Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Old age and bow hunting

Tom,

I'm 68 and have been building my own house the last 5 years. I tore muscles is both arms lifting heavy 8x8 beams. I used to shoot a jennings 80 lb and could not do it anymore so I went to a crossbow. I hate it. It just does not have the satisfaction factor of a compound, recurve or longbow.

Anyhow, the crossbow broke a part and while waiting for the shop to fix it I had them string up a Matthews VXR set at 60 lbs to see if I could shoot it. A very knowledgeable woman did it and she set it at 50 lbs saying that is what she hunts with and kills deer every year. I had no problem and was shocked at the improvements since that old Jennings. She cranked it up to 60 lbs and I could still do it but I could feel the difference.

I do not think you will like the crossbow idea after all those years of a compound. I suggest going to a good bow shop and trying some newer bows at lighter weights. I think you may be pleasantly surprised at the updates available. It all about shot placement anyhow and 50 will kill an elk just as dead.

And you said it's mostly about being out there, so keep on keeping on.

My best wishes to keeping us old guys in the woods.

mile-long drag is still a killer

It's that time in life when the old body can't keep up. I have been bow hunting Colorado for the past 26-27 years as a non resident. Each year I have usually just put in for over the counter either sex elk with a couple bear and deer tags mixed in. I have bow hunted for over 45 years and now at 70 years old the joints are starting to give me issues. Last year I prepared some 6 months before season by pulling my fishing bow back about 40 times a day to get in shape and gradually moved up to pulling my compound hunting back 20-30 times a day. I thought I was prepared but this year while hunting I tried to draw on a legal bull and could not get over the hump and come to full draw. Luckily my hunting partner was in the right spot in his climbing stand and he got the elk. I tried to explain to myself as it was just a cold morning and my muscles were tight, etc.

I will be 71 next January so almost 72 by come next hunting season. I looked at the Colorado ADA (Accommodation Permit Application) for possibility of using a crossbow so I can continue to archery hunt with my younger hunting partner. I was very disappointed to find that as a non resident you must have the ADA form filled out and certified by a Doctor in Colorado. How do I get that done? Drive from Texas to Colorado, make a Doctors appointment and get checked out by someone I have never met and doesn't know my medical history. Let's see, that's about $500 in fuel $100-$125 for Doctors appointment plus time and no guarantee that Colorado Parks & Wildlife will accept my request for waiver. Hate to think of not being in the Colorado mountains come this September with my hunting partner. I know some folks think hunting with a crossbow is not archery hunting but when you reach my age and you want to be in the woods hunting in September you may think twice. Rant over. Tom

Well I got a response from Colorado and it seems I misinterpreted their ADA statement (CPW does not honor accommodation permits from other states and or countries). It only means you have to use the application form from Colorado to apply in Colorado. If you have a disability that is recognized from another state you must reapply using the Colorado ADA Accommodation Permit Application. Still in the hunt. Tom

Stopped that years ago. If I cant get relatively close with a 4 wheeler or a pirogue, they get to walk. Last long drag I did was in '09. When it was over, I said 'never again'.

Copy that. Fortunately, I find cutting them up and backpacking them fairly easy, if I can take multiple trips. I hiked out my first black bear this year at about a mile. But I had a lot of time to do it and relatively little vertical to contend with. There's always the chance some critter gets some meat, but I can live with that. No probs so far.

Having to put an either Sitka Blacktail buck into a hunting daypack a couple years ago SUCKED though.

Be careful what you ask for.

Still hunting with a crossbow is not as fun as it may seem.

They are very awkward to pack around, a lighter set up might be a better deal.

my question is why can`t that be a law nationally