5 weeks to the day after a bad fall from a treestand, and I am hunting with a longbow. I couldn't believe it when it happened, how a guy who is careful, who wears a safety harness at all times could have a stand just break on him BEFORE he could get hooked up. Here is a link to the story if you are interested: http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=109734;p=1
I will say I owe this site and the people here many thanks. It has been a rough 5 weeks, and I know how fortunate I am. I know there are others who can't hunt now because of injury and illness, and I want to tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is full of game and you will get back there. My little sentence was light. A few pins in my fingers, a few bruises and I'm hunting again, more thankful for friends, family, and doing the things I love more than ever. So thanks to all my mates here for the kind words, pics, pms and more importantly ALL the hunting stories. They have been therapy :campfire:
So I tried shooting lefty, and it hurt as bad as righty. I even bought a lefty bow...what an excuse to just feel like I might go hunting with a longbow. Then last week the hand surgeon removed my pins out of my right hand. The feeling returned to my fingers, and I shot my new bow within 2 days. Just like that I was back! Chad Holm at Holm-made has been good to me. I bought a lefty from him and decided it was a no go. He had a righty in a lighter weight and he took back the lefty and sold me the righty. There aren't many folks like Chad (or maybe there is. This is Tradgang you know). I owe him, and I see a fat Illinois whitetail in his future. After adjusting my anchor to the splint on my right middle finger I had arrows in the money from 20. Time to hunt! It hurt a little every time I dropped the string but truth be told, it wasn't injuring anything, and well, it was worth it :)
So I went to the tree that dumped me, climbed to the platform and counted coup on it by touching it. I am not ready to hunt yet from elevation but I wanted to let it know I was there. It has a new stand in that tree with a lifeline and prussic hitch. I will be there again...just not today. I built me a little brush blind and with the perfect wind, I laid in wait between a partly-flooded corn field and a bedding area, with food at my back door. The funnel is 80 yards wide and the deer use this hour-glass like clockwork.
I did not kill but I could have. A nice 4by4 that was bumping does walked by at 30 feet. No idea I was there, no idea how hungry I was to drop the string. Had I not killed a great 10 with a muzzleloader the week before he would have been mine. But with one buck tag left and 7 weeks to bowhunt, he got a pass. It is good to be back. Thanks my friends.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/1sthunt001.jpg)
*My blind
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/1sthunt002.jpg)
*Backdoor funnel
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/1sthunt004.jpg)
*Frontdoor Food
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/1sthunt005.jpg)
* A Holm Masterpiece
Thanks again. Now I gotta add a hero pic soon!
:bigsmyl: :wavey:
Glad to see you are able to be back to bowhunting Mike! And glad everything seems to be healing and hope you have no lasting issues with it. I visited your Dr today myself, to see if he could do anything with my shoulder.
Good luck to you sir!
Good to know you're back at it.
Awesome Mike! Happy for you buddy! :clapper:
Welcome back, friend! Good luck and continue to hunt safely. (like I really needed to remind you of that...)
Good on ya Mike ! Thank God for the quick recovery !
Glad you are back out there. Good luck fining the big one !!
Hey Mike,
So glad you are back at it! Great attitude makes for faster recovery!
You are one tough son of a gun Bruther!! Good luck in the days to come, and how sweet it will be when the unfortunate deer walks in front of you :thumbsup:
Very happy to hear this excellent news! :clapper:
Great news to hear that you are back and getting better. Congrats, man. Looking forward to the rest of the story. :knothead:
Your lucky ! I have a cousin in wisconson that is now parilized from the same deal. Scares me to even think about a darn tree stand. Glad your on the mend.
Glad you are on the mend, take it slow, the best of luck to you.
Welcome back Brother. Glad to see it.
Glad to see the quick recovery!
Wow, Mike sorry to hear about your fall! Not sure how I missed that thread earlier. I am glad you are recuperating and are back out there!!! I hope the rest of your season goes much more smoothly!
Dan
Glad to see you made it back Mike! Sometimes we take all this stuff for granted. Your experience sure helps to put it all in perspective, and hopefully some can learn from your misfortune. Now go get a big one!!
WOW Mike this is GREAT! I'm glad to see this post. Good luck buddy.
Glad you are back Mike....
Thanks my friends! I have a big 'un crusing my property and he has no idea how bad that starvation arrow wants to be turned loose :thumbsup:
Fantastic to hear you are back at it buddy! Good luck and don't push it.
Great to see you back on the horse!!!
Glad to hear you are doing so well on healing up Mike. Keep the great attitude and enjoy the hunt. God Bless
Glad you are back and able to get out. Best of luck