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Ladies and Gentlemen: Since I will be north of 50 in a few years, and after perusing the "Too Fat" thread, I thought I would ask this question: How old is too old to hunt in Africa? I should add, that a hunting buddy of mine, just died last year at age 91. But thirty one years ago, at age 60, he was so dynamic, that he would blow this teenager off the mountain here in Pennsylvania, during buck season. To give you some perspective, approximately 30 years ago at age 15-17, I was a quarter mile sprinter on the track team in high school, hunting as often as I could and a serious hiker and camper with the Boy Scouts of America. So is it age or determination? Sincerely, Chris Bemis | ||
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too old is when they're shoveling dirt in your face | |||
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Dear Mr. Hibbits: Does that count at age two? I'm sure that I did just that in our sandbox, and on the beach at the neck in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Sincerely, Chris Bemis | |||
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Absolutely right. I've hunted with several clients in their 70s, some of which have also had serious health problems such as cancer, dodgy hearts, diabetes, buggered knees and/or hips etc. Part of the professional in the job title of Professional Hunter is being able to recognise the client's limitations and finding a way to accomodate them. | |||
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Chris age is not the answer. Desire to live one's dreams,be active, and getur done. I will be celebrating my 10 anniversery of my 50th birthday in October. Mike  | |||
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Damned straight! I never even got to Africa until I was 50. I'll be retiring in June and starting a serious conditioning regime because I want to go back in a couple more years and do a serious DG hunt. Croc hunting, I've been advised, is purely a matter of excellent marksmanship and stealth. However, buff and hippo may well need running away from. I expect to be able to run and climb a tree if necessary. Of course, in the Zambezi delta there are damned few trees!  So determination is the main need and conditioning for one's age is second. Sarge Holland's .375: One Planet, One Rifle . . . for one hundred years! | |||
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when they cover me with dirt I'll be to old | |||
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Retreever: +1  | |||
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Troy, You beat me to it!
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I think it depends. Not every person of the same age has aged the same. Some may have conditions that others don't. A lot of things could stop one from hunting at any age. The ability to see would be the number one thing that comes to mind. For example, my 97 year old grandmother had been blind as a bat for several year and there isn't anything they can do about it. I am 54 and still going strong. I am lucky to have aged well and have exercised hard for many years. | |||
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Larry, to really do a lot of hunting, you need to be in great shape, have a lot of quid, be able to take a lot of time off from work/business, and have a wife/girlfriend (or be single) who understands. I know you have achieved all four. I also know you worked hard to get it. | |||
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Thank you sir. I have indeed worked hard. I am working now. However, my first wife may have been the reason I left the country often. LOL! Just kidding. | |||
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I, too, think Retreever has it right. When the Apache Geronimo evaded what was then almost 20% of the United States Army for many months in the boiling hot, desert Southwest in 1886, he was 56 years old. It's staying indoors that makes one soft. Get outside, carry a gun, practice shooting, exercise and go hunting. | |||
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Here are my grandfather and I six years ago shortly before his 74th birthday. He made it 15 days in the March heat in Cameroon en route to a 46 inch eland and a really nice savannah buffalo.   He and I have hunted together (internationally) as follows: Argentina (1998 at 68) Africa (1999 at 69) New Zealand (2000 at 70))(thar and chamois on foot) England (2002 at 72) Africa (2004 at 74) New Zealand (2007 at 77) Canada (2009 at 79) As well as a dozen or so trips in the USA. None of these hunts were easy on him. We frequently hunted 2x1. The overall pace is slower, his reflexes are slower, and his vision is not as sharp as it once was. However, he still enjoys the hunt. As long as you can go and enjoy the hunt, you are never too old. You may not be as good as you once were, but that does not mean that you have to mail it in and sit in an easy chair until you die. Go, go, go hunting as long and as often as you can. Will J. Parks, III | |||
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Chris: I hunted Cape buff at age 63. I kept up in walking (Zimbabwe, Chirisa safari District) and was in fact surprised by how easy the walking was. I was there in early May so there was no problem of heat. (I even slept under a light blanket at night) Go, by all means! It is an experience never to be forgotten. Do I sound like a shill for Africa? You betcha!  | |||
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My plans are to continue with hunting Africa until I am at least in my mid to late 60's, and if my health holds out, hopefully into my early to mid 70's. I think one of the problems would be somewhere like Chete, which requires a lot of walking and climbing. I know one person who hunted bongo in his 70's. I would say 80 is about the limit. | |||
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Now that is cool. Good on yer grandpa, and YOU! ______________________ Hunting: I'd kill to participate. | |||
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My friend Bill Pritchard of California is writing a book on hunting after 70. He is now 84 or 85 and is still taking at least one major hunt each year. It has been several years since I've quizzed him about his trophy totals, but at last count he had taken a grand slam of NA sheep, the big five, and the spiral nine, ALL AFTER ATTAINING THE AGE OF 70 YEARS! In addition to these benchmarks, there were many other sheep, dangerous game animals, and common African game that he'd collected along the way. I saw Bill in Reno and he was booking hunts as usual. Will J. Parks, III | |||
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Awright! Sarge Holland's .375: One Planet, One Rifle . . . for one hundred years! | |||
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I didn't get to Africa until I was 59. Buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe. I was 60 in September and I am going to SA for plains game on April 8th. I am going back for DG in 2012. I got bad knees and back (193 parachute jumps courtesy of the US Army and a weak mind). You just have to go a little slower, and take a break a little more often. When I can't take the recoil, or see well enough to find the animal in the cross hairs; that's when I quit. Or, when the weight of the recoil reducers equals the pre-reducer weight of the rifle. Who knows... I guess, when it's not a rush anymore just standing in the airport waiting for them to call my flight number out of Boise. Rich | |||
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Took my first safari at age 56, second at 60. Don't plan on stopping anytime soon. If you start a regular exersize program and do lots of walking you will enjoy your hunts much more and will get more out of them. PH's are very good at tayloring things to your needs but the more you put into it - the more you will get out of it. Go and enjoy - you will never regret it ! | |||
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I first hunted elephant and buffalo at age 63. I've booked a return hunt for those plus the cats at age 66. Indy Life is short. Hunt hard. | |||
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At 63, you are just getting going, you have a lot of good hunting years left! | |||
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I'm too old (63) to consider ever going to Africa on safari, so I haven't gone, nor will ever go again.... not until 60 more hours have passed and I'm on that big bird again for another safari. I'm leaving home at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning for an elephant or two. I'm about to piss my britches with anticipation... or is it just a weak prostate? Hell, with Depends, who gives a flip? Once, I just hoped to go once. I can't remember why I was so dumb to think I could get away with that. It is an addiction that has no age limits. Or, at least, I hope so! According to some of the recent posts, I'm too fat, too old, too poor... all except too gay, and I am kind of sweet on Will...   ... but, camo tu-tu and all, I'll go to Africa until I die. JudgeG ... just counting time 'til I am again finding balm in Gilead chilled out somewhere in the Selous. | |||
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Ernest, Have a great time!! Why am I saying that, I know you will. | |||
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Will was rather fetching in that dress, Ummmmmm; I meant kilt! Rich | |||
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I think I walked half way across the Selous when I was 62, tracked a wounded eland for 6 hours wen I was 65 (poor shooting on my part). Had a stent put in at 64, numbers were great but I guess "stuff happens". Had disc between L4/L5 trimmed when I was 65, rotator cuff/tendon surgury at 66. Rehab is a little harder when you get past 60 but you have to go for it. I find weight control a little harder now, at 6'3" and 230 lbs, I have to work at it. At this time finances are the only thing keeping my from hunting DG again. I could ignore my Grandkids, but that ain't going to happen. Not giving up for sure, just taking a while to put the $$ together for a return shot. Bottom line is never give up, as a line in one of my favorite cult movies said,(Last Star Fighter) "Things Change, always do" Jim "Bwana Umfundi" NRA | |||
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Gentlemen: Thank you for your wondrous stories and anecdotes. My plan is to hunt until I can't remember what I was going to hunt when I get the plane tickets in the mail. You have all answered my question. Its not age, but determination. Sincerely, Chris Bemis | |||
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You are too old to hunt when you THINK you are too old! | |||
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Just two "wake ups" and I'm out of here! JudgeG ... just counting time 'til I am again finding balm in Gilead chilled out somewhere in the Selous. | |||
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few years back we were in zim and there was an 86 year old gentleman in a neighboring camp. he was dying of cancer and wanted to fulfill his last days by bagging an ele. he did so, he shot the ele and with the rifles recoil kept going over backwards, dying on his feet. not a bad way to go, not bad at all | |||
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Age has no limits, money does! Go hunting. ~Ann   | |||
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I was 62 on my first Safari (plains game). I was 64 when I had to dance with a Buff in S.A. I was 65 and 66 when the teatse flies in Tanzania tried to drain all my blood. I am now 68 and will be leaving for Namibia on April 15th. I don't plan to stop any time soon....as long as the money holds out...........Tom SCI lifer NRA Patron DRSS DSC | |||
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