Is There Any Remedy?
 

Usually my posts have are lighthearted (in my opinion anyway) and I have a tendency to be a smart aleck, but for this once, I am being straight forward and would like some serious help.

January 2006 I had surgery on my shoulder to fix a torn rotator cuff, reattach 3 ligaments, repair torn cartaledge, and remove a spur from the collar bone. In 2006, I hunted with a crossbow and took an old buck but felt guilty as it seemed like I was shooting a gun w/silencer.

Last year, I hunted with my old compound bow that had a 70 lb draw. I could pull it back about once an hour and it took everything I had to do so. I got tag soup as I could not draw it back fast enough on a couple of occasions and with the first buck, the sights had been malaligned when my wife knocked it off the wall and didn't tell me about it. After bow season was over, I took it in and traded it on another bow that had 40 lb draw.

This year I have been out practicing every day the weather permitted and the first 4 arrows are dead on. The next 4 arrows are always low and right. The 3rd set of 4 arrows are all over the place. After I have shot 12, my shoulder aches for at least 2 hours. I know it only takes one shot and that is usually all you are going to get anyway, but I don't feel good about knowing I can only get 4 shots off that are good.

My question is: "Is there any device out there that I could strap on my shoulder and have go down my arm to my wrist that will displace the pressure? I have been thinking of ways to build one, but if something already exists, why try to build one. If that is not feasible, is there anyone out there that has had simliar injury and what did you do to remedy it. A very good friend of mine that has been bow hunting for about 40 years tells me to just give in and go back to a crossbow. My problem with that is the feeling I had when I took a buck with one. I love bow hunting during the period before to after the rut and personally don't enjoy going out during shotgun and muzzle seasons. If I can't get someway to know I can put a dozen arrows in a row on target, I think I will have to give up deer hunting and that would suck.

Sorry for the lengthy post to get to the question.

Someone help please.

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

AF Hunter,
The reason your shots start going low, right is because you are collapsing at full draw due to fatigue/pain. Try getting a bow set to 60 lbs or lower and building up your strength gradually. Never over do it or you will be hunting with the X- bow again this season. I know of no brace for your shoulder. I think a lighter poundage will work for you.

Good luck.

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

Greg, my new bow is only 40 lbs. But here is a rough drawing of what I had in mind to support the shoulder.

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

First off AF, you are going to make this happen this year....you will bow hunt. I have few suggestions.

1) One, do not practice every day. Practice every other day. If practicing every other day makes your shoulder hurt, then practice every third day...etc. SLOWLY build up to practicing slightly below the limit where you will think it will hurt afterwards...never more. Ice right after you practice for 15 minutes.

2) On the days you are not practicing, take a hot shower and then stretch that shoulder out slowly, and possibly do some rehab exercises with a dumbell or tension band. Then ice your shoulder right afterwards for 15 minutes.

3) Also, if you can purchase a low cost STEM ( electrical stimulation) unit online, you can use it to supplement your strength training on your shoulder. It really helps strengthen the small support muscles that most people miss when they workout. It also helps to lessen the pain by disrupting the nerves and their pain signals.

4) Make sure you are getting a good diet. I am not a guy looking for a miracle in a pill. However, I started to take "fish oil" pills this year after talking with my father in-law who has studied and taught biology the last 30 years. He said humans are severely lacking in the omega-3 oils from fish and that taking even small doses really seemed to help his body pains. I can attest that after 2-3 weeks of taking fish oil pills, that the pains in my knees have decreased substantially.

Best of luck to you....think about this, you have about 3.5 months to really get better before the rut kicks in.....work slowly with a goal in mind for November, not next month.

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

If legal in your state, they do make a device that holds the bow just short of full draw. You still have to finish the draw when the buck comes in. If its legal and keeps you in the game, I say go for it!!!

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

At the start of one bow season I had tendonitis in my left elbow so badI had a hard time picking a pan out of my cupboards. I never practiced with my bow. I went hunting anyway. I have been shooting for years and decided I could make a good shot without practicing. I shot my biggest buck that year. When I drew on him it felt like someone was driving a red hot poker thru my elbow.
I don't know of any devise that would help you. If I were in your shoes I would shoot one arrow a couple times a day and make sure your sites are on. As you stated it only takes one shot. I won't quit hunting until I can't draw the legal min. poundage. If it came to that I would use the cross bow. Good luck. I've kinda been in your shoes and it's not fun.

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

Another thought that just popped into my head is.....maybe you should learn to shoot with the other arm? It may take awhile, but it would be worth it if you cannot physically use your bad arm to bowhunt anymore.

Or something like this:

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

http://www.newyorkbowhunters.com/New_Folder/disabled.htm

Check out this link, it has presentations on adaptive equipment. I was looking it over and it should help alot. There was stuff that I did not even know existed!!!!

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

Thanks Elkcrazy8, I did some research and found a couple of options in the steady freddy and Arm-A-Rod. Of the two, I think the 2nd will be more beneficial. Sent email to the company and we'll see what they say.

Virginiashadow, thanks for the ideas and support. I will also give this a shot. After being military for so many years, I've had it drilled into my brain that you got to get it done now! I'll slow down and see if that and that there fish in a pill will help.

RE: Is There Any Remedy?
 

Right on, hope they work. There is a guy in the local area that uses the Pullin device. He has only one arm and usesthe deviceto pull the bow. The device has a release on it that he operates with his mouth. He shoots pretty darn good with that setup!!!......good luck!!!