TN Larry
Well-Known Member
Something I try to post every year at the start of the season and just came across while searching for something else. Be careful out there the next few weeks.
As seasons start in other states along with juvenile starting here this weekend, I will post my yearly reminder to be careful and watch what you are doing.
April 15, 2017 was a pretty normal, nice, Spring day until it all went wrong. I got on a bird gobbling like crazy and got in close. It took a few minutes, but I finally got him to come take a peak. He turned to go the other direction and stopped in an opening at 40 yards, and I pulled the trigger. He started flopping, but it was so steep and thick that I didn't know whether he was crippled or a death flop over the hill. I sprang to my feet to run a few yards to evaluate what had just happened when everything went wrong. On the leading step, I basically hit weird either on a rock or something unlevel and broke my leg. I went to the ground and only thought that I had twisted it a little. It basically felt like it was asleep but not like it was broke. I sprang back up, felt the feeling coming back, and kept going which was a big mistake. I made it three steps and basically my foot rolled up and touched my leg tearing all the tendons and ligaments in my foot. I called my wife told her that I was hurt, had to get the turkey, and somehow get out. I unloaded my gun and started using it as a crutch as I was able to put some weight on my foot which was another mistake. I made it about 10 steps and rolled it again. I was finally able to get in touch with a cousin who came to help me get out. I had emergency surgery that night to put a plate and 6 screws in and spent the night in the hospital. My turkey season was over. I had another surgery to remove two screws in August as I still didn't have full range of my foot. I then had another surgery in March of 2016 to remove some scar tissue as I still didn't have full range. It helped my foot, but I developed disc issues in my back in part due to how I had been walking at the end of 2016 resulting in a blown out disc and back surgery in April of 2017 thus ending that season. As I sit here and type, I am fighting two bulged discs in my neck questioning whether I can shoot a gun this year. I can get around and play guide for my son but not sure about myself. I have to wonder if it is connected. The good news is that my leg and back are finally back to somewhat normal even though my back will never be exactly the same.
I am not posting this as sympathy as it could be a whole lot worse. It is just to be careful out there and conscious of your surroundings. I have no idea what I could have done different as I really didn't do anything wrong. I had to run my first bird down and shoot him again that year and would have understood if I had fell in a hole and broke my leg. Just be careful and know that things can change in an instant. Sometimes you make bad decisions when trying to get to a gobbling bird before he quits or collects a lady friend. I promise that it isn't worth it so use your head and be safe.
Good luck this season! I may not be 100% but still ready to get after them this weekend with my son.
One week post surgery. The other side had 12 staples. I did get the turkey though. :tu:
As seasons start in other states along with juvenile starting here this weekend, I will post my yearly reminder to be careful and watch what you are doing.
April 15, 2017 was a pretty normal, nice, Spring day until it all went wrong. I got on a bird gobbling like crazy and got in close. It took a few minutes, but I finally got him to come take a peak. He turned to go the other direction and stopped in an opening at 40 yards, and I pulled the trigger. He started flopping, but it was so steep and thick that I didn't know whether he was crippled or a death flop over the hill. I sprang to my feet to run a few yards to evaluate what had just happened when everything went wrong. On the leading step, I basically hit weird either on a rock or something unlevel and broke my leg. I went to the ground and only thought that I had twisted it a little. It basically felt like it was asleep but not like it was broke. I sprang back up, felt the feeling coming back, and kept going which was a big mistake. I made it three steps and basically my foot rolled up and touched my leg tearing all the tendons and ligaments in my foot. I called my wife told her that I was hurt, had to get the turkey, and somehow get out. I unloaded my gun and started using it as a crutch as I was able to put some weight on my foot which was another mistake. I made it about 10 steps and rolled it again. I was finally able to get in touch with a cousin who came to help me get out. I had emergency surgery that night to put a plate and 6 screws in and spent the night in the hospital. My turkey season was over. I had another surgery to remove two screws in August as I still didn't have full range of my foot. I then had another surgery in March of 2016 to remove some scar tissue as I still didn't have full range. It helped my foot, but I developed disc issues in my back in part due to how I had been walking at the end of 2016 resulting in a blown out disc and back surgery in April of 2017 thus ending that season. As I sit here and type, I am fighting two bulged discs in my neck questioning whether I can shoot a gun this year. I can get around and play guide for my son but not sure about myself. I have to wonder if it is connected. The good news is that my leg and back are finally back to somewhat normal even though my back will never be exactly the same.
I am not posting this as sympathy as it could be a whole lot worse. It is just to be careful out there and conscious of your surroundings. I have no idea what I could have done different as I really didn't do anything wrong. I had to run my first bird down and shoot him again that year and would have understood if I had fell in a hole and broke my leg. Just be careful and know that things can change in an instant. Sometimes you make bad decisions when trying to get to a gobbling bird before he quits or collects a lady friend. I promise that it isn't worth it so use your head and be safe.
Good luck this season! I may not be 100% but still ready to get after them this weekend with my son.
One week post surgery. The other side had 12 staples. I did get the turkey though. :tu:
