Vince, how would you feel when others decide for you that you're to old to hunt and let you stay at home when they go out and have fun?

Some moments the heart is saying different things than the head and it's hard to decide what's wrong or right.
In my opinion: the older you become the harder it is to follow just your head in a lot of decisions... some say you become 'harder' in life but that's only true till a certain age... older farts seem to have more tears.

Aloysius wrote:

Vince, how would you feel when others decide for you that you're to old to hunt and let you stay at home when they go out and have fun? Some moments the heart is saying different things than the head and it's hard to decide what's wrong or right. In my opinion: the older you become the harder it is to follow just your head in a lot of decisions... some say you become 'harder' in life but that's only true till a certain age... older farts seem to have more tears.

I think I might be at that point now mate with my daughters telling me I am getting too old to go hunting, especially on my own. I’m only 73 so I have heaps of life yet.

I must admit though that it is becoming more difficult to walk around now, let alone in the bush, as I can be a bit unsteady on my feet at times, so I have a quad bike that I am trying to fix up to take into the bush. That way I can putter around at about walking speed, to hunt. I have fitted three rifle racks on the front (1 for .223, 1 for SxS 12g shotgun and 1 for .22 rifle or any other calibre I want), so I have all bases covered there. I have made a camo material hunting blind that I can use as needed (easily carried along with a folding chair) that will be great for sniping rabbit warrens or whistling up foxes, so that should alleviate my mobility problems.

Now all I have to do is get this damn cast off my right hand (had an operation on my thumb joint) and try to cut down on medical appointments (once the medical system gets its hooks into you it can be a struggle to get away), and I can go hunting again.

Vince, it might help to have a look for something else that's also called 'side-by-side'... I bought Segways's Fugleman but a quad might be better and much cheaper for you. We have a lot of rain in our country, so I chose for a roof and liked to keep my seat dry. But you have more sunny days, so a quad might be more convenient. It will add another dimension to your hunting methods and solve a lot of problems for old men.

Remember 1 thing: a funeral car has no towing-bracket, so the amount of things you could carry with you into the grave are very much limited...

and an extra reason: your grandchildren will like such stuff very much...

Aloysius wrote:

Vince, it might help to have a look for something else that's also called 'side-by-side'... I bought Segways's Fugleman but a quad might be better and much cheaper for you. We have a lot of rain in our country, so I chose for a roof and liked to keep my seat dry. But you have more sunny days, so a quad might be more convenient. It will add another dimension to your hunting methods and solve a lot of problems for old men. Remember 1 thing: a funeral car has no towing-bracket, so the amount of things you could carry with you into the grave are very much limited... and an extra reason: your grandchildren will like such stuff very much...

The cost of a side-by-side in Australia is very high. The Govt made it mandatory for all quads and side-by-side to have Roll Over Protection (ROP) factory fitted. Consequently the big name Japanese manufacturers no longer send and sell quad bikes in Australia.

Side-by-side (SxS) 4WD quads/UTVs is the ideal for me (I’d love one) and are widely available in Australia for farm and recreational use, with new, demo, and used models from brands like CFMOTO, Can-Am, Yamaha, Polaris, and Kubota. Prices for new UFORCE models range from approx. AUD$13,990 to over AUD$24,000 (as high as AUD$39000) for top-tier models. Entry-level options start around AUD$8,000–AUD$11,000. These prices, whilst I can afford them, I can’t justify because of the low amount of use they would get…plus I’d have to transport the SxS to where I hunt, and I’m not sure if my trailer is big enough to carry one.

The idea of a roof is great…I hate the hot Sun, but not on my quad…I’ll wear a bike helmet and a hat when I get off. Also, the blind I made has a roof as well…that’s if I can ever get it together properly.

with the way fuel prices are at the moment..a push bike is starting to look attractive...and NO Bushy,we dont have room for a hayburner in the back section....
diesel is same price per litre as petrol and we have road user charges on top of that..meaning petrol is now cheaper to run....I can see me doing more overnight trips this winter Vs morning only jobbies...

Elvis wrote:

with the way fuel prices are at the moment..a push bike is starting to look attractive...and NO Bushy,we dont have room for a hayburner in the back section.... diesel is same price per litre as petrol and we have road user charges on top of that..meaning petrol is now cheaper to run....I can see me doing more overnight trips this winter Vs morning only jobbies...

I’ve considered getting a horse and cart, but I don’t have room for a stable or an exercise area for a horse. Then of course, I’d have to actually purchase a horse and associated tack…then a cart of some sort. I would only be able to do short trips…10 to 15km at most.

My late uncle used to pighunt using a horse and cart...was pre bonnet hunting days but worked the same way.

That was the way things were done in days gone by mate…hunting from horseback, a cart or ride into an area and walk.