Something I've been putting off

[SPEEDY]

I've really cut back on my hunting the last year or more due to less than stella health, I just can't stalk
One reason I've been absent from here for a while, I've been trying to decide and work things through.
My last two years I've only been shooting the hornet, either quick spotlighting session for foxes on local farm, or from the porch from my mates farm.
There's a few short walks I do but that's pretty much it.
We're gearing up now to move to thailand where I plan on fishing in my pond at the back of the house, days at a few few fishing parks and probably the odd squirrel hunt around the little farm boundary.
So sadly I've come to the decision to give up hunting, I will still do a couple of days at the start of duck season and still do a little spotlighting or shots from the porch.

So I'm going sell up everything but the shotgun and get a little hornet so when I move overseas I don't have to worry about selling them when I go, I can just give them away to a friend instead.
It's time, but strangely it's almost going to be a return to how I started out as a kid on the farm, and I'm happy with that in way, but but after over 20 years it's going to be strange and quite regretful no longer having a Blaser more then anything else I own. I would have loved one last rut with the K95, but unfortunately we will have to be overseas when it's on.
I think I'm going to have to try one more goodbye hunt with it, if I get a deer it will be a memory for life, but if I don't then I wonder if it will be a disappointment.

[ebrownw2]

Well bummer on the health issues. Change seems to be inevitable in most all aspects of life. Don't let it make you a stranger, though. I always enjoyed your posts about your fishing adventures.

[9.3x64]

That’s sad news Speedy.
I always enjoyed your posts. You have always struck me as a down to earth bloke, someone who could have a bit of a joke and NEVER be offended.
I used to love criticising you for posting on this forum while sober.…
Anyway, your hunting days are not over. You are still an active member of this forum.
You can still hunt and fish in Thailand.
Why not leave one firearm in Australia and return occasionally for a hunt?

[slugslinger]

We're always sorry to hear about health issues, especially when it impacts your hunting. Try to keep in touch on the forum - I've always enjoyed your opinions and commentary. Best wishes in Thailand! . . .

Regards,

[dchamp]

First off Speedy, I am sorry to hear you are having health issues. I hope you are doing everything possible to improve and maintain your health.

I don’t know the gun laws in Australia or Thailand but have you checked to see if is possible to maintain ownership in either or both countries. There is no reason for you to drop from the forum, it’s just a keyboard click away. I see you as a valuable and enjoyable participant. You would be missed.

Best Wishes

[Vaughan2]

Take care mate. And there's nothing wrong with catching fish. I've always considered myself a fisherman who hunts

[Kflattmann]

I agree with everyone that you need not become a stranger. I have always enjoyed and envied your expeditions. Please keep Blaser Buds and stay in touch.
I think of you when I read this….
Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.
Your good medicine Speedy!
Take care.

[SPEEDY]

Thanks for all that, don't worry I'm still going to be doing what I can, when you stop doing the things you love it's all over.
I can get a gun licence in thailand, I've made a few contacts that can help, it's a bit of paperwork and every bit of paperwork has a double cost if you know what I mean, one for the government and the other
I will give what I keep to friends to "borrow" when I visit, but from this point on there will be no big walks, just short circuits on easier ground and waiting on dams and along tracks for whatever comes along.
Spotlighting still nice and easy, but these days I don't really consider it hunting, just shooting, but it works.
I will still hang around here as it's the only forum I've ever really liked.

But don't worry about my long term health, it's just pain related, to sum it up what's been getting worse is.
Arthritis in my ankles, knees and back.
Unhealed/sadly healed stress fractures I both legs.
Two torn and badly healed tendons in my shoulder, nerve damage in it and a bursitis.
fibromyalgia, and a thing called complex partial seizures.
The last ones the big problem, when I set any of the other stuff off I get electric shocks and tremors in my legs, spine and right down my arm, I've also lost about 50% of the strength in it.
But I ain't going to cry about it, just take things easier. That's why I'm getting of most of the guns, get something like I had as a kid to remind me how much I enjoyed just simple hunting back then when it was all new.
If I can sort out the thai gun licence, I've got plenty of family land with pigs that I can set some hides and feeders on, sit back and have some refreshments in the shade with a fan on and maybe get something or just enjoy a quiet afternoon.

[Rod]

Sorry to hear about your poor health Speed. Take care and I’m looking forward to reading about your Thailand hunting and fishing antics.

Rod

[canalrifle]

Speedy, The Lord is merciful. He doesn’t let us know when it’s our last hunt. So please continue your great attitude and take care.

[MM]

Speedy sorry to hear age is catching up. At 63 I understand bad back and knees, nerve damage muscle loss etc. the hills get higher and steeper every year not to mention my pack gets heavier. I am trying to get as much hunting done while I can because everything eventually catches up to us. I wish you all the best.

[SPEEDY]

Speedy, The Lord is merciful. He doesn’t let us know when it’s our last hunt. So please continue your great attitude and take care.

A funny thing about that, we have been breeding ducks and I'm quite new at it.
The other day I was chatting with a mate on the phone and realised we didn't know if our orphan duckling was a boy or a girl, we want to keep her as she follows us around and liked sitting on my shoulder and watching TV, so I needed to check.
I started laughing after a little youtube search on how to do it and my mate asked what I was laughing at.
I said we never know when we do something for the last time, that it will be the last time we ever do it, and that makes it hard to remember the last time you do it. But we always know the 1st time we do something and usually remember exactly when and where we do it.
He said I don't get it. What did you do for the 1st time?
I said I'm sitting here talking to you, and for the 1st time I my life, I looked up a ducks A-hole.

[SPEEDY]

Speedy sorry to hear age is catching up. At 63 I understand bad back and knees, nerve damage muscle loss etc. the hills get higher and steeper every year not to mention my pack gets heavier. I am trying to get as much hunting done while I can because everything eventually catches up to us. I wish you all the best.

I was hoping to make it well into my 60's before I had to face the reality, life had other plans, particularly as a meat hunter, I will still be able to bring some home, it just won't be like it used too, or as often.
But I am looking forward to a little thai hunting, even if I just have to set up some pig traps, or make some stands.
The beauty there is I don't have to make anything, or carry stuff into the bush ir even build a track I can use to get there.
I can hire 5 young blokes for $70 a day and they can do all the work. And that's not each, that's $70 for all 5 for a 10 hour day, although they like working for me over there as I think that standard rate is a bit low, so I tip really good and provide whiskey.
I can always find workers for that reason, I'm always priority job #1.

[mchughcb]

We are all getting old but you need to stay active.

[SPEEDY]

Trouble is there's not enough younger coming up to replace us.