It’s no big secret that as we age things start to change or, for some stuff, it just feels different. As sportsmen age, we all need to understand this simple reality: we aren’t 25 years old any more.

The days of strapping a climber on our backs and hiking back into the woods for an all-day sit 30 feet off the ground in a snowstorm, may just not be in the hunting cards any more.

To be successful, we all must change with the times. While for some it may be down-scaling to a smaller house, or other it may mean a warmer climate during the winter months or it could mean we just need to look back on how/who we are spending our time with and make those adjustments that make life easier/happier.

For hunters, this generally starts with how and where we choose to hunt and who we want to hunt with. For some, it may mean the days of still hunting all day will turn into half days hunting and then sitting the remainder. For others, it could mean gaining access to hunting ground that doesn’t require one to hike up and down hills or ravines.

Climbing 20-plus feet off the ground to watch a well-traveled deer trail may not be in the best use of precious hunting time. While some will argue the height of your tree stand will factor into your success, that is a topic for another time. What is important is comfort. If one doesn’t feel comfortable sitting high in a tree while searching for their next wall mount, then they wouldn’t be in that stand for long. And we all know the longer you’re on a stand the better chance you have of filling your tag.

As we age, climbing a tree to chase whitetails may not be for you. As time goes on, some of us feel that we don’t need to spend all our hunting time swinging among the branches. You need to be comfortable where and how you hunt.

This brings to mind what we had experienced many years ago. It was when the “magic triangle” of Illinois was pretty much a well-kept secret. I traveled with a cameraman in tow to take part in a great whitetail hunt during the rut. Our outfitter had set stands for a hunter and camera in several locations. On the first morning of the hunt, we were led to a pine tree about 12 inches round. (Did I mention it was O’dark as we were dropped off at the base of “honey hole?”).

As is tradition, the cameraman went up first because his stand was a little higher than the shooter’s stand (Oh, did I say that the cameraman was a large man?). Well, he did his duty and climbed the tree into his stand. I followed right behind him.

As we began to settle in — remember, the tree is small for one full-size adult, but for two it was going to be an interesting sit. Just as the sun broke through the darkness, the wind started to pick up. It wasn’t long before we both were feeling we were on an amusement ride 25 feet off the ground. Needless to say, this particular hunt didn’t last all that long. Truth be told, we both kissed the forest floor that morning, thankful that we pulled the plug on the hunt.

The lesson that has stuck with me since that fateful morning is pretty simple. If you are not comfortable in a hunting location, you won’t stay very long.

Shortly after that hunt, I was introduced to a new style at the time, including ground blinds and pop-up blinds. I have never looked back and it has personally taken my hunting to a new level.

It’s no secret that I am a huge proponent of pop-up-style blinds and I’m not alone. A quick walk around any sporting goods store, online site or old-fashion catalog, you’ll find a huge selection of ground blind options.

During my very first hunt, I was told to sit on the ground at the base of this old oak tree and was told, “Don’t make a sound.” This was the way most hunters did it back in the day. Oh, heck, there was the occasional tree stand made out of wood, but most folks kept their feet on the ground.

Like most sportsmen, I have been able to deer hunt on everything from an old wooden pallet stand to light-weight climbers and from fancy ground blinds that could be easily made into a small hunting cabin.

Today’s hunters have many options to choose from. It seems more folks, especially those of us who have seen more years pass than they have in front of them on this earth, are choosing to use what is known as a pop-up or portable blind.

There continues to be new companies tipping their toes into the ground blind business, but there is still one that offers sportsmen a wide variety of choices at just about every price point, and that is Ameristep. Three of the reasons Ameristep is leading the industry is the quality, the light weight and price. For those who haven’t checked out pop-up style blinds lately, they vary greatly in price and weight. Pricing can be as low as $100 up to and more than $500. The standard weight ranges from 15 to 40-plus pounds.

The senses of the North American whitetail and wild turkey are highly evolved. Their uncanny abilities to detect predators are astonishing and must be respected. Anyone who has hunted either of these wary game animals has likely learned this the hard way – by spooking so many deer and turkeys they’ve lost count.

A successful hunter must beat the eyes, ears and nose of the game he or she pursues, and spends a lot of time and money addressing the issues of all-around concealment. Camouflage and various scent control products are all standard aspects of the game, but wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to take multi-sensory concealment to the next level?

There are a bunch of new blinds introduced each season by some great companies. When choosing a blind there are a few things to consider.

They include the following: The weight of the blind, the space available to you inside the blind, and the camo pattern, because if you’re hunting in the spring you need more greens then browns, and vice versa in the fall.

While the type of blind is important, just as important is the chair you will use while sitting in the blind. Again, there are plenty of new offers each season, but make sure it’s right for you. Keeping the weight or the chair down is equally important. Remember, chances are you will carry your blind and chair in at the same time. When picking a chair, I prefer a bag-style chair. This allows mobility when moving about and gives a comfort that I enjoy.

A bow hanger or bow stake will keep your bow within reach. Experience has taught me that just having your bow leaning against the inside of the blind doesn’t work. I have been caught picking my bow up as it made a sound when brushed up against the blind. For this reason, I have been using a hanger that is easily attached to the top of the support bars. This keeps the bow within reach and all but eliminates any noise that could spook that close buck that just appeared out of nowhere.

Whichever way you plan to hunt this fall, the time is now to hang your stands and pick out new ambush spots. One never knows. This season may be the season that you find your new “honey hole.”