It's a Sad day....advice much appreciated.

VTelkchaser · Dec 24, 2013

My father (68) from Vermont has been coming to Utah for the past 10 years to hunt elk with me. He shot a nice bull 8 years ago and decided that he could eat the horns. Since then he has been coming out to do the late season cow elk hunt with me. We have been doing the East Canyon unit as it is an easy to get tag. It has always been a tough hunt but we have been very successful, taking a cow every year but one. This year the elk have stayed high do to the lack of snow. This morning we spotted 3 cows a LONG ways off and decided to try and get in on them. We hiked for 4 hours only to find the elk had moved out of the drainage and started our decent back to the truck. Going up on fresh legs and high hopes my dad did very well. The walk back on tiered legs and defeat didnt go nearly as well. For the first time in my life I was concerned for my dad's health. On two occasions I thought I was going to have to call for help. When we finally did reach the truck my dad made a heart breaking announcement. He said this will be the last year he comes out to hunt with me. I cant even begin to tell you how heavy my heart is over this news. This man has been my idol, hero and pillar. He has taught me everything I know about the outdoors, hunting and so many more important life lessons. With the exceptions of the few years I was stationed in Germany, I have hunted with this man every your of my life since I was 4 years old. My fondest memories are of times spent in the field with him. It breaks my heart to think that time may be coming to an end.

Sorry for the sob story, This is where the advice request comes in. I know there are a lot of easier areas to hunt out there, I just don't know which ones would be better than others to put in for. I know we will end up hunting every other year or so instead of every year but I will take what I can get to spend time with him!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Spencer

travishunter3006 · Dec 24, 2013

That's a crappy day!! You need to place a value on the memories made by hunting and then but him an easy rag every year so you can hunt together... Wether that means you get a tag every year or every other, etc.

Good luck.

GLEDEASY · Dec 24, 2013

Sorry to hear and I feel your pain. My dad is the same age and due to medical issues no longer has the drive/ability to get out. Last year he came with me on my deer hunt, but this year he had no desire to go look for a cow. Not sure what the coming hunts will bring.

I don't really know that I have any advice to give other than trying for an easier tag. Make the time more about spending time together in the hills rather than trying to fill the tag. Find something off of the road, as odds are he probably wouldn't have liked packing that cow out very far either.

Good luck to you and I hope your dad doesn't throw in the towel.

mntman · Dec 24, 2013

That is a crappy day/feeling.
I went through that with my Dad in 2010. He said he couldn't justify getting a CO elk tag cause he couldn't put forth the work that it deserved (it was a leftover tag!). So he just comes out to CO for deer now. It is an easier hunt for him and we see a good amount of deer in places that he can get into without much trouble. I try to hunt with him mostly till he gets a buck. His eyes or should I say basically his one eye isn't so good anymore, So I help spot them and then he shoots them

He is still applying for a UT/LE tag but he is even thinking of giving up on trying to draw that tag...

Just find game/terrrain that is easier for him to hunt. Try pronghorn hunts in WY, we are next fall. Or Maybe some Nebraska mule deer hunts, Javelina in NM, etc... Lots of hunts out there that he could still do and you'd both enjoy!

Another thought is waterfowl hunting. Sit in your blind and let the dog do all the running, LOL.
Its the time spent together, not the species you are after...

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?

Califelkslayer · Dec 24, 2013

I concur with mtnman, WY antelope. Would like my Dad to do that with me regularly. He loves elk hunting but antelope is more realistic at a certain point.

PleaseDear · Dec 24, 2013

That is a sad read Spencer but unfortunately that day is coming for all of us.

+1 on looking into the Reduced Price cow and doe tags in Wyo....

Hang in there,

Robb

nvhunter · Dec 25, 2013

Has he decided that the reason he is not coming out to hunt anymore because he just can't do the mountains, climbs? There is no reason he has to do the climbs.
My dad is 73, has Macular Degeneration so he can't hardly see, is on oxygen, can't do any mountains, can't really do much walking except very slow. This has never stopped me from going to Idaho to hunt with him. He is just as happy being out there with me and the grandson, he either drives the truck to pick us up, or we do alot of driving, spotting, looking at the country, etc.
I know deep down that it really bothers him and that he is sad he has to watch thru the binos as we do a walk, or wait at the truck because he just can't do it anymore, but i also know deep down he is happy that he is out there with us.
It's still good times and i will be sad when we are unable to even just drive around.
So give up some of the long, steep walks, do some glassing, talking, remembering, telling stories that you remember from younger days, and don't worry about getting meat on the ground.
Get him and Antelope tag, easier hunts, etc.
I think you both will find out that it's all good!

txhunter58 · Dec 25, 2013

Also remember that we think/say many things when we are tired/discouraged. Give it some time and see what happens. Could try again for the same unit and pray for snow, if not, he can ride the roads and glass for others.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

VTelkchaser · Dec 25, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Dec-25-13 AT 11:01AM (MST)[p]Thanks for the replies. My dad will continue to hunt with me, I just need to find a unit that isn't as physically demanding as East Canyon. I had a line on depredation tags but that fell thru. I would like to stay in Utah to keep the cost down.

COLOelkman · Dec 25, 2013

I know of a late season cow hunt in CO thru a rancher where you stay in cabins and most of the walking is very easy. Some areas you can actually sit in the vehicle. They charge a trespass fee as well as a cabin rental fee. It's in unit 26 just North of the Colorado River. I haven't done this for a few years as we decided that the $500-$600 or so for a weekend hunt was more than we wanted to spend and it was a hit or miss hunt depending a lot on the weather and snowpack. If you'd like more info, send me a PM and I'd be glad to send you their website and answer any questions you may have. If I wanted to hunt with my dad and it didn't matter whether we were always successful, I'd certainly consider it.

CAelknuts · Dec 25, 2013

Get ahold of Fishlakeelkhunter on here. He knows someone who runs late season cow elk hunts on private land. The hunt is very affordable, the hunting is very easy and you both will get a cow in a couple days or less.

There are plenty of locations where you can hunt elk in easy terrain, even hunting from the truck if you want. Your dad doesn't have to give up, you just need a new place to hunt that is easy for him.

elks96 · Dec 25, 2013

Great advice here and I agree that you can find some easier hunts (Colorado unit 3 december cow hunt). But in all honesty, there is something to be said for knowing when to hang it up. If it is his time then it is his time, sad as it maybe. I would offer another option for you 2. What about taking an incredible fishing trip together every other year? Alaska, Brazil, Florida, etc. That is my plan when I am broke down and not able to enjoy hunting due to my physical issues. I bet I can do a lot of great fishing...

Just a thought and maybe a new adventure and destination can reignite some drive!

nickman · Dec 28, 2013

Geez??I cannot believe all this doom and gloom BS on here!

I am 67 years old and have been crippled up for most of the last 45 years. I have hunted in places with friends and family, that no longer exist for ANY hunter. I have killed my share of quality animals, and been with friends and family who have taken many, many more.

Don't feel bad for us old guys and what we can no longer do?..we feel bad for you younger guys and what you can never experience!

My best hunting days are well behind me, but my memories and experiences will last my lifetime.

Don't feel too sorry for us old guys. We had our day, you can have yours, without having to cart our sorry asses around too much. We don't need it or expect it.

And we DAMN sure don't want your sympathy!

And for those of you who are REALLY whining about how hard it is for your "old Dad", mine died when he was 52. You have had MANY more years together than a lot of other people!

Maybe, you need to look into the glass "half full" concept??.

"If you get upset or offended by ANY website forum
post.....especially mine, you need serious
intervention!"

deerslayer88 · Dec 28, 2013

Unit 70,71,72 in Wyoming, it is outside of Casper is a easy hunt. If your dad can shoot he cant get a antelope out there. It is a long drive, so put in as a group on a 2nd choice. On a 1st choice do 94,95, 99,100 they are right at the corner of Wyoming and Utah by Evanston. Pretty much if you choose one of the units I listed as a first choice you probably won't draw for a few years, but you have the backup plan of Casper that has decent public lands but is a 6 hour drive from SLC.

mntman · Dec 28, 2013

>Geez??I cannot believe all this doom
>and gloom BS on here!
>
>
>I am 67 years old and
>have been crippled up for
>most of the last 45
>years. I have hunted in
>places with friends and family,
>that no longer exist for
>ANY hunter. I have killed
>my share of quality animals,
>and been with friends and
>family who have taken many,
>many more.
>
> Don't feel bad for us
>old guys and what we
>can no longer do?..we feel
>bad for you younger guys
>and what you can never
>experience!
>
>My best hunting days are well
>behind me, but my memories
>and experiences will last my
>lifetime.
>
>Don't feel too sorry for us
>old guys. We had our
>day, you can have yours,
>without having to cart our
>sorry asses around too much.
>We don't need it or
>expect it.
>
> And we DAMN sure don't
>want your sympathy!
>
>And for those of you who
>are REALLY whining about how
>hard it is for your
>"old Dad", mine died when
>he was 52. You have
>had MANY more years together
>than a lot of other
>people!
>
>Maybe, you need to look into
>the glass "half full" concept??.
>
>
>"If you get upset or offended
>by ANY website forum
>post.....especially mine, you need serious
>intervention!"

UH????? I think you need to go back and re-read the posts again cause what you are describing is not what was said above...

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?

coyoteslayer · Dec 30, 2013

Pm sent

Califelkslayer · Dec 30, 2013

mntman, my thoughts exactly, but you said it.

Good hunts, bad hunts, hard hunts, easy hunts, missed opportunities, lucky days, being inexperienced, getting too old to do it, they are all part of hunting.

VTelkchaser · Dec 31, 2013

Thanks for the useful information coyoteslayer .... that was what I was hoping to gain from this thread.

Im sorry if some thought I was looking for sympathy as nothing could be farther from the truth. My dad and I have had an amazing run and I want to do everything in my power to get a few more years out of it. I thought that asking other fellow hunters for suggestions on Cow elk areas that are easier to access might help me do that.

I thank all of you who have had positive and helpful things to say. Not sure what to say to the others.