Question For Retired Hunters

[Paul Castelli]

To those of you that no longer hunt but still consider yourself a duck hunter (as you should) after years of participation, when did you know it was time to call it a career? What lead you to your decision? Was it health, loss of desire, frustration with the sport, poor success rate, loss of partners, loss of access, economic costs, etc. etc.? Did you ease out over time or just abruptly exit? Did you call your partners and announce your decision or just quietly quit making plans to be a part of things?

Thanks for your inputs.

Eric,
There is actually research on this topic. My recollection is that losing a hunting partner was the number one reason older hunters quit.

 

[Paul Castelli]

Does moving to Tampa count as "retiring"? It was pretty much cold turkey for me.
If I was back in Mobile, I'd jump right back in. Maybe even deeper.
But for now, I am content to live duck hunting vicariously through this community and enjoy the great fishing down here.
I was telling a colleague this morning, every fall down here, I think about getting a license and stamps, but with all the non-stop boating traffic and the limited species on Tampa Bay (pretty much just bluebills so far from what I see), its just hard to get motivated.

Carl;
FYI Florida is actually one of the better duck hunting states in the Atlantic Flyway. In addition to the scaup there are fair numbers of redheads. If you look inland lots of wood ducks and mottled ducks. Really large numbers of ringnecks and good numbers of pintails in places. FL is a big state and it takes a lot of driving. Right now the best hunting is in the STA area south of Okeechobee. I don’t know any guide service well enough to recommend one, but an internet search should turn up a bunch.

 

[Carl]

Carl;
FYI Florida is actually one of the better duck hunting states in the Atlantic Flyway. In addition to the scaup there are fair numbers of redheads. If you look inland lots of wood ducks and mottled ducks. Really large numbers of ringnecks and good numbers of pintails in places. FL is a big state and it takes a lot of driving. Right now the best hunting is in the STA area south of Okeechobee. I don’t know any guide service well enough to recommend one, but an internet search should turn up a bunch.

Yep, I know. But I just don’t have time to spend driving and scouting like I did back when I learned how to hunt the Mobile area. I got spoiled having all that huntable public lands and waters!.
And with kids in college, spending $$ on guides is not a thing. I’ll just live vicariously through all my DHBP buddies for now. Still have my gear, just bidding my time.

 

[Steven Alexander]

My only first-hand experience with this is my father-in-law. After his good buddy passed away, he sold all of his gear (except for his shotguns) and never stepped foot in the woods again. Most all of his other friends had stopped before that. He said that without his buddies to be there, it isn't any fun anyway.

 

[Brad F]

On another note I'll relate my late father's decision to stop hunting. This occurred when he was 75ish .. in the late 1980's. While he was primarily a big game hunter he duck hunted some with me. We were in Eastern MT when this occurred. He had a WW2 buddy over there so every fall we applied for a tag or two and if not successful would visit and buy an over the counter tag usually available .. like a mule deer doe tag.

We were out together in a great remote prairie area with nice coulees for still hunting. We located 15-20 mule deer moving on a predictable route. We got ahead of them. Dad dropped in first in their route. I moved on 1/2 mile or so to another intercept. Eventually they came along and I took my doe. I hadn't heard Dad shoot? After getting my business done I checked back with him.

Long story short, they came as anticipated and crossed on a trail 100 yards out. When ask if he missed (he was a crack rifle shot) he stated "never shot". Questioned he simply said ...."I've killed enough of them". He never hunted again.

I'm almost there.

 

[Joe Friday]

Eric,
There is actually research on this topic. My recollection is that losing a hunting partner was the number one reason older hunters quit.

My .02 cents worth: My hunting partners moved away and life circumstances changed which took some of the social joy of duck hunting away. I don't feel the desire to go alone, yet I enjoy very much the times when I am out alone and watching waterfowl around Mattamuskeet and surrounding areas. I still love the smell of the marsh and seeing the birds. It is extremely peaceful and enjoyable.

One memorable hunt I enjoyed with my friends was at Great Fox Island, near Crisfield Maryland. We had a great three days. After lunch on the last day, my friends were heading back, and I thought to myself it could not get any better than it has been. I was satisfied. So, I sat out that afternoon on the deck and soaked in the warmth of the January sun. I have felt that way ever since.

 

[CaptBobKeeney]

Had this topic when i was talking to a good friend the last true baymen of Barnegat Bay Al Tonnesen in 2021. Al Started gunning with his dad and uncle at 10 years old at his uncle shack on dinner point then took his first guiding job at 14 years old for Happy Days Gunning Club. That started a 77 year career and became one of the best guides in the barnegat bay area. Al unfortunately stopped gunning when skin cancer took his eye in 2011 so he stopped gunning and guided. Tho he stopped he still fed the ducks every day until his passing in july of 2023 at 98 years old. He saw the golden age of Gunning the bay from seeing all the gunning clubs in the bay to building garveys and sneakboxs. To gunning professional ball players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gerihg, Doc Cramer and more! He loved gunning and working the bay. Attached is Al on his last Guiding trip in January 2011 and him in his sneakbox getting picking up broadbill decoys.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Had this topic when i was talking to a good friend the last true baymen of Barnegat Bay Al Tonnesen in 2021. Al Started gunning with his dad and uncle at 10 years old at his uncle shack on dinner point then took his first guiding job at 14 years old for Happy Days Gunning Club. That started a 77 year career and became one of the best guides in the barnegat bay area. Al unfortunately stopped gunning when skin cancer took his eye in 2011 so he stopped gunning and guided. Tho he stopped he still fed the ducks every day until his passing in july of 2023 at 98 years old. He saw the golden age of Gunning the bay from seeing all the gunning clubs in the bay to building garveys and sneakboxs. To gunning professional ball players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gerihg, Doc Cramer and more! He loved gunning and working the bay. Attached is Al on his last Guiding trip in January 2011 and him in his sneakbox getting picking up broadbill decoys.

Bob~

We can only envy those who came a bit earlier and had the privilege of the very best.

On a different topic - thank you for the photo of Al in his Sneakbox. (I just saved it to my hard drive.) I had been searching for a photo of that style of oarlocks - rounded slots cut through an upright board to hold the oars - one technological advance up from thole pins. One friend - Mark Mahoney - just made these replacements for another friend's (Jamie Woods') VanSant. I sealed the White Oak with spar varnish, then painted on a prime coat of Parker's Marsh Grass. Jamie's once had a Sneakbox with the sawn-out oarlocks like Tonneson's. Any idea who built his vessel?



All the best,

SJS

 

[CaptBobKeeney]

Bob~

We can only envy those who came a bit earlier and had the privilege of the very best.

On a different topic - thank you for the photo of Al in his Sneakbox. (I just saved it to my hard drive.) I had been searching for a photo of that style of oarlocks - rounded slots cut through an upright board to hold the oars - one technological advance up from thole pins. One friend - Mark Mahoney - just made these replacements for another friend's (Jamie Woods') VanSant. I sealed the White Oak with spar varnish, then painted on a prime coat of Parker's Marsh Grass. Jamie's once had a Sneakbox with the sawn-out oarlocks like Tonneson's. Any idea who built his vessel?

View attachment 71189

All the best,

SJS

Steve, Al learned to build by Rube Corlies and in the picture that was built by Al himself I attached a Rube Corlies oarlock for a better photo for you to save it is made with oak with bronze dowels and a counter sunk bolt through the middle so it doesn’t split in a hard row

 

[Steve Sanford]

Steve, Al learned to build by Rube Corlies and in the picture that was built by Al himself I attached a Rube Corlies oarlock for a better photo for you to save it is made with oak with bronze dowels and a counter sunk bolt through the middle so it doesn’t split in a hard row

Bob~

What an elegant piece of woodworking! More photos to go right to my hard drive.

Thanks very much!

SJS