Hang in there. I wish I had taken your initiative when I was your age. I have always been interested in hunting, but like you it was not something that was done by my family or firends so I did not get started until 2 years ago (at 44).
I think you do need to find some hunting land closer to home...there must be a wildlife management area or something closer to you. If you lived in WV I would be glad to invite you to sit in my little slice of hunting heaven, and hopefully if you post here and in the midwest section you might find someone willing to let you sit on some good hunting land.