Has anyone else been injured while hunting away from home?

[deewayne2003]

Nearly broke me knee cap on a back country hunt in the top end of OZ.

This was 6km from the Hilux so yeah it was fun, still wouldn’t trade it for the world.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

In 2022 on my one and only African PG hunt in the Eastern Cape, we were hunting in mountainous terrain where every rock and lots of them seem loose. Second morning of a ten day hunt I misstepped on a rock walking down a small hill from a standing position and fell backwards onto the ground through a bush. My left leg got twisted falling through the bush and I severely pulled my upper left thigh muscle to the point where I couldn't walk without locking my left knee. I also had serious pain on my upper left side and was spitting up some blood (turned out I cut my lip pretty good falling through the bush). Anyway, we continued to hunt (shot a cull impala) after I caught my breath until the early afternoon when my PH said that we were going back to the lodge and seek medical help. Later, he drove me to the wonderful St. George Hospital in Port Elizabeth where they confirmed I had broken my #9 rib on my left upper side after an x ray. The very nice doctor wanted me to take a couple of pain pills and I told him I couldn't as I was hunting the next morning. He said, "Sir, you are in extreme pain and you need to take these". I took one in front of him so we could get out of the hospital and took the other one with me but never took it. I lived on Aleve I brought with me for the rest of the trip. Of course, it didn't help the pain much. To continue my "dream" African Safari, I would step on my PH's cooler with my right leg and crawl into the back of his Toyota Hilux (fantastic vehicle!) as I couldn't bend my left leg to get into the cab. When we went after an animal, I would get out via the cooler and walk as best as I could and follow him and the tracker. This went on for several days until I could walk without locking my knee and I could get into the cab. Then the "trail of a thousand knives" started. My PH was a young guy and liked to drive fast on the mountain roads. All well and good until he hit the two foot high drainage bumps on the roads. EVERY TIME he did it felt like a knife stuck into my left side even as I tried to brace myself. I finally had to tell him to slow down. I managed to eventually take all the animals we were after and only missed three times off sticks and a bipod. I know this was a long winded dissertation and pales in comparison to more serious injuries described here, but in all the years of hunting up to that point, I only sprained my ankle once on an elk hunt. Go figure! LOL

We must have had the same young PH! My guy on third safari sure tore down those country roads like a bat outta hell. I think he wanted to get in as much hunting time as possible. That's nice but it was more important to me that I arrive in one piece.

 

[SRvet]

If stabbing myself counts….. yes!!
I was in the process of starting to gralloch (gut) a red deer in Scotland and the blade slipped into my thigh just above my patella. After being recovered by @Lancaster the skin was stitched. What I didn’t realise is how weak my quadriceps muscles were after the injury as I went on to rupture two out of the four bellies of the quads.
Now over 12 month in it’s a lot better but still weak. I did manage 120km in a week after tuskless this summer though!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If stabbing myself counts….. yes!!
I was in the process of starting to gralloch (gut) a red deer in Scotland and the blade slipped into my thigh just above my patella. After being recovered by @Lancaster the skin was stitched. What I didn’t realise is how weak my quadriceps muscles were after the injury as I went on to rupture two out of the four bellies of the quads.
Now over 12 month in it’s a lot better but still weak. I did manage 120km in a week after tuskless this summer though!

Gralloch? Hmmm. Didn't I see that word printed on an airline barf bag?

 

[SRvet]

Gralloch? Hmmm. Didn't I see that word printed on an airline barf bag?

Gralloch is the local term for gutting…. Sounds much nicer don’t you think? Origin is from Gaelic

 

[VINOYASADO]

My hunting area is 1000 -1400 m above sea level, with very large slopes and a lot of loose rock. (photos)

Sprained ankle (grade 1) once, quite difficult to go back to the car.

Anotherone, I once slipped and fell on a sharp stone and in trying to save my rifle and scope , i cut my elbow quite deep. Fortunately I had a basic first aid kit with me.

Do you guys take 1º AID KIT with you?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My hunting area is 1000 -1400 m above sea level, with very large slopes and a lot of loose rock. (photos)

Sprained ankle (grade 1) once, quite difficult to go back to the car.

Anotherone, I once slipped and fell on a sharp stone and in trying to save my rifle and scope , i cut my elbow quite deep. Fortunately I had a basic first aid kit with me.

Do you guys take 1º AID KIT with you?

I always carried a first aid kit for my horses when I was a packer but not for myself. I once used one of the curved needles and a bit of sterilized horse mane to sew up a bad gash to my right hand ... and I'm right handed! That was tricky. Fortunately, my Army disability severed the nerve to that part of my hand so the wound was somewhat anesthetized. What a trip that turned out to be. The following afternoon after work I went to the bottom of Little Blackfoot Canyon to catch some trout for dinner. As I was climbing back to the trail my black Lab Ethyl jumped over a log and let out a yelp. She returned with a face full of porcupine quills. Got her up to the trail and started removing them. Damn things kept breaking off but I had to do something. Couldn't wait till we were back in camp because she was worrying the mess and making it worse ... and we were a day and a half in from trailhead. So I made her sit and proceeded to pull the quills out of her mouth and nose with my teeth. One of my trail crew came to check on us and discovered me on my knees covered in blood and chewing on Ethyl's face. "What the hell?" Then he saw the quills. "I don't know why that dog doesn't rip your face off!" I shouted back at him, "She wouldn't DARE!" I was not happy. "Uhh ... oookay ... see you at camp." When we finished the job at the end of two weeks and returned to the ranger station, my not-so-loyal crew ratted me out. The district ranger had a fit and demanded I go to the ER. The doctor took a look at my surgery and asked why I was there. "Good job! What did you use?" I told him and he opted to leave it alone. The ranger was still grumpy until I pointed out this was not a "lost time" accident because I kept the crew in the backcountry. "Oh ... that works! No paperwork. Yay!" And that was the end of that. My lazy ass crew were not pleased with the outcome. Boo-hoo.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

In 2022 on my one and only African PG hunt in the Eastern Cape, we were hunting in mountainous terrain where every rock and lots of them seem loose. Second morning of a ten day hunt I misstepped on a rock walking down a small hill from a standing position and fell backwards onto the ground through a bush. My left leg got twisted falling through the bush and I severely pulled my upper left thigh muscle to the point where I couldn't walk without locking my left knee. I also had serious pain on my upper left side and was spitting up some blood (turned out I cut my lip pretty good falling through the bush). Anyway, we continued to hunt (shot a cull impala) after I caught my breath until the early afternoon when my PH said that we were going back to the lodge and seek medical help. Later, he drove me to the wonderful St. George Hospital in Port Elizabeth where they confirmed I had broken my #9 rib on my left upper side after an x ray. The very nice doctor wanted me to take a couple of pain pills and I told him I couldn't as I was hunting the next morning. He said, "Sir, you are in extreme pain and you need to take these". I took one in front of him so we could get out of the hospital and took the other one with me but never took it. I lived on Aleve I brought with me for the rest of the trip. Of course, it didn't help the pain much. To continue my "dream" African Safari, I would step on my PH's cooler with my right leg and crawl into the back of his Toyota Hilux (fantastic vehicle!) as I couldn't bend my left leg to get into the cab. When we went after an animal, I would get out via the cooler and walk as best as I could and follow him and the tracker. This went on for several days until I could walk without locking my knee and I could get into the cab. Then the "trail of a thousand knives" started. My PH was a young guy and liked to drive fast on the mountain roads. All well and good until he hit the two foot high drainage bumps on the roads. EVERY TIME he did it felt like a knife stuck into my left side even as I tried to brace myself. I finally had to tell him to slow down. I managed to eventually take all the animals we were after and only missed three times off sticks and a bipod. I know this was a long winded dissertation and pales in comparison to more serious injuries described here, but in all the years of hunting up to that point, I only sprained my ankle once on an elk hunt. Go figure! LOL

My wife and I hunted the Eastern Cape in 2019 and we both agree with your description on the hunting terrain. It can be a challenge, especially as I was waiting for a hip replacement the time. Probably a carryover from the 2002 horse rollover experience. I feel your pain my friend. Safe hunting.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Gralloch is the local term for gutting…. Sounds much nicer don’t you think? Origin is from Gaelic

Like a growler of beer? “I’ll take a growler of beer along with a gralloch of soup to go”. LOL

 

[Odinsraven]

Only my wallet - seriously been lucky - flipped a jeep - walked away - charged by a warthog not funny - stopped him - had a tree fall in Scotland one yard from were I was standing 2 min before !

 

[dlmac]

ma

I have not kept a list. Let me think.
The worst, knocked down by a forest elephant and sprained wrist. Hunted Stone sheep for three week with two broken ribs. Taken out to hospital with stomach blockage. Think a few more. Oh yes, mauled by a Leopard that was exciting.

mauled by a Leopard, WOW, you are so easily entertained!

I have not kept a list. Let me think.
The worst, knocked down by a forest elephant and sprained wrist. Hunted Stone sheep for three week with two broken ribs. Taken out to hospital with stomach blockage. Think a few more. Oh yes, mauled by a Leopard that was exciting.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

ma

mauled by a Leopard, WOW, you are so easily entertained!

That would be the leopard that may have saved his life.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Only my wallet - seriously been lucky - flipped a jeep - walked away - charged by a warthog not funny - stopped him - had a tree fall in Scotland one yard from were I was standing 2 min before !

Buy a lottery ticket! LOL

 

[Certus]

Only bad thing I’ve had happen was on a fishing trip with a former friend, dad and his best friend 2 years ago.

We were in the middle of a national park. Dad’s friend said he felt a bit sick and had had a spew so we decided to call it early and head back.
3 of us jump in the car.
Where’s dad’s friend?
Get out and he’s on the ground at the back of the car.
45 minutes of cpr, I couldn’t get him back. Paramedics arrived in 23 minutes and I took turns with them doing cpr.
Handy thing to learn, even though it didn’t work this time. Was 21 days from doing the cpr course to doing it in real life.
One thing they can’t teach is the guilt and “what if” thoughts after the event. A month of shower tears, still have some things they make me tear up to see or talk about in some situations.
He’d had a big heart attack, was 64. Don’t ignore the signs.
RIP, Neale.