When I was a whiskerless kid (let’s just say that was a long time ago), my pals and I yearned for just one thing: We dreamed of the day when our folks would allow us to have our first brand spanking new lever-action Red Ryder BB gun! That glorious day usually came on birthdays or Christmas. What followed, year after year beyond that, came that first single-shot .22 rifle, then 12-gauge shotgun, and in the late teens big-game hunting rifles. This most natural progression was as normal as shaving your first whiskers and obtaining your first driver’s license. It was a right of passage into manhood.
Those same young boys formed and fed the bulwark of today’s adult American hunters that were, and still are, the envy of the planet. They are also the backbone of today’s big-game hunters out pursuing deer, elk, antelope and sheep. Fast growing numbers of predator hunters must also be added to this list. This single segment alone has accounted for new and innovative hunting arms, calls, decoys, clothing and even vehicles designed accusingly for it.
However, as everyone comes to realize, a lifetime of long, hard hunting and diminishing sands in the hourglass of time takes their toll on all men. Most seniors no longer strap on heavy pack frames and head out to jackass up steep mountains to make a wilderness camp and go hunting, anymore. I’ve done it, loved it and reveled in it. But not today. Age, physical wear and tear, and in some cases serious medical issues end those wonderful days. But I say we do not have to rack up our rifles then sit and remember the joy in using them. Not by a long shot. Predator hunting is the perfect sport for seniors who still harbor that lifelong, burning desire to get out and hunt. Here’s where, how and why to enjoy it.
Where to Start
Remember the last deer hunt you prepared for by packing gear and planning time off from work? The money spent on gas and lodging, long trips out of state? Today’s senior predator hunter has none of these hurdles to jump. Even though current figures show that only 3 percent of men over the age of 65 still hunt, predator hunting can quickly turn those numbers on their head. Today’s veteran riflemen (and women) need to drive only as far as outside of town where legal hunting is permitted, and they’re already in fertile ground for predators such as coyotes, foxes and bobcats. These are places most big-game hunters drive right by, considered as marginal lands, but not for us. That’s why these predatory animals thrive there. You don’t need to live in some remote rural area to successfully pursue this kind of hunting. My town has 90,000 people in it and solid hunting success has always been only 30 minutes from my front door.
I do much of my predator hunting in such places as burned out timberlands, along abandoned railroad spurs, old orchards, thick brushlands, power line rights of way, and both dry and watered creeks and streams. I’ve yet to run into another caller in any of these places, and I’ve been at it a long time. Another nationwide area to certainly consider is both state and federal wildlife refuges where either upland birds and waterfowl hunting is open to the public during season. During the off-season, predator hunters can go in and we’re talking about literally tens of thousands of acres state by state. That’s a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of in your neck of the woods. The real beauty in this kind of predator hunting is that there is no one special place to pursue it. Hunting opportunities are everywhere, in every state, whether you live in farm country, mountains, deserts or urban/suburban areas.
How to Do It
Another easy transition for senior hunters is how easy and also inexpensive it is. This is most important for those on modest fixed incomes, as so many seniors are today. You don’t need pricy four-wheel drives, ATVs, motorhomes or travel trailers to reach worthwhile hunting areas only 25 or 30 minutes from home. You can’t beat it.
Simple rules apply and make sense once you’re ready to hunt. First, after parking, walk only far enough so your vehicle cannot be seen from where you make your first stand. This can be as little as 50 or 100 yards at best, and I think it’s important for success. Cautious predators won’t have their attention focused on your ride when closing in. They’re more at ease in natural surroundings. Because these are short hunts that do not require much physical exertion, it’s easy to make several if initial stands don’t produce results.
A second rule is to always tell folks at home exactly where you’re going to hunt, how long you expect to be there and when you will return home. Anything unusual and unforeseen can happen: an engine breakdown, vehicle stuck in mud, a flat tire too difficult to change. Always take a cell phone with you. It’s as important as your gun and predator calls. I make it a rule that once I reach the area where I want to hunt, to make a phone call home to be certain my calls connect. If they don’t, it might be best to move to a second spot where they can.
Decoys Can Make a Difference
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that various decoys designed for predator hunting can enhance your success, and seniors should definitely take advantage of this. They are lightweight, and easy to pack and set up. For coyotes, a full-body coyote decoy focusses their attention on the fake and not the caller. The decoy represents another of his tribe who has also found an easy meal, triggering competition to share in the vittles.
Place the decoy well away from your stand, out in the open where it’s easy to see, while you’re well-hidden in available cover. And remember to match your decoy to the size and prey of the animal you are hunting.
In good fox country, you would not use a coyote decoy. Coyotes kill foxes if they get the chance. Instead, change size to a smaller, deer fawn decoy. That’s a victim foxes will take down and kill. Another common prey species of foxes is the rabbit. Small rabbit decoys, some even battery powered so they move and quiver, are a perfect match. Obviously, the rabbit decoy will also work on coyotes.
Bobcats are slow, cautious hunters and killers of small prey, too. Large decoys are not required here. Because cats hunt and kill a lot of song and game birds, small bird decoys are the cat’s meow. Commercial, battery driven, fluttering wing bird decoys clipped to low limbs and branches at cat’s eye level are an excellent choice even in the heavy cover where felines do the majority of their hunting. The single wing flapping wildly, unable to take flight, is what triggers cats to strike. Another very simple decoy is nothing more than a large feather suspended on a thin string, twisting seductively in the breeze.
Calling All Predators
Anyone who can work a duck call can blow a predator call. Admittedly, I would say predator calls do require somewhat more prolonged lung power. But it should be pointed out that many smaller calls with somewhat lower volume, work just as well and are even easier to use. You don’t have to go blue in the face to be successful using one. These lower-volume calls emit pitiful cries, squeaks, screams and moans and even bird-like chirps. Predatory animals large and small will react to them.
For seniors who do not want to blow mouth calls of any kind, there are electronic callers. You simply set them up, turn them on and move back into your stand. Most have a remote control that allows you to change calls and even make two calls at the same time. These battery powered digital units are lightweight, compact and fitted with top hand holds for easy carrying afield. Some are equipped with a motorized fur or rag flag atop the unit that vibrates a rod waving the flag erratically, to entice predators in closer while holding their attention. Price dictates how many and what kind of options you will get.
Rifles and Ammo
Because we’re basically talking about pursuing small- to medium-size animals, senior hunters can consider using long guns they’ve owned, hunted and shot with throughout their lives on larger game such as deer or elk. These calibers might not be at the top of today’s gun sales list, but that does not mean they aren’t a good match for coyotes, foxes or bobcats. I’ve compiled a short list of calibers and bullets designed for predator-size animals. They can be added to or subtracted from if you have a personal favorite of your own.
- .220 Swift/55-grain spire point bullet
- .243 Winchester/90- to 100-grain Spitzer bullet
- .250/3000 Savage/100-grain spire point bullet
- .257 Roberts/110- or 117-grain pointed bullet
- .25/06 Remington/100- or 120-grain Spitzer bullet
- .270 Winchester/90- to 100-grain pointed bullet
- .30/06/110- to 125-grain Spitzer bullet
In this list, the .270 Winchester and .30-06 are considered classic big-game cartridges for larger animals such as deer, elk, pronghorns and even bison. The .30-06 loaded with much heavier bullets, has even taken African plains game. I’ve included them because they are the top two most popular rifles and cartridges still sold in America, and they can be loaded down to lighter-weight bullets for predators. Most hunters have one or the other (or both) in their gun racks. The .24- and .25-caliber suggestions are all older ones designed for predator size animals up to deer. They, too, are still owned by a lot of American riflemen and deserve to be listed because of the undying popularity.
And now we’ve taken one in-depth look at today’s predator hunting, and how it fits so perfectly with senior hunters still out enjoying the thrill of extending their hunting years has to be a match made in heaven. Take the long gun down off the rack, wipe the dust off it and get out there. The exciting world of predator hunting is waiting for you.
