Hunting Forum

I have suffered from severe back injuries for 35 years. In March 30, 2010 I had a nerve compression and spnial fussion surgery. Have been unable to hunt for 25 years, when I was offered a deer hunt three days post op, I said yes! I prepared all my gear, rifles and ammo. As the season approached I was still have physical problems and it would be a saftey concern for  me to be alone in the bush. My brotherin law, who is not a hunter, offered to accompany me for a week of fantastic bush time. Unfortunately the property owner refused to let a non-liceansed person onto his property, for safety sake or not. I checked with the gov't and this was totally legal for my brother in law to accompany me. The land own totally refused to give in. So after the excitement of getting ready to go, licenses in hand and gear purchased and ready to go.
I had to sit home as usual and watch deer hunting on tv and store my equipment. The land wasn't fifficult and we where restricted to a ground watch. Deer or note, I had been so excited to just be back in the bush again, rifle in hand. Yet it was not to happen because if the miss guided attitutde of one man. I have no idea if I will ever hunt whitetail deer again, but this has left a serious sour note in my history as an avid hunter since the age of 14. I'm ending my years of hunting at the ripe young age of 56.

That's really odd that he would offer a disabled person use of his property and then come up with some lame azz excuse like he did to prevent you from going on the hunt! I would suggest that you look in the Disabled Forum and also look into the various organizations that help folks like you get out there and enjoy the outdoors. Please don't give up because of that one incident!

I would have bought my BIL a license and problem solved. No reason to have your hunting career cometo an end just because of this. I am to 56 yo and have had 9 surgeries with 4 of those being back surgery and am still able to hunt when the occassion arises. My last one Aug 6th of this year and I have and will be hunting till season closes. Don't let one one bad experience stop you from hunting, hell if I had done that I would have stopped hunting 38 years ago. As long as I can figure out a way to get in the woods I will hunt till they haul me out 10 toes up. All the way ! Never Quit ! Noman shall be left behind !!! DON'T BE A QUITTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I somewhat see the landowners stand as a libility issue, however, I do not agree with it. If anything were to happen, it would happen with or without a license. So what's the big deal to him/her? I don't know how good of or how long you had a relationship/friendship with the landowner, but that's the only thing I would end. There's plenty of land to be hunted. Both private and public. Don't let one crotchety landowner crucify your love for hunting. You have demonstrated that you have the will/strength to overcome your disability caused by your back problems, so apply that same will/strength to keep the joy of hunting within you. Compared to what you have been through over the years, that should be a walk in the park. Now go and enjoy what you enjoy most. HUNTING!!! (Take the BIL too, You might just mentor yourelf a new hunting partner.)

I'm 57, I've had three strokes, a broken back, and open heart surgery, on top of having high blood pressure and Parkinsons, as well as being diabetic. After my back surgery, the doctor gave me three months of recuperation time and then told me to go ahead and begin shooting. This was two months after the open heart sugery, and that doctor gave me his okay as well. I just have to carry some form of communication device (telephone, or radio) when I'm in the woods, and due to needing a knee replacement, I must use my 4 wheeler to get into the woods. I manage to deer hunt with only one problem, and that is getting my deer out of the woods after killing it.

I only tell you all of this, because my desire to hunt, and my love of the outdoors wouldn't allow me to quit, no matter what. There are organizations that are more than capable of helping you enjoy your passion for the outdoors. The NWTF Wheeling Sportsmen is a fantastic organization for disabled hunters, the NRA has info on similar organizations, and Buckmasters has their BADF program for disabled hunters, just to name a few. Don't let some narrow minded individual or group of people dissuade you from continuing your pastime. Also, like Big Dawg said, I'd have gotten the BIL a license if that is all it took to go on the hunt you planned and anticipated. Even non-hunters often buy licenses, in order to support their state DNR, so no big deal! As a matter of fact, it's my opinion that if your BIL had been man enough, he would have purchased his license in order to accomodate you and your anticipated hunt.

Hang in there, don't give up, and forget about your limitations, you are allowing yourself to make excuses for not pursuing your dreams! Don't ever be a quitter, when it comes to things that you love!!!!!!

I am also disabled but I am not HANDICAPPED by those disabilities..never ever let a disability become a handicap....and never let folks convince you that you can't do something you want to....

A person can accomplish ANYTHING they set their mind to. Maybe not the same way other folks do, but they can still make it happen. PLEASE, bare down and put your heart mind and soul into accomplishing a good hunt. The rewards will be what YOU let come to you.

I just read today that hunters on a national level are down, that's sad. Know to hear that you are willing too gave up after one " misguilded additude" is too bad. I'll give up my guns and hunting when they start shoving the dirt on top of the box. Hang in there don't give the anti's any more then they already have!

Sorry your hunt went array, really sucks to go through all that then not get to hunt. Do not know what state your in, but in Ohio you can not accompany a person hunting unless you have a valid hunting license then you can not have a gun unless you have a tag. Like every one else said don`t give up just make sure you have everything in order next time.

This is a sad situation ....The only thing I can think of was...... he may have had concerns of a wounded deer going afar and not a licensed hunter to legally put it down....having health issues he may have assumed you wouldn't be up to the task of a long tracking or able to get into thick stuff...to finish the job....sorry but don't give up

I have been disabled due to back injury  for about 21 years love the outdoors. Been to more doctors than i can{1}**** they all say the same surgery won't help just keep checking back maybe some day we will have a surgery that will help. My question is how do you guys handle the pain i get to hurting so bad down 1 or both legs i just can't go like i would like to.

you need a wife or hunting partner, anyone that can help. Then you need to slow down, don't force, hunt closer to the trails than you used to . Works for me, but still get pissed off.
pictureshooter

Disability=excuse to buy a 4 wheeler or utv! I couldn't get down into the swamps without my 4 wheeler, much less get a deer out without my Yamaha!

It is a laibility issue for the landowner and he was right in his decisoin as if anyting had happend to either you or your BIL he would he held liable for the injuries and all related medical charges/care period. In essence his insurance would not cover you or your BIL and he would be on the hook for the money. He was simply looking out for his best intertest which is what each and everyone of us would do as well. Like I said in my first post I would have gotten my BIL legal with his Hunter Education ( Depending on age some states have a cut off date for Hunter Safety Card ) and license and then problem solved. You should have asked before hand if the landowner had any personal requirements for your hunting his property as well as researching the states requirements for those assissitng disabled hunters. Now that you know you will be set for next year. Your state will alsohave some hunts that are or the disabled only as well.

Here in Missouri it states that, anyone assisting another hunter MUST have a FILLED or UNFILLED deer tag....

You always have state land you can hunt on.Here in New York the DEC will help you out(so they say). I have had 3 lower back surgeries starting at the age 19 1st one in 91" 2nd one in09' and in june of this year had fusion done from tailbone to L2, nerve damage right foot and leg always in pain,but the way i see it you can be in pain sitting in the house watching the idiot box or being in pain outside with gods great creation doing something you enjoy!Cant not forget to mention some good friends and family that help me out along the way!

hey roop522 im in the same boat your in have had 2 lower back surgeries in the past 3 years had l5s1 fused a year and a half ago and have the same nerve damage in right leg and foot in pain all the time so I know what your going through and ive found that no matter how bad I hurt I still get out and hunt with my kids ive also found the more active I am the less I think about the pain so go for it and get out it does help keep your mind off things ive been dealing with this condisionfor 3 years now im not able to work any more but I still can get out and enjoy life to the fullest . and friends and family are the most important thing with their support you can do anything you set your mind to so get out and enjoy

I know where you are coming from! As I have had 2 back surgeries and have developed more health problems and was forced to quit work and retire at 56. I had worked for the last 14 years as a lineman after my first back surgery and then worked 9 years after a spinal fusion. Now I am 6o years old and have some idea of what you are going thru.  I have not quit yet. I am headed to New Mexico on a elk and deer hunt this year. And it is a DIY hunt in a unit that is nearly all public hunting. My wife and the dogs are going with me this year, We are staying in a cabin and I can get up and take the ATV on most roads to get me close to some of the areas I am going to hunt. I hunted the area last year so I do have some experience with the area. I do know that if I do kill an elk or deer that it will be time for some medication and get the job done or I have made arrangements for help to pack it out. My wife has told me that next year it is going to be somewhere else. I may be looking for a late season cow hunt. With what we spend this year it is still cheaper than leasing ground here in Southern Illinois. Prices have gone to $10-15 per acre. So no way can you figure that any hunt is cheap anymore unless you have relatives or very good friends to hunt on their farm. Sounds like you got a jerk land owner. All I am saying is think hard about giving up hunting. Most states will work with you if you have a disability. I live about 5 miles from a National refuge and got a permit to hunt from a standing vehicle and to take my stand in and out every day. as this is there policy now. And I know that there are days that I cannot go hunting because of back or health problems but I know this and hunt the days that I can. I have hunted alone the last 6 years because I do not know how I will feel physically that morning and I do not want anyone hunting with me to waste their time to find out how I feel. Plus it give me the incentive to not give up on hunting as I know that if I do then I will give up on a lot of the other things that I do. I am not telling you what to do but do some real soul searching before you do quit deer hunting. I do hope that I have been of some help.

I have a very good idea of what you are going thru as I have had 2 back surgeries to the same location plus some more serious problems with my GI, very similar to Khrones disease only the doctors are afraid that I will have very serious blood loss in the GI tract to the extent that they worry if I can get to a hospital quick enough. I try to ride the ATV as close as I can to where I hunt and I either just bear the pain or cut my pain medication to smaller doses just to keep going. One thing that I have found that works wonders on the days it hurts so bad is a heat pack on my lower back that is made by Thermacare. With all the health problems it is very hard to keep hunting. I look at it like this " If I stay home it is going to hurt so I may as well be doing something I enjoy." I made the decision that if something happens while I am hunting is that it is something I like to do. I do carry a cell phone or radio when I hunt and my wife knows where I am going to hunt. I take here there on the ATV and if I get up and the wind direction has changed I leave her a note as to which stand I am going to hunt. One more thing is that I went to the dentist for some regular work to be done and he asked me questions on the pain and how I clenched my jaw. He made me a rubber mouthpiece for my uppers and it work wonders for the teeth and their tenderness. If hunting is important enough you will find a way. I am very fortunate as the doctors are flexible on my medications as to what works or what does not and the dosage. Right now I take 2 pain medications and 2 muscle relaxers, one for the back and one for the stomach. And I have went to hunting about 75% of the time to hunting out of a ground blind. So I do not have to climb plus it is big enough for me to get up and stretch once in a while not staying sitting or standing. Which is hard to in a stand as the motion is very notice able. The best of luck to you. I hope that maybe I have been of help to you.

My neurologist ordered me to always have a cell phone or radio with me when I'm in the woods. I even have one of the cells that dials the numbers when I say the name, due to the problems I have with tremors and cramping due to Parkinsons and neuropathy from my strokes. I can walk much better these days after my back surgery, but I tend to get dizzy, so my atv is a neccesity, besides, there wouldn't be any way I could get my deer out of the woods without it!