Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Old age and bow hunting

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

Sorry to hear that Tom.
I hope you can figure out a solution. Time marches on, and none of us are immune to it's effects.
I can't see open sights well enough to muzzleloader hunt CO, and damn near can't see my sight pins well enough to bow hunt any more.

How much weight are you pulling? You might just need to back off 5 or 10lb.

For me its the draw cycle
Todays faster bows hurt me at 60#.
Can draw older bows comfortably at 70#.

Got bashed at work Mon.
54# recurve was brutal.
In decent shape, but arthritis now.
Weather changes slam me.

I have a Bowtech Destroyer 50-60 lb bow that is currently set at about 52 lbs. It is still plenty fast enough but I am not feeling comfortable going any lower poundage for big game like elk and bear. I may try shortening the draw length and changing my anchor point and see what that does. I wish Colorado would consider an age (say 70 years old) are allowed to apply for the ADA (Accommodation Permit Application) for both resident and non resident. That will let us old timers to keep doing what we love. In 28 years of hunting Colorado I have taken one cow elk and 2 bears so it's not about filling tags, it's about opportunity.

I’m a few months shy of 70. Been bow hunting since 1977. Up until 3-4 years ago, I used 70 plus pounds. I’m at 62 pounds now and doing ok, but I do shoot several times a week year round and lift weights a couple times a week.
If I were you, I’d try a 50-55 pound draw weight. If you can shoot that ok, get some good coc BHs like Magnus Stingers or Iron Will, and go kill something.

A lot of women and recurve shooters are shooting less than 50lb and still killing elk. You just have to get closer and be more picky about what you shoot at.

Two years ago when I was 58 I almost died from West Nile Virus/Easter Equine Encephalitis complications. I got it in late August and recovered by mid September 30 pounds lighter and so weakened I could barely walk let alone draw my 70 pound Bowtech bow. I had a Mathews bow as a backup and I bought replacement 50 pound limbs for it which I was able to work up to after a lot of hard work. I never felt "undergunned" with the lighter weight bow but when it got cold late in the season it was still a bit much. I use Montec G-5 broadheads so I did not have the issue regarding mechanicals at the lower draw weight.

I'm going to do whatever it takes to continue the sport I love so much. I have a lot of options/ideas on how to start doing what needs to be done. At 150 lbs and still in pretty good shape I need to develop a game plan right away and stick to it. Start shooting my bow every day is one of the big ones. Colorado bow hunting is still probable if I do my part. My broadheads have always been Muzzy 4 blade 130 grain. I have a stockpile of these I purchased many years ago. Time to go shoot. Tom

Agree, turn your bow down a few pounds. I am 63 and getting there. I now draw my bow a couple times when it’s cold and I am in a tree stand. I find that not only my muscles loosen up, but the bow itself is easier to break over.

Hey, Tom, go to your local pro shop too and shoot some newer bows. The Bowtech Destroyer lines are aggressive speed bows, and more aggressive cams usually equals a stiffer draw. You may find some newer bows have a smoother draw. Just an idea.

I'm getting osteoarthristis in both thumbs. Hands ache all the time. It comes and goes, but sometimes I cannot hold a bag of popcorn! Seriously could not pick it up. Does make a bow hard to shoot. Heck, a few years ago I had t ask someone to clean my dove limit. I could shoot, but could not clean the bird.

Getting older sucks.

TomA, if your “chassis” is still doing okay, aka legs and lungs, I’d advise you to bite the bullet and try to get the ADA permit. Perhaps it’s possible to get certified by having a Colorado MD review your records, which would save you a trip. Regardless, it’s worth a shot to be able to continue doing what you like.

I’m a couple years behind you and every year it’s getting tougher to get around in the woods, and dragging deer out by myself is a chore. I’m adapting by hunting fewer days, and have a game cart stashed in the woods where I hunt. Also have game bags in my pack so I can pack out meat only. Sooner or later, I may have to switch to small game and birds, or pay to hunt where I’ll have someone to do the hard work. Ain’t giving up without a struggle.

BTW, I’ve watched some videos that suggest that razor-sharp cut-on-contact heads on heavy arrows will take really big animals when shot from light bows, even down to 40 or so pounds. That may be the easiest way to go for you. You lose some speed of course, but with sights, that shouldn’t be a big deal. Worth looking into.

Don’t give up on this.

Time marches on! I’m not far behind you!

Tom, I would call Colorado Parks & Wildlife and explain your situation. The few times I've called they've been very helpful. They accept out of state hunter safety cards. Maybe the requirement only applies to residents or you could get an exception.

Bill

In this time of Covid 19 a lot of doctor appointments are done via Zoom with a laptop or phone. Maybe that could be an option?

Raked all the leaves.....neighbors trees dumped all in my yard. Bit sore. Push mowed today. My real job is handling parts, about 30 #.....a couple hundred hot ones a night.
Standinh on concrete.

Im sore all the time and pushing 60.

Shot my 54# recurve before work.
Ugh.

But finished strong, felt good. Proly not be able to get out bed tomorrow LOL

Xbowed a small buck yesterday. Xbow makes shooting them easier, but that mile-long drag is still a killer! Oh my aching bones!

You've got me only by a couple years Tom, but I certainly understand your situation.
I have done physical work my entire life and still have decent upper body strength for my age, but a far cry from 10 years ago. Still bowhunting here with my OLD Browning compound which I have set and tuned at 53 lbs tipped with 100gr Slick Tricks.
Exclusively need just one shot which almost always gets a pass through.
Don't be afraid to lower the poundage, so long as you have it tuned properly for that reduction.

-Ken

PS. Bought a new Ten Point crossbow this past spring just in case! LOL.

Hope you can get some satisfaction , Tom. I would be blessed to still be bowhunting at your age with injuries creeping up on me. I agree you could drop some draw weight and still be fine. I have to shoot at least 6-8 arrows before I sit for a hunt. I have thought about taking my exercise band with me to stay loose! Good luck on your future hunts.

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.

+1. I have 4 bows sitting right here - a Matthews VXR, a Prime Black 5, PSE Evoke and Hoyt REDWRX RX-4. The VXR is the smoothest and easiest to draw, for sure.

SKeen,
Yeah, I really liked that bow and hope to buy one at some point. Not cheap though. Funds are low right now and season is near over. Need time to get comfortable with a bow before hunting with it so maybe early next year. Thinking 31.5 length.

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'.

this week i turn 67 years of age and last year at 66 years of age i did go to a x-bow which was difficult for me to do but with my bad surgery/medically rebuilt shoulders that hurt all the time, i just can`t handle the pain drawing ,holding any weight,and or releasing an arrow anymore. i have been involved in archery for over 55 years now ,i was a climbing power linemen for around 35 years and my lineman job was hard and very hard on shoulders too. so i understand and know all about old age and bowhunting it just sucks because now i have the time and i loved bowhunting elk in the mountains of Montana > i mis the bugle of the elk . Montana does not allow x-bows either for old crippled people like us either. good luck,pete53

Yup, very much agree...if I get cold, my 55# compound gets tough to pull. I dress warmer, upper body, and draw the bow at least twice an hour. Seems to be working. I also do some isometric exercising while in the tree stand. Even at 40 degrees, if your sitting for a few hours, you get cold.
I also changed were I sit this year...put up a ground blind a few weeks before season started, deer got used to it..and I sat in that this year. It made a very big difference in how much warmer I stayed..yet I could still draw the bow..deer wouldn`t see or hear me. Also very nice when it rains or snows.

I feel your pain, or something like it. Had to switch to the crossbow. Hoping to go out Friday with it for the first time. I don't like them, but I like quitting even less, so ...
That bit about being forced to use a Colorado doc seems dumb. Good luck!

Ah, that's better. Good luck.

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.

No vehicles allowed on WMAs.
I had a deer sled cached nearby, which was some help. I also have a nice wheeled cart, but some dummy left the key in his other pants.....



Roger that; might have to look into one of the compact ones next year. Carrying the quiver in my pack helps with both the weight and form factor issues. It fits in the water bladder pocket perfectly.

here in Minnesota once you turn 60 years of age x-bows are legal without a doctor slip application. my question is why can`t that be a law nationally ? this would make it so much simpler and western states would even make more money with us old dudes hunting out there more. really do these young archer guys feel us golden age hunters going to get more animals hunting? heck most of us can`t walk well anymore , so just wait when these young archers get old : they will whine to have the x-bow law changed so they at their older golden age can still archery hunt. this golden age is not so golden if your a young archer and are against x-bows your day will come when you are old, you will have only 2 choices quit and stay home or find a state that lets you use a x-bow during archery season. many young archers have no respect anymore for senior bowhunters,these young archers are very selfish by talking against old hunters being allowed to use a x-bow . here is a true example : my dear old friend from Montana was a dafted frontline Marine in Viet Nam hit with a mortar with a horrible shoulder injury,was put medically back together has healed up the best that could be done,loved archery but he had no physical ability to draw a bow again, Montana did give him a free vehicle license plate as a wounded veteran of wars but never ever can he use a x-bow during archery season legally, that`s shameful Montana !

Because the feds have no business telling a state how to run it's fish and game dept. Believe me, you do NOT want them getting involved.

Idaho allows disabled hunters to use a crossbow with a doctor's permit. Age has nothing to do with it. That's during the archery season. Anyone can use one during the general seasons.

Jennings, wow, been 30 or so years since I shot a Jennings.
I’ll be 70 in six weeks. Shot 70-75 pounds for 40 years. Backed off to 62 pounds several years ago. I’ve shot through elk, aoudad, brown bear and quite a few other critters since then. A medium heavy arrow, 450 grains or so, with a cut on contact Bh and 60 pounds will work on any game in Noam. I believe 50 pounds will do the same, but marginal on moose and elk.