Back country for you old farts out their

[dgc1963]

Ok like I said this is for old farts only you guy buck just pass on by lol
Im making a game plan for the next 10 yrs or so being 59 in a week .Im in good shape better than most at my age close to 6 ft 185 lbs or so work construction and work out low weights high reps tread mill an elliptical 3 times a week
My plan and question is to spend some $ over the next 10 yrs going some expensive hunts and get out west every yr instead of every few yrs
due to thinking I wont be doing much of this in my 70s wondering if some of you folks my age and older are thinking the same or how many in their 70s are still getting into the back country
One thing Im doing is changing my sheep draw in Co. to NR archery better odds not great but better and after a few yrs just burning my points for a Ewe tag its still sheep hunting and an adventure and I want to sheep hunt while I still can also going to an UL unit still slim odds but ill be in the mtns with a sheep tag in my pocket

 

[David658]

I turn 64 this summer. A knee injury from last year's hunt slowed me down this year, but I am looking the same way at the horizon as you. Living in NM, I apply for everything, but we are going to expand our apps to include Colorado. If a hoped-for move to ID pans out, we will likely focus entirely on Resident hunting there, but I am starting to look at guided hunts either here in NM (if we stay) or ID (if that works out).

 

[noharleyyet]

The left TKA is nearly 10 weeks. It has me at 50 minutes of combined tread, elliptical, and stationary bike from the painful 10-15 previously. The good is that I never let up on the beforehand...and my sawbones confirms. Keep at it regardless, it helps the correction process heal and maintains the 'engine'.

 

[glass eye]

I'm 59 and have had a bad knee since I was 13 when I nearly lost my leg in a motorcycle accident. Doctors had my parents sign consent forms to amputate at the knee. Thank God they didn't amputate but there were times I wish they had because of the pain I've had to endure.
Started hunting when I was 12 so nearly my entire hunting life I've had to push through the pain. It has slowed me down but never stopped me.
However, I just can't pack out heavy meat laden packs anymore. I just bought an Alpacka Caribou raft and will plan my hunts around floating out.
Also I have switched gears and am returning to my first love of waterfowl hunting in remote areas. Small game hunting in Alaska is still a big adventure but easier on the knees.
An Alaska airlines visa card makes it really cheap and I fly there for free every year.

 

[406dn]

I'll be 71 in May. If not for my horses, I'd have quit elk hunting before now. With them, I hope to keep on hunting for as many years as my health allows.

I strength train three days a week and have done so for six plus years. That has been very beneficial to me. I am distinctly stronger right now than when at 65. Outside of that, I stay active.

The Bighorn sheep tag has eluded me all of these years. I'll keep trying until I feel that I can't do the tag justice. Everything else has to one degree or another been taken off the bucket list.

I do know with certainty. When you reach this stage of life, every year you can do it one more time is very precious.

 

[Straight Arrow]

After severing my patellar tendon backpacking in 2020, I spent most of the hunting season on the couch or at PT. Staying with my fitness routine and progressively more hiking, this past hunting season I moved more slowly as a 77 yr old guy, but put on the miles, albeit with no elk hunting success ... but with some good views as the one below looking at the Crazies.

My wife keeps me going and we completed a seven-day, eighty mile trek through the Thorofare last August. As my recently passed 101 yr old Mom would say, "Move it or lose it!"



Old fart at Ishawooa Pass.

 

[LopeHunter]

Tapped out at 60, mostly. I can still go if have horses and guide or can spot from road then stalk in closer. I need another set of eyes with me behind the glass as my arthritis in neck and elbows creates a lot of discomfort. Heavy pack weight jams up my lower back. Horses and downhill in steep stuff wrecks my knees. My weakening core strength means I topple more on uneven, steep stuff. Fun times.

Zero hunts last autumn for first time in over two decades. I have had a lot of nice hunts and fun hunts so now takes something interesting to get me applying for a specific hunt rather than Point Saver mode. I swing for the fences even more now on elk/deer/pronghorn as want to see past harvest success above 80% for a few prior years and seems would be a "fun" hunt that I can either day hunt from the trailhead or hire an outfitter which not something that excites me for those critters. What makes a hunt fun? Rut or low tag numbers but see plenty of mature critters or beautiful scenery and not in a place that tries to kill you in multiple ways each day.

Now, for sheep, goat, moose and bison I look for over 90% harvest success and descriptions like "relatively easy terrain" or "can glass from road then stalk towards animal" rather than care about horn porn stats.

For comparison, at 48 I hiked in 7 miles on a rut archery hunt with 100 pounds on back not counting rifle on shoulder and water on hips. By 55, had to start wearing velcro supports on knees and back to gut out a 5 day hunt. By 60, my neck would get so tense with discomfort that it was hard to rotate and to sleep while on hunts. I may be a bad apple health wise for a 60ish hunter. I certainly can't hunt harder and hunting smarter only helps so much if are taking the first few steps away from the trailhead on a wilderness hunt.

 

[dgc1963]

I'm 59 and have had a bad knee since I was 13 when I nearly lost my leg in a motorcycle accident. Doctors had my parents sign consent forms to amputate at the knee. Thank God they didn't amputate but there were times I wish they had because of the pain I've had to endure.
Started hunting when I was 12 so nearly my entire hunting life I've had to push through the pain. It has slowed me down but never stopped me.
However, I just can't pack out heavy meat laden packs anymore. I just bought an Alpacka Caribou raft and will plan my hunts around floating out.
Also I have switched gears and am returning to my first love of waterfowl hunting in remote areas. Small game hunting in Alaska is still a big adventure but easier on the knees.
An Alaska airlines visa card makes it really cheap and I fly there for free every year.

Love 3rd Day too

 

[dgc1963]

Thanks for all of the old farts that are still out their lol

 

[Lilhowie83]

After severing my patellar tendon backpacking in 2020, I spent most of the hunting season on the couch or at PT. Staying with my fitness routine and progressively more hiking, this past hunting season I moved more slowly as a 77 yr old guy, but put on the miles, albeit with no elk hunting success ... but with some good views as the one below looking at the Crazies.

My wife keeps me going and we completed a seven-day, eighty mile trek through the Thorofare last August. As my recently passed 101 yr old Mom would say, "Move it or lose it!"

View attachment 211247

Old fart at Ishawooa Pass.

View attachment 211248

That's amazing. I remember you documenting that trip with some pictures last year, but I didn't realize you were 77. I hope to still be going like that at your age.

Did you start on the south fork of the Shoshone and end at Turpin Meadows, or where did you start and end?

 

[Straight Arrow]

That's amazing. I remember you documenting that trip with some pictures last year, but I didn't realize you were 77. I hope to still be going like that at your age.

Did you start on the south fork of the Shoshone and end at Turpin Meadows, or where did you start and end?

We started up the North Fork Shoshone by hiking up Eagle Creek to Eagle Crk Meadows, then over Eagle Pass down Mountain Creek trail, south through the Thorofare, up Pass Creek to Ishawooa Pass and down to Ishawooa TH on South Fork Shoshone. Then to Cody for Blizzards at the DQ, hot showers, and prime rib at Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel.

 

[Lilhowie83]

We started up the North Fork Shoshone by hiking up Eagle Creek to Eagle Crk Meadows, then over Eagle Pass down Mountain Creek trail, south through the Thorofare, up Pass Creek to Ishawooa Pass and down to Ishawooa TH on South Fork Shoshone. Then to Cody for Blizzards at the DQ, hot showers, and prime rib at Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel.

You definitely earned the blizzard, shower and prime rib after that trip.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Like many, I've put in for moose, sheep & goat for many many years, I still do for certain areas. I'm also strongly looking at Canada where you can get a moose hunt lined up without waiting to draw a tag. I know the forum's focus is strongly DIY, but after many years of trying for a certain tag I switched to the outfitter pool and got the tag on the second year. Things that put the timeline more in your favor are worth considering.

 

[BigHornRam]

We started up the North Fork Shoshone by hiking up Eagle Creek to Eagle Crk Meadows, then over Eagle Pass down Mountain Creek trail, south through the Thorofare, up Pass Creek to Ishawooa Pass and down to Ishawooa TH on South Fork Shoshone. Then to Cody for Blizzards at the DQ, hot showers, and prime rib at Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel.

That's a good hike for a young fart.

 

[Redman]

My good friend, hunting partner, and who I call my second dad turned 71 in November. 3 years ago went Dall sheep hunting in the NW Territories even with a knee issue and got it done. He feels it more every year but keeps on hunting.
My grandpa's cousin in his 80's would still go out and log, he fell while doing it broke 2 ribs and skinned his face up. He went right back out doing the same thing a week later. I believe staying active and a good diet will keep you on the mountain for well past when most people throw in the towel. I am 46 and plan on hunting until they plant me in the ground. If I can't be in the woods and waters I don't want to be here anymore.

 

[hank4elk]

Ah, the fun I've had!
Turn 67 this year. Should not have made it past 17 by some gauges.
Hit end of 7th life with a HA 7 years ago. It just slowed me down a bit, for a while.
Yeah, I doubt I'll pack in solo & hunt much anymore. But I did, a lot.
Just me, and Rio to look out for. That will limit me now.
Limit my deer hunts to spot & stalk from truck. Lucky I have an in for elk in that regard.
Building & working around the ranch. Firewood collecting & cutting. Hikes.
Good to go! So far so good!

 

[elkduds]

Happily, my physical stuff is eroding pretty slowly in my 64th year. Taught for 6 hours on the bunny hill yesterday, felt old the last 2 hours. Climbed an 'easy' 14er last summer, seemed like about a 15er. Passed on the last elk I had in my scope because I didn't feel like packing it out solo, mostly going out w camera these days. My knees complain but they are better than @noharleyyet before his got fixed. My lumbar spine puts me out of commission now and then, and I can barely scratch the back of my head w my left arm from a trashed shoulder. I get sinus headaches when allergens are bad, my neck cricks. Sleeping on the ground is kept to a minimum. Out of consideration for the people who might trip over my carcass in the boonies, I have abbreviated many of my solo adventures in my 60s, leaving out the last few miles or going around the most extreme terrain. I spend more time in places where someone is likely to come along if I couldn't get myself out. An Inreach should be my next gear acquisition. And trekking poles are always w my daypack in the truck. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen work better together, and meloxicam beats them both on days like yesterday. Recovery takes longer every year.

In my employed prime I was all about filling the freezer during the few weeks I had to scout and hunt each year. I pushed hard, and buddies opted out because of my intensity. I became a solo hunter.

Now I'm out there more and enjoying it more than ever. I got to spent perhaps 80 afternoons among elk, bears, pronghorn, sheep and goats last summer and fall, including this guy, without drawing a tag. Can't hardly wait for this summer.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

I am pushing 60, but not pushin' fast.
"That's what she said"...

 

[AlaskaHunter]

I'm 65 and retired. Feeling fit.
One advantage of being retired is the time required for long endurance hikes.
I find if I go on long endurance hikes twice a week I am in good shape for hunting.
Being retired, I plan the next 10 years to be the best decade of my life while I have
the time (I rarely hunt weekends), money, and fitness.
I love exploring potential new spots year-round.

My hunting mentor aged out in his late 70s. I was honored to help him shoot his
last ram at age 70 (photo). He always preached mental toughness and optimism.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

You old farts are an inspiration!!