Too late to start?

[BASE424]

Base242.....this is a little unfair...maybe James wife knows,him better than any of us should......and he does need to stay at home.......
But i am sure I can clear my schedule to hunt elk with you....
.....

If a man wants to hunt, a man wants to hunt. If I can help James accomplish that and he's able, I will. Hunt with me? Looks like you're sitting pretty in Idaho, a quick run up to McCall and you're in it brother!

 

[RogerPA]

If she has a Bible, have her read Genesis 27:3

 

[mnoland30]

The drive to your hunt is more dangerous than the hunt. Since the invention of hunter's education classes, hunting has gotten much safer. Some people just pretend to hunt, and go to the woods to drink. I'm 66 and still love to hunt. Learn to bone out the animal so you don't have to carry big loads. It is much easier on your back. I took a Afganistan vet on an elk hunt a few years ago, and he shot a nice bull. He said it was better than sex. I told him he needed a new girlfriend!

 

[mdvctry]

Tell her it's just like fishing and you don't really expect to shoot anything, but you want to learn something new and hang out with your friend from work since your old fishing buddies have moved on. If you do get a deer, share the meat with your hunting buddy or bring It to a food pantry. DNR is always looking for meat donations for local food banks.

 

[Old man 257]

Just being in the woods is worth the fight with your wife . If you don't get a deer just see one make it worth it . If your worried about being shot wear a lot of orange

 

[NorCalRiceGuy]

I am 70 years "young" and I will tell you I have worse classification of severe spinal stenosis and severe spinal arthritis that can be debilitating at times. Actually most times. I had my best year of deer hunting ever last fall and it was hard to do but it was worth every second of the effort. I went elk hunting last fall and toughed it out right up to being snowed out and having to break camp for a bug out. But when I am in the woods, watching dawn break and woods coming alive, pain just melts away and I am in a really good place. If the shooting of a deer is of question, still go and sit with your buddy if he is ok with it to experience it first hand. Maybe you won't like it or maybe you will absolutely love it. Hunting is not killing but the summation of a total experience that cannot be easily described to anyone unless you actually experience it. Hearing a deer walking up on you will elevate your senses to a degree you never thought possible and even if you do not shoot anything that experience alone will be worth every second in the woods. If you take the time to be an observer, you will see animals do things that you didn't think was possible and sometimes laughable. Bring a camera, bring a lunch, take a nap in the woods, enjoy the moment is what I will tell you.

Oh yeah, my wife will not eat venison but she understands my time in the woods is my mental health fix and she hopes I can do it for as long as I can stand up.

Well put.

 

[BASE424]

If she has a Bible, have her read Genesis 27:3

Let's not go down that road...

 

[Berbman]

Like Lowedown said...Do what you need to do for you....---however...know that once you do it, you will always want do it.
And take Muddy's lesson...your health may not outlast your money and/or time.

 

[FURMAN]

I have been married for 35+ yrs. I have never hunted anything but fish & only then a few times a year with 3 fishing buddies. Now my fishing buddies have either retired & moved away or have plain retired. I am the last one working & a co-worker whom i have known & worked with for 25 yrs has invited me Deer Hunting for several years now. I want to go, the deadline for getting tags is in 2 days. This fall i will be 60 yr old. I did not bring it up to my wife before because i know how she feels about hunters......because her dad & uncles hunted & she grew up & did not appreciate their demeanor. Last night i told her i wanted to go this fall, She gave every reason under the sun ranging from , "This is not you" to , "i don't want the mess in the house, i will not eat deer meat, Your 60 yrs old, you have a bad back, you could get shot. You are not going to do this. You did not grow up this way"...…..My question is , How do i get thru to her? I do not want to be insensitive but is hunting worth pursuing at my age? I feel i would regret it if i didn't at least try. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

It is never too late to do something you desire to do. I would think after 35 years of marriage she would understand your desire to try something new.

 

[gator378]

I have been married for 35+ yrs. I have never hunted anything but fish & only then a few times a year with 3 fishing buddies. Now my fishing buddies have either retired & moved away or have plain retired. I am the last one working & a co-worker whom i have known & worked with for 25 yrs has invited me Deer Hunting for several years now. I want to go, the deadline for getting tags is in 2 days. This fall i will be 60 yr old. I did not bring it up to my wife before because i know how she feels about hunters......because her dad & uncles hunted & she grew up & did not appreciate their demeanor. Last night i told her i wanted to go this fall, She gave every reason under the sun ranging from , "This is not you" to , "i don't want the mess in the house, i will not eat deer meat, Your 60 yrs old, you have a bad back, you could get shot. You are not going to do this. You did not grow up this way"...…..My question is , How do i get thru to her? I do not want to be insensitive but is hunting worth pursuing at my age? I feel i would regret it if i didn't at least try. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

My wife years ago did not want me to buy anymore guns. After putting 2 kids through college and grad school 100 per cent paid for. I bought 4 guns and never told her. I sure enjoy going to the range. I am 72 and intend to die doing what I like. the guns are really fun to enjoy the southern bell not so much. Enjoy life as much as possible. For some reason women do not like men to enjoy life. They do not like dogs to enjoy themselves either and that is why the dogs and I had so much fun out in the wild life area. remember you will remember your cats and dogs with a smile on your face wives and girl friends not so much.

 

[BASE424]

Like Lowedown said...Do what you need to do for you....---however...know that once you do it, you will always want do it.
And take Muddy's lesson...your health may not outlast your money and/or time.

Wise words amigo

 

[AI338LM]

Sell the wife and buy a deer rifle.

 

[jfolanddvm]

One of the most entertaining threads I've ever seen on here. Lots of advice. Some of it wise, some not so wise, some intentionally humorous and some maybe not so intentional.
Nobody can know your situation as well as you, but I think it's better to do something like this and find out it's not your cup of tea (an unlikely outcome) than to not do it and regret it - and possibly even feel resentful towards your wife for preventing you from doing it.

If you haven't done it already, there's only one day left now to get that tag!
or.....
Not sure how close you are to the friend that invited you deer hunting, but if I were you, I might dog him this fall and end up in CO with Base424!!

 

[Pulpwood]

Truly Sage Advice, thank you very much Muddyboots…..very inspiring & very much appreciated.

I could not agree more