If your kids/relatives stopped hunting in their 20s, did they ever start again?

[waffentomas]

I have a son who is 22. He went elk and deer hunting with me (and helped me carry out a bear once) for 5 straight years. I started hunting at age 21. My parents were opposed to it, and never even allowed me to own a bb gun. So, I joined the Marines at 17 so I'd get a chance to shoot lots of them. Life got in my way a few years later and I wasn't able to start hunting again until 10 years ago at age 37. As soon as my son passed hunter ed. in 2005, he started coming out.

He's missed the last two years because he's working and figuring out life, plus, he lives a few hours away. He just can't seem to make the trip to Idaho lately to hunt with me. He loves to hunt, and killed a cow elk a few years back and was thrilled.

So I'm wondering, if you hunted with your kids or younger relatives and they stopped, did they ever get back to it or is it, once they are gone - they're done with it?

We have three other teenagers in camp right now, and I kind of wonder what their hunting future holds as well.

Thoughts and experiences appreciated.

 

[Skyshot]

My son quit hunting when he got married, he still talks about it and he still likes to shoot. But so far he hasn't came back to the sport, he is 33 now and I am 57. It would please me much if he did, but it's his choice. My grandson show's a big interest in hunting but he is 4 years old. I did get him a lifetime sportmans license for Tennessee. I hope I am able ( health wise)to mentor him when he gets old enough to hunt on his own.

 

[cottswald]

...Life got in my way a few years later...

Same could be the case with your son. He's had a taste of it and sooner or later he'll be back. I wouldn't try to hurry the issue. He'll know when the time is right.

In the mean time, all he needs to know is that you're there for whatever the case may be.

Idaho's a beautiful place. Was there a long time ago.


--Skyshot, you got a lucky grandson.

 

[sourdough44]

I'd try to fill the gap with target shooting when you get together.

 

[jamesb]

I hunted with my Uncle and Grandfather all the way up until I went to college. I didn't hunt when I was in college or when I was in the Army. I just didn't have time and I was stationed in Colorado which would of been ideal to hunt in. I didn't start back up until I moved to VA and got out of the Army, an 11 year break. My uncle invited me down to Florida to hunt pigs with a bow and that got me right back into it again. Been hunting every year since.

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Given time most of them do get back into hunting. Even in my 60's i have second thoughts about hunting in to 20's. 20 below 0 that is. During our second moose hunt season in December it is quit common to see 40 below. I always say WHY am i doing this. Oh yeah to fill the freezer. :banghead:

 

[dragon813gt]

I'm 32. I stopped at around 18 and started again around 30. Had a lot of other hobbies in between that took up all my free time. It was my grand father's failing health the got me back into it. I wanted to get out in the field with him a few more times before he passed. Now I am upset that I stopped for so long.


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[Belknap]

Hi all. I just joined this forum and found this thread appropriate for my first post. I hunted in college, mostly upland game and duck. It's been nearly 35 years and I just restarted 2 years ago when I joined a gun club here in Connecticut. It's been great and I have introduced my 24 year old son and 21 year old daughter to this fine sport. Hopefully they won't make the same mistake their old man did.

 

[CoRoMo]

I hunted in my youth, but then sometime in high school I became addicted to females and my own access to freedom. That messed up about a decade and a half of my life. Luckily I married the right female in the middle of all that. Anyway, I eventually crept my way back to my roots while still in my 20's and have been hunting like crazy ever since. I regret the prodigal years like you can't imagine, but I'm now back where I belong. I love hunting and will do it several times a year for the rest of my able life.

 

[22-rimfire]

So I'm wondering, if you hunted with your kids or younger relatives and they stopped, did they ever get back to it or is it, once they are gone - they're done with it?

I grew up hunting. Absolutely lived for it. But when I finished college and moved, hunting opportunities were not so convenient. Hunting faded as a sport I participated in, but I moved back into the sport when I had the opportunity. So, YES, you can come back and hunt later in life. It is about fun.

 

[UpTheIrons]

I quit hunting when I went to college, too. I didn't get back into it until about 5 years ago again. Now, I go every year, as much as I can. My kids (girl 11, boy 9) want to go with me now and again, and my wife is even interested in going along this year!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I did weekly hunts for years and am fortunate enough to have a "cabin" for me and my buddies to use. It has most of the comforts of home. I looked forward to those trips and at one time couldn't stand the though of having to ever miss a trip...Things changed...I haven't used the lodging in over a decade. Now, if I hunt it's just a walk out in the woods behind the house to see what's stirring.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

all you can do is show them. they will eventually make up their mind to do or not to do.i quit deer hunting between 16 and 21 yrs or age cuz after 5 yrs hunting with my dad we just never got nuttin but frozen feet.later the deer were more plentiful and success started happening. ive done it ever since

 

[rcmodel]

Both mine stopped when I stopped buying them guns, licenses, and ammo when they early twenty somethings.

Course by then, they had found out about girls, money, cars & motorcycles, money, girls, money, then family's, jobs, not enough money, and not enough time to make enough money.

And it didn't help that all of our old hunting land is now owned buy a Chinese investment company, and leased to out-of-state hunting guides.

rc

 

[ritepath]

I'm now 41.....Until last year the last time I hunted was 2004 (then only 1 day). I'd only hunted a little bit since getting out of college in 93. (10-15 times a year)

In 2004 my second child come along and there just wasn't time to hunt that much even off the porch. Sleep become #1 and I hated getting up early on Saturday if there wasn't a kid beating on me to get up. LOL

Last year the 2004 child got me back into hunting because he wanted to go. This summer both the kids got me back into fishing somewhat in the fact we didn't go any last year and this year we went at least once a week. I still hate getting up early on Saturday, but having my son in the field and enjoying nature makes it worth it.

I'll never be the hunter I was in my teens and twenties...life does get in the way.

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Does anyone else agree with me in the fact that hunting tends to go hand and hand with the economy. Good times less hunting for meat. Hard times More hunters out looking for meat. Unless your a vegetarian. That is Native for poor hunter.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I never did buy the whole "I need the meat" arguement unless you are a landowner who can hunt right behind the house. By the time you figure in license costs, gas for travel, equipment, and possible time off from work most could probably buy a side of beef.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'm in the OP's situation. My oldest son hunted with me from age 11 to 18, and hasn't hunted for the last six years. College, USMC Reserves, new bride, Afghanistan, new job ... it's a time of life thing. I hope his interest rekindles as time permits, but I'm not pushing. I invite him every year with as little pressure as possible, just so he knows he'd be welcome. I didn't really start hunting myself until into my early 30s, and know what it's like to have other things that come first.