Three years ago today, Dec. 27, 2019 I shot my last crow. I sold all my crow hunting gear since then, and about all that I have to do with crow hunting now is think about it. Do I miss it, not really, but I think about those days which lasted approx. 55 years. But there was one span of about 27 years in which I crow hunted very little, probably did'nt kill 50 crows during that period. Would I ever want to crow hunt again with enthusiam, no. Does it bother me that I finally retired from any hunting, no. I got to the point in hunting that reminds me of what my friend Bob Aronsohn posted on this website the other day. Hunting became to much like work, and the pure fun just went out of it. Too much input and not enough output.
One thing that I failed to do during years of hunting, was think about the day that I would retire from it. I failed to have a sport, or hobby, in place to enjoy afterwards. I'm now 80 years old, and spend a lot of time with by bride of years and years, watch a lot of TV in cold weather, work vigorously around our house in warm weather, and talk to friends and relatives. That is about all you are good for when you're on the wrong side of age 75. I don't want to discourage anyone from getting old, because it sure as hell beats not getting old! You just have to face the facts that we're all going to get old, if we live long enough.
I'm not done yet, but I can say that after 49 crow seasons out here that I have most of it out of my system. When I have the urge to go, I go, and the time span grows longer with each passing season now.
I don't have near the enthusiasm for it that I had even five years ago. I am still physically able to do it, just a lot slower! When you are not the man you once were 10 to 15 years ago it becomes more like "hard labor" out there in the field. You know exactly where I'm coming from. I accept it grudgingly until the day comes when I have finally had enough.
I headed out yesterday morning for a goose hunt. I had to get up earlier than I used to because it takes me longer to do all the stuff that needs done. Sometimes it stings when a younger hunter says “Here let me help you with that Pop”. I’m envious when I see a fleet footed hunter chasing a cripple across a field knowing that today I couldn’t catch my breath. I remember the days when I could outrun a deer (not literally), but faster then most and sure footed. Now I’m more fragile than agile.
I don’t work anymore and I’m finally able to hunt when I want. I’ve got the money to buy provisions, to travel, to spend on leases and gear. I’m just short on good working body parts. But the memories. One of my favorite quotes is from author Robert Ruark, who said: 'The best thing about hunting and fishing is that you don't have to actually do it to enjoy it. You can go to bed every night thinking about how much fun you had twenty years ago, and it all comes back clear as moonlight.'
I can still hear my father saying that good health is wasted on the youth.
I don't feel pumped up anymore even when the shooting is good. The luster has worn off especially these last few seasons.
When Bert Popowski was still alive back in the early to mid 1970's he said "if you should ever tire of crow hunting you might want to hunt coyotes" I never in my wildest hallucinations could ever think of ever becoming tired of hunting crows when Bert mentioned that to me 50 years ago!
In my opinion I think it's a combination of burn out and age.
If you are over 60 a sobering thought is, how many opening days do I have left? It's not very many is it?
It's not just still being alive, it's whether your body will let you do it to the same extent, it eventually fails us and when it gets harder to do it you start doing it less.
It's not just the physical aspect, there is also the mental. Over a lifetime of hunting we lose friends and places we enjoyed. Combine that with physical limitations and or pain it can take the wind out of the sails.
I am sure KenCrow's choice is unfathomable to some, but the changes in one's abilities come fast and eventually they come for all of us.
55 seasons is great run KenCrow and you give sage advice about cultivating some other interests that you can still do when you can't do what you used to.
As the old saying goes, eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.
