So are you just passing up a bunch of game or are you using your rifle scope for glassing?
#1. I hunt in thicker terrain than many do out here in the mountains.
#2. I'm not 70 years old yet. My 2 eyes work just fine for spotting game. If I miss something once in awhile, so be it. I don't catch every fish in the river when I go fishing either.
#3. Glassing sounds as fun as watching golf on tv. Last I checked hunting is a physical activity, not a board game. YMMV.
Forth, the locals use all kinds of tricks such as putting no hunting signs on public lands and pushing animals from public land to private land so be ready for anything to happen. I spend as much time glassing as I do moving. In the world of big game hunting money counts and those who have money are the most successful.
Glassing isn't the total game but it's a part of it and you are talking to one of the most physical hunters out there. The main thing glassing does is INCREASE your distance traveled because you see so much more stuff to go and check out/get after.
But to each their own.
^^^^^This. I lived in Colorado for several years, and you will need to hike a lot at altitude. If you are a flatlander, and not used to being at 8,000 ft. and higher, (CO mountains go a bit over 14K ft.) you will be surprised out how quickly you'll become winded. It is not a joke, and some have trouble with it depending on age, physical condition, etc.I was stationed in Colo. Hunted there as well. One tip..................make sure your in good physical shape.
This, you NEVER know when or where something will "pop up". I've hunted Wa, Id, Wy and Mt for years and can't imagine not having a good set of binoculars with me at all times. Try using your naked eye to judge a buck in a 3 pt or better area at 300+ yards. FWIW, I've glassed pockets of brush for an hour waiting for mule deer that decided to imitate statues.It is hike AND glass.
Hunting "out here" in Utah and Idaho all my adult life has always involved some hiking, some glassing. Be prepared for both. I have killed deer at 20 yards while still hunting and I have killed deer at 450 yards after glassing , and different ranges betwixt 'em. You might hike and glass for days without seeing anything worth the effort, then get lucky and spot a nice set of antlers crossing the road while you're driving to your camp.