Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5738

I am at the point in coon hunting that makes me very sad. My hunting partner and I are just not physically able to hunt 6 nights a week like we have done for many years. I tore my right knee ACL nearly 2 years ago, did not have surgery due to the Covid pandemic. While I can walk alright, I just can not climb these steep mountains anymore. My hunting partner will be 84 in Jan and sadly he has slowed down, we used to hunt 6 nights a week in coon hunting season, take several out of state hunting trips every year, but those days are over. I knew there would come a time like this, but the reality is that it's mighty hard to accept. Our nights have gotten colder and the desire is still burning strong to hunt every night,, we just can not do so. If we lived somewhere like Indiania we could still hunt every night, but we live in the mountains and the facts are we can not. It sure is hard on both of us to stay home on these cold crisp fall nights and be content to hunt a couple nights per week, but I guess we do not have much choice. I hope everyone has a great hunting season, please enjoy each and every chance you have, as they will not last forever. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Feb 2021
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 136

Dave I think we are the same age and I understand what you are experiencing. Just last night had to go up a steep (well not really steep for here) hill and thought a few years ago this wasn't nearly as hard. Just gonna do what I can. What I really miss is a good every night hunting buddy.

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Tom Wood

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quote:

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Originally posted by PreacherTom
Dave I think we are the same age and I understand what you are experiencing. Just last night had to go up a steep (well not really steep for here) hill and thought a few years ago this wasn't nearly as hard. Just gonna do what I can. What I really miss is a good every night hunting buddy.

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Sep 2007
Location: Glenmont,Ohio
Posts: 1188

Dave, can you use mules? I’ve hunted many nights covering multiple miles but only walked a few hundred yards thru the night. Just a thought

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Get deep or Get Beat!

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 2014

I totally understand what you are saying…
You guys should try using CBD oil…about 3 weeks ago I used a CBD roll on on my arm…had been hurting for months but never got around to seeing the doctor…long story short the pain reduction is about 90 percent most of the time…

Same thing happened with my left hip…but I got the roll-on on it right away and that problem went away…

I’m fixing to do some research to see if they have one to take internally…

The roll on was a little expensive but well worth the cost…

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Training dogs is not so much about quantity, it's more about timing, and the right situations...After that it's up to the dog....A hunting dog is born...

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Registered: Dec 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1400

I use CBD oil as well, it's a game changer for me, the doctors wanted to operate on my neck as well as my shoulder, but since starting CBD pain is gone! you have to use a pure oil .
only takes a few drops a day.
This is the one I use
https://restorationcbdoil.com/

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 2014

The pain down my are was from my right rotating cup on my shoulder…I am right armed so I felt pretty much handicapped…if I were to use CBD oil every day I am pretty sure the pain would go away completely…it’s definitely a game changer…

Big Pharma would love for the general public to forget about CBD oil…

For me it appears the oil has healing properties besides pain relieving properties…

Dave…you might want to give it a try…

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Training dogs is not so much about quantity, it's more about timing, and the right situations...After that it's up to the dog....A hunting dog is born...

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
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quote:

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Originally posted by Sonny Phipps
Dave, can you use mules? I’ve hunted many nights covering multiple miles but only walked a few hundred yards thru the night. Just a thought

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Feb 2010
Location: Fairmont WV
Posts: 359

Would it be possible to relocate to a flat raccoon abundant area for hunting? Maybe even a camp in a good area. I am in West Virginia, so I know how it is to hunt the hills with a thin coon population, hopefully you can get the acl healed up and get out a little.

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Wayne Musgrave

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A couple old plugs

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5738

I do plan on taking some trips to Michigan and Indiania to coon hunt. I have to much invested locally to actually move to another state. My trips will just have to suffice my coon hunting desires with some limited local hunting thrown in. It's really a hard pill to swallow knowing that I just can not hunt like I used to hunt. Thank you for your post. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: ky
Posts: 2264

If you can get down here to Kentucky I got some flat ground and a 450 Honda Forman you and your buddy can ride...the guys that own the land don’t seem to care a bit after midnight lol
If you can come when it’s dry I can take you to places we can drive the pick up with in 30ft/300 yards of most every tree!!
I can’t imagine having to hunt those hills, mountains. I’m very lucky to have the hunting I do around here. The population ain’t real strong but the terrain in most places make up for it.

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jason

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Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
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Jason I may just book a hunt one day. Of course I would want to return the favor and invite you down here to help me thin some of these snakes and cut some of these briars. Your a good man Jason.

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"Boss Lights"

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Registered: Feb 2010
Location: Fairmont WV
Posts: 359

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Richards
I do plan on taking some trips to Michigan and Indiania to coon hunt. I have to much invested locally to actually move to another state. My trips will just have to suffice my coon hunting desires with some limited local hunting thrown in. It's really a hard pill to swallow knowing that I just can not hunt like I used to hunt. Thank you for your post. Dave

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Wayne Musgrave

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A couple old plugs

Last edited by MUSKY on 10-29-2021 at 11:50 AM

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Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2078

Sounds like you need young legs to go along with you 2 fellows.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Sheridan, WY
Posts: 1168

Dave, do you enjoy running rabbits with beagles? That's a really fun hound sport that is likely easier enjoyed daily with physical limitations.

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Registered: Dec 2013
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Guys I have to call it quits after this season, Dave has mentioned health and age. I am 73 and have had 4 surgeries in the past 18 months. I feel very blessed with the what the Lord has given me Like Kenny Rogers song says you have to know when to fold them it is time. So in January I will post all my hunting equipment for sale. And look for a forever home for my 2 dogs But I deeply appreciate the friends this sport of coon hunting has afforded me.

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
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quote:

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Originally posted by ole hoss
If you can get down here to Kentucky I got some flat ground and a 450 Honda Forman you and your buddy can ride...the guys that own the land don’t seem to care a bit after midnight lol
If you can come when it’s dry I can take you to places we can drive the pick up with in 30ft/300 yards of most every tree!!
I can’t imagine having to hunt those hills, mountains. I’m very lucky to have the hunting I do around here. The population ain’t real strong but the terrain in most places make up for it.

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Hilham,Tn
Posts: 270

Dave I live in the hills of Tennessee so I don’t have any good hunting to share with you.guess we are close to the same age I hunt at least seventy five percent of the time by myself. Don’t know how long it will last but I’m thankful for every night. But just wanted to say to have a hunting partner and hunt that many nights for that many years is a rare find very blessed

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Location: church hill tn
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quote:

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Originally posted by larry geesling
Dave I live in the hills of Tennessee so I don’t have any good hunting to share with you.guess we are close to the same age I hunt at least seventy five percent of the time by myself. Don’t know how long it will last but I’m thankful for every night. But just wanted to say to have a hunting partner and hunt that many nights for that many years is a rare find very blessed

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: ky
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quote:

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Originally posted by Bruce m. Conkey
Jason I may just book a hunt one day. Of course I would want to return the favor and invite you down here to help me thin some of these snakes and cut some of these briars. Your a good man Jason.

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jason

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quote:

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Originally posted by houndsound
Dave, do you enjoy running rabbits with beagles? That's a really fun hound sport that is likely easier enjoyed daily with physical limitations.

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Location: church hill tn
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Well, my buddy Ron and I went hunting tonight, but Ron got to feeling bad and we came back home. Sad, as this has not happened before, he usually toughs things out. Really sad to see such a hard hunter as Ron running out of gas so to speak. I guess age 84 catches up to the best of men. Really sad when I think about all of the many nights we have hunted in all kinds of weather when most folks were holed up by the fire. Knew this day was coming, but really hard to accept. Happy hunting folks and do not take anything for granted. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Jan 2005
Location: NE Indiana
Posts: 596

I certainly feel for you and Ron.. Father time is inexorable and just doesn't give any of us a break.

Coon hunting has become my physical therapy and stress relief, i've been able to shed quite a few pounds and can get thru the country somewhat due to following these hounds. Still fat and slow, but i'm steady!!

When I can't do this anymore my life will certainly be less enjoyable, but we will make do..

stay safe and warm this winter!

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5738

Thank you for your kind words, we really appreciate them. Ron has had a super bad past year, first Covid nearly got him, he was sick for 4 months, but survived. His son got sick with liver problems and fought for several months, but died in October this year. He has been through so much his nerves are just about shot. You and Ron are the hardest coon hunters I have ever seen. I wish that You, Ron and myself could have hunted together years ago, that would have been a blast. Maybe, just maybe we can come up for another hunt sometime. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Apr 2015
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Well me and Ron went hunting again tonight, he thought he felt like hunting. Long story made short, our dog got deep and treed, hard hot running track. We drove around to get closer to the dog, got around 600 plus yards hard climb, Ron tried, but had to quit at 300 yards ( straight up mt.) We drove to another place and was 200 plus yards, much closer, but Ron had to stop within 200 feet of tree. Got the dog, left the coon and came home by 9pm. Ron has the heart right now, but the 84 years and the stress of losing his son has taken a toll on his health. I told him tonight, NO MORE HUNTING or even trying until he is back 100 percent. In over 50 years of hunting with him these past 2 nights of him being unable to hunt is something new to me. I always thought he had the mental toughness to hunt forever. Reality says different, I am afraid our mountain hunting is becoming a thing of the past. Hopefully, Ron gets better and we can go on a few flat land hunting trips, these mountains are TOUGH. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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