Spatial Competence of Elderly Hunters

An investigation of 338 reports of lost deer hunters revealed that the incidence of lost hunters over age 65 was significantly lower, compared to younger hunters, than would be predicted by their numbers. Those elderly hunters who did become lost traveled as far and were just as likely to reorient themselves without assistance as were younger hunters. Moreover, lost elderly hunters, as well as other outdoor enthusiasts of advanced age, traveled much farther than the distance covered by cognitively impaired wanderers from supervised care. The latter findings were discussed as having practical significance for the safety of the elderly person who becomes the subject of a land search. Generally, the results were interpreted as encouraging for elderly individuals wishing to continue participation in outdoor recreational activities in forested areas. That is, despite apparent decrements in spatial perception and memory, the older outdoor enthusiast may develop compensatory skills useful for wayfinding under difficult conditions.