Hunting with injuries

[OsoMountain]

Has anyone else had to drastically adapt their hunting style after catastrophic injuries ? How’d you deal with it mentally? I’m having difficulty finding a new hunting style that works for me and it’s a bit frustrating.

 

[TimberHunter]

Maybe read David Goggins books, could help reframe your mindset


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[Old Hickory 45]

An old wound in 1968 has slowed me down but I have no less desire to hunt and fish. I just do it slower.

 

[OsoMountain]

Maybe read David Goggins books, could help reframe your mindset


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David Goggins strikes me as being an insufferable asshole.

 

[Krolly]

I’m 51 and have a fracture in my lower back from a horse accident a couple of years ago. It accelerated arthritis I have in my one hip. In the last couple years I started using hiking sticks and it has made a huge difference. I don’t do as much solo. But I’m still getting after it.

 

[TimberHunter]

David Goggins strikes me as being an insufferable asshole.

Man…good luck. You seem like a close minded individual which is likely why you’re struggling with working through your limitations


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[Grassymike]

Learned to bowhunt left handed one year because I nearly cut off my index finger on my left hand with a skilsaw. (Long story) but it was not my fault. Bought a left handed bow and had a saddle maker friend make me a chest vest type deal that I anchored my release to. Drew by pushing bow out and triggered release with my left middle finger. Got proficient enough at 20 yards and ended up getting a Mulie Doe at about 6 feet. You have gotta want to. Then find a way.

 

[Bubblehide]

I have a seriously beat up body. When I was young, I was jogging 3 jogs a day for over 18 miles total, and a bunch of other stuff. I not long ago (a few years), underwent 5 surgeries within 1 year and 1 week. I simply didn't have time between surgeries to fully recoup. My physical abilities were seriously reduced for a couple years. At this point, I am likely in as good of shape as I will be able to get in; nothing close to previously before surgeries. But good enough to get hunts done.

But, to your question, instead of hunting my honey holes (way to far for me, at the time), after the surgeries, I simply camped just off dirt roads in areas that I know hold animals, and are travel routes. However, I had plenty of company, ad these spots are no secret. I simply used my knowledge of these areas, and travel routes, along with other hunters presence to my advantage. I very successfully hunted these areas, filling my tags. I didn't go further than 150 yards from either camp or my truck

With that said, it was definitely not the type of hunting I prefer, I prefer to get away from people, and have a spot to myself, if possible. If not possible, I want to hunt places with few people. So, the hunting I did during that time, was not my preferred hunting, but it did slightly scratch the itch, so to speak. I'm still trying to improve the distance I can cover, and my stamina, however, I am unsure if further improvement is possible, for me. But, if I can keep going as I currently can, I can live with that.

In short, you may way to push yourself, but you need to not push to much. The above sentence I know much to well, ad I pushed to hard numerous times, only to be useless for a few days in a row. He'll, not so long ago, I pushed it pig hunting and I knew it. I was packed in, and knew I needed a couple days to recuperate, before packing out. I would also need a couple days at home after the hunt. Well low and behold, the pigs came out to play, and I simply didn't pull the trigger, despite ample opportunities; because I knew I wasn't capable of getting all the meat out. As Harry Callahan said, "a man's got to know his limitations".

The short of it, hunt within your limitations. There is nothing wrong with pushing limitations mildly, to improve, but overdoing it can literally break you down.

 

[OsoMountain]

I’m 51 and have a fracture in my lower back from a horse accident a couple of years ago. It accelerated arthritis I have in my one hip. In the last couple years I started using hiking sticks and it has made a huge difference. I don’t do as much solo. But I’m still getting after it.

See, now we are getting to the marrow of it. Thank you for this post. Do the walking sticks help transfer the weight distribution?

I imagine wearing a pack can be difficult for you? Do you find yourself scaling your pack weight down or using stock? I assume that’s where having a partner and not going solo may come into play.

 

[Bubblehide]

See, now we are getting to the marrow of it. Thank you for this post. Do the walking sticks help transfer the weight distribution?

I imagine wearing a pack can be difficult for you? Do you find yourself scaling your pack weight down or using stock? I assume that’s where having a partner and not going solo may come into play.

Okay, I have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, 2 collapsed herniated disks, one in the low back, one in the lower neck, 2 full knee replacements, shoulder surgeries... since my surgeries, I now use hiking sticks, I need them. I have also gone ultra light on the vast majority of gear; zpacks tent, zenbive ultralight quilt... For me, downhill suck, but I manage. Reducing pack weight was a necessity. With everything mentioned (my previous response also), I'm still getting after it.

 

[Skerhunter]

Everyone adapts their hunt strategy based on their personal preference and abilities, whether we admit it or not! And the only person who actually cares about your abilities is yourself.

 

[OsoMountain]

Okay, I have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, 2 collapsed herniated disks, one in the low back, one in the lower neck, 2 full knee replacements, shoulder surgeries... since my surgeries, I now use hiking sticks, I need them. I have also gone ultra light on the vast majority of gear; zpacks tent, zenbive ultralight quilt... For me, downhill suck, but I manage. Reducing pack weight was a necessity. With everything mentioned (my previous response also), I'm still getting after it.

Thanks for posting. We have VERY similiar injuries, so I can relate to the frustration of attempting to find a way to continue doing what you enjoy. I’m noticing a trend with the walking sticks. I reduced my pack weight to 14lb today and was only able to get 3 miles .

I feel like the embodiment of a Toby Keith song. “I ain’t as good as I once was. My how the years have flown.”

 

[OsoMountain]

Man…good luck. You seem like a close minded individual which is likely why you’re struggling with working through your limitations


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I served with guys like him in the military and they were all insufferable dickheads with alpha male complexes. Incessant posturing to prove they’re tough. “I GOTTA BE THE BADDEST M’FER ALIVE!!! Did I mention how humble I am?!” It gets old, very fast. Hence me saying that he strikes me as being an insufferable asshole. Because that’s all he talks about….Himself.


Am I close minded? No, absolutely not.

Opinionated? You have no idea.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I strictly float hunted moose for awhile after some lower body injuries.

 

[Bubblehide]

Thanks for posting. We have VERY similiar injuries, so I can relate to the frustration of attempting to find a way to continue doing what you enjoy. I’m noticing a trend with the walking sticks. I reduced my pack weight to 14lb today and was only able to get 3 miles .

I feel like the embodiment of a Toby Keith song. “I ain’t as good as I once was. My how the years have flown.”

I use to literally walk people into the ground, completely oblivious to it until after the fact. Now I'm the guy walking myself into the ground; being stubborn helps with that. When I'm packing in, I now force myself to slow down, and take lots of short breaks, with a longer break every 1-1/2 hours, so I can snack (those carbs and protein help). Stretching daily helps, especially a few times a day. This past deer season, I went slow, very slow, while packing in. I killed a buck within the first hour of hunting. But, I did have to make a second trip to get my gear, as I tried with both the meat and gear, but just couldn't make it up the slope to the trail with all of it. I did make it home well before dark.

"But I'm as good once"!

 

[Rich M]

It is tough to adjust. I dont have skeletal injuries but get gout and go thru bouts where cant breath well for no reason - altitude doesnt help.

Figure out your boundaries and work within them.

3 miles is more than many folks go. Just have to think about the packout.

 

[Bubblehide]

I served with guys like him in the military and they were all insufferable dickheads with alpha male complexes. Incessant posturing to prove they’re tough. “I GOTTA BE THE BADDEST M’FER ALIVE!!! Did I mention how humble I am?!” It gets old, very fast. Hence me saying that he strikes me as being an insufferable asshole. Because that’s all he talks about….Himself.


Am I close minded? No, absolutely not.

Opinionated? You have no idea.

I thought that might be the case. Perhaps you heard so much from them, because they were attempting to meet the standard someone else was making, without talking about it; he'll, it could have been you.

Some of us just sucked it up and kept going. Unfortunately, as we age, we are forced to learn that injuries, and or injuries combined with age, is equivalent to kryptonite. Most guys my age, whether they served or not, have given up on staying in shape and getting after it (however one defines that) long ago. I'm simply not close to being ready for old age, no matter how old I am chronologically.

 

[SouthernCharm]

Dealing with chronic health just plain sucks. I’ve changed my way to “how long does it take to recover” attitude. My pain is daily, however what I’m about to do, will that recover in hours or days. I had a chance to get an elk about 4 miles in, however hunting by myself, it was not a doable prospect. If you can, long range shooting has placed me back in the game. I walk to the clear cuts and look for animals on adjacent roads or close to it. That in itself becomes just as much a challenge as when I archery hunt. Being out in nature is my happy place, getting meat on the table is second fiddle. Guess that what happens as we age. Good luck and find that balance.

 

[Bigolmuley]

Steel pipe through my skull and into my brain. Should be dead. Paralyzed on my left side.
Was a full time hunting guide and hunting is what I lived for. Also ran a ton and did Ironmans.
10 years ago my life should have been over.
But, I keep trucking. Shoot my bow with a mouth tab. Just shot a turkey on Wednesday with it. Learned to rifle hunt left handed and shoot off a tripod. Everything is harder, but it’s amazing I still can do it! I have limits now, but everyone does! Just have to let people help me, and I fall down more
Everyone struggles with something, deal with what you have and try not to dwell on what you don’t. I should be dead. But still can hunt. I still can experience my family. Was able to see my first grandchild come into the world.
Shot my biggest deer, shot a mountain lion with my bow. So much I had not experienced before my accident. But I did after.


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[ianpadron]

I was walking with a cane until nearly July last year. Had a serious limp well into the fall, rehabbing a shattered patella and associated soft tissue damage.

It sucked, plain and simple.

Being in a leg immobilizer for 3 months set me back more than I could have ever imagined, top to bottom.

For the first time in my life I was no longer fast, strong, or flexible.

I think most guys nursing chronic injuries are best off getting flexible over all else, learn to move like a kid again and the rest comes back quickly. And yes, even seriously messed up backs, hips, etc respond favorably to mobility. Watched a buddy who had broken his back a few years prior pack 100+ pounds 15.2 miles in one go back in 2021...he took his fitness serious and put in the work, came back from what is often a death sentence type injury for hunters.

Tips on gear that helped: trekking poles were a mandatory piece of kit last year and really helped protect my leg. Barefoot type shoes, same thing, fires your muscles instead of pounding down the trail like stiff soled mountain boots. I'll never go back from either of those.