Seniors still hunting

[Oldbloke]

I'm not really that old. Turned 70 earlier in the year. I've been at it since my early 20's. I hope to have a few more years hunting in me still.
But I'm hunting more now, mainly because I'm retired, but also fewer family commitments.
Like many, stared on rabbits. But for me the evolution to larger game was fairly slow. Few clubs around back then and not keen on clubs anyway. So, I've been a loner.

A few weekends a year has become much more now.

Because I've slowed down a bit I'm no longer doing the long hikes I did in the past. But TBH all those years i didn't do too well. Always enjoyed the weekends away tho.
And that is what has driven me, the relaxation, enjoyment of the bush. Slowing down has resulted in far better results.
I mainly "ambush" now. Much easier.

So, how many here are "seniors"?
How has your hunting changed?
What do you do differently?
What would you change?

[bigrich]

I'm not really that old. Turned 70 earlier in the year. I've been at it since my early 20's. I hope to have a few more years hunting in me still.
But I'm hunting more now, mainly because I'm retired, but also fewer family commitments.
Like many, stared on rabbits. But for me the evolution to larger game was fairly slow. Few clubs around back then and not keen on clubs anyway. So, I've been a loner.

A few weekends a year has become much more now.

Because I've slowed down a bit I'm no longer doing the long hikes I did in the past. But TBH all those years i didn't do too well. Always enjoyed the weekends away tho.
And that is what has driven me, the relaxation, enjoyment of the bush. Slowing down has resulted in far better results.
I mainly "ambush" now. Much easier.

So, how many here are "seniors"?
How has your hunting changed?
What do you do differently?
What would you change?

i suppose it depends on your definition of senior mate i'm 57 , but after a lifetime of repetitive manual labour as a tradie , i definitely feel senior .
i'm actually pretty fit for my age, but being over 130kg , 6" 4" and having done the work i have , my joints and muscles have started slowing me down . i can't walk 20+ k's a day like i used to . i tend to drive to within 1k from likely spots and stalk in and wait awhile .

after my physical description , now youse guys know why my name on this site is "big rich" i posted a pic of a buffalo hunt i did years ago, and i made the buff look like a calf

[Oldbloke]

" i tend to drive to within 1k from likely spots and stalk in and wait awhile ."

Same here.

[Robin]

Your only as old as the woman you feel, or if she's old, then your as old as the whisky you drink.

It's great seeing seniors out there doing what they enjoy rather then being benched because of there age.

[Faedy]

Im 58, worked and played hard, and hunted all my life.
I do 1 or 2 big hunts a year and spend the rest mainly spotlighting or small walk hunts.
Certainly helps having a range of feral animals, and a few thousand acres to hunt on locally nearby.

[Blr243]

In June I’m going deer hunting with a bloke who is 80 plus . But he’s a tough ol codger and doesn’t know he’s old. I’m nearly 56. I have noticed when I walk around in the bush at night I go back to Csmp and have a nanna nap and then go out walking again. And then back again for a nanna nap at camp. I only carry mini back pack and rifle and tripod. Definitely not carry ing big packs. And sit and wait on dams is becoming more regular.

[Oldbloke]

In June I’m going deer hunting with a bloke who is 80 plus . But he’s a tough ol codger and doesn’t know he’s old. I’m nearly 56. I have noticed when I walk around in the bush at night I go back to Csmp and have a nanna nap and then go out walking again. And then back again for a nanna nap at camp. I only carry mini back pack and rifle and tripod. Definitely not carry ing big packs. And sit and wait on dams is becoming more regular.

Well, 80, bloody good stuff.

Yes,
Out in the morning for 2-3 hours, a big brunch and then a Pa nap. (I'm a bloke. Lol)
Then repeat in the evening.
Just sitting over dams, trails, etc

Works for me. Four deer over the last 12 months.

[Bugman]

Have not been hunting for some time until the Easter weekend. Yes it was good to do a bit of walking/stalking and hunting but the clean country air made me feel alive, even at my age.

[markg]

I'm 67 , still working (plumber). I still manage the backpack thing well. Fortunate enough to have taken good care of my back and knees are still good. I can't get enough of it. Ultralight everything. I love getting into the bush. If your doing it right , apart from getting to your campsite you shouldn't be trapesing through the places you intend to hunt anyway. God willing I hope to keep going for many more years.

[Fester]

All I can do is try and keep the weight down and also try and do more sit and wait.
64 but was retired with a bad back from heavy industry at about 53.

Took up shooting again and was hunting rabbits before I got through my first shooting year with the 22
Then sighted deer in the state forest and I was hooked, will hunt them as long as I can walk in solo.

I have no land access and living a quiet life, not likely to ever get any. I don't go knocking on people's doors and don't want people knocking on mine, so state forests is it for me.

I haven't shot one in years, but seing them is enough to keep me going back.
The extra hunting and logging pressure has made the Sydney Central West popular forests a bit hard and I will have to travel now, although I must have seen about 6, including a normal young forest buck last hunt in a new forest.
Hard as I suspect the huge logging effort may have pushed them into a young pines area that is near impossible to hunt.
I found a way like glassing slopes but recovery would be a challenge.

I did fluke a time after Covid during those extremely wet years and must have been too wet for the crowds.
Lower pressure had me shoot a great young snack pack and when I did another morning hunt the next week, I hear a good strong croaking buck, stalked in, sat behind a log watching the does.
Then he stepped out of the brushes and took a mighty Swede pill in the chest.
He walked back and forth, laid in his scrape and passed.

I didn't even get soaked with rain so the stars must have aligned, just like my first deer from the same spot, and seeing 2 magestic big bucks, and finding the spot that same morning.

I think I was punching above my weight to take a mature buck like that from a state forest but so glad I did as I have my trophy and happy to shoot meaties now.

Thinking back, I would have been devastated if the shot didn't go so well as I may well have got old and never did it again, but it doesn't matter now.

I have good and bad times with a bad back and sadly, I now get spells with knees, shoulders and who knows what's next.
I missed the last rut hunt this year and cancelled a morning hunt tomorrow due to back and weather but retirement means there will be another before it hits the winter cold times so I will be back out there and will shoot one sooner or later.

Getting old does suck in a way and I don't know how much hunting I have left in me.

Not looking good for younger blokes as the woke agenders don't want guns, hunting, or even access to the bush so it's a sad state of affairs for our once great country and the lifestyle we used to enjoy.

[Oldbloke]

I've been much more successful last few years. Poor success rate prior.

What do I do?

Search for areas where deer frequent.ie, dams, small clearings, wallows, feed areas, fringe areas.

Find a spot (60 to 100 yards away) I can sit, preferably 2 spots lean with back against a tree or take a folding chair. You need to be comfortable.
Ensure wind is in my favour. (Hence the 2 spots)
Sometimes make small hide.
Ensure I have a rest, I nearly always use shooting sticks.
Park 500 to 900 mtrs away occasionally more.
Take a book or more often music on my mobile.
Only sit about 2 hrs morning and evening.
Drab or cammo clothes.
Shower prior with unscented soap.
Sometimes spray eucalyptus on clothes to help cover body odour.

Hardly ever try to walk them up anymore. Just too hard.

My average at a guess would be 1 deer for every 10 hrs sitting.

[bigrich]

you guys have inspired me , i'm trying to organise a trip for a couple of weeks time

[Wapiti]

I remember when I was 30, that anyone at 50 was decrepit and looked obviously busted.

After passing that number 50 many years ago, I've continued to get more juvenile, expect more from myself and others, and act like I haven't reached 30 yet again.

How old do you guys consider a "senior"?

[Oldbloke]

I remember when I was 30, that anyone at 50 was decrepit and looked obviously busted.

After passing that number 50 many years ago, I've continued to get more juvenile, expect more from myself and others, and act like I haven't reached 30 yet again.

How old do you guys consider a "senior"?

Weeelll, you can get a "seniors card" at 60.

[Fester]

Just doing day hunts is the way I go but will have to change as it's been a while and obviously not as productive as camping as I could put in 3 hunts as well as scouting.

I don't have to clean the rifle, but that's not really what I want.

I used to do a motel night to get 2 days hunting in my fav peak rut time each year, and thinking of doing that down south as I stuffed up, not finding a half decent spot to camp in a new forest this rut.
Found the deer but lucked out.
They also had fire bans that I only learned about when I got to the area and had the local radio on.

They reclassified us as Greater Sh_tney and we lost the local ABC radio services.
During the last big bushfire event, we got text messages for warnings, but as we had no service, unlike the Sydney area, we had nothing.
The scanner no longer worked as the cops went to digital and encrypted it so we can't even listen to the first calls on the main channel.