I think I’m done with big game hunting

Hunt&FishCO · 2026-02-03T15:42:34-0700

I can see how someone might move on ….but for me it’s too intermingled with my personality, traditions, friendships, life goals/motivations to ever “stop”.

If I ever lose that drive - I’ll just make the challenge harder (species, destinations, weapon choice).

NoWiser · 2026-02-03T15:59:08-0700

Hunt&FishCO said:
I can see how someone might move on ….but for me it’s too intermingled with my personality, traditions, friendships, life goals/motivations to ever “stop”.

If I ever lose that drive - I’ll just make the challenge harder (species, destinations, weapon choice).

I would’ve said this same thing 15 years ago. I still have the drive, but the desire to kill has waned.

F250 · 2026-02-03T16:14:26-0700

glass eye said:
I’m 63 so now I’ve been doing more bird hunting than big game primarily because they are easier to pack out. I can bird hunt all over the globe and have big adventures with less hassles on how to get the meat home.
I’m currently at Boston airport waiting for my flight to Greenland to go eider hunting.
That being said I just applied for elk and antelope in AZ.

Ps. I pass on more birds than I shoot, I like watching them too.

PLEASE give us a write-up on the Eider hunt !!!!

howl · 2026-02-03T16:55:30-0700

If we actually had good upland and waterfowl hunting here, then I probably wouldn't hunt anything else.

mdhunter · 2026-02-03T17:07:14-0700

My bloodlust has waned with my age however my desire to be outside has not. I will always harvest a deer or elk when I can as needed for my freezer only. I also find myself enjoying the social aspects of bird hunting more and more each year. My grandfather introduced me to hunting by duck, goose, dove and quail hunting. I imagine that’s how I will wind my career down for as long as I can.

2rocky · 2026-02-03T19:13:00-0700

My perspective is a little different, but i have had the hunting desire wane for me over the last 10 years. I think I've written about it here before...

The biggest part of it for me is that I like fewer and fewer other hunters I meet...That has been the case with the "Gun Guys" for a while. Just go to a public range, or hang out by the gun counter at a big Box outdoor store and you know what I mean...

When I was measuring for P&Y, I had a couple run ins with some real douchebags (and I met some GREAT people). When I was younger I tolerated some of the arrogant pricks because they had done things I wanted to do, hunted places and critters and methods I wanted to hunt. After i had done some of the hunts I dreamed of, i realized I'd put those people and their "accomplishments" on a pedestal and they were no better than I was. I also realized that just because i 'd killed this critter or something "this" big didn't make me a respected and revered authority on Hunting.

I also reached a place where I was not getting better and it required more work for the next incremental improvement in my Archery, in my fitness, in my game spotting and stalking. I couldn't see myself getting better each time I went out. I felt like I was not growing as a hunter. in sports it is called "Killing the Art". where you advance in your skill curve where the marginal rate of improvement is a great deal smaller over time and effort. When i was 12 shooting a 3 point buck seemed like a huge achievement. at 50 it's not a big deal....

So it is reasonable that the enthusiasm wanes after you have acheived some milestones. You just find other avenues that make you reach and stretch, like showing someone else how to do what you do...Sometimes the best coaches weren't the best players...

mtmuley · 2026-02-03T19:20:10-0700

Having a blast with my kids and getting my SIL into hunting. He's hooked hard. I'm not done by any stretch, but taking a backseat is easier these days. My solo days are really important to me also. mtmuley