My season from hospital to first ML kill
 

Well, third season hunting with my muzzleloader and hadn't had a good shot on anything last two years... busted one nice buck in the snow last year and no shot on another right before him.

This year we did something different. We planted a field owned by our church with soy, rye, turnips etc, and went out for an early urban season. The other new thing was I was hunting from a tree stand for the first time. :violin: Well... should have read the manual on that one.



Got to the top of the ladder and then everything got fuzzy and the next thing I knew I was falling through the air thinking 'this is going to hurt'. I knew my feet were below me, good, then they hit, good, then my rear end followed very quickly after, BAD. LONG hour later..






So... couple of months later... and lots of therapy blah blah blah... and a few failed attempts with the hunt from a truck

FINALLY got back on my feet pretty well and hunting from the GROUND from hereon-out.. went out to some woods close to my house with a buddy who had some luck close-by. Group came up the ravine in front of me and then I lost sight of them as they were moving up towards my buddy's position. Then a doe came up the hillside 30 yards in front of me. I used the ramrod as a rest on the chair and I took aim. It was freezing and I was shivering pretty good. She spotted me, head on, pawed the ground, and I just froze. Watched her as she walked away from me a bit, and she took a look back at me and I fired. The rod in my off hand and adrenaline really helped stabilize my sight and I shot. Didn't see what happened through the smoke. I started reloading right away and 10 seconds later my buddy shot. Well... a heard of about 6 deer came running right at me from his position and I was then rushing trying to get my bullet loaded. The deer were like 'oh crap!!' and almost spun around in a circle, but by the time I got my stuff together, it was too late. :s11:

So 20 minutes later we texted each other and I went down to find my deer basically just flopped over down the hillside.. I don't think she ran at all. Basically looked DRT to me:



My first ML kill!



And the result from my T/C impact, and all the helpful advice on these boards, using bh209 90gr with gold dot 250gr:


Whew... I worked at this season, and learned some important lessons.

READ THE MANUAL, WEAR A HARNESS AND USE IT UP THE LADDER UNTIL YOU'RE IN THE CHAIR, IF YOU SCREW UP, GET BACK ON THAT HORSE AND RIDE IT... IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO! Merry Christmas everyone!

Sorry to hear about your experience with the ladder stand. Nice going, shooting the deer.

OzarkPA

Wow! Proves perseverance brings rewards... Congrats!!

Congratulations, Glad you are doing better too, Years ago when the ol baker stand was the only one out there I would go twenty to thirty feet up without a belt and not think a thing about it.I would'nt think of it now. I hope if someone on this site still gambles on their health by hunting without a safety belt learns a lesson from this.

Congrats on your deer. Your story is a good lesson for all. I for one dont wear my safety belt when im hunting from a ladder stand when I know I should. In my lock ons.. Climbers.. yes always.

Thanks all - yes, please do wear those harnesses even going up into the chair... it's just too easy to slip or whatever. There were 4 other guys in rehab at the hospital with me and I was the luckiest. There were a couple of guys that weren't going to be hunting again, let alone feed themselves. I've just got too many mouths to feed so I'll stick with ground hunting from now on.

And that is one reason I hunt using ground blinds. I can't fall more than a few inches. :)

Congrats on a successful hunt!

Congrat's on your first MLer Deer, I remember mine like it was yesterday. And good to see you make a nice recovery from your fall, that must have been scary.
I wish you all the best on your future hunts and thank's for the advice on treestand safety, I hope others take your advice.
(BP)

Congrats Buddy hope your good trends continue!

Glad to hear you are back with us in the woods.

I always use my harness while in my climber, but am starting to think I should use it in my club ladder stands too.

Congrats on your deer my friend and Merry Christmas!!

I feel your pain I also had the unfortunate expierence ,I dont go up without my HSS safety vest any more the last fall almost killed me from blood loss. Its a good life, be Safe and enjoy your hunting !

Sorry for the fall but the Hunter Ed Instructor we teach.

1. 3 Points of contact going up or coming down. That means at any one time you have either both feet and one hand or
both hands and one foot planted firmly hodling onto or stepping on the ladder rungs.
And do watch out for icey steps.
2. First thing when up top - Use your Harness and make sure its a 5 point harnesss and not the old chest strap as that will kill you!
There are a wide variety of very nice - easy to use 5 [point harnesses now.
I like the vest type. With heavy clothes I do wear it under neath the heavy jacket and is very comfortable.

JW