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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bud B. on October 26, 2015, 11:46:00 PM

Title: Let Someone Know
Post by: Bud B. on October 26, 2015, 11:46:00 PM
If you go out alone, let someone know where you are. Or as close as possible. I had a bout with vertigo about 18 feet up a tree tonight right at ending light. Thankfully I have cell service where I was. I called my son-in-law and got no answer. I called my wife and let her know what was happening and to look for a call every 10 minutes or so until I got back to the truck. The climb down took a bit of work. I had to leave my treestand out on public land. I'll try to go back tomorrow to get it.

I had shown my son-in-law exactly where I was headed on a topo map earlier in the day which made me feel beter about the situation. Walking out of the woods by flashlight while staggering was a task, to say the least. If anyone saw my exit they'd swear I was drunk.

The worst thing about it was I saw a deer nearby about the same time I was battling it, about 20 minutes before legal shooting time expired. I grunted and it changed course and headed my way. I think it circled me and got downwind. By the time I was about ten feet from the ground it got back around and blew me from about 20 yards downwind.

I live only 1.5 miles from the gamelands I was hunting so the drive home was easy and s-l-o-w.


Vertigo sux.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on October 26, 2015, 11:54:00 PM
Brutha.... you might want to seriously think about staying on the ground to hunt... You can also set up a GPS tracking software on your computer so your wife knows EXACTLY where you are hunting. if something goes wrong, she could give search and rescue GPS coordinates, or to your son in law for that matter.... we got the technology... why not use it....... The coyotes hate it though...
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: BWallace10327 on October 27, 2015, 12:01:00 AM
My Dad has a tree stand, and I climbed up it once to see what it was like.  I have worked off of ladders quite a bit, and know that I start getting dizzy at +/- 12 feet.  The tree stand was at 16.  I figured it would be impossible to work my bow with my feet, as my hands were stuck to the guard rail.  I cashed in my cabelas point and got a pop up ground blind.  Vertigo does not suck, however; it keeps me from doing something foolish.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: NC BowBender on October 27, 2015, 12:20:00 AM
I suffer from vertigo also.
After years of hunting 20-30 ft high, I'm a ground pounder now.
If you haven't tried it yet, over the counter Meclizine HCL 25 mg works really well. They're travel sickness pills. 100 tabs for $6.00.
Be careful.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Crested Finger on October 27, 2015, 01:14:00 AM
Never a bad idea to let someone know when to expect you back no matter the circumstances! anything can happen out there when your by yourself toting sharp sticks around.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Tajue17 on October 27, 2015, 04:56:00 AM
yeah good idea and also give your wife or friends a list of phone numbers of the people you sometimes hunt with or who maybe just come out to help drag,,,  a lot of times they will know where you are and how to get in there.  my wife has never met a lot of the people I bump into when out hunting.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Green on October 27, 2015, 05:36:00 AM
Glad you got down and home safely!
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Sockrsblur on October 27, 2015, 06:09:00 AM
Good tip Kirkll! Glad u r ok Bud!


(SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger) $140 is cheap in a bad situation.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Huntrdfk on October 27, 2015, 07:01:00 AM
I screenshot my location including GPS coordinates every time I hunt and send them to my daughter.......she has demanded that I let her know where I am in case something goes wrong.

David
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: deerhunter_w on October 27, 2015, 07:14:00 AM
While in Colorado this fall, a fellow hunter didn't return from an evening hunt. Luckily one of his hunting partners knew where he was hunting.  He went to check on him, and found him deceased. He was setting at the base of the tree.

Its always a good idea to let someone know where your going to be.

Jeff
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Chain2 on October 27, 2015, 08:30:00 AM
I started telling my wife where I am hunting when I don't hunt near home. My son knows basically all the places, they are all nicknamed of course. Camp, Old Camp, Dummy Camp, Green Gate, Goose Ponds, American Flag, Chimney Corners
He would have to take her to them but they would probably get me before the coyotes. Glad you made it down. That is nothing to fool with in the dark.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: bow loving man on October 27, 2015, 08:41:00 AM
Dang Bud, I hate to hear that. Glad you are ok! I have the find friends app on my phone and my wife and kids can see where I am whenever and whatever I am doing. I was in the woods in a stand on the KennyM lease and my wife could pinpoint my location back in Texas.  I also let her know where I'll be hunting before I leave the house...
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Eric Krewson on October 27, 2015, 08:45:00 AM
Look into the "Epley Maneuver" as treatment to cure vertigo. I had it so bad I couldn't get out of a chair, having the Epley Maneuver at an ENT's office fixed me.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Bud B. on October 27, 2015, 08:55:00 AM
The last bout this bad was 4/24/2011. After many doctor visits they never could figure out why it happened. This one was not as bad, thankfully.

Thanks for the kind words and tips, all. I'm doing much better today. I had hoped to hunt hard these last four days of archery season here in NC Central, but this and rain is not going to allow that. Once the thundersticks (BP) hit the woods on the gamelands, I try to stay away from them and hunt my father's land.
I have two natural ground blind locations there, so I can hunt one or the other depending on wind direction. Ironically, my mom called while I was climbing down. I didn't answer but called her back later. She said an 8 pointer was in the edge of their woods behind the house, which is about 20 yards from my blinds.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Whip on October 27, 2015, 09:28:00 AM
I just tried Huntrfdk'S suggestion while sitting in my tree - works great!  Love that idea and will use it anytime someone doesn't know where I will be.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Sam McMichael on October 27, 2015, 09:34:00 AM
Glad you made it home without severe problems. It is now time to study up on brush blinds. I always try to let some of my family know where I am hunting. Since I hunt my own property, my sun knows where each of my stands is located.
.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: last arrow on October 27, 2015, 11:51:00 AM
can someone explain how to do a screen shot with gps coordinates on a phone.  Thanks
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Bud B. on October 27, 2015, 12:43:00 PM
My wonderful wife accompanied me back to retrieve the treestand. It was raining when we pulled into the parking area for the GL. She asked if I had an extra hat. I gave her my tradgang.com short brimmed hat to wear. Wish I'd have taken a pic. A bow and a back quiver would have done me in had she worn them, too. She was wearing her red plaid jacket.

I have a great wife.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: bowhuntingrn on October 27, 2015, 12:57:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by NC BowBender:
If you haven't tried it yet, over the counter Meclizine HCL 25 mg works really well. They're travel sickness pills. 100 tabs for $6.00.
Be careful.
This is standard first line treatment in the ER. Glad you made it out safely.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: DennyK on October 27, 2015, 02:43:00 PM
Bud, Sorry to hear about that. I've been there. Take Dramamine or Meclazine with you and take one well before climbing up in a tree, about 1 hour. It worked really well for me. Hope this helps.

Denny
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Whip on October 27, 2015, 06:52:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by last arrow:
can someone explain how to do a screen shot with gps coordinates on a phone.  Thanks
It probably depends on your phone make and model. I have a Galaxy S5, so I Googled "Galaxy S5 Screenshot" and came up with instructions easily.  Try a search for your phone model and the word screenshot.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: mangonboat on October 27, 2015, 10:12:00 PM
There is an app that will work with most modern cell phones where all you do is press the on/off button 3  times in succession and it send a series of pre-programmed messages, starting with " I need Help!" and map of your location and a photo of whatever is in front of the lens to a list of numbers you program, with increasingly broad list of recipients every 5 minutes.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: mangonboat on October 27, 2015, 10:14:00 PM
Glad you made it home okay, Bud. I am increasingly diligent about hydrating and protein snacks before  I go out. At least I don't get hypoglycemic issues up in the stand.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Bud B. on October 27, 2015, 10:35:00 PM
I am wondering if dehydration played a role. I got in at about 2:30 and never drank anything afterwards so I could hold out in the stand until dark. It started hitting me around 6:15pm. Sunset was around 6:35ish. I had water but didn't want to  drink for concern of contaminating the area. The 1/2 mile walk in and then the climb probably drained my fluid stores.
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: fmscan on October 27, 2015, 10:35:00 PM
Huntrdfk, Great suggestion, I have an older Iphone, just go to maps, that pinpoints your location then hit the button to forward and you can email or text it to someone. Too easy...
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Bud B. on October 27, 2015, 10:37:00 PM
I still have a flip phone.
  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: 1flyfish on October 27, 2015, 10:41:00 PM
Bud just glad to hear you are doing better and got home safely,have you retired from the force yet.Lou (A recipient of one of your great back quivers.)
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: Bud B. on October 27, 2015, 10:46:00 PM
Yeah Lou, last year July 30th  ;)

Hope the quiver is serving you well  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Let Someone Know
Post by: 1flyfish on October 28, 2015, 11:09:00 AM
Bud enjoy that retirement and the quiver is awesome,love that thing fits me like a glove