NEVER Hunt upland birds with someone much younger than you

Dave R · September 19, 2009, 05:47 PM

So....

Two of us 50+ year-olds went upland hunting with a barely-30 guy in great shape. I 'thought' I was in good shape.

We walked an amazing distance. Worked some good draws between rugged divides. Harvested a few dove. Jumped a small covey of quail. We all got a few.

My legs are getting tired, and I'm running out of fluids, I'm thinking we're about done, and you guessed it. We found the mother lode of quail in the most rugged draw.

A fresh shot of adrenaline and we're on the hunt again. The quail were most cooperative. They would hold tight until we were right on them. Then they'd flush in waves. You could shoot, reload, and shoot again, all in one place. Then we'd start to move along the draw, walk about 4 feet and another wave would flush behind us!

So we pushed this covey over a mile down this rugged draw, shooting wave after wave. By this time, the dog was getting so tired she would only retreive the easy kills. So the only time we paused was to hike the rugged terrain the fetch a bird that the dog was smart enough to leave.

Us older guys were seriously pushing ourselves to keep up with this young buck and his dog. If we had shot better, we would not have been able to hunt as far...

We finally ran out of ammo long after we ran out of fluids. And, of course, we're another rugged mile farther from the truck.

But what can you do? We sucked it up and tried to keep up with superman.

The dog gets so tired she would just lay down on the trail and not move a few minutes. Under my breath, I blessed her for her sense.

About halfway back, we find a little water hole about a foot deep. The dog gets in and hunkers down so just her ears, eyes and nose are out of the water. Such a look of bliss on her face. I was so jealous.

She drinks about half the hole, then double-times back to the truck, with The Flash right behind her. Me and my seasoned buddy pushed until I was almost ready to call life flight.

But we made it. And quail are in the oven.

And Google Earth tells us we could've taken another road to about half-mile from that draw...

Big Caliber · September 19, 2009, 09:52 PM

So...did you enjoy it?

Dave R · September 19, 2009, 10:04 PM

After a nice meal of quail, and a good foot rub from the wife, YOU BET.

wyobohunter · September 20, 2009, 03:52 PM

IMO, Superman should either be more considerate or find a new hunting partner. I consider myself a decent hiker but will not hesitate to taylor my pace to those around me and expect the same of those in better shape to do the same for me. If I find that my pace doesn't mesh well with my hunting partner I thank them for the hunt and start looking for a new partner. It makes no sense (to me) to push yourself too much on a hunt because 1: I don't think it is safe and 2: It just aint fun. Intentionally pushing yourself to the limit of your endurance should be done close to home, not in the middle of nowhere where the consequences are greater. Save that reserve of strength for an emergency. Just my belief.
Not that I never push myself a little (say on a Sheep hunt etc.) but I absolutely refuse to let myself "bonk".

dondavis3 · September 20, 2009, 03:57 PM

Just wait until your over 60

- it doesn't get easier

Great story though.

JerseyDrez · September 20, 2009, 05:14 PM

Wow, that was a very well-written story. I felt like I was reading a published book on dove hunting.

Thanks for the interesting read, and glad you made it out alive

Art Eatman · September 20, 2009, 08:41 PM

Ah, you young guys. After I hit into my 60s, I evolved an easier style for messing with the local blue quail. We have miles and miles of jeep trail in my hunt area.

So: Drive along until a covey is seen. Jump out and socialize, maybe a hundred yards of dead run and bangitty-bang. Gather up a bird or three and drive on. Repeat as the opportunity arises.

I don' wanna get too far from the cooler.

, Art

Fat White Boy · September 20, 2009, 10:42 PM

I know exactly what you are talking about. My son is 23, a soocer player. My friend's son is 21, a football defensive back. We took them chukar hunting with us which turned out to be a huge mistake. My buddy and I were both 55 at the time. We got two birds between us. These two kids ran up and down the mountains like deer. We kept up with them for about 2 minutes...

SAIGAFISH · September 21, 2009, 07:00 PM

I m sorry guy,s im that guy one of my main hobbies is
mountain biking and long legged and have done a lot of backpacking
but i like to use my extra time to fish more spots or sit or watch a bird

Dave R · September 21, 2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

IMO, Superman should either be more considerate or find a new hunting partner.

Just to be clear, Superman was a perfect gentleman and never put any pressure on us. It was all us old guys trying NOT to look like we couldn't keep up. In fact, at the end of the trip, when he got to the truck first, he drove the truck back as close as he could to get us.

Quote:

Just wait until your over 60 - it doesn't get easier

Don't remind me....

longranger · September 21, 2009, 08:09 PM

I had taken my granddaughter to the White Mtns in So. Cal she was 12 and a very good cross country runner. She reminded me of a young dog who could do 7 miles to your 1.After hours of hiking in the Bristlecones on the way back to camp she was skipping down the trail my buddy and I were beat.Youth is wasted on the young

September 19, 2009, 05:47 PM	#1
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	NEVER Hunt upland birds with someone much younger than you So.... Two of us 50+ year-olds went upland hunting with a barely-30 guy in great shape. I 'thought' I was in good shape. We walked an amazing distance. Worked some good draws between rugged divides. Harvested a few dove. Jumped a small covey of quail. We all got a few. My legs are getting tired, and I'm running out of fluids, I'm thinking we're about done, and you guessed it. We found the mother lode of quail in the most rugged draw. A fresh shot of adrenaline and we're on the hunt again. The quail were most cooperative. They would hold tight until we were right on them. Then they'd flush in waves. You could shoot, reload, and shoot again, all in one place. Then we'd start to move along the draw, walk about 4 feet and another wave would flush behind us! So we pushed this covey over a mile down this rugged draw, shooting wave after wave. By this time, the dog was getting so tired she would only retreive the easy kills. So the only time we paused was to hike the rugged terrain the fetch a bird that the dog was smart enough to leave. Us older guys were seriously pushing ourselves to keep up with this young buck and his dog. If we had shot better, we would not have been able to hunt as far... We finally ran out of ammo long after we ran out of fluids. And, of course, we're another rugged mile farther from the truck. But what can you do? We sucked it up and tried to keep up with superman. The dog gets so tired she would just lay down on the trail and not move a few minutes. Under my breath, I blessed her for her sense. About halfway back, we find a little water hole about a foot deep. The dog gets in and hunkers down so just her ears, eyes and nose are out of the water. Such a look of bliss on her face. I was so jealous. She drinks about half the hole, then double-times back to the truck, with The Flash right behind her. Me and my seasoned buddy pushed until I was almost ready to call life flight. But we made it. And quail are in the oven. And Google Earth tells us we could've taken another road to about half-mile from that draw... __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

September 19, 2009, 10:04 PM	#3
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	After a nice meal of quail, and a good foot rub from the wife, YOU BET. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

September 20, 2009, 03:57 PM	#5
dondavis3 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Location: Dallas / Fort Worth Area Posts: 678	Just wait until your over 60 - it doesn't get easier Great story though. __________________ Don Davis Last edited by dondavis3; September 20, 2009 at 09:00 PM.

September 20, 2009, 05:14 PM	#6
JerseyDrez Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2009 Location: Hmmm? Posts: 510	Wow, that was a very well-written story. I felt like I was reading a published book on dove hunting. Thanks for the interesting read, and glad you made it out alive __________________ "I don't know what situation you'd be in where you'd be facing a bad guy and he'd have the time to notice your laser shaking and evaluate you as having low confidence. "

September 20, 2009, 10:42 PM	#8
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	I know exactly what you are talking about. My son is 23, a soocer player. My friend's son is 21, a football defensive back. We took them chukar hunting with us which turned out to be a huge mistake. My buddy and I were both 55 at the time. We got two birds between us. These two kids ran up and down the mountains like deer. We kept up with them for about 2 minutes... Last edited by Fat White Boy; September 21, 2009 at 09:58 PM.

September 19, 2009, 09:52 PM	#2
Big Caliber Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2006 Location: S. CA Posts: 421	So...did you enjoy it?

September 20, 2009, 03:52 PM	#4
wyobohunter Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Back in Wyoming Posts: 1,125	IMO, Superman should either be more considerate or find a new hunting partner. I consider myself a decent hiker but will not hesitate to taylor my pace to those around me and expect the same of those in better shape to do the same for me. If I find that my pace doesn't mesh well with my hunting partner I thank them for the hunt and start looking for a new partner. It makes no sense (to me) to push yourself too much on a hunt because 1: I don't think it is safe and 2: It just aint fun. Intentionally pushing yourself to the limit of your endurance should be done close to home, not in the middle of nowhere where the consequences are greater. Save that reserve of strength for an emergency. Just my belief. Not that I never push myself a little (say on a Sheep hunt etc.) but I absolutely refuse to let myself "bonk".

September 20, 2009, 08:41 PM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Ah, you young guys. After I hit into my 60s, I evolved an easier style for messing with the local blue quail. We have miles and miles of jeep trail in my hunt area. So: Drive along until a covey is seen. Jump out and socialize, maybe a hundred yards of dead run and bangitty-bang. Gather up a bird or three and drive on. Repeat as the opportunity arises. I don' wanna get too far from the cooler. , Art

September 21, 2009, 07:00 PM	#9
SAIGAFISH Junior member Join Date: June 14, 2009 Location: portland oregon Posts: 308	com on one more draw I m sorry guy,s im that guy one of my main hobbies is mountain biking and long legged and have done a lot of backpacking but i like to use my extra time to fish more spots or sit or watch a bird

September 21, 2009, 08:09 PM	#11
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	I had taken my granddaughter to the White Mtns in So. Cal she was 12 and a very good cross country runner. She reminded me of a young dog who could do 7 miles to your 1.After hours of hiking in the Bristlecones on the way back to camp she was skipping down the trail my buddy and I were beat.Youth is wasted on the young