Mid life crisis

[FlaFlatlander]

Hope everyone is doing fine. I am kind of going through a mid life crises and thinking I want to start going out west hunting every year as I am getting in my fifties and not sure home many more years I will be able to do this.

I have a couple people I hunt with that want to go along but most of them don't have any points so would be looking at an over the counter type hunt or at least few if any points required(I have 6 in Colorado and Wyoming so could be averaged). But was thinking of hiring an outfitter to pack us in and be able to pack meat out. I have hunted on my own a few times in Unit 74, 12 and the Snowies in Wyoming but mostly been unsuccessful.

Any advise or local knowledge of areas or local outfitters that could guide me on my search would be greatly appreciated. I am kind of thinking Colorado but not necessarily limiting my self to that. Thought about Idaho and Montana as well.

Thx!

 

[22tbone]

I'm having the same mid life problems as I will turn 50 this September.


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[Colorado Cowboy]

You guys are still babes in the woods!! I am 75 and even with health issues, I manage to hunt every year (Res & NR), take care of my hay operation, shoot competitively almost every week (Travel to out of state matches too) and travel with my wife. My goal is to do exactly like my Dad did. I took him elk hunting when he was 90.....shot a 5x5 bull too. Suck it up guys, you've still got many years left. I'm old, have recycled joints and am a 20 year cancer survivor and took a 34 mile wilderness, horseback elk hunt in Wyoming to celebrate my 70th BD. I also climbed a 13,000 mt while elk hunting in 2015. Just Do It!!! LOL

 

[SGM]

Its not a mid life crisis, it's that your getting your priorities in line. If you're just looking at a fun hunt and some meat think about a cow elk hunt. You can draw tags in a lot of units with no points and in several units there will be left over tags. Some outfitters will even give a pretty good discount for a cow hunt. You need to decide the area you want to hunt and do some on-line research.

 

[JimP]

Don't worry about the 50's. I have done more fun and exciting hunts since I turned 60 than I did the previous 60 years.

A grizzly hunt, a couple of trophy elk hunts, great deer hunts, and a safari to Africa. Anymore I do nothing but look forward to my next adventure.

 

[22tbone]

Sucking in up Colorado. Just wishing I had hunted more out West the first 35 years. Hope to follow your lead for the next 30. Utheman.


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[Prerylyon]

Interesting thread and can definitely relate.

I wasn't able to use my WY antelope doe tags last fall due to some family health crisis issues, but hope to try my luck this fall with the cow elk tag I drew.

+1 for the cow and doe tags - they're quite a bit cheaper and easier to get your hands on. My plan is hunt cows and does to save money and at least have the chance to hunt out west each fall.

to CO Cowboy!

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[Tenmilestyle]

I like the way this thread could go. Kinda like sitting around a fire at hunting camp listening to all the old boys.

 

[mallardsx2]

I do know one thing for sure. It isn't getting any cheaper. So if your going to do it, DO IT NOW.

 

[Maxhunter]

I'm fortunate and live in Wyoming so elk is a yearly thing. If I was you I would start hunting the states that allow you to buy a OTH tag. Also don't forget the anterless tags. It's a good way to learn an area and you still hunting elk. Age is just a number.

 

[Sundowners@5?]

I like the way this thread could go. Kinda like sitting around a fire at hunting camp listening to all the old boys.

I'm one of the old boy's in camp! Paid up life insurance, whatever is left over for my wife after she pay's off my credit cards!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'm fortunate and live in Wyoming so elk is a yearly thing. If I was you I would start hunting the states that allow you to buy a OTH tag. Also don't forget the anterless tags. It's a good way to learn an area and you still hunting elk. Age is just a number.

You are correct on all counts, especially the "Age is just a number". When I retired 17 years ago (lived in California all my life), Colorado & Wyoming were my choices for retirement because a resident could pretty much hunt biggame every year. This year I will be applying for tags and points and if I don't draw any, I can still buy a OTC bull tag.

I am saving points for another wilderness elk hunt, which will take another years or so to draw. I am also looking into an outfitter NM elk hunt. My priorities have changed as I have gotten older and realize that I can't hunt like I used to. I can afford to go on outfitted hunts ( I have done quite a few) and plan on doing them as long as my wife doesn't put up too much of a fuss. LOL

One foot in front of the other....up the mountain!

 

[xtreme]

I doubt I am going through a mid-life crisis at age 74. Yes, I have to call Colorado Cowboy sir. Cost to a more or less retiree is more the limiting factor than anything else. The enjoyment of helping others is a lot of satisfaction. This year will be different, I will try for a mule deer tag. The only chance is archery. I am no archer, but the fun is in the planning. I have never used an outfitter except for bear. This year two greenhorns are bringing their bows to hunt elk. To give them the experience, we will be backpacking into the mountains. They are both in the gym and shooting their bows. One was a gym regular and is as fit as anyone can get. They have been warned about me and the mountains. My nephew was unlucky enough to be in the Lizard Head during the storm of 1980. He has never been back, traumatized. I am not making fun of him, it was rough and we were backpacking. This year will be different, no weather, warm, and not really in very deep. Just do your homework and go for it.

 

[HuskyMusky]

Worst case go DIY on a hunt, in many of these semi-improved campgrounds you'll meet great people/hunters.

I know I personally keep in touch with some random friends made on these hunts, share knowledge, ideas, and could think about teaming up on future hunts.


One idea I've had is that if a friend would join you to cook, or hike and hire* a friend/cook, someone who doesn't even necessarily hunt, but is game to go "camping" for 7-10 days and may even help you pack out, or hike the woods/mtns. Also just not having to cook after a day hunting IMO is a huge advantage.


One thing I personally love about hunting is kind of getting off the trail, that I'm sure many nature lovers who don't hunt really probably rarely get to do. We see more country that many will never see.

good luck! get the points, worst case hire a cheap guide... or DIY, a skunked diy hunt is still better than a week of work in most cases I'd say! haha.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You have it right in the non-hunting companion aspect. A couple of years back, I drew a 4th season deer tag. I have a retired friend in California who also hunts and he came along to help out and have a good time. I bought all the food and we used all of my camping stuff & quads, I even wanted to pay his travel expenses, which he wouldn't let me do. My wife also accompanied me a few times.
As I have gotten older and most of my hunting friends are gone or not able to do it, it is important to have a companion....hunter of not. My son is way too busy with his trucking business, so I am very open to this.

 

[FlaFlatlander]

Enjoying reading everyone's responses. On the cow tags, I am in on that as I am not much of a trophy hunter and a cow I am sure will eat better anyway. They are also allot easier to carry I suspect!

CC - What a great thing it would be to still get a chance to keep traipsing around the mountains into my 70's. Makes for some great memories I bet! I know coming from Florida I am in aw of any time I get to spend in that part of the country and that is what is all about.

Thanks for everyone's replies if you see a fat man from Florida huffing and puffing up the mountain, say hi!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Spent lots of time in Florida at the Cape on the Shuttle Program in the 70's. Standing on top of the gantry tower, it was crazy to think you might be in the highest part of the state. Hard to get acclimated at 10,000" back then, but live at 6800' now! That's crazy!

 

[ElkHunter2016]

Real hunters shoot cows and does because they are tastier! NM and WY both have some areas you can draw withou points. I had a similar dilemma a few years ago because I had points and I wanted to hunt with my father who didn't. The solution was he applied for a cow tag and I had a bull tag, we both had a lot of fun and both had success. Btw my dad was 69 when we he shot that cow.

 

[JimP]

Some of the best meat that I have had off of a elk came of a large bull and some of the worst came off of a cow, you just never know.

Now if you want one that should be good all the time shoot a calf.

 

[Finsandtines]

Coming from Fl. With no western hunting experience under my belt and no ability to scout, I decided to do my first antelope hunt in Wyoming and first elk hunt in Idaho with an outfitter. I'd be more than happy to share that info with you if you wish to PM me. Like the OP, I originally thought it was a midlife crisis but then realized it was more of a blessing. I got hit with it a little earlier than you though. I was in my late 30s. As most have suggested, I intend to get out west as often as possible whether it be skiing or hunting. Ultimately, when the time comes, I will call the west my home and will trek up and down the mountains chasing cows, bulls or whatever as long as my body will allow me to do so.