How should we handle this?
 

Guys,

My father, grandpa and myself just purchased a new piece of hunting property. It has lots of potential, and we are pretty pumped about it.

A problem that we have thought is my grandpa. He doesn't want to shoot anything anymore (deer or turkeys). I completely understand this, he just turned 70. He often hunts by himself because he is retired and Dad and I cannot get to the farm as much as he. Grandpa doesn't really hunt the wind at all, and doesn't believe in using any scent reduction tactics. We only want him hunting out of ladder stands, for fear that something could happen to him. But, he loves to be in the woods. He also likes the be right in the middle of all the action. My Dad and I have all the respect in the world for him, but we are REALLY trying to him to "hunt" the wind. We honestly don't want him going into our best spots stinking up the area with human scent, when he does not plan on harvesting anything, or hunting the wind.

Are we off here? What would you fellas do? We are learning that it is "hard to teach a old dog new tricks".

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Let him hunt HIS hunt... He's earned it.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

When he's gone you'll see just how trivial this "issue" really was.;)

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I have the exact same problem on my family land, even worse grandad will shoot (w/a rifle) the animals that the rest of us are passing (with bows). It is frusterating to say the least but we have never said much to him (out of respect I suppose) We do ribb him a little but it hasn't affected him too much. However you wind up doing it just remember he got you guys started with all this hunting, at least that is the case with us, and we just figure we'll deal with it as we never know how many more years we will have with him at the camp....

RE: How should we handle this?
 

X2~~ No question about it!!!

RE: How should we handle this?
 

We don't "let" him do anything. He is 70, he makes his own decisions.

I guess I was asking was for some direction on informing him of some of the harm he is causing our hunting area?

RE: How should we handle this?
 

ICALL2MUCH,

We had a somewhat similiar situation to this on our property this past year, one of our hunt club members would always "spot and stalk" without taking any methods to ensure scent control or anything. Needless to say, "spot and stalk" for a guy who doesn't practice scent control this day in age is code for "I'm going to tromp around and hope I walk up on something." Granted, and with all due respect, I understand that this is not the case at all with your grandpa as he'll apparently be still hunting. And, seeing as how y'all are close enough with your grandpa to purchase some land, you might want to think about just sitting down with him and explaining your thoughts. I know many older hunters don't believe in scent control or any of the other modern technologies, but I also know older hunters also have a respect for the younger generations and their new knowledge. Anyways, I would just try to talk to him about it. Like KodiakArcher said, if he's hunted all his life, he's earned the right to hunt how he wants. However, givent he respect I'm sure he had for you and your dad, he'd be willing to better his ways a bit to aid you two.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I never said you "let" him do anything. You have me confused with someone else.

I said exactly what I mean to say. Do what you want.;)

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Yes, in my opinion you are off base here. If you were willing to use his money to help purchase the property you better let him use it as he sees fit. I'm only 40 and only have one memory of one of my Grandfathers taking me fishing when I was very young. All of my grandparents were dead before I was 9 years old. My Grandfathers were gone before I was 6. My father has been gone now for 7 years. Be glad he is still a part of your life and enjoy him while you can. Putting the importance of your deer hunting above your family is unimaginable to me. I'm not trying to bash on you, just want you to look at the big picture. My .02 cents.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

There's no way you'll convince him that he's doing harm to your hunting. Let him do his thing & hunt somewhere else, ortake your chances on your new land. No sense causing an uproar amongst family in that situation.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Well who has seniority?;) I say let them decide.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Put some sleeping pills in his coffee . Maybe he will fall asleep at camp . :eek: j/k

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I'd quit worrying about the wind and go hunting with him any way he wants to hunt. He may not have many more years to hunt with or without you and when they are gone, so is that pool of your memories.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Yeap, confused you with someone else. Completely my bad.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Guys, I don't think ICALL2MUCH is putting hunting before family or anything at all, I don't even think he has created a trivial issue. Its very easy to sit here and tell him he's wrong because he's "not doing what his grandpa wants" But thats not the case at all as it seems as thought he just wanting advice as to how to approach and convince his grandpa in regards to the situation. Its so easy to say, "well just quit worrying about something, family should come first." And in reality, family should come before everything else. But how many of us have went to a baseball game or went hunting ourselves when we had extra time that could be spent going to see a loved one. I think were giving ourselves too much credit here

RE: How should we handle this?
 

So he doesn't want to kill anything?? Then ask him if you can hunt that spot if he is in the best spots, you all paid the money right?? Then he needs to let you guys hunt the good spots too. I know he's your pop, but fair is fair, I mean I would see if he would sit in another stand that has some action, maybe lots of does and small bucks, if he's notshooting, what does it matter anyway as long as he is seeing animals and enjoying the woods. Just my opinion.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I think you are way off base here. You have no idea how lucky you are just to be able to spend time in the woods with your grandpa. I wish I could! However, if this is going to be an issue for you and your dad, maybe purchasing some box blinds might be a good solution. They are safe for your grandpa, help a little with scent, and you will always know where he is. Just some ideas, but I think the best is to just the man enjoy being in the woods.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Thanks man, kinda what I was thinking! We are going to love and hunt with him here, regardless. Just asking for opinions!

Good point. The problem though is more when he is by himself. When we are with him, we kinda try to direct and help him with this!

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Here are my thoghts on it.

If you've asked him to do differently and he won't, then let him do his thing. If he often goes out and doesn't shoot anything I think all he'll do to your area is get the deer used to human sent. I hunted on an army base that constantly had people in the woods (no scent control there) The deer were thick in there. Hunting was good. So When you use scent control they are even less likely to get alarmed because they are used to some human scent. JMO

Enjoy the time with him while you can.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

option #1 hold him down and spray him with some scent blocker.

option #2 quit whining and scout harder, hunt harder and it will all pay off.


Side note: your grandfather is 70 enjoy the time you have left with him... Alot of us dont have there grandfathers to hunt with[&o]

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Icall2much, don't make it an issue with the stand locations, he is gonna do what he wants when he goes by himself, after thinking it over for a few minutes, just let him go.... you can still ask him to hunt other places or you can make a big deal out of other spots and maybe he will want to go there. In the end, it is small and he won't be around forever, let him do his thing I guess, my grandfathers never hunted with me or did my father, so I don't know what really to say. I mean my peeps were too busy farming and gave a rats ass about a deer as long as it didn't eat too many soybeans. I guess be appreciative of him and just hunt.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I SAY BUY A USED PORTA JON AND CAMO IT. THERE VENTED AT THE TOP FOR SCENT CONTROL:D

RE: How should we handle this?
 

"here grandpa, look at ths new hunting suit I bought you...all you have to do is put it in the dryer once a week on high heat for 30 minutes and its ready to go each time you hunt!"....."Love you grandpa".....;)

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Grandpa: "I always you knew you were full of ****, son. You resemble the mailman.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Let him do what he wants, but really if he dosnt ur scent control that is ok, its not gonna spook all the animals of the property, if any. but i would suggest ground blinds if ur worried about safetey.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

" Grandpa: "I always you knew you were full of ****, son. You resemble the mailman."

"No really grandpa, all you have to do is put this suit in the dryer....oh dang it, the Brownian Molecule thingy/scent dispersion/cocunut charcoal stuff.....oh crap, just wear all of your old stinky hunting gear upwind of me each morning"

RE: How should we handle this?
 

"First thing I'm gonna do when I get home son....is smack your momma right in the mouth"

RE: How should we handle this?
 

my grandpa killed more deer than i care to think about long before"scent control" was cool. he died in 1995 and i'd give anything to hunt with him one more time, iwouldn't care if he had a pile of sh*t in his pants.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Let Grandpa do it his way and capitalize.

The owner of the property I hunt decided to let a a buddy that plows his driveway hunt and I was a little pissed at first. I met the guy as he whispered at me while climbing into MY STAND where he was sitting. He said that he had permission so I climbed back down but did get high enough up to shake his hand and introduce myself. The bastard smelled like he drank an entire bottle of Quervo and seriously smelled like stale onions.
What happened next was amazing, I went 80 yards away to another stand up wind of him and much to my surprise the deer smelled him and came my way, I shot the deer on the right in my avatar that morning and was lucky enough to have the "Mojito Bandito" there to help me drag him out. Since then Bandito has used all of my stands smelling like stale ass and the deer still come through the area.
I am conscious of scent but now pay more attention to the wind and hunt higher areas in the morning and lower areas at night and have no issues. Use Grandpa to your advantage, he just might drive the deer to you!

RE: How should we handle this?
 

First of all in all the years your grandpa has been hunting was he any good at it? If he was then I wouldn't say anything. Even if he wasn't it probably will not do you much good anyway. Most people once they have been hunting a few years are pretty set in their ways, let alone 60 or more years;). You can talk until you are blue in the face and chances are he will still do it his way, or just not do it anymore at all. He will most likely tell you he is old enough and been doing it long enough to know what he is doing.

If he doesn't want to kill anything I say have everyone chip in and buy him a really nice camera and let him have a blast with it. The nice thing about the new digital cameras is you can take a ton of pictures with them. Might take him a while to get used to it, but I think he will like it. And think of all the fantastic memories you guys will have from it.

If your lucky and your grandpa is healthy you might have another 15 years or so to share with him. But at his age next year or the year after could be his last year hunting.

If it bothers you a lot my advice is to encourage your grandpa to take hikes often in the woods, and go with him if you can. Spend as much time as you can there during the season and the off season. I honestly believe the more you are there the more the deer will get used to you and the less of a problem it will be. Where I used to live we had deer come right in our back yard and bed down. Deer are very adaptive and not really that smart honestly.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Paul

RE: How should we handle this?
 

definently wouldnt bother with the "issue"

if thats his hunting style, thats his hunting style. PUT him in the best spots...to see game. places he will be happy to hunt.

then...find yourself a big buck sanctuary...if grandpap is in there stinkin up the place, they will just avoid him and his stand...

or, help grandpa hang his stand...but put it where the typical dominant wind WONT hurt anything...i know in western PA i can generally expect a west wind..generally..keep the thicket and food sources anywhere but in the east of the stand and you aughta be ok on typical days...maybe not perfect...but its an option thats better than nothing...

or, take grandpas clothes home and wash them...and when he aint lookin once in a while spray him with scent killer ;) :D

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Put him in a nursery home?

I'm horrible, don't do that! Give the man the respect that he deserves and honor him!

RE: How should we handle this?
 

x2 hes your Grandpa, and has been hunting since before you were born let him hunt the way he see's fit

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I am 66 and when I hunt on my son's property , I use whatever stand he suggests or hunt adjacent property . Even though I have helped him with the food plots , clearing stuff and building a cabin , I respect his deer hunting knowledge . He does a lot of reading , utilizes scent control , wind , temperature , barometric pressure , etc .. I home to be hunting for another 10 years at least .
Back in the 60's , I used to smoke and had doe come within 5 yards of my ground location and not run . We couldn't shoot doe back then either . Anyway , the deer have become smarter and have adapted . We need to do the same with our hunting techniques .
Like someone said above , hunt upwind of your grandfather .........It may work to your advantage !

RE: How should we handle this?
 

You've got some nice people hear giving you some ideas that might help you out, I'm not one of them.To start with there not a nice bone in me and if I were near you first thing I would do is slap the stupid out of you ,if that is possible.
Any one that has as little respect for their elders as you do does not even deserver the opportunity to hunt with own grandfather or any one Else's for that sake.To place the moment of glory that a successful hunt brings before the happiness of some one who's very existence made your very ownpossible is beyond my ability to reason.
I would take some time and rethink why you hunt in the first place.
I will stop now before I type some thing that is not very nice.;)

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Rarrrr (cat noise)

But he's right!!!

RE: How should we handle this?
 

I would give every bow gun and trophy on the wall to hunt with my grandfather again for 1 morning and he could smell like a locker room cherish every second there just flea bitten deer.Besides you can use his influincing there movment to get one no problems hunnting with the ones you love is far more important then killing,killing just part of the hunt

RE: How should we handle this?
 

Do you hire out?

RE: How should we handle this?
 

After all the things that my grandpa did for me,I would let him crap on my deer stand if it made him happy. What you have to decide is what is more important, your grandpa or some stupid deer. I would suggest enjoying the hunts that you have left with your grandpa and remember them on those long days on stand after he is gone.

RE: How should we handle this?
 

No sheep, but dirt cheap. ;)