Well I qualify to comment now... My hair has some gray after raising two kids... LOL!!

I have upgraded to a Leupold VX2 4-12x40 on my hunting rifle... I used to use a 3-9 but I just can't see as well as I did when I was under 40... I usually hunt Elk in the deadfall and thick stuff similar to you, and I usually have mine set at 6X... Gives me the ability to see from 50 yards out to 150 pretty easily. And then I can crank it up if I ever have the 200+ yard shot... Works just about perfect.