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We have become a nation of older people, and a lot of the people in this game and on this board, are very old.
My younger brother no longer hunts. He is disabled, has developed diabetes, and has had a chunk of his left foot amputated. Not a pussy, but, not in the game.
The younger kids at my range shooting on the high school teams often don't hunt. I've asked a bunch of them, and for the most part, it's just their team thing they do in high school. No need for heavy loads, and, wisely, they don't use them.
I have just a few friends I hunt with, one is developing MS, and can't be counted on to go anymore. One is recently retired, and has rediscovered motorcycles, and only has so much time left for doing some hunting. I see Lloyd once a year. I think his go to gun is under 6 pounds. He hits it, hard, while he is up north.
I keep walking, but, my knees bother me more. I never minded a lighter gun, but, I enjoy them even more today. My job is quite physical, I need make no excuses for the shape I'm in, still a 33/34" waist.
But, everything hurts more than it used to. Getting old 'aint for sissies.

Best,
Ted

I'm with you, Ted. But, you just can't give in to it. You've got to keep going, even though it gets harder. I am on no prescription meds except for a drop of Timolol in my right eye each morning, for glaucoma. I still wear 32 x 34 jeans, but I struggle staying that way much more than I did 15 years ago. I'm not bragging, because I know much of our health is inherited. But, staying healthy and fit doesn't just happen, it requires work. And, the older we get the more effort it requires. But, the rewards are worth the effort, IMO. As I convalesce from this motorcycle accident I am more determined than ever to completely get over it in time to hunt as usual the rest of this season. I'm only a few days older than I was before the crash, but I'm waaaay wiser in that regard.

All my best, SRH

Hell Ted . . . you're a youngster! I've picked up some pounds I don't need since I had my ankle operated on last winter. Used to control weight by running from about March until the start of hunting season. Even got medals in road races. (My wife called them "appearance awards", and she was pretty much right. In the small local 5K's I ran, often maybe only 1 other runner in my age group.) I miss that, and depending on how a lot of walking on my foot works out--so far have done quite a bit chasing grouse, woodcock, and now pheasants--I may ask the foot doc if it's a good idea.

Likely an operation after the season's over for a cataract in my R eye. Shooting sporting clays or 5 stand, some targets just flat disappear on me. But doing OK on live birds so far.

Stan, I completely agree with you. Americans have become a bunch of sissies. Just look at the amount of time and money we devote to fixing our teeth and removing unwanted hair. Not to mention soft and fluffy toilet paper. What was wrong with news paper? Or that wax paper the English used to use? People complaining about their knees. A previous generation would have just strapped a couple of two by fours to their legs and walked stiffly into the sunset with only the occasional moan. Did George Washington complain when he accidentally put his wooden teeth in upside down. No, he manned up. Said � Hamn the horpidoes, full feed ahead�.

My attraction to lighter guns is a result of shoulder surgery. At 70, I still try to stay in shape by cycling 20-40 miles a week during the summer and hammering the woods come hunting season. Aches and pains or not, I'd rather have them in the woods as not.
A body in motion, stays in motion as they say. My foot surgery didn't stop me.
Karl

The problem with most people's knees is that they are obese to begin with. Knees weren't designed to bear that much weight.

SRH

Do note I personally do not recommend placing two max loaded 3" 12 gauge magnums into a 6 1/2 lb gun & pulling both triggers simultaneously for the sake of either me or the gun, bound to put a lot of undue stress on the juncture of the bar & standing breech. For 40+ years though, over which time I put on well over 50 lbs of weight, my #1 go to gun was a 7 1/2 lb 12 gauge. Gun is choked essentially quarter & modified. I have used it for everything from quail, a few woodcock etc up through ducks & a couple of turkeys. As I grew older & heavier I began having some trouble carrying "ME" around these TN hills, but not truly a problem with the gun itself. used it into my 70's. At 79 now & with medical problems which simply do not allow me to get out & hunt at all I no longer carry any gun afield. Lacking these problems I would likely still me toting that 7 1/2 lb 12 gauge Lefever along when I went.

Larry, you�re awesome. Gonna have to start calling you Brown�James Brown.
Agent Double Oh 82. (Not sure how old you are)


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I Feel Good!
https://youtu.be/B1wOK9yGUYM

I've been driven hard and put up wet. If I were a gun I'd consider myself a project gun. Played college football two years too long. Both shoulders need rebuilding, back is my most limiting problem but my knees are still serviceable. Don't take any pain meds and have chosen to just keep going as long as I can. Weight control has helped a lot. If my father can walk a mile and a half at 95 I can do a miles as is.

No Rx will fix nerve pain and having my own DEA number is too great a chance for self medication problems. I've seen dozen of other doctors fall into that trap. Pain, you just have to get live with and get on doing what you want to do. I was 28' up a ladder, cleaning out gutters Saturday, just in time for 3" rain Sunday. Heading back east in a few weeks to thin out the duck population. Just keep grinding.

The weight of a field gun is a compromise between being light enough to carry all day and heavy enough to shoot well when the time comes.

Presumably, we become better shots with age and experience. We also (in some cases at least) are out there for a slightly different reason than youngsters. We have lost the desire and need to kill everything that might go up just to prove that we can. Quality of experience becomes more important that quantity. This is called 'maturity'.

A lighter gun adds measurably to the enjoyment of the day.

There's a fine line between turning into a big pussy and just getting smarter about the hunting concept as a whole.