Lost the drive.

theox

Very Active Member
Messages
2,278
Have any of you ever just lost the excitement for hunting? What did you do.
Seems like for the last few
Years I’ve been losing the drive more and more. I can’t believe it and can’t figure out why. I just don’t have the drive anymore. It used to be like Xmas morning on the opener.
It used to be all I thought about, my life revolved around it.
I still get excited when I have an opportunity on An animal. But getting motivated to get out and actually go find one has been challenging.
Not sure if it’s just having young kids and it’s overwhelming or what, or if it’s because social media takes the excitement out because everyone criticizes everything you do and There’s no one to share it with anymore...idk
Anyone else feel this way?

Any suggestions on how to rekindle my love for it?
 
There is a pretty good thread about this from about 6mo-1yr ago. Social Media plays a big role in people losing their passion in many areas of life IMO. Since I quit all social media, (not MM of course), I am more excited to get out and enjoy the woods, looking for the adventure instead of just killing the biggest animal I can find, and I only do it for me and my circle instead of all the followers of the Gram. Quitting social media has re-aligned my perspective and priorities. I'll never go back unless it is for business marketing purposes.......and then I'll probably hire it out.

My 0.2.
))--SLIVER-->
 
Wish I had an answer for you. I’ve read where others are in the same boat. If you have young kids, you probably aren’t old yet. Try and plan on trips with the kids and sharing with them your adventures. Forget about social media. If that’s what’s ruining your drive, just get off of it. I’m 60 and been hunting since legal for me and last year I had the weirdest deer hunting trip ever. Snow and bitter cold. I usually lived for that kind of hunting weather. But last year it drained me and I was ready to give up and call the hunt over. Never felt like that before. This year I’m ready to get out again, but wondering if the weathers bad will I enjoy it. Sure hope so. I hope whatever it is, you can get back into “the mood” and have that desire again. Good luck.
 
I haven’t lost it yet. My work/career has made it more and more difficult for me to have any time to pursue it. The last two or three years I must have worked 30+ weekends a year. I’m on my fourth year without a permit and that doesn’t help the passion much. This year my brother in law has a good deer permit and work is slowing down and I am starting to feel much better.
 
the older i get the more i believe its about balance in life. i went for years where its all that mattered. if i didn't fill 5-6 tags a year i felt like a failure. frankly i killed a lot of stuff, but a sacrificed more then any of it was worth. keep it in perspective and slow down enough to enjoy the week in the woods or the weekend or whatever it is for what it is. and dont take a minute f time with your kids for granted. nothing will rob your passion for hunting like regret for time you missed else where. im probably just getting old but i can tell you im happier now and enjoy the woods more then i ever did.

and yes. log off places like this and facebook....
 
I have lost the drive some, and if it were not for my kids, it would even be worse, but the memories with my kids are what hunting is about for me at the moment. I have made the joke the past few years to my kids of why am I even packing my gun. I never shoot anymore, but get my enjoyment out of watching them shoot. This past weekend, my two boys shot a good bull out of a tree stand and their grandpa was able to track it for them. Those are memories none of us will ever forget. I think it is okay to not be as hard core as you once was, but to still go and enjoy when you want to. I remember a good friend telling me that you will never kill the biggest one on the mountain. At the time it really ticked me off and I was going to show him. Well now, I realize I will never kill the biggest one on the mountain and I am okay with that. Realistic expectations on what the hunt is going to be has made the difference for me. I went to Colorado hunting elk last year, and I have passed some great animals in my day. Even though I had 21 points, I realized that a 300" bull was for the most part what I was hunting and I went with that attitude. I actually enjoyed that hunt alot, because I had the proper expectations. I have came to the realizations that I will never kill a monster buck, because I am not going to put in time and effort it takes to do it. Its not that important to me. Take your kids with you and in the long run, you will know that the trophys are the memories not the mounts on the wall.
 
My drive to hunt big game has really deteriorated. The amount of people in the woods this year is absolutely crazy. I have 3 daughters and none of them have a desire to hunt. My middle daughter drew a fantastic tag this year, but told me after this year she is done. Solo big game hunting isn't much fun anymore. I have started hunting upland birds more and really enjoy that. It's fun to watch my dog work.
 
I haven't tagged much in 30+ years, still love the hunt. For me, it's about the time with like-minded people. It's been tough since Daddy passed away, but now,my grandson is really into hunting. He's excited to shoot gophers! Gets me going too.
 
I’m in the same boat at age 61. For me hunting with someone young really helps. Last year I went on a backpack archery elk hunt with a kid I’ve known since he was three, he killed a 310 bull and it was really cool to see how much exxcitement he had for the whole process. Packing the elk out and down 2400’ nearly killed me, I hated it so much I’m going with him again friday morning.

5ECB8535-53F1-4A28-98F2-E00B685D1A14.jpeg
 
I have started hunting upland birds more and really enjoy that. It's fun to watch my dog work.

another good point. You don’t have to hunt everything or buy every tag. I felt for years I had to hunt every season for every species out there just as hard as I could. I still buy most tags and give some effort to each with most concentration on maybe one like this year it will be elk and I haven’t scouted a day for deer. I’ll shoot one I’m sure cuz I’ve got decent areas to kill a buck but the first day looking for them will be the day I go out

But honestly I look forward to coyote hunting more than anything any more. Man I love getting out in the winter calling
 
I'm 73 now, been hunting starting in '55 as an 8 yo kid. Never gets old. I just keep plugging along. The lack of drawing good tags at least once a year really is deflating !!! . Now that gets old. ?? Keep telling yourself others are out there too suffering the same way. Lack of opportunity on big game tags due to things out of our control, just makes life tougher ! Never give up.
Jerry Gold ?
Windsor, Colorado
 
Agree with some others. Work takes a lot of drive away. Our factory runs right when hunting starts. Impossible to take vacation. Gets depressing when you cant draw a tag year after year. Thank God i got general season so i can hunt.

Tristate nailed with taking kids. After our campaign ends in jan/feb at work i get to take the kids rabbit hunting. Recently the kids fell in love with fishing. I flippin hate fishing. Never really have nor did i plan to ever be a part of it. But it isnt about me, its about the kids. Sooo i bought some poles/tackle along watching a lot of youtube and we been slaying some blue gill just 10 min from the house.

My favortite hunt is approaching fast which is just a extra doe tag. Last year i took the kids. A fawn last year got confused and ran just a few yards from my boy. That moment was the highlight of my hunting season. Just because of a simple doe tag. Filling a whitetail doe tag is cake. But add some kids that get distracted by simple things makes the hunt more challenging but hey they are having fun. Our goal is to harvest a doe at close range so they can see everything go down
 
Just turned 54 and yeah, it happens. Priorities change.
I still love to hunt, but mainly simple hunts closer to home.
I enjoy hunting what everyone else is NOT hunting.
 
The reduction in opportunity, the advent of technology, and so many other hobbies to take part in plays a big role I think.
I still have more desire to hunt than opportunity to hunt, but I certainly don’t freak out when I can’t get a tag. I’d rather have a tag, but have other hobbies that bring me lots of joy.
 
So!

'The Ox' decides to take up Fishing instead of Hunting!

An avid hunter finds a way to adapt to a new sport in this humorous short cartoon.

 
For me, I think it comes down to having a good hunting location. I could see myself deflating quite a bit if I didn’t have a good spot to hunt elk every year. Also, not being able to get a public land tag every year would add to the lack of enthusiasm for hunting. As long as I can get a tag or go with someone that has a tag, I’ll eat, sleep, and drink hunting 365 days a year. Lately, I have enjoyed helping others find a quality animal even more than pulling the trigger.
 
Obsession can wane to just passion, which can wane to still having interest and enjoyment. Priorities change. Honestly, the effects of years of abuse and neglect on the body has affected me the worst. I can't cover the ground like I used to. Can't pack the weight.

That being said, I've learned to enjoy the hunt more for the hunt and less for the animal. We like the meat, so hope to fill a tag, but am okay if I don't, as long as I can still enjoy some fresh air, the smells of sage, earth and pine. Still can feel a shivery, frosty morning breeze and the warm baking of the afternoon sun. Still hear the hushing of wind in the white pines and lodge poles and rustling of the leaves in the aspen.
 
At 64, and I still have the passion to get out and get it done. although I am creeping up with age, and have had my fair share of injuries, which has lead to surgeries, 2 back, 1 neck, and 4 hand surgeries over the years, coupled with prostate cancer issues. I find my energy level is not what it used to be, but still plug away. The excitement to plan the trip, pack for the trip, and the road trip to get there, is still exciting to me. I do believe my more extreme hiking ability is a thing of the past due to weakness in my legs, due to the back injuries. But I still have that special rush opening morning. And when I see an animal with bone on his head, I start shaking like a leaf.
I have been lucky in that I hunt with a core group of guys that is going on over 20 years now. Hunted places like Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and the home state, California. As long as the passion is there, I will keep going until I no longer can. But I damn well better hurry up, since I have accumulated a boat load of points in several states. Time to start cashing them in.
 
At 64, and I still have the passion to get out and get it done. although I am creeping up with age, and have had my fair share of injuries, which has lead to surgeries, 2 back, 1 neck, and 4 hand surgeries over the years, coupled with prostate cancer issues. I find my energy level is not what it used to be, but still plug away. The excitement to plan the trip, pack for the trip, and the road trip to get there, is still exciting to me. I do believe my more extreme hiking ability is a thing of the past due to weakness in my legs, due to the back injuries. But I still have that special rush opening morning. And when I see an animal with bone on his head, I start shaking like a leaf.
I have been lucky in that I hunt with a core group of guys that is going on over 20 years now. Hunted places like Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and the home state, California. As long as the passion is there, I will keep going until I no longer can. But I damn well better hurry up, since I have accumulated a boat load of points in several states. Time to start cashing them in.
Yes indeed, time to cash in the points in every state possible ! Time waits for no man. I've got lots of points in AZ., Resident Lifetime Hunting License, still can't pull a tag there. Lots of Colorado Points, more of a chance there. AZ is an exercise in extreme futility. I'm 73 but still excited every fall when the cold winds blow & the Aspens turn gold. But got to keep trying ! Early bird gets that worm, but 2 nd mouse gets the cheese, a famous singer said LOL ?. Ha ha ha. Keep plugging along no matter what happens- & never look back ! Jerry Gold ?? Windsor , Colorado
 
I’m 53 have been hunting since I was 10 and taking out of state hunts since I was 18. I still love it and look forward to every trip. Since the kids are grown and out of the house it’s been 2-3 trips every year. For me the most frustrating part is I have some health issues and can no longer hunt the way I did and would like.
My wife of all people just recently encouraged me to not give up and keep going. I just got back from a Wyoming Antelope Hunt and she came along for the first time ever. I took her up to where I have done a lot of Deer and Elk hunting and showed her where I used to hike up to. I told her my days of doing that where probably over, she could tell I was a little down. She told me to suck it up put my oxygen on and do it, I would just have to go a lot slower. She’s right it won’t be like it was anymore but I can still make the most of it as long as I can.
 
The last few years the interest has lessened. I am sure with my mother ill the last two years and spending lots of time there to help and her passing this past December was a factor, then helping my healthy dad at 93 get going again after and him passing away last week, had my mind in other places. I'm going to be 64, and I still have the drive to a lessened extent but not it's not similar to when it was all about hunting and in several states and Canada. I am sure as you age, especially with me, the drive has diminished and have been blessed to be able to hunt in many places and taken some nice animals with great memories.

Today is more about getting out here and there, enjoying the hunt, taking in everything that nature has to offer and every now and then harvesting a animal to fill a tag. It doesn't happen as often but that is not the sole purpose of being out in the wild.

I am relatively healthy, can still hunt most of the day and in most places but that will become more challenging over the next few years. I have a few hunts on my Bucket list that I want to get done the next couple of years while I still can and hopefully get lucky to draw the Moose and Elk tag to do so.

For those that are younger and still able and looking for a reason to "have the drive", look at enjoying the outdoors, take in all of what nature has to offer and not just wanting to kill a big mature Animal, and understand some day you won't be able to do so. The memories you created with the hunts and friends over the years is what you will cherish the most when you no longer can.
 
As a kid in the 50's i ate breathed and slept fishing and hunting. I could not wait for the seasons to change each year.
Now I just like to get out and be in the woods, if there are deer or elk there great if not the hunt with the family is what I love.
I have two grandsons and two grand daughters and just wanted them to hunt and fish like myself. It's a no go except for one Grand daughter. She wants to be there with me and her Dad I love it...
Makes me want to go again what's even better is she wants to gut the animal. Go figure
So this year as weird as it is I am excited to go because of her and my son. I just hope there is some area left after the fires. Eel emailed me this morning and told me the fires are close to where we are going to hunt.
Now that's depressing as Jerry says.
 
I had a time in there when the kids were a big priority where hunting was harder to get motivated for. I hated scouting in the heat of summer and trying to get the kids sorted so we could go. Easier to sip a beer by the kiddie pool and bbq then pack all the chit required.

Bowhunted every year since 1981 and it's never been more fun as it is now at 58 year old. Trying to keep up with the youngsters and away from the crowds is getting harder and harder, but I'm learning to just enjoy it more.

Last week on my first trip to Wy for a LE hunt, I passed on a 5x5 bull about 7:00pm then watched the sun set as they mossy'd off. Right then had flock of geese locked up for landing and all 5 or 6 of them tumbled upside down simultaneously skylined in the setting sun as they landed over the ridgeline from me on a small lake at about 9400'. Crazy place for geese to be hanging out. Next I walked out to glass a meadow a few minutes later from some boulders right where the geese disappeared over the ridge and had an owl fly over and almost land in my out stretched hand four or five times to within a couple feet!

Truly one of the most epic days in the woods I've ever had !!!

Passions come and go and stress puts a burden on the ones you can't drop everything for. Don't sweat it and remember it's the road there that can be the most enjoyable and not necessarily the being there.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Ox I'm guessing your wife does not hunt. Those years when the kids are too young to enjoy hunting, and when they require too much effort to watch make hunting hard. Time away from family to hunt comes at a premium. Those are the years that I minimized hunting time and went with friends who were in the same boat. Fast forward a few years (trust me they will go so fast) and your kids can start drawing tags. Hunting is great for yourself but it's a whole new level fun when your going step for step with your kids. I love teaching them the things I wish I had known about hunting at their age. My dad gave me the love of outdoors. His last tag was over 30 years ago. No passion to kill anything anymore, but he has come along on some great hunts with us and been a good luck charm. I love the time spent with him in the woods.

This year on the archery opener with my 16 year old I thought I was done. Our 8 miles of hiking up and down those steep canyons had me spent and took a lot out of me. It only took one day of recovery before I cant wait to be stalking those bucks we saw with muzzle loader in my boys hands. We saw a lot of bucks and some good ones. Sports school and work get in the way but it adds to the excitement when we get to go. I wish I had a tag but not nearly a much as I hope to spend time with my boys and hopefully see my youngest get his first big game animal.

Here's two story's of hunting with my kids, it's better than any of my hunts.



In the story of the big horn sheep I mention how I also got a Rocky mountain goat that year. I had desired that hunt for 25 years. I used to take 14 mile self pity hikes on the opening morning of the goat hunt just to see others success and offer a helping hand for pack out. I sure wish I could have done the hunt 10 years younger than I did because I had lost a lot of the passion for it. The big horn sheep hunt that same year with my son however was flat out awesome and I hope to be on a hunt of it's equal in my future.

Good luck Ox. It just takes a new experience and the passion will come flooding back.
 
Booked a guided Barbary hunt for Feb., and it looks like I'll get to take my wife and son along.
Think I'm more excited about travelling with them than the hunt.
 
I'm losing the drive to hunt big game. I'm 65----elk hunting where I hunt @ 11500' is now work. I've done it for 40 years in the same area. Camped in the same camp site, hunted the same trials & stands. Killed a bunch of elk over the years. The last 4 or 5 elk---I was asking myself "Why did you pull the trigger". I've got enough points to draw a rifle timber line buck tag here in Colorado. But I feel the same way----mtns are a little too steep & the ground is little too hard to sleep on. I've got an antelope tag this year----the only reason was my buddy who's 73 wants a nice buck antelope. It's on his bucket list-----so we applied as a group. Otherwise I've killed a nice buck in Unit 2 years ago. Killed moose, bighorn sheep, mtn goat, black bear, mule & whitetail deer and mtn lion. Killed an oryx in NM on the White Sands Range.

Killing big game is work now. But turkeys are another story. They like nice warm, dry-- blue bird days. They gobble and come to the call just like an elk. In fact they are called the poor man's elk. And after I pull the trigger---I can pick them up with 1 hand and it's only 1 trip back to camp.

My wife & I really enjoy going to our cabin on the Kenai River in AK. She loves to fishing for "Reds"---sockeye. We try to bring back 100lbs of fillets every summer.

As far as small game hunting---I use to love to duck hunt. But then it got to be work cleaning and plucking all those ducks & geese. Plus we had to eat that flying liver. Grouse hunting was more like elk scouting with a shotgun. Now I'm getting into trap shooting----I love seeing that "black smoke" when I hammer the target. Plus you don't have to pick them up, clean & eat them. Also if it's raining or nasty weather-----just sit in the club house, drink coffee & BS.
Bob
 
Work has taken a lot of the fun out if it, hopefully when I move on in a couple of years it will start to come back.

Go more for the kiddos now, and it's actually difficult at times to stay enthused. Never thought it would happen...
 
At 72, big game hunting is just getting too tedious. Getting the tag, all the planning, all the logistics, all the work if you get one and then all the clean up. All to maybe take one shot with a rifle.

I'm going back to my first love this year. I'm joining 3 other guys who have exclusive hunting rights on a ranch that is a 20 minute drive from home to hunt waterfowl. They kill about 400 Aleutian Geese every year. They don't bother to shoot ducks but I can. All the decoys and quads are in the barn. I don't have to bring anything but my shotgun and ammo. I don't need decoys because there is lots of jump shooting for ducks. And the best part is the rancher will take all the birds we don't want. $500 is a bargain.
 
At 72, big game hunting is just getting too tedious. Getting the tag, all the planning, all the logistics, all the work if you get one and then all the clean up. All to maybe take one shot with a rifle.

I'm going back to my first love this year. I'm joining 3 other guys who have exclusive hunting rights on a ranch that is a 20 minute drive from home to hunt waterfowl. They kill about 400 Aleutian Geese every year. They don't bother to shoot ducks but I can. All the decoys and quads are in the barn. I don't have to bring anything but my shotgun and ammo. I don't need decoys because there is lots of jump shooting for ducks. And the best part is the rancher will take all the birds we don't want. $500 is a bargain.
That sounds like an awesome deal eel
 
I'm 71 this year. Can hardly believe it but time rolls on. I didn't draw a res. Utard tag or NR Wyoming tag this year, so I was demoted to tending a couple of the younger grandsons while the son and older grandson went hunting on the Wyoming archery hunt opener. It felt better to sleep in and hear their wild stories than to get up and go with them. They got into elk every day of the three day Labor Day weekend, and the grandson got shots at two monster bucks.

I used to be so excited that I couldn't sleep the night before the opener. I guess if I could draw a good tag it would be different, but without a tag, it's hard to get excited at all anymore. Especially after a long series of p-poor Utah hunts under my belt.
 
Hey Ox - yes it happened to me too. I’m 47 married a couple kids, teenagers, and very blessed.
Been hunting big game, upland and waterfowl for 37 years.
It’s not social media : to me it’s the industry and the direction the sport is heading. Big cash ? for big game, public lands filled up with quite a few morons, piss poor management of our lands, and the CDOW screwing with tags and draws. Let’s throw some wolves out there too.
Demotivating!
What I did?, not a damn thing yet. I love that my son has a crazy passion for this now & that’s all I got. When I figure it out - I’ll PM ya.
 
"Get involved". That's the line that gets repeated. So I did. RAC meetings, WB meetings.

Nothing sucked my love for hunting like that. Watching the industry grab of hunting really hurt the passion. I assumed everyone loved hunting. Those meetings proved otherwise.

Took a few years to get rid of most of my disgust.

My focus changed. My boys make it fun again

Although this year has been tough on everyone. From Spring closures, to the elk tag debacle, its been hard to get excited.

But, it was pretty chilly yesterday morn. That sparked it for me.
 
Here's my two cents- I feel very humbled and blessed to have had the privilege to be raised by hunting parents, who took me and my brothers with them on EVERY hunt, from practically birth. Their love of nature and wildlife has been chiseled into my own DNA.

Hunters are a very small group of people in this country. It amazes me to think that people live their entire life and never see a bull elk or mule deer or turkey, much less hunt them! I feel the same way about being raised on our ranch. The vast majority of people on this planet, NEVER throw a leg over a horse and go for a ride, much less do it daily. That opportunity is priceless to me and i will go as long as i can. When/if my body fails me, i hope death isn't too far behind it, because my life will be incomplete, without hunting and ranching and places man hasn't ruined with a park or a city.

Will Primos said that "The good Lord only gives us all so many sunrises, and you have to be up to see them". I've slowed down as I've entered my early 50's. May have something to do with a few horse wrecks and the time i spent riding bulls? But every day is a gift. Being on ANY mountain with a rifle or muzzy or bow in my hand is like winning the lottery!

Tomorrow is never promised and i am always amazed by nature and God's handiwork. I'm in awe of a quakie patch, in its vibrant yellow colors, and the pink and orange of a maple grove! I am thrilled to hear a bull chuckle or a grouse drum or hear buck's horns rattle while waiting for the sun in a high basin! I am left speechless at a lightning storm rolling across the desert and the power of its fireworks show!

I may not hike as far and as fast, but my love for things far from people and town has grown deeper and stronger with age. I HAVE to feed it as often as i am able. THANKFULLY, my life and my vocation allows that to happen a bunch.


My advice to those who feel the spark is flickering would be to FEED IT! Turn away from the noise and pollution and madness of civilization. Turn to the mountains and river bottoms and deserts and secret fishing spots! Count the blessing you have and ignore the things that dampen your fire! Life is terminal for everyone of us! Don't waste a single moment. A bad day hunting or fishing beats the best day at work! And sharing it with family or friends is the icing on top.
 
I posted a thread on this called "burned out", about 2 years ago. I had and still have young kids. I was pushing myself so hard with preparation, shooting, exercising, researching, solo hunting. It was all so overwhelming. I was comparing myself to guys on social media, I used to feel good about my accomplishments but social media was ruining it. I got to the point where I despised hunting. I would try to do other things whenever I thought about hunting. After a year I was getting a little excited, but nothing like before. About another year later and I can honestly say that I love hunting again. I have changed my priorities and the way I look at hunting but I love it in a much healthier way. Don't over prepare, don't shoot and shoot and shoot. Don't over exercise. And for heaven's sakes get off Instagram and any other social media garbage. Keep It Fun and a little lighter. I can now say once again I feel good about my hunting accomplishments and they make me smile. The memories make me smile. MM, is a form of social media but not near as bad as Instagram. I got to the point where I stopped checking mm for quite a while too. Just stay away from hunting Don't force yourself to do it unless you want to. Don't hunt the way others think you should hunt. If you don't like solo hunting then don't solo hunt. If you like a comfortable camp and like to come back during the day and relax instead of hit it hard all day then do that. To heck with what others think real hunting is. I have been where you are. Listen to this advice and be patient, you will be okay. I have been there, that's why I'm here?
 
Last edited:
Have any of you ever just lost the excitement for hunting? What did you do.
Seems like for the last few
Years I’ve been losing the drive more and more. I can’t believe it and can’t figure out why. I just don’t have the drive anymore. It used to be like Xmas morning on the opener.
It used to be all I thought about, my life revolved around it.
I still get excited when I have an opportunity on An animal. But getting motivated to get out and actually go find one has been challenging.
Not sure if it’s just having young kids and it’s overwhelming or what, or if it’s because social media takes the excitement out because everyone criticizes everything you do and There’s no one to share it with anymore...idk
Anyone else feel this way?

Any suggestions on how to rekindle my love for it?
I took a break from it. The kids got me busy with their cattle showing and judging. It keep me busy durning the fall. So with covid and no cattle shows and dairy judging team either done or moved to college i had time this year. I got the itch back. Working out and ready to go!
 
At 72, big game hunting is just getting too tedious. Getting the tag, all the planning, all the logistics, all the work if you get one and then all the clean up. All to maybe take one shot with a rifle.

I'm going back to my first love this year. I'm joining 3 other guys who have exclusive hunting rights on a ranch that is a 20 minute drive from home to hunt waterfowl. They kill about 400 Aleutian Geese every year. They don't bother to shoot ducks but I can. All the decoys and quads are in the barn. I don't have to bring anything but my shotgun and ammo. I don't need decoys because there is lots of jump shooting for ducks. And the best part is the rancher will take all the birds we don't want. $500 is a bargain.

that’s a steel, eel....
 
Good question - very interesting to read the responses and the various reasons some are thinking of or have quit the sport.
 
I don't have a burning desire to kill anything anymore (moose excepted). But I will be back out in a blind in about an hour because I can't help myself.

I am moving more and more to a camera. I can hunt whatever I want whenever I want. And the pack out is about right for me these days. :)

I'm taking the camera to the blind this morning. I'm more looking forward to it than yesterday.
 
Ox, I get what your saying. I've been feeling that way for a few years now. Social media has nothing to do with it.
It's more about having less time because life has got so busy and I've gotten in a lot worse shape physically.
I'm to the point I'll just go when I have time and try to not worry about the trips I might be missing out on.
 
I will never quit the sport, but I do need to cut back on the amount of equipment I bring on these hunts. Back in the day, it was a simple dome tent with a cooler and a sleeping bag....bare bone supplies. Now, I have an 5x10 trailer, with a ramp for an ATV to be parked on top. I have a 14x17 wall tent, a shower stall, A oven, stove, cook a 16 lbs, Prime Rib in camp. Have 3, 6 man dome tents for sleeping, each with heaters. I am responsible for putting together the food for the trip, Hell, I even bought a pizza oven on a trip.
We do eat well on our trip! But each year it gets harder and harder to pull off, Like Homer said, 2 weeks to prepare for and 2 weeks to clean-up. But at the end of the day....I love it. And when it is time to squeeze the trigger, I am shaking like a leaf. When that excitement is gone , It will be time to hand up the gun. But the fact that I hunt with great guys of whom I have know far back as 60 years, in kinder -garden glass, then a group from a lumber yard at a Ducks Unlimited Group. They have all been super fun hunts with great memories....and some nice animals, Granted, it has became a little tougher due to my physical conditions and so forth. But I love the planning, the packing, the road trips, the camps, and of course, the harvest. I just hope I last long enough to get my grandson involved,
the I will be satisfied.
 
Sometimes life just gets in the way. Finances put a damper on it sometimes. Family makes it more difficult. Sometimes we just feel like we're not up to the challenge. There are a plethora of reasons we can lose the passion.

To get it back, I'd say we just have to jump in and do it. I've had life get in the way. My last daughter was born with significant medical issues and disabilities. As such, it will be very hard for my family to take her camping with us, and financially we'd have to make some significant investment into an appropriate "rig" that might be suitable.

Also, my best hunting buddy (my dad) is no longer able to get out and hike like we used to. (He's getting a double knee replacement over the next 6 months). So I find myself in a place where I have no one to hunt with in the manner I want to, and a family situation that makes it hard to go hunting for any more than 2 days at a time.

BUT, I find myself sitting on 6 general season points here in Utah. And my wife and I think that next year will be a good year to just jump back in and start going every year again. Now I'm pumped for next year and plan to make the most of the next several months so that maybe financially we can make some upgrades. The question now is, where to use my points? I'd love a rifle hunt, I miss those cold October mornings from my 20s. But, the kids like playing in streams when we're camping, so maybe an archery hunt would be more fun for them... Who knows? Cheers mate.
 
Wow Great Question
I have been blessed with some amazing hunting in western Colorado and have harvested several quality bucks and bulls! I started hunting when you could buy a tag and hunt almost all of western Colorado on an OTC tag, now I get a quality hunt once every 5 years for deer and 8 years for elk.
I have also found I was bored with my hunting areas and since I almost always hunt solo I have had days and weeks to crawl around in my own head.
YES I have hit the wall hard.
here are a few things I have worked through-
Focus on the freedom of the wilderness not the hunt! I had to learn to differentiate between the love of the hunt and the love of the outdoors
Now don’t get me wrong I walked over 50 miles in 6 days to harvest my largest buck and dropped 12#’s during the hunt but if i failed to Enjoy the smell of the sage/pine/cedar etc.., if the aqua tablet water wasn’t the best water I drank all year and the Mountian House wasn’t a gourmet meal I would have missed out!

Probably the biggest thing for me when I was dragging bottom was the thought of packing gear... so find a day to gather your gear including lunch, bottled water, Everything so when its go time you can not give yourself any excuse to not go!

I have also found rabbit and coyote hunting really helped changed my attitude and remind me why I like to hunt.

I have also changed my attitude about size of the buck/bull and hunt smaller males or ES tags because I have found prepping and cooking the game has brought a freshness and joy I didn’t have before and finally I also have began taking others hunting and that is fun to experience their excitement ?
Stay the course!
 
I totally agree what someone already said “take a kid hunting and that will put gas back in your tank” couldn’t have been said any better. It is so awesome to see their eyes light up when anything remotely fun happens. To see the excitement when their down their first dove, duck or having them run down a big ole Canada Goose and then the Goose decides it’s his turn to run them down is some of the best memories I have of hunting and if any of you have seen this you know It’s Priceless”!

For me I used to be really Mad at the ducks and geese but after quite a few years of hunting on Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings it’s “Ok I did That!” Then went to whitetail hunting same thing. Now I’m really Mad at hunting out West! Hunting Ditch Parrots in South Dakota, in Utah chasing world class Elk bulging in the timber raising the hair on the back of your neck and seeing those huge Muleys. I can’t wait to hunt a black bear, mountain lion, or a Majestic Bighorn Sheep. That should be enough to take me to my grave! LOL!

joe
 
I think the easiest way to get that spark back is to find a hunting partner. Easier said than done. I like having someone to push and joke around with. Getting up sometimes when you are the only adult in camp can be tough. I have 5 kids and life really does make it harder. Now add in the fact that great big game hunting is out of state makes it even harder. I still get up and make it happen but man it would be easier having someone to also push me a little
 
I think the easiest way to get that spark back is to find a hunting partner. Easier said than done. I like having someone to push and joke around with. Getting up sometimes when you are the only adult in camp can be tough. I have 5 kids and life really does make it harder. Now add in the fact that great big game hunting is out of state makes it even harder. I still get up and make it happen but man it would be easier having someone to also push me a little

tbh your prob right. I hunted with a guy for over a decade. Then all of a sudden the last few years he just gives me the cold shoulder. Idk what happened we used to be great friends and idk now.
 
Not sure what the answer is about losing interest - I posted on this in June "Not Ready to Quit" - think losing interest has a lot to do with several reasons - I have hunted since age 12 and I will be 81 next month and still love to hunt, I have a buck tag for this coming Saturday and a late season cow tag. For me, I kept in good shape through the years, probably something to do with not smoking and exercising - I also have several hobbies and not focused on one. Motorcycles, playing music, bird hunting, and golf fill my days. I have been married for 58 years and the wife never rides me about my hobbies. I retired at age 65 from working industry, the last years in mining. Most of my hunting buddies have either passed on or not physically able to hunt. I will have to admit I don't hunt like I use to, the days of setting up camp and hanging for several days are gone - I now hunt closer to home but as you live in an area you get smarter on where to hunt,. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Yo
 
tbh your prob right. I hunted with a guy for over a decade. Then all of a sudden the last few years he just gives me the cold shoulder. Idk what happened we used to be great friends and idk now.
Probably you either snore or smell funny. Or both.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom