RM | OUTDOORS Doug McClelland, left, thought his hunting days were over, but found himself once again in a deer blind on opening day thanks to assistance from Matt Miles. Here Matt helps Doug test fi re his rifl e, using a tripod to help him hold it steady. Never too old to hunt Missouri Baptist Homes helps seniors get outdoors by Jim McCarty | jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop T here comes a time in the life of every hunter when it seems like hanging up the blaze orange is inevitable. It could be because the legs no longer hold up long enough for a trek into the woods. Or maybe the eyes grew too fuzzy to squint through iron sights. Or it could be that patch of woods where the trophy bucks once ranged is now a subdivision. That was the case for Ozark resident Doug McClelland. 40 RURAL MISSOURI | JANUARY 2024 At 85, Doug fi gured his hunting days were behind him. A lifetime of driving semis on crooked roads left him with shoulder trouble. He had both of his shoulders replaced, only to have his hips give out. Meanwhile the land where he used to hunt was sold to people from out of state who didn't welcome hunters on their land. But on opening day this past November Doug found himself taking aim at a deer for the fi rst time in 15 years with assistance from Matt Miles, his mentor for the hunt. He squeezed the trigger and the deer took off, with Doug