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Re: Scaling back with age [Re: The Beav] #8485723
10/14/25 05:59 AM
10/14/25 05:59 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
W NY
Turtledale Offline
trapper
Turtledale  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2020
W NY
Originally Posted by The Beav
Hey rat that's what I said.
At 86 I'm still trapping and I killed a big doe last Wed. Had to have help getting it in the truck.
Will start my ADC rat trapping on the 20th then I'm long lining a skunk and coon line. I'm sure I'm going to catch more coon then skunks but I have a market for the coon.
The marsh I've trapped for 40 years has dried up but I have a backup area with lots of rats and stable water conditions. And they are paying me $10.00 a rat and $500.00 set up fee. Life is good.
My new knee is doing great, and my pacemaker is keeping me above ground. I might even make it to 90. LOL
I think I'll leave the beaver trapping to the younger trappers.

Way to go Beav. Wish we had water and rats still


NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485731
10/14/25 06:12 AM
10/14/25 06:12 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
new york
M
mike mason Offline
trapper
mike mason  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Apr 2012
new york
Sit back with a hot water bottle on your lap and a blanket and sip Geritol all day.

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485747
10/14/25 06:55 AM
10/14/25 06:55 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Northern KY
H
huntcook Offline
trapper
huntcook  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Dec 2011
Northern KY
Well I told my boys after I was 80 I would get them to help me get my deers out of the field so after December I probably still won't ask them. Been in all the lower 48 states time to stay home.


Government making sin legal does not make it right.
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485756
10/14/25 07:31 AM
10/14/25 07:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Northern Minnesota
BernieB. Online content
trapper
BernieB.  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Northern Minnesota
Focus on quality of life not length of life.

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #8485763
10/14/25 07:51 AM
10/14/25 07:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
PA Venango Co.
R
Ron Marsh Offline
trapper
Ron Marsh  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2006
PA Venango Co.
Originally Posted by Trapper Dahlgren
from what I seen, with older people they have to stay active, I watched guys that I worked with work until they were 67-70s and I wonder why as I got older I understood they had quit everything , they didn't bowl or golf or hunt or fish, anymore all they had was work, when they did retire, most didn't last two years,

The quote form them, I have a porch swing that i am going to use and do nothing else. Down inside the year.


PTA Lifetime #131N. Salvation Army CSM
Stakes: Why leave them?
ALWAYS John 3:16 814-516-2923
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485793
10/14/25 08:34 AM
10/14/25 08:34 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
S.C. Montana
M
MTtraps Offline
trapper
MTtraps  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Mar 2010
S.C. Montana
I have had to scale back a lot due to this dang kidney failure. Been 8 years so far and body is breaking down more as time goes on. There are still things I want to do both in the shop and outdoors. I just adapt as I can, my hip hurts terrible bad with every step but I bought some leg braces that I will use as a foundation so I can still stand at the bench for instance. Got a permit from the fish and game to hunt from a vehicle, and of course I can still hunt from a blind even though I can't climb the hills any more. Trapping is going to be close to home

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485802
10/14/25 08:46 AM
10/14/25 08:46 AM
Joined: Jul 2024
Nebraska
O
Odie1 Offline
trapper
Odie1  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Jul 2024
Nebraska
I'm like Beav. will be 86 the 1st. part of Jan. and am still trapping. I've had a few medical problems but have cleared all those hurdles and don't do much Muskrat trapping due to lack of numbers but still do ADC for Beaver & Coyote. Of all the outdoor activities I consider trapping to be my favorite as when you go out to check the traps it's just like Christmas morning as you never know what you might get. Also like Beav. I think my time in Corps gave me a more positive "Can Do" and "Keep Going" attitude to not quite doing what I like.

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485863
10/14/25 11:35 AM
10/14/25 11:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
T
Trapper7 Offline
trapper
Trapper7  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
I told my wife, I'm not working past 80.
She said, why would you want to quit? You're really healthy for your age.
I said, that's why I will quit while I'm still healthy cause there's so much I want to do that I never had time for when I was working. I don't want to wait until I'm unable to do these things because of poor health.
Now, I cut wood and buckthorn in my woods. Make walking sticks from the buckthorn for my friends. Go fishing, trapping mostly pocket gophers, and hunting. I do all the clothes washing, she likes that.
In conclusion, I can say I can't recall when I've ever been happier.


My wife says my housekeeping style is best described as, "There appears to have been a struggle."
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8485994
10/14/25 04:42 PM
10/14/25 04:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Lebanon, WI
Randy Wieland Offline
trapper
Randy Wieland  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Lebanon, WI
I've accepted that I need to scale the hard labor back, but I will most likely die doing what I love. My soul needs to escape from the stress of stupid people so I find places (usually mountains or foothills) with no cell service, no data, no BS. Take off and hunt or just stalk and glass critters. Success to me is day of doing something that 99% of the people in this country never experience. Amazing how refreshed and young you feel


The only thing worse than losing........Is QUITTING!
Lifetime Member WTA
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486128
10/14/25 08:58 PM
10/14/25 08:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Frazee, MN
B
backroadsarcher Offline
trapper
backroadsarcher  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Nov 2012
Frazee, MN
I am excited about retiring so I can get more active in what I really want to do. Just don't know how or when to make that decision.

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: backroadsarcher] #8486130
10/14/25 09:01 PM
10/14/25 09:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
MN
160user Offline
trapper
160user  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
MN
Originally Posted by backroadsarcher
I am excited about retiring so I can get more active in what I really want to do. Just don't know how or when to make that decision.



I have been retired for 3 years as of Saturday but I sure wish I had the energy I did in my 30's. If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken a lot better care of myself.


I have nothing clever to put here.





Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486228
10/14/25 11:05 PM
10/14/25 11:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Ohio
N
newtoga Offline
trapper
newtoga  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Aug 2011
Ohio
Not scaling back because of age , because of prices.


lifetime member NTA, OSTA, GTA
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: newtoga] #8486351
Yesterday at 09:14 AM
Yesterday at 09:14 AM
Joined: Feb 2024
Iowa
S
slue-foot Offline
trapper
slue-foot  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2024
Iowa
Can't take the money with you.

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486390
Yesterday at 10:35 AM
Yesterday at 10:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Wisconsin
I have been retired for 30 years. I got more done when I was working a full-time job. LOL


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486735
Yesterday at 09:59 PM
Yesterday at 09:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
el vado, nm
T
Tom Fisher Offline
trapper
Tom Fisher  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2008
el vado, nm
I retired in 03 trapped,hunted, fished, cut firewood and logs raised medincal plants, hunted mushrooms any thing from the land. Left NY in 07 been busy hunting Elk and trapping whatever is available I've had surgeries for a bunch of stuff, just recovering now from a rotator cuff on the left side did the right three years ago! My wife and I butchered our Elk on the ground last year, I still walk down some canyons for the cats now I skin them there. The biggest thrill I get is catching a lion, my new dog has done well, the one before her was a once in a lifetime. I don't go like I did when I was 60 my hands quit at 4 beaver/4 coyotes , can't complain still got most of my teeth!

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486812
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
Joined: Jun 2016
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Michigan
well, I got medical retire, from my place of work, 35 years and they never ask they just got rid of me, [stroke and cancer], I was 53 planned on retiring at 58, so I had a good amount of money saved up , lawyer said he could get my job back, but told me to check on it and see if I should take retirement, well it turn out that I took it, older guys always said that they didn't know how they found time to work that they were so busy, and that's how I live my life busy busy busy, but that's my choice, I've had three cancer , since the first one, and a year ago July they told me to go home and get things in order, [man that will knock you back in your seat]but I'm still here doing everything I can , in march of this year, doctor at university, of Michigan, said that after 7 months that my heart recovered, they don't know why, I believe it's because I didn't go home and sit and watch tv,

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486876
6 hours ago
6 hours ago
Joined: Feb 2008
NE Indiana
L
Larry Hall Offline
trapper
Larry Hall  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Feb 2008
NE Indiana
Every day is a gift, but every day you feel good and can get around is an even greater gift.. Absolutely the years before you turn 70 will be your best retirement years as far as physical and mental capacity for just about all of us. Biologically we begin to age and break down physically and mentally each year. Doesn't mean we just sit on the couch and wait for the grim reaper, just means we can't do what we once did. Shoot look at some of the folks posting above.. But even as busy as active as they are, they cannot physically do what they did. Plan your big trips early and get them in the books then take what comes and enjoy the heck out of your life. I'm trying to do that right now, heading out the door to ride my bicycle 8 miles and it ain't an ebike, then to the shooting range.. Heading to Montana with my son in a couple weeks. I'm 63 and been partially retired since 59 and fully since age 62.. Been dealing with just debilitating back/sciatica issues the main reason I retired early. Finally getting some relief and recovery, managed to drop 20 lbs since our FTA convention and am riding my bike 30-50 miles per week.

Next year we are planning a month in Idaho camping in the high country and fishing in the summer. Then two months in trapping season (wife said I have to drive her to Boise and put her on a plane when she taps out lol) in a canvas wall tent down in the Owyhee country of Idaho. In addition to a few trips to TX to see the kids and a couple other hunting and fishing trips planned. I don't see us having the ability or inclination to do all that at 70 plus.. fwiw...

Get after it every day you are able, because there is a day coming for all of us we won't be able to..

Re: Scaling back with age [Re: WI Outdoors] #8486915
4 hours ago
4 hours ago
Joined: Aug 2011
Ohio
N
newtoga Offline
trapper
newtoga  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Aug 2011
Ohio
My neighbor who was one of my high school teachers is still bow hunting at 93. Killed two deer last year. Usually ask for help dragging them out. He butchers them his self. He did change one thing, he always push mowed his yard, upgraded to a rider.

Last edited by newtoga; 4 hours ago.

lifetime member NTA, OSTA, GTA
Re: Scaling back with age [Re: 160user] #8486974
29 minutes ago
29 minutes ago
Joined: Nov 2011
New Hampshire
N
Nessmuck Offline
trapper
Nessmuck  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Nov 2011
New Hampshire
Originally Posted by 160user
Originally Posted by backroadsarcher
I am excited about retiring so I can get more active in what I really want to do. Just don't know how or when to make that decision.



I have been retired for 3 years as of Saturday but I sure wish I had the energy I did in my 30's. If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken a lot better care of myself.



Said.... Mickey Mantle


It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
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