Losing Interest in Hunting?

kermitpwee

Right lads here for a bit of advice. I have totally lost the interest in hunting birds. I have been shooting 19 years this season. I have shot loads of birds over the years and enjoyed it, I have 3 springers and two of the finest shotguns a man could want and cant make sense of shooting anymore. It started 2 seasons ago when on the last day of the season I put up two fine cocks and couldn't even mount the gun on them. This season I have been out with my uncle as per usual and not an interest in the world do I have.

Just wondering has this happened to anyone else on here and will it go away or is the drive for hunting gone for good. Tempted to sell the guns and pack it in for good, I suppose its been coming for a while but I have been trying to put it out of my mind, my family will go daft as its a big tradition but even that doesn't bother me.

The Aussie

Yep, happened to me in the 90's, except for semi-professional type stuff I could not be bothered but still wanted a challenge so took up Bow Hunting instead, I'm non fussed about having a failed Stalk to this day.

What about setting you sights on something else?

the scudd

the same thing happened to me I used to be out every chance I got ducks pigeon pheasant woodcock, it all began to slow down about 6 yers ago, no reason I just think as you get older the killing thing goes out of you, I never lift the shotguns now

kermitpwee

not sure what side I could get into, hate rifle shooting and didn't like clay shooting.

wildcatares22

don't know what to say to ya lad, maybe a break for a while might do you good, or change one of the shotguns for a rifle and take into a bit of targeting or vermin control.

I don't think i'd ever sell mine off as I find it's something I can just head of on my own and do, gives ya some alone time/time to think about things/ some peace and quite even.

don't rush into anything though as you may regret it at a later stage.

in the end it's your choice and no-one else's. good luck.

Rho b

Agree with Wildcatares - don't rush into anything.
I used to shoot a lot when I was younger. Gave it up for about 15 years due to lack of interest. Got back into it again about 7 years ago. I never got rid of the gun as I would be worried that I might have difficulty in getting another license. I don't have a gun dog but have the use of a friend's dog.
I do enjoy going out from time to time, as much for the tranquility of my own company and watching the dog work.
If I get a bird then fair and good, if not it does not bother me.

audioslave

I can't speak from a hunting point of view, but the exact same thing happened to me regarding fishing. I was intensely into fishing for the best part of 12 years. All types, coarse fly and sea. I would put huge time and effort into setting up a swim and raking etc. I'd even have sleepless nights in the lead up to a session etc and travel the length and width of the country for a specific species. Then out of the blue around 2 years ago I just didn't have that will to do it anymore. Friends would tell me of a great catch or session and I'd find I was no longer excited nor interested. I even done the thing I thought would only happen after my death...I sold all my fishing gear, even giving some away to close friends as if it was cursed and I needed shot of it. Still to this day ive no regrets, maybe for a minute or two on a beautiful sunny day id say "its a day for sitting at a lakeside not even caring if you got a bite".
I took up shooting and im loving it..maybe not with the passion I had for fishing but I think I love being outdoors so much that I have be doing something while doing it.

cookimonster

the scudd wrote: »

........... I just think as you get older the killing thing goes out of you,.......

It was my father's failing health that eventually kept him out of the fields and in his last few years he concentrated on fishing the local rivers and was happy with one for the pan. But long before that he had become more discerning in what he shot and caught, becoming more content in the outing than the outcome.
But he never lost his interest in firearms and retained his up until his death, as he said before you never know when you may have a need for it.

Snakezilla

It was happening me the past few years but this year im getting more into it. Its all down to a lad that keeps hounding me about going shooting. Long story short hes the type of lad that just cant take no for an answer or finds a way around every excuse you give. Hes an absolute disaster :mad: Put me right off shooting every time I think about him or see his number come up on the phone. Have been introduced to a few new lads this year from getting into a new club and theyre sound as a pound so Im able to shoot with some sound lads and if I say I dont want to go out then thats perfectly fine with them

I used to be big into the fishing too and this same lad just completely turned me off it. Same story hounding me to go.

loveta

I use do alot of duck and pheasant shooting at least two night flights a week for ducks and at least once a week for pheasants but as i got older totally lost interest in it to the point i may not have lifted the shot gun for maybe two years i felt i could not see the point in killing these birds when i was not eating them or getting ones to take them and eat them felt totally wrong, never sold the guns but a couple of years ago bought a pcp air rifle "something different" for shooting round the farm sheds at crows, now iam back hooked again killing vermin get a buzz out of it again and loving it

E@gle.

I lost interest completely in hunting about 6 years ago when my Llewellyn setter was stolen.

Picked up the gun during the summer clay shooting and seemed to have the interest again. Was really looking forward to the 1st of September/ November.

Best to give it a break for a while and you might catch on a bit of interest again.

One shot on kill

Jasus lad don't sell your guns anyway.

Leave them in the locker and see
How things go it would be worse in six months to a year you getting the buzz back and you sold your guns.

I wouldn't worry about go out when you want and don't go when you don't want. Sure there is no hastle or pressure. When pressure comes into it, it tends to take the fun out of it.

Has something changed like shooting partners or lad or home life.

Try remember why you enjoyed shooting to start with.

kermitpwee

One shot on kill wrote: »

Jasus lad don't sell your guns anyway.

Leave them in the locker and see
How things go it would be worse in six months to a year you getting the buzz back and you sold your guns.

I wouldn't worry about go out when you want and don't go when you don't want. Sure there is no hastle or pressure. When pressure comes into it, it tends to take the fun out of it.

Has something changed like shooting partners or lad or home life.

Try remember why you enjoyed shooting to start with.

My life has never been going better, still have the same shooting partners. What I used to love about hunting tbh was the killing part. Its not pc but I enjoyed the kill, now I don't.

charlie10

how about changing your choice of gun dog and mix it up a bit i am thinking of adding a pointer to the team some time ,maybe buy a pointer/setter pup and try to spark the interest again. just a thought

jap gt

for me the shot/kill is only a small part of it, the real enjoyment of it is the dogs working, nothing like watching a well trained dog working a bird.. maybe take a step back from shooting and get into beating or similar

kermitpwee

charlie10 wrote: »

how about changing your choice of gun dog and mix it up a bit i am thinking of adding a pointer to the team some time ,maybe buy a pointer/setter pup and try to spark the interest again. just a thought

Have only ever shot over springers, you could be onto something there:D Its not the end of the world lads if I pack it in, thanks for all the help

kermitpwee

jap gt wrote: »

for me the shot/kill is only a small part of it, the real enjoyment of it is the dogs working, nothing like watching a well trained dog working a bird.. maybe take a step back from shooting and get into beating or similar

Ya I don't think that will work for me, I have one of the best springers in Connacht so I guess I take the good dog work for granted now. I have done the doggy thing and enjoyed it but I don't think its for me. I cant see myself shooting anymore, cant see the point in killing these birds anymore. Used to love hunting woodcock in rough ground with good springers. Now my take is, the woodcock fly 6000km to get here then I shoot them, doesn't make sense anymore to me. It did make sense one time but not now.

The Aussie

What ever you decide to do there mate, either work the Dogs or shift them on.
Nothing worse than seeing a working Dog go to waste and just wanting to work

loveta

kermitpwee wrote: »

Ya I don't think that will work for me, I have one of the best springers in Connacht so I guess I take the good dog work for granted now. I have done the doggy thing and enjoyed it but I don't think its for me. I cant see myself shooting anymore, cant see the point in killing these birds anymore. Used to love hunting woodcock in rough ground with good springers. Now my take is, the woodcock fly 6000km to get here then I shoot them, doesn't make sense anymore to me. It did make sense one time but not now.

Was/am kinda of the same mind set as yourself but vermin hunting is a different kettle of fish and ya feel your doing good at the same time,

kermitpwee

The Aussie wrote: »

What ever you decide to do there mate, either work the Dogs or shift them on.
Nothing worse than seeing a working Dog go to waste and just wanting to work

Ya my uncles can work the dogs, couldn't sell them would break my heart.

cookimonster

To be honest I never understood the point of hunting game if its not for the pot. For years I never shot foxes and only do so now for genuine control.
I get a great kick out of hunting it, preparing it and then eating it, from field to fork so to say.
Back in the 80's we killed on request a lot of rabbit and only took what we wanted home leaving the rest for the vermin and buzzards. Never really sat well with me and when I found myself not eating as much rabbit as I used to I became more hesitant to kill so many indiscriminately.
The same can be said for pigeons today, I love the sport of decoying but I hate to think that any birds would go to waste.

Get into cooking it may peek your interest:rolleyes:

Birdnuts

I think peoples interest in a particular sport will allways wax and wane depending on their age, family status etc. In my youth I did a lot of lamping, reared pheasants and was a member of the local GC for a few years. Then got distracted with college,women,work etc. so was away from the scene for a good few years. Since I acquired an interest in a small farm in the West when I got married, I've slowly got back into vermin control in particular. Finding time is still hard though as my line of work means I have to maintain lodgings in the Dublin area where I'm originally from.

dicky82

good few lads have said on here in the past that they swapped the guns for the cameras. they still had the thrill of hunting but the outcome is getting some rewarding pictures.

welsummer

I know how you feel . I have been shooting for over 40 years and had such a passion for it that if my poor shooting widow wife had put it up to me, and made me choose between her and my shooting, there would of been only one choice. I have mellowed of the years and that red mist does not come down over my eyes so much anymore. I lamped and shot hundreds of foxes every year till the small hours of the morning, several nights a week. My freezer was that full of game that my wife could not get a chicken breast into it and nobody but myself was eating the game. The last time I put a gun up to a pheasant was about 5 years ago, when I was walking in to a pheasant feeder to check if it needed filling. It was a massive big cock and It flew in a big sweeping circle right around me and I followed it with the gun till it was well out of range. I still love deer stalking, but when I have them back in the shed hanging up the fun goes out of them. Just for old times sake , we shoot our duck pond a couple of time a year and always end up arguing and trying to get each other to take the ducks. I sold surplus guns and now just have the air rifle, shotgun and deer rifle. Two of these are going to go soon. Out of all my relations I was the only one that got the bug bad, but I do see that spark in a two of the youngest generation

snipe02

Havent read the other comments im too lazy it happened to me with fishing because it was no longer a challenge you need to test yourself ithink push out your boundaries use a 28 bore or a 410 use a single barrel leave the birds get out further before you shoot try different types of hunting no challenge no point only my opinion train your dogs to a higher standard no offence intended there maybe they are at the highest standard set goals when out 2 pheasant 2 woodcock be a shame to let such a wonderfull passtime slip away pass on your knowladge take on a protege just stop talking like that your scaring me,,,,,,,, conservation conservation conservation is another option pest control habitat management etc is always an option ,,,

snipe02

dicky82 wrote: »

good few lads have said on here in the past that they swapped the guns for the cameras. they still had the thrill of hunting but the outcome is getting some rewarding pictures.

meh

Wildsport

kermitpwee wrote: »

Right lads here for a bit of advice. I have totally lost the interest in hunting birds. I have been shooting 19 years this season. I have shot loads of birds over the years and enjoyed it, I have 3 springers and two of the finest shotguns a man could want and cant make sense of shooting anymore. It started 2 seasons ago when on the last day of the season I put up two fine cocks and couldn't even mount the gun on them. This season I have been out with my uncle as per usual and not an interest in the world do I have.

Just wondering has this happened to anyone else on here and will it go away or is the drive for hunting gone for good. Tempted to sell the guns and pack it in for good, I suppose its been coming for a while but I have been trying to put it out of my mind, my family will go daft as its a big tradition but even that doesn't bother me.

Cannot understand why no one has mentioned your dogs, I used to kill before me when I was young and full of testosterone, now I am mature and if is was not for my dogs I would never fire a shot. I just love hunting dogs, its they that keep me at it, I only shoot what I eat and am grateful for my health to do it. Could not part with my gun or flyrods though.

Grizzly 45

kermitpwee wrote: »

My life has never been going better, still have the same shooting partners. What I used to love about hunting tbh was the killing part. Its not pc but I enjoyed the kill, now I don't.

Simple really..You are GROWING UP in your shooting outlook
You are realising that "the Kill" isnt everything ,and it isnt.It's the 5% of the hunt,the 95% of the hunt is being out there ,seeing the animals,getting close and the dare I call it "spirtiual" aspect of hunting.

Two of my relatives were and are avid hunters,they have two houses stuffed full of antlers ,tusks,and horns ,that I figure one night I'll put an eye out going to the WC without turning on the light as another set of antlers was hung up someplace since my last visit.:eek::).One is saying that at one stage he had to have one of everything and prefably the best example.now,he is saying,well can it be in the freezer for eating.Otherwise leave it alone.He got that way after a hunting trip to Africa.You reach a zenith and then realise what now?You have shot everything that is to be shot whats the exitement??

Soo,best suggestion from me is.Get into more the feeding, rearing, observation, tracking of the beasts and birds and you will appreciate them more and hunt them just as much but maybe not as hard.If that makes sense??

Jerrystevens

it's an age thing lad it happens to us all at some point the realization that there is more to life than killing something dawns on all of us , you are then at the stage where you try to educate those who want the big bags and see it shoot it mentality
welcome to the club

kermitpwee

Right lads thanks for all the great advice, im blown away by the support here in the hunting forum. Im going to bring out a young lad(he has insurance) this weekend as his dad is sick. Im going to try and enjoy it more and smell the flowers as they say!

snipe02

kermitpwee wrote: »

Right lads thanks for all the great advice, im blown away by the support here in the hunting forum. Im going to bring out a young lad(he has insurance) this weekend as his dad is sick. Im going to try and enjoy it more and smell the flowers as they say!

you might never know how much that could mean to that young lad fair play

audioslave

As above. Fair play to ye...and enjoy the flower sniffing

scartman1

That's a good outcome. You got lots of good advice.

Shooting and the outdoors is best when it is a social thing, and something to be passed on.

Personally, the sheer exercise, the watching of the dogs hunt, going to new beats, encountering challenging and scenic terrain, constantly missing shots, and meeting new and old friends help to keep the shooting fresh for me.

pedroeibar1

dicky82 wrote: »

good few lads have said on here in the past that they swapped the guns for the cameras. they still had the thrill of hunting but the outcome is getting some rewarding pictures.

That is probably one of the best bits of advice you've been given. I was not far off the top end of another sport and it then lost all interest in it. I then went back to the basics of that sport - in shooting terms it was like going from the top end of clays /driven shooting to going out on a walk-up with a black powder flintlock. Concentrating on photographing a pheasant in flight or a woodcock/snipe, and getting a good result with a camera - that's special. And you can bring a kid with a gun and pass on your skills.

kermitpwee

Update!! Something amazing happened at the weekend. I collected my neighbours(we actually have never seen eye to eye but the man is sick) son and went through the safety rules which he knew which was great. Anyway James was so excited, he has been out before but never got a pheasant.
I brought my eldest springer in the hope we could flush a bird for james, flushed a few snipe but he missed. Anyway with 2 hours light left and the dog tired he suddenly started to pick up the pace, he worked like a demon for 20 minutes but couldn't find the bird. I told James that the bird had done a runner and we would move on, he was very upset but we started to move on. Next thing James said why does the dog keep going behind us? Bingo! I awoke from my stupidity. James head back with the dog up along that ditch I said. Off he went, he wasn't gone 120 yards when he flushed the cock, bang! He missed! Another bang and down came the finest cock I had seen in years. Off goes the dog and brings him back to James. I was never as proud and the lad isn't even mine!
I had a lot of things going through my head, one that I now wanted a son! Two that I should let the past go between myself and James dad and three that I wanted his dad in on this action. I rang his dad and told him to put on his willies and jacket(if he was feeling well enough) and meet us in the yard and that James had a pheasant. Met up in the yard and got James, the pheasant, the dog and his dad into a few photos. There were tears shed and a few handshakes.
Its a long time since I felt so good about myself, I owe that to my friends on boards.ie and to hunting. Some posters had told me how it can bring people together. I suppose since I only shoot with my uncle I hadn't experienced the social side of it.
Thanks again for all the advice and for restoring my faith in not only hunting but also human nature.

One or two names have been changed to protect the identity of my neighbours(now friends).

Invincible

kermitpwee wrote: »

Update!! Something amazing happened at the weekend. I collected my neighbours(we actually have never seen eye to eye but the man is sick) son and went through the safety rules which he knew which was great. Anyway James was so excited, he has been out before but never got a pheasant.
I brought my eldest springer in the hope we could flush a bird for james, flushed a few snipe but he missed. Anyway with 2 hours light left and the dog tired he suddenly started to pick up the pace, he worked like a demon for 20 minutes but couldn't find the bird. I told James that the bird had done a runner and we would move on, he was very upset but we started to move on. Next thing James said why does the dog keep going behind us? Bingo! I awoke from my stupidity. James head back with the dog up along that ditch I said. Off he went, he wasn't gone 120 yards when he flushed the cock, bang! He missed! Another bang and down came the finest cock I had seen in years. Off goes the dog and brings him back to James. I was never as proud and the lad isn't even mine!
I had a lot of things going through my head, one that I now wanted a son! Two that I should let the past go between myself and James dad and three that I wanted his dad in on this action. I rang his dad and told him to put on his willies and jacket(if he was feeling well enough) and meet us in the yard and that James had a pheasant. Met up in the yard and got James, the pheasant, the dog and his dad into a few photos. There were tears shed and a few handshakes.
Its a long time since I felt so good about myself, I owe that to my friends on boards.ie and to hunting. Some posters had told me how it can bring people together. I suppose since I only shoot with my uncle I hadn't experienced the social side of it.
Thanks again for all the advice and for restoring my faith in not only hunting but also human nature.

One or two names have been changed to protect the identity of my neighbours(now friends).

That was a great outcome to a day's hunting, the young lad shot his first Pheasant and equally important you and his dad let bygones be bygones and realised that life's too short for holding a grudge. No doubt the young fella will hunt regularly with you from now on

kermitpwee

Ya James is coming out next weekend and is more than welcome, he is keen and has been taught safety very well by his dad but we will keep any eye on him anyway, it's a big responsibility and I am treating it as one. To be honest what has happened at the weekend is surreal, I am still trying to comprehend it.

madred006

kermitpwee wrote: »

Update!! Something amazing happened at the weekend. I collected my neighbours(we actually have never seen eye to eye but the man is sick) son and went through the safety rules which he knew which was great. Anyway James was so excited, he has been out before but never got a pheasant.
I brought my eldest springer in the hope we could flush a bird for james, flushed a few snipe but he missed. Anyway with 2 hours light left and the dog tired he suddenly started to pick up the pace, he worked like a demon for 20 minutes but couldn't find the bird. I told James that the bird had done a runner and we would move on, he was very upset but we started to move on. Next thing James said why does the dog keep going behind us? Bingo! I awoke from my stupidity. James head back with the dog up along that ditch I said. Off he went, he wasn't gone 120 yards when he flushed the cock, bang! He missed! Another bang and down came the finest cock I had seen in years. Off goes the dog and brings him back to James. I was never as proud and the lad isn't even mine!
I had a lot of things going through my head, one that I now wanted a son! Two that I should let the past go between myself and James dad and three that I wanted his dad in on this action. I rang his dad and told him to put on his willies and jacket(if he was feeling well enough) and meet us in the yard and that James had a pheasant. Met up in the yard and got James, the pheasant, the dog and his dad into a few photos. There were tears shed and a few handshakes.
Its a long time since I felt so good about myself, I owe that to my friends on boards.ie and to hunting. Some posters had told me how it can bring people together. I suppose since I only shoot with my uncle I hadn't experienced the social side of it.
Thanks again for all the advice and for restoring my faith in not only hunting but also human nature.

One or two names have been changed to protect the identity of my neighbours(now friends).

Nice great to hear

Glenbulldog

Fair play ,delighted for ya

loveta

That's fantastic news kermitpwee and thanks for sharing it with us,best of luck in the future..

cookimonster

Brilliant, just brilliant:)

J.R.

great outcome....glad it worked out really well for you in many ways.