At What Point Are DG Hunts No Longer In Your Future?

[Andrew62]

Just curious on people’s experience. Personally I turned 67 Saturday am blessed to weigh what I did playing college football and am in great shape. While I exercise daily father time gets us all at some point. Would love to hear people’s experience or knowledge of some one who has been able to hunt DG at an advanced age. Here is a great example, My first elephant hunting 7 days walking a total of 107 miles was with ph Lou Hallamore who at the time was 81 and going strong!!! When do you ever know it’s over? I personally love DG hunting over all else. I know there will be a day when only PG will be in my future then none at all.

I see we share the same birthdays, lol, I turned 64. I know there will be a time when I can no longer go on DG hunts, but for now I am keeping booked ahead, the thought of having to give up going on African safaris is depressing to me.

 

['68boy]

Hunter-Habib I think you are inspirational-- not only as a hunter but also as a philosopher, a deep thinker, and an author. I have yet to see you voice advice I don't agree with. I would appreciate it if you would let us know the name of your autobiography mentioned earlier on this thread. I would wager I'm not the only AH guy who would enjoy reading it. If you don't want to put it on this thread please dm me with the title. Thank you.

 

[RR 314]

I’m 75 and going on buff hunt in July w 75 y/o buddy. You are as old as you feel and act!

It's not always the years. Some have rough miles on them. .

 

[Betterinthebush]

After having been partially palsied from a spinal fracture and being blessed after 3 surgeries culminating in experimental spinal prosthetic implants and a year of painful physical and narcotic (pain management therapy) rehabilitation, I realized that, as long as my mind and body were willing, I would not stop doing what I felt compelled to do.

Discounting all my time hunting big stuff in Alaska (all after rehab, and other far graver wounds) I’m new to DG hunting. But, it’s taken hold of me now. And, I don’t want to let go of the feelings I have, even now, just writing this. Ever.

 

[Grandpa Moose]

Will be 77 in a few weeks. Had a stroke four years ago that really messed up my left leg. Two and a half years ago that leg gave out and I took a bad fall. After getting turned away from hip replacement four times because of a heart defect the good Drs at Mayo clinic finally did a hip replacement. During the operation they found that I had a deformed hip from birth. I was never a good runner and walked with a role. Now there is good hopes to make a third safari with leg and heart repaired

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Love this thread more than I would have guessed as it makes me feel like such the kid again. I always say I'm way too immature to be this damned old...and here I realize I am just not that old at all.

I can say I certainly am not looking forward to dying, and absolutely prefer it not happen any time soon, but also hope to hunt DG until I absolutely cannot or something proves too dangerous and gets me first. I do a fair amount of solo back country backpacking, and some solo sheep hunting, which folks comment as reckless sometimes, but I always try to use caution, and figure there are worse ways to go should my time come...but again, sure hope not.

I ask myself from time to time how many more sheep seasons will I be able to endure the steep terrain, and I don't know for sure, just that I hope my knees and hips allow me to keep going for more year yet. And I expect to hunt DG well after the steep backpacking sheep hunts end. I sure hope I am hunting buffalo at 75, and if so in my 80's even better.

 

[Red Leg]

Turn 74 this year. Have had the good fortune to take four cape buffalo in three different countries over the last dozen years or so. Have taken a leopard and no desire to take an elephant or white rhino. No reflection on those who do or have. Have crawled up close on a black rhino and huge full mane lion. Took both with a camera rather than the rifle I was carrying. Counts as far as I am concerned. But the big black bovines will likely keep calling as long as I can respond.

Argentine water buffalo a week ago with @MG Hunting .

My friend and PH Rocket with the bull.

 

[Rafiki]

I’m 75 and going on buff hunt in July w 75 y/o buddy. You are as old as you feel and act!

Got that beat, going again for buffalo this October; I'm 79.

 

[BryceM]

Well, I've been on one DG hunt. Hoping to have anther opportunity soon!

I took my dad deer hunting 2 weeks before he died of cancer. Something like that seems about right, minus the cancer part.

 

[DLSJR]

I’m 67 and going strong on DG. Have a buffalo on tap in September in Moz. Also taking a 79 year old friend with me on that hunt for his first Buffalo. Took an 81 year old friend on his final buffalo hunt last year. I’ll keep hunting dangerous game as long as my health, both physical & mental, and finances allow.

 

[Sabre]

It's not always the years. Some have rough miles on them. .

A lot of people don't understand this. Unfortunate genetics and a rough stretch of life can make a 40 year old worse off than an 80 year old.

If you take a Ford Pinto off-roading in the mountains for 40 years, it's going to look a lot different than a 70 year old Bel-Air that spent its life in a garage and going for Sunday afternoon drives.

"It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage."
-Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Hunter-Habib I think you are inspirational-- not only as a hunter but also as a philosopher, a deep thinker, and an author. I have yet to see you voice advice I don't agree with. I would appreciate it if you would let us know the name of your autobiography mentioned earlier on this thread. I would wager I'm not the only AH guy who would enjoy reading it. If you don't want to put it on this thread please dm me with the title. Thank you.

Hi, @'68boy

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me or @PerH via inbox, at a time of your convenience.

 

[Odinsraven]

Sixty is my cutoff for culling ....after that I will be just a hunter !

 

[BeeMaa]

I’m not sure what it is about being in the wild, but I’d be much more comfortable with dying out there than at the hands of a city savage.

Not that I’m plotting my own death, just that many people I’ve known over the years have lived much longer than they wanted to. Closer to existing than living and that’s sad.

I hope I’m able to continue to hunt and fish out in the field until a ripe old age. And DG will be on the menu until I become a liability. It will probably be my wife that asks me to stop. With any luck, many years later, death will come swiftly.

May we all hunt with enthusiasm and rest in peace.

 

[revturbo9967]

I landed in Zim for my first dg hunt on my 40th and have a second one booked for 28. I have the urge to shift away from Africa though and checking out other areas of the world.

 

[mark-hunter]

Just curious on people’s experience. Personally I turned 67 Saturday am blessed to weigh what I did playing college football and am in great shape. While I exercise daily father time gets us all at some point. Would love to hear people’s experience or knowledge of some one who has been able to hunt DG at an advanced age. Here is a great example, My first elephant hunting 7 days walking a total of 107 miles was with ph Lou Hallamore who at the time was 81 and going strong!!! When do you ever know it’s over? I personally love DG hunting over all else. I know there will be a day when only PG will be in my future then none at all.

I am 54.
Been on buffalo hunt. 2024. At that time I was thinking, one and done for DG.
Then I went for elepahnt hunt. 2025.
Both hunts were successful.
Both hunts can be described as hunts of a life time.
I feel privileged, greatful and humble that I had a chance to experience it.

On both of these hunts I had a leopard on sights but as we could not identify male/female I did not shoot.
It happened twice!

After elephant hunt, I came to idea to collect all DG 7. The idea sticks.

My limitations:
Limitation 1. Finances. Must find acceptable offer for each.
Limitation 2. Work schedule. This year, all plans cancelled due to Iran war.
Limitation 3. The fact, that tomorrow is promised to no one.

I need a gods help and a lot of luck, to achieve DG7.
2 down, 5 to go.
It will take some years to achieve this with a lot of luck and a lot of effort.
But.... it is not impossible.

 

[grand veneur]

I am 73 year old and will hunt DG until I drop dead or run out of money.

 

[TOBY458]

I’ll keep going as long as my health and finances hold up. But I think it’s time to hang it up when you become a liability, instead of an asset to your PH and crew.

 

[Shakka]

I will be 64 in June and I am in excellent shape, but prices are rising every year so that will be what stops me

 

[wesheltonj]

Once I score a Rowland Ward Cape Buffalo.