we must grap up all of the gusto we can.
Having any Desire or any Passion is a good thing. Bow hunting or not.
My Best, Paul
Also agree with Cityhunter. Life has many stresses which can affect even the best parts of life.
Most importantly, be at peace with yourself and your decisions.
With what I do I think I just gotta try and get out and get away into the woods it was always a good outlet.Wow I feel like I am at a therapist ?.
Love Paul's response! That guy is my idol!
go recurve ... it will change everything for you
As a younger hunter, I saw several older guys who talked about losing interest, and for me that was not even fathomable. However, I have known others that got into hunting at some point in their life and the desire eventually waned. I can honestly say though that if I were restricted solely to hunting deer locally, things might be different, because I can definitely say that feelings are different now versus when I was fifteen years old and became extremely excited when I saw a deer, any deer, a warm body with a fluffy white tail. Now, I get a warm fuzzy feeling, but nothing like the old days. Fortunately, I still get those ecstatic feelings, but it is when I see a big animal, or a different species.
One thing I have noticed is that a lot of the guys I know who seem to lose interest in hunting, didn't grow up hunting, they picked it up later in life. I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.
One thing that keeps my fire burning strongly is going on great adventures, different countries, species, etc.
Someone above mentioned that they didn't have anything to prove to anyone. I agree, but going after a mature animal, in my opinion, doesn't prove anything to anyone, or myself. I simply enjoy it and feel fortunate to be able to experience such events.
But I would say, do what makes you happy. If that is NOT hunting, don't hunt, if that is hunting with family, then hunt with family, if it is hunting different species or with different weapons, do that. At the end of the day, if you have to make yourself do anything simply because you feel that you are supposed to, it will not be enjoyable, so what would be the point.
Beyond these basic thoughts, as someone mentioned above, is everything okay? If so, carry on, if not, maybe you should check further into what is causing the problem. I have dealt with depression and when we are depressed, nothing makes us happy.
-Joe
I often look around at people who don't Hunt and wonder what keeps them going without the anticipation of the next hunt.
I used to be a whitetail bow hunting lunatic. Virtually every spare minute I had was spent on something related to bowhunting deer. Shooting, scouting, hanging stands, making arrows, watching videos, reading everything I could get my hands on, etc. etc. etc.
Having enjoyed some amazing hunts for other species in some awesome places, my obsession has almost completely shifted in that direction. I still love bowhunting for deer, but now its the adventure of hunting in remote places for new species that I crave. It's been great motivation to work hard, stay in shape, and dream big!
I cannot follow the math because I think you got up 1/2 hour before you went to bed, but your work dilemma is the same as mine. Laid off and then found a job at a new place. My 6 weeks of vacation went to 3 weeks and I am working many more hours. Something had to give and most of the bowhunting was put on the back-burner until something frees up. I still rifle/muzzleloader because I enjoy the venison, but only get out in Dec for the bow now.
Tue went to bed at 230am(I work second shift) then thur got up at 230 am to go to work. to be there by 4am. Yes my math is bad
First rule is you can't kill em on the couch. Second is the couch will kill you. Or your quality of life long before the dirt goes in your face.
Bowhunting is my drive to stay in some kind of conditioning, otherwise I would have no reason to not lay around and drink or eat or take some stupid cruise where you eat and drink yourself into a lazy haze.
Knocking at the door of 60, when you lose some line it's so much harder to get it back than to keep working hard enough not to lose it in the first place.... Paul, I've said it before.... when I grow up I want to be like you.....
Kinda lost on me.... can't imagine not craving that heart pounding excitement 20 yards from your game, starting to draw and focusing with everything you have.... but then I quit rifle hunting when that seemed like shooting tin cans. So mine is certainly not the place to judge such things.
Good luck..... hope bg gets his groove back.....
If you have lost just the urge to hunt with a compound, try a traditional bow. It will rekindle the fire.
However, I find myself wanting to fish more and more. Not at the expense of hunting but, in place of some hunting. God Bless
T
My passion for hunting hasn't faded a bit, but I'm starting to look more and more at my roots - upland birds and waterfowl. That I'm training a new puppy surely adds to that.
Like some have said, I also seem to find much more enjoyment in helping others. Every gun season I host a Wounded Warrior on a very high quality rifle hunt on a great 4,000 acre ranch. Hearing them say how the hunts have honestly changed their lives has kind of cheapened my own personal hunts.
I've also been mentoring a boy who lost his dad when he was four, and the kid was desperate for time outdoors with a male. We've been out more than 100 times in two years.
If it's not bowhunting, find something that wakes you well before the alarm with excitement.
Bow Hunting and hunting in general has become so commercialized and it has become Big Business to some that really do not have The Drive......other than for Profit! Politics has also ruined my desire. Bow Hunting today is NOT what it was say 15 years ago. Most will not know or understand of which I speak.... and that is OK too.
Bow Hunting is Not Rocket Science. One either Has it...or one doesn't! I was a good bow hunter and I am proud of that fact. Trial and error and dedication and a love and passion that was unrelenting. I am glad though that I did shoot a bow for 60 years (and still can IF I so desired) ....BUT....I Have Lost My Passion plus I have gained some 'respect' for life .... The life of those critters I bow hunted...past and present and into the future......and in My Hunts, The Hunt was what was important mainly and NOT just the kill. I was very selective on the critters I did kill and passed up a multitude of animals others would love to have collected themselves..... so I left a bunch for those that followed where I left off ....
-}}}}}}}}}}}--------------->
The hunters path is his own. He follows his own heart with his own sign....that to me is a big part of what makes it special, unique.... and does touch something deep in the soul.
Except for.... " I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart." "I swear, a woman's breast is the hardest rock that the Almighty ever made on this earth, and I can find no sign on it." heheheheh.... 'case Coach is checking in....
Then look at the cross and thank Him that He paid the debt of your sins.
It all looks different after that.
So, it is not YOU, it is WI!!
The solution to your issue? MN.
(Either that or the first fall morning where the humidity is low, the bugs have all died off and the 4 bucks chase an estrus doe around you should do the trick.)
But 25 years after my first elk hunting experience, my love of archery hunting bull elk is as strong as ever!
next to bowhunting, I was an avid upland bird hunter and enjoyed chukar and quail hunting almost as much. I had a great dog, one of the best ever. she will turn 17 in November and we stopped hunting about 4 years ago as she just couldn't go anymore.
I have other dogs but they're just not as good or as enjoyable. it's really effected me.
life, health, job, lack of a hunting partner and good hunting, etc. has all played a roll I am sure.
I hang in there, and hope for the best. I just don't see how to spark the fire again. I miss it and hope it returns. good thread.
My passion has changed lanes in the last 6-8 years. Ever since my kids started getting old enough I put my bow aside during most of the hunting season and sit with one of my kids in stand(blind). My boys are both old enough to hunt on their own now. The last two years have been spent with my youngest, Katie. She has yet to fill a tag, or even release an arrow. But we've had some awesome encounters... with skunks, fawns, snapping turtles, raccoons, mice, pheasants, squirrels, rabbits, and even a weasel. I wouldn't trade those moments for filling my own tag. They were and still are priceless memories.
If you don't have kids of your own who hunt, and if you're looking for a spark, I'd suggest finding a local youth who would like to learn bowhunting. There is no greater satisfaction than teaching a youngster our craft.
There is a lot of great information here and I hope some of it helps you regain your bow passion but I still think a any weapon hunt is better than the couch, outside where you can smell the woods or walk the alpine and feel more alive and give your soul a break from all the everyday hassels. Good luck!
Tue went to bed at 230am(I work second shift) then thur got up at 230 am to go to work. to be there by 4am. Yes my math is bad
I used to do a fisihing program and archery program for youth with my job, but with the promotion had to move away from it. It was fun.
You are so right about the vets needing help and a good thing you are going to do.
I might try and just get out this fall and maybe try jump shooting ducks, would be something I have never done before and might kick start my motivation.
T
Amen to the stress. I ll be turning 43 in a few weeks and I am starting to focus on looking at retirement I am fortunate I can retire early at 50, which after 28 years in my work would be nice to get out. Lookig at moving and starting a new job which might have something to do with my focus being shifted too
Then I moved, went to college, got married etc. and never made time to hunt (and I lived places were it was not possible, some of the time).
I honestly thought I had completely lost interest and would never hunt again.
Then I got a bow last year, started reading this site, and was surprised to find myself increasingly excited about bowhunting, specifically. I hope to take my first hunt later this year (hogs).
I doubt I'll ever have the passion for it many of you guys do, but I love archery and am increasingly excited about spending time in the woods chasing critters.
As others have stated, hobbies (even passions) come and go.
I leave a week from today and am stoked to finally chase some elk...I'll come back to this thread after 2weeks of elk hunting and let you know how my desire was to get out of my sleeping bag way before daylight, be wet, and climb hill after hill just to get a chance at a biggin.
I used to be an addicted fly fisher. Now I only fish maybe 20 days a year, even though I manage a big private fishery and live on a trout stream. But I organize a big wounded veteran fly fishing event, as well as a big kids fishing derby. I have more fun hiking and scouting for elk than actually fishing these days.
My hunting partner of 30 years has gone totally the other way. He's broken down physically and I doubt he'll bowhunt anymore. No interest in scouting. He hunts pheasants and killed a deer with a rifle last year on his new farm, but his passion flame has burned out/
They sure do. If you're older and finding yourself grumpy and/or lacking ambition, get some testosterone and Wellbutrin and you'll be chasing women and deer like you were a young man. Tack on some HGH and it'll chop off an additional 10 years.
ok... gotta admit, that works...
"little blue pill" reminds me of another....
"all dressed up and nowhere to go...." or
"take half a one so I don't pizz on my boots...."
oops.... that was immature again.... gotta say, Coach is right more than she's wrong....
I really enjoy shooting my bow, I do not have to be out trying to kill an animal to feel happiness.
When I have fellow bowsiters in my bow elk camp, there are days we go hunt and I don't even carry my bow---I would much rather one of them harvest than me.
It is all relative with in the big picture called life.
Good luck, Robb
Life would be peaceful.
I could sit and watch TV and get fat and be happy for the price of a cable bill.
I pretty much have 2 speeds 0 or 100mph.
I have 3 children all three took their first deer with me next to them. The two oldest both boys quit hunting all together. My daughter Morgan just started high school and joined Marching Band so now instead of getting to camp Friday night it will be hell and high water to get her away from her warm bed early enough to get in the morning stand and away from those boys that keep calling.
I see the writing on the wall. Luckily my wife loves to camp so that helps.
I admit I don't have anywhere near the drive I used to have. With Morgan wanting to sleep in daily, my dad my deer hunting partner since I was 10 (I turn 50 next year) has been plagued with some health issues the last 5 years. He is to damn stubborn to get out of bed go to the hospital or doctor and laid in bed in deer camp day in day out and all I do is sit in my tree and stress about it, I get down early to check on him. It's very stressful on me. Even more stressful is getting Morgan and my wife set up to hunt. Making sure their safety belts are on, taking them to their stands, cock in their crossbows for them. Then dashing off like a mad hatter to get to my stand.
About 2 months ago I had my hunting camper broken into and they stole Morgan's first crossbow, about 700.00 in camo, various other things as well. More damn stress to my hunting. That's the second time I have had my deer camp broken into.
In the last 13 years I have lost 4 different people I used to hunt with Al, Carl, Paul and Dennis. Miss them a lot they were all staples of hunting camp. This is not stressful just not the same.
I hunt with shotgun and muzzleloader as well. I only hunt in the gun season to hunt with one of my best friends Tim who lives in Cleveland. It's the only time we get to see each other all year. I look forward to it but this year I won't have the vacation time to gun hunt all week maybe 1 or 2 days.
I am buying a new rifle this year (Ohio just allowed rifles last year) a Marlin XLR 45/70 that should be fun to get use to, I am going iron sights no scope.
I'm president of a hunting club of 9 guys and the politics that go with it is freaking terrible. All the bitching and whining makes it more work than fun! More damn stress and I know it will be there as it has for the last 15 years. We have reduced our membership from 12 guys down to 9 that has improved things a lot.
Now let's move onto bowsite. A few months back I get blasted so much by one individual that I am furious for weeks.
Why did I let that little oompha loopa get to me? What I dont understand is how I even let the littler fella get to me? I was so pissed off that he worried so much about the way I hunt and live my life it just created stupid stress.
I really haven't posted much since then or visited this site as much because it's just more bullshit that goes with the hunting I guess?
What I realized is there is a bunch of drama and stress just from visiting this site just like freaking deer camp. Maybe that's just par for the course?
I love deer hunting but there is no longer the burn in my blood to go. The last few years it has been sucked out of me with the stresses of deer camp itself.
A few years back I went to Alaska Bear hunting with my dad and that was fun. But once again very stressful, when you follow your GPS to some po-dunk airport and it's not quite the international airport you thought it was and now time is tight that's stressful as is when you get to Alaska and the airline has lost your gear bow included for four days that's stressful.
There was a time that I found deer hunting as an Avenue to eliminate my stress but that was a long,long time ago.
Now I have Morgan telling me she wants to go on a bear hunt next year but she also will need a car since she turns 16. Plus I know I will freaking explode or implode if she tells me that she doesn't feel like hunting a particular day after I paid all that money for her to bear hunt.
For me hunting has not been fun for a long,long time.
I will be honest if I didn't even hunt this year I don't think I would miss a beat? But I have had this valley before.
I've been in a relationship with bow hunting 39 straight years, that a long time for only being 49 years old! Just like any other relationships it has its ups and downs!
This weekend I've got two skid steers going out to the property we are going to clear out some of our roads and improve our food plots. Hopefully this will go smooth!
I did manage to pull my bow out the other day and all I did was put it back into its case lol. I need to start shooting again I got a new Creed last year and I need to get comfortable with it.
Hey gotta go I have a back deck to stain!
As the great JayG says Peace out!!!!
That really points out how many people allow things to go sideways and lose track.
It just goes to show some people take some of this stuff way too seriously and become obsessive over time and it leads to a loss of the very reason for participation in the first place.
hunting is supposed to be fun not work. it is supposed to be a release valve for pressures of a hectic day to day life not a source of pressure that adds to the insanity.
one need look no further than this website to see many many many people whos priorities have taken a laughable and pathetic turn towards the unimportant at the expense of the truly important.
I see people say "hunting is my life" or "hunting is who I am" or "hunting is my religion" and all I think is "wow dude it would really suck to be you".
If noyt theres nothing wrong, just changes in priority and lifestyles.
Perhaps I should learn to read. The concluding sentences in the last stage address my opposition. To me, "Stages" imply chronology and your narrative dismisses that notion well.
I'll add, though, it is possible to experience multiple stages concurrently, even pervasively through one's hunting life. I've been in the "Sportsman Stage" my whole life. Many folks I know are firmly ensconced in the "Method Stage" so much all other 'Stages' are experienced through that prism.
I spend my time loading long range rifle ammo and shooting things that are really far away these days.
really?
no hunting?
nothing.... left..... to.... live.... for....
oh, wait.... there is beer.....
It is funny how life works sometimes. There were years past all I could do ws think of hunting and couldnt wait for fall. I am my desire will come back, I am hoping to get my addax back from the taxidermist soon and maybe that will rekindle the fire.
It just didn't make sense to me. I guess it just takes time (maturity) to admit to that reality. That my ego and need for the thrill and satisfaction of the hunt superseded the animal's life and the means of its death. That I would do to a beautiful wild animal is something that I would not do to my dog.
I'm guessing that's, in part, why BB took up photography. It has many of the same challenges and satisfactions, just no meat.
However, my passion for whitetails and turkeys, food plots and habitat improvement is stronger than ever. It should come as no surprise though that my son comes along as much as possible and because I can share it with him-it is my new "passion"
I have no doubt I will find a mountain to climb again one day, and I do "think" about the sheep I hope to one day take. But overall, although my passion is pretty quiet for travel and hunting, I am looking forward to bluegills and does more than ever.
Time will tell :)
Enjoy it. It passes way too quickly.
I hunt alone, yeah.... For nobody else...
You know when I hunt alone....
I prefer to be by myself....
It's never been anything social for me, just the opposite in fact. I've taken my kids, other folks kids, you name it. Great fun. Great time together. Loved it. Right now I've been taking my granddaughter fishing in the evenings. We have a blast. Even gets excited over eels and small sharks.
But family/friends is not why I hunt. Just got back from a wilderness backpack bear hunt. Coach went with me, but I'd have done it by myself if she didn't want to go. Worked out great.... well, except for the bear part. We hiked in and out together. I hunted by myself every day, she hiked around, took pictures and we hooked up in the evenings. But I was going to do the hunt, by myself or otherwise.
Don't know what my "stage" is, don't care and feel no need to even try. Killed a couple does a few months ago, freezer is fairly full. Let a couple does walk last Sunday, chip shots.... I didn't need them for the freezer and to be more honest I was hoping they might still have a good buck with them... but not that evening. Going again next Sunday, it's my only day off. I don't have seasons for the most part, can bowhunt all year round. Only stop bowhunting Nov-Dec.... bird season (and most of the bucks have dropped antlers anyway) but never stop hunting. Maybe I just don't have the time to cultivate my finer interests like seasons might force one to do. Always spring/summer here.... always outdoors.
If you no longer feel the need to hunt for yourself, for your own reasons.... I can see why there would be little joy or excitement to it. Honestly don't know if it is something that comes and goes like other things, could be for some. To me it either is your life or isn't. But that's just me, my life.
I imagine things will change, everything does. But it would be more a case of "can't" anymore rather than "don't want to". There is a big difference. I'm thinking one causes depression.... the other caused by it.... don't know, just rattling around some thoughts....
NYbob.... awesome, you're still my hero. Give John Henry, Bruce and the boys a big bear hug for me.
you have had pictures and articles published probably 50 times and not one of them holds a candle to the photo above.
Just don't wait too long, the mountains get bigger... I promise :)
I am blessed to still be able to be a bow hunter, and I am SOOOOOO fired up,, 'cause in a couple weeks I am driving out to Ohio,, to the lease that Kelly has had his life sucked out of him by, to hang some tree stands and clear out some shooting lanes, so that this Nov when I am there, a big assed slammer Ohio buck will come through where I am, and I will put a perfectly executed shot in to it... Hopefully Kelly and I will not have a long bloos trail to follow,,, even though I just KNOWWWW that he loves to blood trail with me. LOL
I have been getting my property ready for hunting season, food plots, hanging stands, etc, and I am still optomisyic and excited about this coming season.
I am busy as heck. I am trying to keep my house from falling down around my ears, maintain my job, get my firewood put up for this coming Winter, take care of my lawn, my chickens and garden and all that other stuff... Sometimes it just feels like too much..... And then I pull out my bow and shoot some.. Things just start to slloooowwwww down. My breathing gets deeper, my blood pressure lowers and my serenity level increases. I find my center..
Then I think about why I am out there shooting, and it all comes back to me. The cool crisp bite in the air. The smell of the Autumn leaves and the faint rustling on them in a perfect breeze... Then the faint sound of a twig breaking that is announcing the approach of an incoming deer. The increase of the heartbeat and the anticipation of what MAY be.....
That is it guys. It still burns in me for what may be. What may happen, It is the possibilites that keeps me coming back..
You know, I could lose it, I just don't want to, not yet.. I think that is my choice.
God bless you all. Peace Brothers. Have fun and be safe out there!! Jay
I once enjoyed international shooting competition. Did very well at it. After about 20 years, the desire simply evaporated. All at once seemingly. The skill remained, but the desire was gone. Completely gone.
If it is not fun, find something that is. Birding seems to appeal to me more now. I know little about it but enjoy viewing. Wish I could hear them better, but the shooting competition fixed that.
I am not very good at moderation. Whenever I do things, I do them 100%. But sometimes they burn out.
For example, I lived in Rhode Island. I was totally consumed by surfcasting for stripers. I did it many days from 2am to 7am before going to work. I moved away from Rhode Island and have not been back.
I also got bit by dog training and waterfowl hunting while living in Kansas. I trained almost every day and hunted like crazy. Then, I moved away from Kansas and lost the passion.
I don't see a problem. If your passion is not bow hunting right now, so what??
I think some passion is a good idea but it doesn;t have to always be the same thing...
Grant-Thanks and funny you say that as its the only pic I have framed in my room related to hunting:)
Good thread.
When I started hunting for the enjoyment of hunting and quit hunting for a "trophy", the enjoyment came back. I still do not get as excited as I once did and it doesn't bother me a bit when I skip a perfect morning in the stand. But I am looking forward to tyhe season and spending some time in the woods. If I want to, I will shoot whatever walks by and pass one up if that is what I want to do. Not killing something does not bother me a bit and killing a doe suits me just fine. I don't even get upset if I miss.
This was by far my busiest summer ever and the kids started at new schools with new drop off/pick up times. Then there is practice after practice to drop off kids and pick them up. Employees not pulling their wait and customers with needs. Life gets brutal sometimes and I ask myself is it worth the stress? Doc says "NO" he said work less work out more. So I figure on the positive all these hunts are grueling and should give me a great workout. Working less seems to add stress as I feel I need to be there, so I do not know how that is going to work. I am honestly thinking of closing one of my retail store I have had for 18 years not because it doesn't make money but because I want those 40 hours a week I spend there to do something else, (Maybe finish my degree and become a Biologist for KDWPT). Only if the choices in life were as simple as the choices you make while hunting.
Now about this "Cecil" thing.....
I don't know if I buy in to the whole "stages" thing or not. In the end one just needs to do what makes you happy and not stress over the things that should bring you joy. When those things "stress you out" it is probably time to step back and re-evaluate.
Do I get a cut of your article since i Started the post :). Jk though but glad information on here assisted with your article
Bill,
I Since I have never even seen a shark in the wild, even a 3 foot shark will be big and cant wait as of today only 18 days to go and in will be in the gulf of Mexico.
I did book a duck hunt with a local guide for OCt 10th and gotta say I am excited even though it will be local it will be something differnt and looking forward to it.