when I started elk hunting in the very early 1970s I was 19 and one of my mentors (arthur) was and "old geezer" about 40 or so (the youngest of the older guys I learned from) that had lived and hunted elk for about 24 years,with his dad, he had used a 1917 enfield the first few years but bought and used a 760 Remington in 30/06 loaded with peters 220 grain ammo ,for elk hunting and hes used that ammo now for decades. he used that same rifle and similar ammo that used 220 grain round nose bullets and swore anything else was inferior for decades and he did darn well using a weaver 4x scope on that rifle also, he eventually dropped 17 elk in 40 years which is far above average success on public grounds, and we always hunted there,on public grounds,because most of the group could not afford to hunt else ware. well I got a call, that he made his last elk hunt last year at age 83, he lost most of his eye sight to various medical conditions due mostly to age,plus a mild heart condition, his daughter keeps the rifle now but she seldom hunts.
I could tell from the conversation with ARTHUR that he was devastated at the prospect that he had no chance of ever hunting elk again as he had made every trip he could possible afford to with our group over the last 45 plus years.
its rather depressing to think all that experience and enthusiasm will no longer be part of our elk hunts, but he was the last of the original mentors and even most of the guys I started hunting elk with decades ago have either died off, lost interest of are medically no longer able to hunt, and I can see age has even effected the few who remain, and Im not immune to the effect of time either, so guys enjoy what time you can spare to hunt and take pictures if you can,thats one huge regret on my part, I seldom took a camera

Good thoughts here about past hunts and hunting companions. The camera is something that can record those moments and memories best. Good post!

I know the feeling, I was with my dad in 58 when he killed his first elk, at 37 years of age. He passed away in 04, hunted with him almost every year. Learned a lot and saw a lot of great country some of which I still hunt frequently.

Those memories are so important to our minds.

Thanks for telling that story.

Also thanks for forums like this where we can hear words of hunting, firearms and shooting passions.

Sad times indeed.When I was in my forties I sat down and figured out how many elk hunts I had left in me. I decided I could probably hunt until I was 70 which is coming up mighty fast in another year +. Those 30 hunts went awful quick. Luckily CO has let me hunt a few years with two hunts per year. I sure don't have many left and encourage those that do to take advantage of every one they can.

340mag.......invite Arthur along any way.

Us hunters are always saying that dropping an animal is not the reason (or the only reason) we hunt.

It's that bond of companionship not only during the hunt but in camp.
You can include Arthur in strategy which could lead to memories of previous hunts; "remember back in ...... when we....."

He may not be able to stalk the elk any more but he can smell the pines,the cedars,the sagebrush......he can smell the smoke from the campfire......he could help cook.....lots of tasks that makes him a member still of the hunt.

Make him feel he's still a hunter.......and get those photos of him on a hunt before it is way to late.

I can only hope to last as long as Arthur. That would give me another 13 years. It's getting hard though.

Some of my best years hunting were with my dad. My biggest regret is I never had a son to pass on the tradition of our family. Elk hunting was always the most popular subject at the dinner table. Now it's all lost when i'm gone.

I agree to take Arthur on the hunt. Just being in camp will be better than staying home.

+1 ... nuff said.

My good friend just retired at 67. His dad kept coming to he elk camp with us until he was 86 I think, and the reason he didn't lately was, he lives in Maine and it is far and expensive to come out to CO. He would not chase elk like us, he would sit on a folding chair near the pickup truck and look around, waiting on the elk. He saw more than we did and sure felt he still was part of the hunt.
I have another friend who is 84 this year. He hunted last year, shot a cow and has put in for a tag this year too. I bet he will keep going even if not hunting as long as he breathes.
Take the old gizzers along. They are the ones who keep the elk camps alive.

+2.

Done it a few times with older guys. Camplife and comradarie are just as good as the hunt - epecially if you've killed a truckload or two of game.

Yes, when I get too old to make it to timberline, I hope the troops will still extend an invite. I'll still try to keep the larder stocked with some fine trout.

Another +.....

If you do get the older gent to go, make sure you can make him comfortable. Comfortable bed, warm and not just on a cot. Make sure your menu matches what he can do. If in a tent, make sure you can keep him warm and decide if he needs to have someones tay with him while everyone is out hunting.

Older folks require a little more TLC

Remember the good times 340mag with open eyes and heart in the field. He will be with you. Kawi

While I've hunted deer and other game for many years, just last year, I went on my first elk hunt in CO. I'm absolutely hooked but sadly, at age 61, the realization hit that I started way too late. But, with a measure of divine help from our creator, I hope to hunt as long as my legs and health will allow.

Those pics are good for those who are still going relatively strong and maybe even for those who are essentially done. They may bring back memories, even good ones, but that doesn't mean they will be beneficial. For many it is hard to look at what once was and now is. It hurts too much to remember.

We have a good friend that goes with us that is 76 this year. Started to smoke when he was in his teens and now is on oxygen and can't make it around very well. He drops us off and picks us up but is bored out of his gourd. Two years ago we were able to get a cow elk to run in front of him and he rolled it with two shots and last year we had a several bulls and 30 cows run by but he wasn't able to get a bull down. We hunt at 5-8k in elevation and even with the o2 he struggles so this year we are hunting deer lower not far from his home. It is still fun to have him in camp and drink beer and listen to his stories.

At the ripe old age of 62, I approach every western elk hunt as if it will be my last. I keep applying for Colorado preference points and, with any luck, still have a few years left in me.

As a friend of mine often says, "run 'er 'til she locks up".

donsm70

I'm 63, had really bad Congestive Heart Failure a year and a half ago. Seems like my heart muscle contracted a virus. I just found out I'm on of the lucky few who's heart self heals. It's almost back to normal. So I plan to elk hunt this year in Colorado again. I'm going hunt smarter, not harder this year. As you grow older, there's always Africa, guided hunts in Alaska and Canada, most of them not as strenous as an elk hunt at 11,000 plus feet in Colorado. But those elk hunts you do with friends are truly glorious!

Chuck...........That's the beauty of still hunting the high timber. It's not hard on the old body. Especially, if you can find some areas that are pretty level.

This is where i'll be hunting elk this year. It's a new area for me, but I have all summer to scout it. I already know it has lots of elk and deer there. I just need to wait until the other hunters drive the elk into the timber.

http://gmap3d.com/?place=mineral+basin+chaffee+county+co.&r=3dmap

Just found out a dear friend of mines Mom was drawn for a cow tag in Arizona at 92 years young. She still hunts and kills her own. I have been privelaged to share a few hunting seasons with her company....Gotta keep them going as long as you can....My Dad still goes at 78 but the cancer will eventually win there. Happy for the 40 seasons with him so far...

24mileboy, you would be a great friend to have! Your 76 year old friend is lucky to have an unselfish hunting buddy like you. I applaud you for keeping the dreams of an old hunter alive.

MR. WINTERS

I'm 62 +, am I old ENOUGH for you to take me under your wing and take me elk hunting?? I'm awful forgettful you know!!

Your FRIEND
Jerry

340mag -- Neither I nor my friend are QUITE there yet. He's 69 this yr. BUT I can see he is fading and it is coming.

We haven't elk hunted yet but we've deer hunted together since 1975. I can sympathize with what you're feeling.

Biggs, Thanks for the reply. We are planning a cow hunt for him as I type.

If it's any consolation, the memories you made going up hunting with him is the legacy he's passed on to you. Pictures are great, but the memories are even better... you can pull those up any time. Thanks for sharing a great story. Made me think about some people who were significant in getting me into hunting as a kid. Had to dust a few mental pictures off and take a walk down memory lane. All of his have mentors that got us into hunting, a father, brother, friend, etc. It is incumbent upon us to do the same and pay it forward so that legacy they shared with us will live on. Take a kid hunting, if one is in your party, encourage them, make it fun, teach them right, safety, ethics, respect for the game we pursue and the wild places we chase them in...

340mag, please listen to all the nice responses and get him out there with you. He may not be able to hit the trail as hard and often as you, but he can help around camp, and it'll mean the world to everyone if he can be there with you. As some have mentioned, you do need to provide more comfort for your mentor, in the way of bedding and warmth, but that'll be a pleasure, too. I also wish that we had taken cameras with us, back in my family's big deer camp days of the '60's and '70's, so memories have to hold us.

Regards,

Tony

If you hunt from a drive-in camp or somewhere that's easy to access, Arthur can always stay in camp and participate in the evening's storytelling and festivities!

I only ever went on one elk hunt and wasn't succesful. Didn't think it was a wasted trip since we saw some beautiful new country. My usual hunt is for moose so there are some similarities.

When we go this fall I will be 76. I look on each trip as possibly my last, in the event at some point bad health should catch up with me. Nowadays if it is raining I stay in, stoke the fire and drink coffee. The younger guys accept this and are slowly getting to the point where the kill is not quite as important as it once was.

Our hunts are early enough that the weather is usually good and the fishing is great. The younger guys carry the load as far as the heavy lifting goes and I truly appreciate that they make room for me. Probably the time spent in the outdoors helps to extend my life, at least it feels that way.

Jim

By all means, if you can talk him into going neither of you WILL regret it. Last couple of years before dad passed he knew he was getting shakey and hung up the shooting part. I hauled our travel trailer up for him to stay in his last two years. He would really grumble, but would be first up in the morning to get the fire going and remark how nice it was to get up to go pee at night and have the floor warm. Most of you have seen this pic, but was the last year we had the master with us.

nice post,typing with a tear in my eye

Thank you all for sharing your stories. No one in my family hunts and I started just a few years ago (I'm 27) and I hope I can leave a legacy that you all have experienced for my future children...still a few years out with the wife.