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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Glad you got down and home safely!

Good tip Kirkll! Glad u r ok Bud!


(SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger) $140 is cheap in a bad situation.

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.
.

can someone explain how to do a screen shot with gps coordinates on a phone.  Thanks

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.

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.

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