hoveysmith
New Member
At 79-years-old age is taking its toll. I am no longer able to do the physical tasks that I did just a few years ago when I could go on quota hunts as I recently did on my 21st hunt on Georgia's Ossabaw Island. Friend Roger Kicklighter who is ten years younger, partnered with me in getting to the island and setting up camp. We also got help from some who were more able than us in setting up and taking down. The problem is that we all will age and have a variety of ills. In my case it is a partial loss of balance which limits what I can carry and a reduction in leg strength due to poor circulation which restricts my ability to walk.
I am not the only one with similar age-caused restrictions. We hunters are few and getting fewer. About seven percent of the present Georgia population actually hunts. On this quota hunt out of 100 slots some 50-odd hunters checked in. Of these 50 the majority were over 50-years-old and at least three of us were approaching 80. I have no way of knowing how many potential hunters sighed up, but were prevented by health issues for themselves or their close relatives from attending.
Georgia presently has Parent-Child hunts where a parent goes with their child, but does not hunt - only the child may take game. What I propose is Senior-Assisted hunt where a senior hunter, say over 70, my bring a non-hunting companion (related or not) to help with the physical work of setting up camp and dragging-out game. I spoke with the Island Manager and other DNR personnel who administered the hunt and they said that they would have no objections to such an arrangement, and that a non-hunting camp keeper or non-hunting assistant was allowed under present regulations.
I do not know if this assistance applies to only those who may have handicapped driver's licenses or to the general public. In either case more publicity needs to be given to this fact or better yet, a Senior-Assisted hunting category allowed on general quota hunts for those who are physically struggling, but not presently confined to wheelchairs.
Such a formal designation may require legislative action. Whether presently needing assistance or not, present such a case at game meetings and at other appropriate forums to publicize this concept.
Wm. Hovey Smith is an outdoor writer and the author of more than 20 outdoor, and business books, a novel, and was a former podcast radio host.
I am not the only one with similar age-caused restrictions. We hunters are few and getting fewer. About seven percent of the present Georgia population actually hunts. On this quota hunt out of 100 slots some 50-odd hunters checked in. Of these 50 the majority were over 50-years-old and at least three of us were approaching 80. I have no way of knowing how many potential hunters sighed up, but were prevented by health issues for themselves or their close relatives from attending.
Georgia presently has Parent-Child hunts where a parent goes with their child, but does not hunt - only the child may take game. What I propose is Senior-Assisted hunt where a senior hunter, say over 70, my bring a non-hunting companion (related or not) to help with the physical work of setting up camp and dragging-out game. I spoke with the Island Manager and other DNR personnel who administered the hunt and they said that they would have no objections to such an arrangement, and that a non-hunting camp keeper or non-hunting assistant was allowed under present regulations.
I do not know if this assistance applies to only those who may have handicapped driver's licenses or to the general public. In either case more publicity needs to be given to this fact or better yet, a Senior-Assisted hunting category allowed on general quota hunts for those who are physically struggling, but not presently confined to wheelchairs.
Such a formal designation may require legislative action. Whether presently needing assistance or not, present such a case at game meetings and at other appropriate forums to publicize this concept.
Wm. Hovey Smith is an outdoor writer and the author of more than 20 outdoor, and business books, a novel, and was a former podcast radio host.
