I hear you. It happens eventually. I’ve been ignoring it and suppressing it for about 5 years now. Much as my love for the lifestyle, when I turned 69, I layed out me plan to use all my significant accumulated big game points before I turned 75…….. because I could feel the breeze starting blow on the back of my neck. I used my Wyoming antelope and mule deer points, conceded 22 moose points (that was a tough one but I correctly allowed reason to prevail), used my LE Utah mule deer tag and my black bear tag, and this year used my 16 Colorado points to group draw a mule deer tag with my son and grandson in the 3rd season. As of yesterday both have filled their tags and I chose not to go with them and will let my tag go unhunted. I will travel to New Mexico to be in proximity when a different grandson will most likely bring home a desert big horn sheep and I want to be there to celebrate with him and his Dad.
It’s hasn’t been an easy year because in my head I still wanted to hunt but I knew it was my time to accept the reality of my circumstances, it was the right time, not only for me but all those in my family who have so generously supported my 64 years of hunting, starting with ducks at 14 years of age, 2 miles from boyhood prairie home and ending with a black bear, 15 minutes from my mountain cabin. Without a life time of support from parents, uncles and aunts, my sweet wife and 5 amazing children, it never would have happened. Collectively they allowed me to live a life filled with joy and astonishing outdoor experiences. I truly feel like I have lived better than the most elite members of the human race. I have developed a strong faith in a living and personal God, and if Heaven comes close to this Earth and all that it offers, I can’t imagine anything better or more glorious.
So…… fear not my friend, regardless of your age, you are cycling through the phases of life and allowing it to play out, as it should, like it has for all of us, fortunate enough to have lived at a time and a place, where we have had the privilege of experiencing the very best, of the very best this old World has to give. And…… you too will know when it’s time to say, “thanks, it has been absolutely wonderful but it’s time to “let go”, and be glad that it ended the way has, fully spent, and fully rewarded.