Hunting at 80

I guess a more appropriate title would be no hunting at 80.  I celebrated my 80th birthday this past August and it’s the first year in 59 years that I didn’t go on a single hunt, not one.  That is really hard for me to believe.  If you read my post from last January, “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” you would have seen that I was hoping to go on at least three, maybe four hunts.  There were many good reasons for not going, grandkids couldn’t take off work, bad weather and for me my old age anxiety.  The only hunt that the family went on was our annual moose hunt.  I told everyone last year that if we were going back to the same area, I wasn’t going to go.  Most everyone thought I was kidding but I just couldn’t deal with the water level dropping daily in that area.  That was all that I could think about when I was there.  I found myself praying for rain.  What idiot does that on a hunt.  That just took all the fun out of it if you happen to think moose hunting is fun.  Most of you know that moose is my least favorite animal to hunt.  So, I can only blame myself for not going on the family moose hunt.

Most of the gang went and Brian Johnson, Nate’s dad was able to join them.  It was his first hunt.  Even with the bad weather he said he had a great time.  Jens and Thor shot the best moose that we have taken so far in that area.  A real old guy with a 57” spread and seven brow points on one side and five on the other.  Nice looking moose.  The weather was bad with a little rain or snow every day.  That being said, they had the best water level that they had ever had.  I guess that’s the way it goes.

I did celebrate my birthday by climbing a local mountain, “Flat Top!” Not a big deal on a nice day but if it’s raining and the wind is blowing 30 mph going up and gusting between 40 and 50 on top it’s not that much fun.  Reminded me of a bad sheep hunting day!  I was glad I wasn’t stuck in a tent on some mountain side but I felt like I was sheep hunting.  My daughter Michelle and granddaughter Rachel were making sure that I was celebrating my birthday by climbing mountains and they were right there with me.  My grandson Jared packed my 2-year-old great grandson Je’maine most of the way up, but right before the final climb Je’maine decided he had had enough so Jared took him back down to the parking lot.  I really felt sorry for the little guy being in the wind and rain.  He was a trooper.  But the three of us made it.  Another great memory for this old man and the family.

I also went zip lining for the first time, a “Father’s Day” gift from Michelle and Rachel.  We had a blast!!  So, I guess you can still do a few exciting things when your 80.

I’m hoping next year I can get out there in the mountains on at least two or three hunts.  Anything, “to keep the old man out!”