This is the WHY........

[mtnwrunner]

Are the pics that you posted an example of the rough terrain that you kept falling down in?

Nope. Good thing that Idaho doesn't have any terrain that you could possibly fall in......

And the whole point of the thread was and is to use a reliable system just in case one was to fall or something else caused one's rifle to take an impact.

Randy

 

[HuntHarder]

Have you ever walked any substantial amount in steep heavy deadfall? Pack or not stumbling in that terrian is simply a given for me. But yeah if your stumbling hiking up a regular hill you got more things than your rifle system to worry about.

Yeah, I don't consider myself a mountain goat, but I would say I hunt rougher terrain than most. I have hunted AK a couple times, Colorado at or near timber line near Telluride a couple times, Az is probably some of the roughest terrain I hunt tho, often very steep granite. I've been on multiple desert sheep hunts on some steep stuff. My bull this year was shot at 9200' in a dead fall area, that is probably some of the steepest terrain we have in Az. I'll be in Montana next week for my 4th Montana MD hunt. I would say I am pretty versed in rough terrain overall. I do lack icy conditions hunt experience. I have only been on a few hunts that I would say were icy.

I am sure as I age more, falling will become a more common occurrence. I still set my rifles up for Long, rough roads in and falling down tho. I think everyone should. I also think a lot of people skip on the hard part, staying in shape, tho. I workout regularly, work a job that can be strenuous at times and try to eat as healthy as is comfortable and enjoyable.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Yeah, I don't consider myself a mountain goat, but I would say I hunt rougher terrain than most. I have hunted AK a couple times, Colorado at or near timber line near Telluride a couple times, Az is probably some of the roughest terrain I hunt tho, often very steep granite. I've been on multiple desert sheep hunts on some steep stuff. My bull this year was shot at 9200' in a dead fall area, that is probably some of the steepest terrain we have in Az. I'll be in Montana next week for my 4th Montana MD hunt. I would say I am pretty versed in rough terrain overall. I do lack icy conditions hunt experience. I have only been on a few hunts that I would say were icy.

I am sure as I age more, falling will become a more common occurrence. I still set my rifles up for Long, rough roads in and falling down tho. I think everyone should. I also think a lot of people skip on the hard part, staying in shape, tho. I workout regularly, work a job that can be strenuous at times and try to eat as healthy as is comfortable and enjoyable.

What even is ice?!? Gross.

 

[HuntHarder]

What even is ice?!? Gross.

I'm stoked that next weekend in Mt looks mild. Last year was cold AF and windy. This year, looks like average low of 20-25ish with highs in the 50's.

 

[Lonewolf72]

What even is ice?!? Gross.

You AZ guys should spend more time in the White Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. Plenty of snowy/icy conditions to be had.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

You AZ guys should spend more time in the White Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. Plenty of snowy/icy conditions to be had.

I just got done with a couple zero degree temp days in northern MN. I almost died.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Nope. Good thing that Idaho doesn't have any terrain that you could possibly fall in......

And the whole point of the thread was and is to use a reliable system just in case one was to fall or something else caused one's rifle to take an impact.

Randy

Seemed like you would’ve posted the rough areas that you were talking about. Anyway, glad you found a system that works for folks that fall in the woods alot.
Maybe post up your first aid kit for other folks that have the same issues as yourself.

Be careful out there.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Honest question, Do you fall often on hunts? I set my rifles up to handle a fall, but honestly can not remember falling, ever on my rifle. Maybe I will when I get older, but at this point, I can not remember falling. Maybe it's the terrain I hunt, or the typical lack of icy conditions. .

Some guys seem to fall multiple times on hunts. Can we attribute this to lack of agility training or age? Over packed packs, weight shifting in packs. I often wonder how much agility training guys put in through out the year to prepare for their hunts.

We read about preparing your rifle system for a fall, but rarely read about preparing your body to prevent a fall. Admittedly, it is much easier to set your rifle up to survive a fall, vs. Setting up your body to try and prevent one.

I thought the same thing. 8 falls ON your rifle on a hunt is actually pretty funny. I don’t think I’ve fallen 8 times in 5 years.

Might be time to get in the gym and work on some core exercises and strength training…and never leave home without your trekking poles.

 

[Brontosaurus]

I almost died.

mxgsfmdpx the moment its not 101 degrees.

 

[rookieforever33]

I think its more than being tough enough to handle a fall. Traveling to a hunt which may include airport baggage handlers, cross country road trips, miles of gravel or forest service roads, horse panniers, utvs, and then walking on the mountain trying to not drop it, or fall on it.

 

[mt terry d]

This year, looks like average low of 20-25ish with highs in the 50's.

Im sure I don't have to tell you

weather forecasters LIE!!!

Was funny the other day I had the radio on in the shop in the afternoon . I was probably 45 and spitting
rain.
Weather guy comes on and says "looking for a high of upper 60's to 70 today"

Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

[Snowhunter11]

Things that contribute to falls..

-Overweight/imbalanced pack
-stupid steep terrain
-icy/rain
-Rocks, boulders, loose dirt, mud, wet grass, and blowdown.

I recently hunted elk for 7 days in big hills with two elk pack outs. Zero falls.

In September I hunted sheep in the beartooths.. Get off a trail in goat/sheep country and falls happen. I work out pretty much everyday.. cardio, core, strength, yoga for balance. Carry a 10 day sheep load in the right areas I don’t care who you are falling is a possibility. At least if you want to make some time covering miles.

You can give a guy shit all you want. Some areas and conditions are conducive to falls.

 

[Snowhunter11]

I will also add… I found rockslide because of a scope/system losing zero on a sheep hunt. Last year I used a similar rifle setup to Randy. My bag with gun strapped to the back got away down the mountain. End over end it went and clacked a rock hard on the wind turret. It was off by .2 mil L/R. Most people I see at the range are off more than that. This year I fell back hard on my rifle strapped to my pack after breaking a trekking pole coming down a chute. Same outcome roughly .2mil movement. That was from a 190lb man with a ~65lb pack and 9 pound rifle landing on a rock. No more rear strapped rifles for me!

My Leupold setup lost zero from sitting down and/or the car ride to the sheep hunt!

 

[roadrunner]

Things that contribute to falls..

-Overweight/imbalanced pack
-stupid steep terrain
-icy/rain
-Rocks, boulders, loose dirt, mud, wet grass, and blowdown.

I recently hunted elk for 7 days in big hills with two elk pack outs. Zero falls.

In September I hunted sheep in the beartooths.. Get off a trail in goat/sheep country and falls happen. I work out pretty much everyday.. cardio, core, strength, yoga for balance. Carry a 10 day sheep load in the right areas I don’t care who you are falling is a possibility. At least if you want to make some time covering miles.

You can give a guy shit all you want. Some areas and conditions are conducive to falls.

You forget Gremlins and Leprechaun's lying wait in the underbrush.

I biffed it hard on UT muzzleloader hunt this past Sept when I feet got twangled up in ankle high oak brush saplings

I blame the leprechaun's for that.

 

[Marbles]

Things that contribute to falls..

-Overweight/imbalanced pack
-stupid steep terrain
-icy/rain
-Rocks, boulders, loose dirt, mud, wet grass, and blowdown.

I recently hunted elk for 7 days in big hills with two elk pack outs. Zero falls.

In September I hunted sheep in the beartooths.. Get off a trail in goat/sheep country and falls happen. I work out pretty much everyday.. cardio, core, strength, yoga for balance. Carry a 10 day sheep load in the right areas I don’t care who you are falling is a possibility. At least if you want to make some time covering miles.

You can give a guy shit all you want. Some areas and conditions are conducive to falls.

What I find funny is the guys saying they don't fall or just use trekking poles, they are really telling me about their limitations, yet they don't even know they are limited.

I have walked across ground, only to have to walk back across it and find a different way because people I was with wouldn't cross it. Usually involves some combination of steep with mud, wind, rain, loose rock, snow, and/or ice. Trekking poles, and at times an ice axe (or two) and crampons, are required.

I know people who will go over country that makes me uncomfortable. I would put my self as competent, but not skilled at the level of an alpinist.

Nobody has to move over rough ground, it is not required to be hard core, but when people who can't do something and therefore don't understand it, start looking down and giving pathetically ignorant advice about fitness and trekking poles to those who have the skill, it is amusing.

The first aid comment above is similar, if you need a first-aid kit after most falls you either have very bad reflex's, or are a powder puff. A standing hight fall shouldn't cause injury short of bad luck.

Pictures also never do rough ground justice. Kind of like looking at a 10/12 roof from the ground, then actually getting on it.