Having entered what I hate to say is my Senior Years, hobbies come and hobbies go. I have hunted, fished, and been a shooting sports enthusiast since I was 16. Within those activities I have changed my activities as the social and physical environments have.
As a child I enjoyed hunting squirrels, rabbits, and pheasants (public Land), as I aged I started to do more target shooting (private gun clubs), then added the collecting of firearms, followed by Grouse and Woodcock hunting (public land again). The last fifteen years, I have gotten into deer (private land). Same with fishing trout most of my life, spin casting and fly.
The physical shooting sports environment has dictated my changes. Where I lived, and the population of what I hunted. When I was young there were plenty of squirrels and rabbits, the state stocked pheasants and public lands were not dangerous. As I aged I grew to love woodcock and grouse hunting, the state forests and publics game lands had plenty of birds and I was able to walk the 8 hours a day that I would hunt for these upland birds. I lost my hunting buddy to his health, he was unable to walk and keep up with the dogs and put the pressure on the birds. Also population of upland birds have significantly decreased. My son also grew out of the hobby, getting married, starting a career and kids. My dogs got too old and so did I eventually. Enter the deer hunting phase.
As for shooting, I have shot 22, W-II firearms, trap, muzzleloaders, BPCR, Class 3, and AR-15s. I now practice regularly with a crossbow for deer hunting. Public opinion and range availability have dictated my shooting activities. When I had access to BP or class 3 friendly ranges I shot those, when I was really into bird hunting I shot more trap and sporting clays. Now I shoot more air rifles, 22s and crossbow, for muscle memory and fun. The big guns or shotguns don't make it to the range as much.
As I like to say, I spent the first 25 year collecting my stuff and now I need to spend the next 25 getting rid of it. Physically I don't like getting beat up by the "high power rifles and magnum shotguns". I have seen many hunters develop medical conditions that prevent them from shooting. Sad to see, but I think we all get there, just like driving a car or motorcycle.
The day is coming, where I will no longer stream wade for trout because of stability issues, so I have reduced the number of fly rods I have. I already have reduced my upland bird hunting for a number of reasons, sold off many of my shotguns, down to two. I can still use them for the occasional upland bird hunt or for turkeys and geese. Was never a turkey or goose hunter, but these offer me a chance to still hunt as the game and access to hunting land is more plentiful.
I have sold my Class 3, and reduced my collection. Dad use to say to me, "you can only shoot one gun at a time, why do you need so many?" I have played and hunted with muzzloaders since I was 16, flintlocks - in-lines and BPCR. First went the in-lines just a deer hunting tool. Next may go the BPCR, they hurt after 20 rounds and in the east no-where to really let them stretch their legs out to the 1,000 yards. With flintlocks, I have started to build for the fun and enjoyment.
So what I am trying to say in this long winded post is embrace the change. "Change Is Good", if finds provides you happiness in the with the change, it allows you wo still enjoy variations in the main hobby, the shooting sports. Don't miss hunting grouse and woodcock? YES - but I have them memory of my son shooting his first double on grouse when he was in college and we have a bird mount to remember that day with pictures.
So losing you deer hunting lease is a sad day, just remember change is good. And as we said in the Air Force - FLEXIBILITY IS THE KEY TO AIR POWER. Be flexible in your hobbies.
