I've just turned 65 and it's really started hitting me this year. I run out of breath pretty early, not sure why. I stumble over hog rooting and such more than I used to. I totally gave up my marsh hunting, just can't walk in muddy trails trodded by cattle and full of sticky mud trying to pull my waders off. That's always been rough hunting, but when I was in my late 30s when the place opened up, it didn't seem like THAT much work. And, I could stand all morning in the grass, never sit down. About 10-15 years ago, I bought a marsh chair, just couldn't handle THAT anymore. Now, I just can't get out there without more pain than it's worth. Hell, I'm afraid I'd have a friggin' heart attack out there.
So, I've modified my fun. I hunt my box blind here on my little place. Usually get a deer, plenty of hogs out here and they need killin'.
I still hunt dove, we usually drive right to the spot and if it's muddy we have ATVs and UTVs. Doves are my duck replacement, not that I never hunted 'em, been hunting 'em longer than waterfowl, just that waterfowl had been my passion. Nothing like calling ducks.
We usually get a goose hunt one weekend a season, but this year my buddy has been busy with his business and hasn't had the time. So, I just shot a buck and a hog before they quit coming around and called it a season. Yeah, it sucks getting old, can't do what I once did, but I still hunt SOMEthing.
Ya know, it ain't but 200 yards or a little more back to my blind and if I can't handle THAT walk, I can ride within 30 yards of it and the ATV is totally hidden behind the blind in the woods. If I ever get too old to do THAT, they'll be shoveling dirt on me.