Have you ever thought your hunting might be done?

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Founder

Founder Since 1999
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Have any of you ever faced an injury and wondered if your hunting days were over?

I just shared a post of a big buck in the Mule Deer forum, and it brought back a flood of memories, including one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced as a hunter.

Back in 2009, I woke up one morning and a simple move out of bed triggered a herniated disc. My entire left leg went numb, and walking became a struggle. Within 10 days, I found myself in surgery. Even after that, it took a couple of months before my leg functioned properly again. I vividly remember those days, wondering if my passion for backpacking and chasing bucks in remote, wild places was about to become a thing of the past. The fear was real, and the uncertainty was heavy.

Thankfully, I recovered and spent the next 15 years pushing myself in the high country, living out my passion for hunting and exploring. It wasn’t easy, but I learned that the drive to keep going can be stronger than even the hardest setbacks.

So, I’m reaching out to all of you: Have any of you found yourselves at a point where an injury or illness made you question if your hunting days were behind you? Or did you think your adventures might be limited from then on? I’d love to hear your stories and how you found the strength to keep going.

In 2010, I was back at it, backpacking and packing bucks out.

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Yup, I have and I am. 15 years ago I had the same problem, a ruptured disk. Fortunately I recovered from that although not 100%. I can still pack elk and backpack etc although I can no longer ski moguls on telemark skis. In August of this year I broke both ankles and just got the boot off 20 days ago. I hunted elk for about three hours yesterday and am very sore today and sitting on the couch watching football. It was frustrating because I could see elk in a place that I would have killed one but couldn’t get there. I’d have to rely on friends if I did kill one. It is what it is and has me thinking about the time ahead, at age 65, that I will no longer be able to do the things I love.
 
At age 68 I had a blood clot in my large intestines that resulted in surgery and complications.
Three months and a tour of 7 different medical facilities I was back home.
Another few months of PT and and I had most of my health back. I will never get it all back but feel lucky I can still get out and enjoy the hunt.
I appreciate the many who with good luck and genes can still go hard at an older age. There are not that many.
 
I turned 76 this year. Have not hunted for a number of years. But, have a late season hunt this year planned. But, getting older and all that entails has really slowed me down a bunch. But, then one must also think about how healthy their spouse is? Who is going to take care of them when we are out hunting?
Wish I had more energy, more stamina, more strength, etc.
No major illnesses though. But, sure can not keep up with the young'uns.
 
Mine wasn’t physical but was due to getting lost in extremely sketchy, hyperthermia type conditions. I kept my head intact and got lucky running into another hunter. Im pretty sure I wouldn’t have made it through the night in a blizzard with wet clothes and no surval gear. It was years ago before gps, Iphones, and when gear and clothes weren’t as good.

I learned a lot from that experience that I’ve applied to every trip hunting alone
 
Dad is 77. He stopped hunting for the past several years due to his heart condition. At the time, his heart was down to 25% capacity with a 5 year life expectancy. He is on some medication and now has his heart up to 55%. This has allowed him to come up to elk camp. Although limited on what he can do, it was good to have my hunting buddy back in camp. Cherish every opportunity to enjoy your passion. It also never hurts to plan for the day when you cannot enjoy it anymore. This was the first year we had three generations hunting. Got a pic of dad, my son, and I in an area where dad and I killed many elk over the past 20 years. (That could possibly be the first and last pic of three generations hunting). The other was elk camp this year.

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Ten years ago, this coming January, I had a heart attack while training for a Stone Sheep hunt. My son and I were hiking up a mountain near my home and we were about a mile into the climb when I suddenly felt chest pains.
Fortunately we had cell coverage and my son called 911. We were too high for hiking rescue to reach me in time so they called in a life flight chopper.
It took about 20 minutes for the chopper to find us and an EMT reached me just as I went into complete cardiac arrest. For several minutes my heart was stopped. My son administered chest compressions while the EMT readied his portable defibrillator. After multiple shocks my heart finally started beating again.
A sequence of divine miracles carried me quickly to Utah Valley Hospital where a surgeon put two stints in my heart and a week later I was able to return to work. Carefully following doctor's orders I was still able to go on a strenuous backpack Stone Sheep hunt the following August. While I returned home without ever seeing a legal Ram, I was grateful for the miracle of just experiencing that adventure with my son.
On that fateful day, I was pretty sure my life was over, much less my hunting days. That experience taught me to give thanks for every day and it's opportunities.
I'm now 75 but I still try to stay in shape so I can continue breathing, and hunting. In two weeks I'm taking my son and grandsons on my cow elk hunt and I thank God for every future outdoor adventures.
 
I have I spent my whole life hunting, that’s really all I knew growing up. I’ve been blessed with drawing incredible tags and been on a lot of really good hunts. I’m 67 years old now . I started a family late in life and I now have two wonderful daughters in College. I have a 19 year old Autistic son who is working on his own path in life now, doing an internship through school on live ing and working on his own. I’ve broken and sprained quite a few bones over the years but always healed up over time. A few years ago my wife was diagnosed with Blood Cancer or Chronic Leukemia and we spend quite a bit of time at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake. This last year I decided not to apply for any Licenses , inflation and the cost of hunting just seemed to high for me. I truly hope to get back out there in a couple of years but for now I will take care of the family.
 
The stories above sure make older folks appreciate health and every year they are still able to hit the hills.

As I get older I find myself spending more time looking up and enjoying the moment, wildlife, and scenery rather than the venture of killing a whopper critter.

For those in rough physical shape, keep a positive attitude and stay as active as possible! There are still adventures that can be enjoyed outdoors that are within your means.
 
At 65 with an old ankle injury causing some quite painful issues and the normal aging of other joints it is apparent my days of being able to climb steep slopes is about over. I may or may not get to hunt elk again but whitetail and antelope will keep me looking forward the each fall. I am also spending more time fishing, especially for species I have never caught and in places I have not fished. Not going to waste time looking back and wishing I could do things that are no longer possible. What time I have left of what the Lord has allowed me will be spent being active and with my wife, kids and grandkids.
 
I surfed and hunted all my life and was never shorted on world wide adventures . My hips went bad, maybe from chasing deer or concrete construction, either way I was way down thinking walking was going to be gone. I was still packing when I could not tie my shoes and would take a sock device to put them on, it was the worst for me. I finally did one hip 3 days after duck season ended and the other one 3 months later , I was back in the game the next fall. I to have a bone on bone knee but get by for now .At 66 I still got it but it is touch and go for the future, and with a large portfolio of points and hunts available ,I may have to end with dove and duck hunting
 
I am going through this now. I have always been active and have a passion for hunting…especially elk hunting. Well, about 5 months ago I started with a few minor medical issues. I just hit 53, so I figured a few age related medical issues come with the experience (age). Well, over the past 5 months my health has spiraled out of control. It’s crazy how quick my health turned around. I am hopeful I can get things turned around but my retirement plans will significantly change if I can’t hunt anymore.
 
At 56 i was having problems keeping up my stamina even though I was biking at least 15 miles a day getting ready for hunting season and a big halibut fishing trip. They tested for everything but couldn't find the problem. At one of my last appointments to test for lead, mercury and testosterone the nurse was taking my blood pressure when she noticed I was missing a heart beat. I said no way I ride 15 miles a day on my bike.

Long story short I had AV Block with pausing which is a condition where your heart starts missing a beat. As it progresses the pause keep getting longer until when you are sleeping you just don't wake up. My doctors told me after wearing a heart monitor that I needed a pace maker. I asked if it could wait until after the elk hunt and my fishing trip and they said NO we don't know how much time you have left as this disease it known as the silent killer.

My doctors assured me that with exercise I could do most of everything I used to. I have tested that by abalone diving, and hunting still but with some limitations. It's hard to backpack or even put on a backpack as it rides right on my pacemaker making it uncomfortable to wear heavy packs.

My son has bought a new Polaris to keep me hunting longer by cutting down on how far I have to hike. I'm now 71 and we went on one of the best antelope hunts I could imagine.

I'm not at 100% but probably at 80% and older but this Ever Ready Bunny won't quit even though it is getting much harder to do what I love to do
 
2015 was in a bad accident and broke my jaw in three places and had a stroke damaging my heart.
Still get out and hunt but not like I used to be able to do.
Still have succeeded in getting a bull on average every other year.
May need to find a good trustworthy buddy as hiking them out solo has about finished me off a couple times.
I figure if and when I can no longer go I will be camp cook for my grandkids when they are old enough to hunt.
 
I have hunted all my life. I’m 68 with 4 stents and schedule to get another stent 11/19. My heart is getting weaker. My health is getting harder to stay up with multiple issues. All the sudden I started getting migraines and after a year and a half still haven’t figured it out. Legs are hurting and aching for no good reason. I guess it’s from hard work all my life. My bother doesn’t want to hunt anymore so I got no one to go with me. Really hard to get tags here in Nevada. But I have all the good memories and will put in for tags and if I draw a tag I’ll make an every effort to go on the hunt. Good luck to all you old guys happy hunting.
 
Yes, Almost the same story once again. About 10 years ago, Carrying a tool chest up stairs and twisted the wrong way and blew out a disc. It pinched a nerve in my right leg and pain got worse over the next couple of weeks. So bad that my wife had to put my socks on for the next month. Finally found a doctor to take it serious and when through a series of injections to shrink the blown disc and let it heal. I made a full recovery and never really thought it would be the end of something I have done since I learned to walk.
This year after another brutal elk hunt, I decided I am done with elk hunting and going to focus more on Mule deer and antelope which has been my main passion anyway. I told my boys that elk hunting is on them from now on. I will still go and be camp cook, scout, and guide but killing and packing is on them now.
 
Excellent thread. At 62, the little nagging pains that used to go away seem to hang on forever now. But seeing what you all have overcome, it sure adds extra umph to push through! Kudos to all you tough birds!
 
I was sure I was done last year. Blood clots in lung and liver, Covid for the 2nd time, heart issues, broken rib, no energy, but……. modern medicine is God’s gift to humanity so this year I actually got out a lot, with two of my sons, and had many great times. Scratched an itch I’ve wanted to scratched for over 40 years. Basically, much restricted from mobile abilities from back in my sixties but I had a great fall hunting again this year. I’ll be 78 in June and fully intend to hunt and fish again next year. Both knees need to be replaced, hips are both close, way over weight but I’ve lost some weight and want to get another 20 pounds off by next fall.

On Friday I’ll be going to New Mexico with my oldest and youngest sons for a coues deer hunt. I don’t have a tag nor can I follow them into those mountains but I’ll be there, cooking and play gopher……enjoying their adventure just the same, in my way.

So……. last year I said I was done, this year I said……… I guess not. I’ll go and do what my body will allow me to do until I can’t. I don’t resent getting old…….. I’ve been a poor man who has lived like a King my whole life, as far as I’m concerned. God and the universe can take me any day they choose to, nothing and nobody owes me another day, as far as I’m concerned, every day these 77 years has been amazing.

I wish each of you all the best this life in the outdoors has to offer.
 
I'm on the verge of putting the bow down for good. It took me almost 2 years to get my off hand shoulder to not hurt enough for my 40 hunt last year where I could make a fist sized group at 60. I've done massages and therapy on it, but it hurts like he'll every time I draw back and hold that bow up. I've got one more thing I'm gonna try with my massage therapist and a personal trainer to see if we can't getter going, otherwise it might be trying a shot in the shoulder or giving er up.
 
Founder said:
Have any of you ever faced an injury and wondered if your hunting days were over?

I just shared a post of a big buck in the Mule Deer forum, and it brought back a flood of memories, including one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced as a hunter.

Back in 2009, I woke up one morning and a simple move out of bed triggered a herniated disc. My entire left leg went numb, and walking became a struggle. Within 10 days, I found myself in surgery. Even after that, it took a couple of months before my leg functioned properly again. I vividly remember those days, wondering if my passion for backpacking and chasing bucks in remote, wild places was about to become a thing of the past. The fear was real, and the uncertainty was heavy.

Thankfully, I recovered and spent the next 15 years pushing myself in the high country, living out my passion for hunting and exploring. It wasn’t easy, but I learned that the drive to keep going can be stronger than even the hardest setbacks.

So, I’m reaching out to all of you: Have any of you found yourselves at a point where an injury or illness made you question if your hunting days were behind you? Or did you think your adventures might be limited from then on? I’d love to hear your stories and how you found the strength to keep going.

In 2010, I was back at it, backpacking and packing bucks out.

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Glad it worked out for you Brian. I've had so many things to recover from and missed being successful in so many good tag draws because I wasn't recovered. It's just a get back up and hope deal. Never quit because the regrets of not working hard to get back in shape really bothered me. 2025 ! Get R done !
 
Last edited:
Founder said:
Have any of you ever faced an injury and wondered if your hunting days were over?

I just shared a post of a big buck in the Mule Deer forum, and it brought back a flood of memories, including one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced as a hunter.

Back in 2009, I woke up one morning and a simple move out of bed triggered a herniated disc. My entire left leg went numb, and walking became a struggle. Within 10 days, I found myself in surgery. Even after that, it took a couple of months before my leg functioned properly again. I vividly remember those days, wondering if my passion for backpacking and chasing bucks in remote, wild places was about to become a thing of the past. The fear was real, and the uncertainty was heavy.

Thankfully, I recovered and spent the next 15 years pushing myself in the high country, living out my passion for hunting and exploring. It wasn’t easy, but I learned that the drive to keep going can be stronger than even the hardest setbacks.

So, I’m reaching out to all of you: Have any of you found yourselves at a point where an injury or illness made you question if your hunting days were behind you? Or did you think your adventures might be limited from then on? I’d love to hear your stories and how you found the strength to keep going.

In 2010, I was back at it, backpacking and packing bucks out.

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View attachment 163348
Click to expand...
Yes, i had a foot injury that needed surgery. It's far from ever being 100 %. I know the days of hard hunts are about over.
 
Yes.

I have told my story many times on here. Mine may be a bit more traumatic, but no more devastating than any of yours.
It’s still a struggle for us all. It inspires me to read all of these posts. Keep on keeping on.
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Steel pole through my skull. Should have killed me. I did die a few times. Left me paralyzed on my right side.
Thought I would never hunt again. It was my life!
But, it made me realize there is more to life than hunting. Which changed me for the better.
It will be 9 years in January.
I am still hunting as much as I can, with a whole lot of help sometimes.

I just got my biggest deer ever. (Posted here a few days ago) So, I guess it can still be done.
 

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