The end is in sight....

[Rick Courtright]

Rick, because the miles between us precludes you and I ever enjoying Opening Day (Christmas in September) together, you can rest assured that you are with me in spirit. I'll squeeze off two rounds at an empty sky to represent our first - only - misses of the day, and then I'll keep the field reports headed your way. And I'll send any surplus high flying birds southbound for ya.

Peace and God bless, Wolfie.

Hi,

Wolfie, I'll be listening for those two "misses" and watching for those ever stimulating "Neener, neener, neener" tailgate pictures!

Please don't let go of the idea of a Christmas in September shoot. You've read my thoughts about your retirement, and my own scheduled date is October 16 this year. So at least with the latter, I'm anticipating some changes in my life. I've got to get around the hit my spending money will take, And I'm afraid doctors may start playing a bit more of a part in my life than they have the last 50 years, but this, too, shall pass. So I may be able to come out and play more. At least that's the plan.

So until then, I hope you guys blast a bunch of those little gray buzzbombs this upcoming season!

Rick C!

 

[Fox Mike]

Improvise, adapt, overcome. First Ruger Gathering at Contenders I walked a gazillion miles it seemed. Then Ma Nature stepped in. Many of you have seen my gallant steed "trigger". It was the 'adapt' in order to' overcome'. I didn't stop what I like to do, just the manner in which I did it.

 

[skeen]

I've only got about 40 seasons under my belt, well less those whenever I was stationed overseas I suppose. While I feel like I have quite a few good deer seasons to go, I've discovered I'm not as interested in getting one myself anymore - I'd way rather watch my boys and friends score.
We still set up a canvas wall tent for 10 days, and it's work, but I do enjoy camp and the comradery.

 

[powder smoke]

Getting old is one thing!, Not getting old is far worse! ps

 

[turd]

I can really relate to this thread. I grew up hunting. Shot a double 12 ga. that knocked me on my rear when I was about 10 yo. The adults all thought that was cool, the bird carrier got to shoot for once! I have hunted just about everything available in the area, year after year. Managed to accumulate some decent firearms along the way. Now I'm finding that walking miles through broken fields or hauling myself and a gun and a day pack for a mile or so and then dragging the deer back out just really doesn't work anymore. Got lots of memories, so I have started identifying nephews (no kids) that may have use of some of the guns I have accumulated, and I've started giving them away now so they can tell me about using them instead of waiting 'til I'm gone. 'Course, I've kept a few so I can still go for short trips or dream of going........

 

[RC44Mag]

Here’s to hoping you go out with 3 B’s. A Bang and and Big Buck.

 

[WV460hunter]

I never shoot down hill at one . I always shoot up hill or sideways if theu are traveling that direction . That way I aint dragging up hill

 

[WV460hunter]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with just waiting for a deer to walk past. I've been doing it that way for decades.

In the east Appalachian mountians the sit and wait is a very common tactic as the dense and rugged terrain is not very open and usually full of brush , green briefs, autumn olives , Beech trees raspberry and blackberries thickets . So setting up 50 yards off a trail is an ideal way to hunt here.

 

[UmpquaCharlie]

My first deer hunting season was 1961. I harvested a young doe that year and was tickled to death. I was 12 years old at the time.
Flash forward 61 years and I can see the end of my favorite fall outdoor activity fading away. I no longer have the physical ability to hike the hills and woods in pursuit of game.
This year I will be hunting from a stand waiting for the deer to come to me. I will be using a S&W 629 5" 44 Mag from the stand and for longer shots, a lightweight Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39.
I am going to miss this part of my life in the future.
Sorry for whining, but mother nature can be cruel when it comes to getting older.......

Im right behind you. This may be my last year of stomping through the timber chasing elk and deer. Arthritis in knees and back are slowing me down to almost stop. Im 78.

 

[Mobuck]

Words of encouragement: On November 2, I rode the air evac helicopter 120 miles to the nearest burn center with 1'st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns to hands, face, and neck. Ten days later, I killed one of the biggest bucks I've taken in my life. I couldn't even bend most of my fingers and had bandages like mittens but we managed to get my trigger finger separated enough to do it's job.
NEVER QUIT & NEVER GIVE UP

 

[hittman]

I killed one of the biggest bucks I've taken in my life.

We need pictures!!

Congrats on your buck and for your recovery!

 

[bookemdano]

Hunting: I grew up in rural East TN. Hunting was a necessity at times
and I hunted when I had any free time at all. Usually hunted alone with a .22
single shot Stevens using shorts. And I loved it. But after Nam, it just
wasn't the same. We didn't need the meat and the thrill just wasn't
there. I still went/go hunting once in a while like when I get a craving
for squirrel gravy and biscuits for breakfast or when we have a predator
problem. I don't know, it's like I went to Nam one person and came back
someone else. I do love to shoot and the challenge to get better.
Now that I'm a 73-year-old with a pacemaker and arthritis, if I shoot a
critter, he's come to me and was asking for it. It happens to us all,
this thing called old age. More likely to find me in the front porch
swing reading a book these days. of course, there's a Savage m24,
22WMR/20 gage on the table next to me just in case.
Dano

 

[NewRuger41]

at 66 this year I am slowing down but not stopping. My concern is the deer camp is we all are getting older and not many younger guys coming in to replace and help. when I started I helped with the tracking,dragging and field dressing for the older guys. One day one of the older guys ask “Kid why?“ I just smiled and said “Because someday I hope a Kid will help me stay in the woods!”

@clintsfolly Western Civilization is much different now kids for sure, but rest assured there are still some youngins cutting their teeth and enjoying the real world outside of the digital dump.

Carrying a bag of freshly harvested vennison.

Installing new inner & outer wheel bearings, rotors, pads, and shocks.