The dumb/stupid things we do chasing game...

[ScottR]

I had a 2000 foot elevation hike in about 2.5 miles. Have done this hike several times but never made it to the pass where I have watched bulls enter and exit from regularly. I had promised my wife that I would have cell service there and would call her from the top. As luck would have it I didn't have line of sight to a major city from my potential camping spot overlooking the pass, I was really mad.

The temperature was starting to drop drastically and I knew it was time to get down and drive to a spot I could call my wife. First thought was that I could cut straight down the creek, rather than side hilling the way that I had come in. Dumb move, I found myself almost cliffed out with the only walking space being the frozen creek itself. This area was shaded in and so there was about 6 inches of snow on sluffing steep hills where it wasn't sheered off.

Smart move, Kahtoola Microspikes. Those things saved my tail on this one. I found a tiny spot where I could get them out of my pack pocket and onto my boots. Those things saved me from a very long night in a very cold canyon and got me out of there.

I filled my cow calf tag the next day on a different hill.

Will come up with a few more later.

 

[Winchester]

When I was stationed in Alaska, and still in my 20's, I had a friend fly me in and drop me off on a sand/gravel bar so I could do a solo mountain goat hunt (never a good idea anyway). The next day I hiked all the way to the top of a mountain (did I say I was in my 20's) and started side hilling around what was essentially a small glacier when I came across a nice Billy laying on the same narrow ledge I was using. I put a good shot into him and he responded by jumping off the ledge and over the cliff. I heard him hit well below and had to spend a couple of hours trying to find him. Once I located him and packed everything into my pack; head, cape, meat ... (did I say I was in my 20's) it was getting dark. I proceeded to make my way down the mountain carrying that heavy load in the pitch black ... no moon, no stars (just clouds) , no flashlight, and no compass (this was before GPS). I fell many times and once even went over a small drop-off and fell about 20 feet into some bushes. I finally got down to the gravel bar after midnight and I knew I was near my tent but just couldn't find it. After searching for a-while I just laid down and fell asleep in my hunting cloths. When I woke up there was my tent, about 50 yards away...

 

[THelms]

The Bear... I don't talk about the bear.

 

[Againstthewind]

Mine was kindof similar to ScottR's above, but probably not that steep. It just reminded me of the situation. Tried to walk down a similar creek as a short cut, walls started closing in and getting steeper, instead of backing out I kept going until the snow and slope made it so I couldn't back out, ended up sliding down on my butt trying to slow myself anyway I could with trees and feet and praying there was not a cliff. Luckily it didn't get too bad, just a sore butt. I don't think there was anyway I could have stayed upright on that trip. Good reminder to maybe carry at least some ice fishing strap on cleats or those microspikes. That shade holds the snow and ice pretty well.

 

[ScottR]

Mine was kindof similar to ScottR's above, but probably not that steep. It just reminded me of the situation. Tried to walk down a similar creek as a short cut, walls started closing in and getting steeper, instead of backing out I kept going until the snow and slope made it so I couldn't back out, ended up sliding down on my butt trying to slow myself anyway I could with trees and feet and praying there was not a cliff. Luckily it didn't get too bad, just a sore butt. I don't think there was anyway I could have stayed upright on that trip. Good reminder to maybe carry at least some ice fishing strap on cleats or those microspikes. That shade holds the snow and ice pretty well.

Crazy how slick that crap can get, no way to dig in toe holds.

 

[Ike]

There are some great stories on here! Lots of life lessons and wisdom being shared.

I have done a TON of dumb things in my day! Actually its a suprise I am still on this side of the lawn. The one that comes to mind is about water.
I was hunting in the high desert country, 95 deg as a high and gets in the low 40's at night. I woke up thinking it would be another glassing day. I was seeing a ton of animals just nothing worth chasing. Right at first light I found a huge one. So in the panic to chase him down I forgot my pack. Worst of all my water. By the time it dawned on me, I was a couple miles away, over a couple ridges, as I was going to try and stock him from the back side of the basin. It was a, do I turn back, or keep pushing. I was younger and not as wise as I am now. I guess these are the moments that give you wisdom. I kept pushing on.

By the afternoon I was not doing good. I eventually, was able to take the old duffer. There was not even a seep on this mountain. Nothing I could even drink if I wanted. I was so thirsty when I killed him I envied his full bladder, ha ha.

I ended up getting heat sickness for two days before I could get rehydrated. It was miserable. To this day, it is hard not to pass a water fountain with out taking a sip.

Now I always pack more water then I need. I even replace food weight with water sometimes.

Ike

 

[go_deep]

First backcountry solo trip, sort of knew where I wanted to go, but not totally. Ended up kind of losing my patience and went to cross the creek about a half mile sooner than I should have. Slipped on a rock, straight over backwards. Lucky my pack absorbed the impact. If I would have fell forward, I really think I would have broke something, knocked my head on a rock, sure would have been ugly.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Several years ago, I shot a 6 point bull in NW Wyoming. While squatting to field dress the elk, my right knee blew out (found out later it was a meniscus tear). Since I was hunting alone, I had no choice but to crawl around and finish the field dressing. I then cut a limb to act as a cane and hobbled back to camp with a leg that couldn't be fully straightened. When I got to camp, I drove to town to find someone with horses to pack out the elk. Of course, the packer had no idea where the elk was so I had to go back in with him to find the elk which was an all day deal. All of this was with considerable pain.

The next day, I drove 8 hrs home and ended up having surgery the following day. Was the elk worth it? Well he was only average in size, but I guess the memories are priceless.

 

[ScottR]

Several years ago, I shot a 6 point bull in NW Wyoming. While squatting to field dress the elk, my right knee blew out (found out later it was a meniscus tear). Since I was hunting alone, I had no choice but to crawl around and finish the field dressing. I then cut a limb to act as a cane and hobbled back to camp with a leg that couldn't be fully straightened. When I got to camp, I drove to town to find someone with horses to pack out the elk. Of course, the packer had no idea where the elk was so I had to go back in with him to find the elk which was an all day deal. All of this was with considerable pain.

The next day, I drove 8 hrs home and ended up having surgery the following day. Was the elk worth it? Well he was only average in size, but I guess the memories are priceless.

Meniscus tears are no fun.

 

[tim]

This occurred in march of 2010. Not hunting related, but mountain related. Some background, I have been around a lot of avalanches in my life. A lot. I have been involved in over 25 of them myself. I have been in the mountains all of my life and do take avalanches very serious. On this day I just flat out screwed up. this is a copy and paste of what I had saved on my computer from then.



Well I made about a half dozen metal mistakes on sunday and almost killed myself and a buddy. This one has been making me think more than i already do. But i made mistakes and almost paid for it.

Basically i ran up this trench\chute and once i entered i knew the snow was conducive to sliding.( i have caused to many to not know what the snow feels like). I got out of the trench when i could and went over a convex knob to get out of the trench. I thought to my self, that was not good, but didn't think about it anymore. I got ontop of a finger ridge and looked into the next bowl to see how it looked. I than noticed cracking and slabs forming all around me. Luckily from kayaking i know what it feels like to be moving and not going anywhere.(surfing holes) It felt like i was surfing on my sled. I thought of pulling the abs cord but i saw my way out and went for it.
getting out of the slide was the only thing going thru my mind. I knew i could get out and nothing else mattered. After i powered off of the first slab, i was catching the next slab and watching the slab that was in front of me pull away from me. I hammered the throttle like a cornice jump and jumped off of the slab into the area between slabs and than the debris pile was pilling up right in front of me. I hammered it again to jump thru the debris pile and just missed a big snag coming out of the debris pile. I landed hard enought to have my chest hit the handlebars and push them forward. ( thank god for tekvest). I was than out of the slide and sidehiling right below it looking for a way to go and a place to renter the slide, because i didn't know if anyone was buried. Luckily no one was. as i was sidehilling below it i noticed a big snag being whipped around like a rag doll. This one would of hurt.


I did make mistakes and it almost cost me.

 

[mallardsx2]

I got into an extended "staring competition"with a doe while "crouched" one time in Pennsylvania while archery hunting from the ground.
I would do anything to take back that moment and stand up and not tear whatever I tore.

I think it is my meniscus ....I didn't know how to pronounce it and told my wife I though I tore my "miniskits" are burning...and she though I said my biscuits are burning......and to this day when I am out hunting I tell my wife my "biscuits are burning"

Whatever tore in my knees that haunts me till this day. I though it would heal itself but it didn't.

I cringe thinking about going to the doctor but its coming and coming soon.....

 

[mallardsx2]

Another time in 2004 after a long night of debauchery in college I thought it would be a good idea to go duck hunting. It was 0 degrees and god only knows what the windchill was...

So like an idiot in complete darkness with only a rechargeable spotlight in my hand I went flying up the river in my 1652 weldbilt to shoot a limit of those stupid ducks and geese.

I got to were I wasted to go and tripped on my decoy bad and fell head first into the Susquehanna river. No life jacket on.

By the time I got back to the boat ramp my waders had frozen solid and I had to use my elbow to break the ice to straighten out the waders.

I left the boat in the water with the anchor out and went to my truck and had to strip down to my skivvies and run the heater for 30 minutes to regain feeling in most of my body.

I could keep going but I really don't want people to look down on me for the stupid things I have done. I literally should be a statistic. I have a family now and I don't do outlandish things nearly as often.

FYI- I didn't shoot a limit of ducks and geese that morning and the barrel wasn't smoking on my SX2...lol

 

[Daubs]

I could keep going but I really don't want people to look down on me for the stupid things I have done. I literally should be a statistic. I have a family now and I don't do outlandish things nearly as often.

Hey, you are alive and still hunting : )

Keep them stories coming. We have all done stupid things...

 

[ScottR]

Another time in 2004 after a long night of debauchery in college I thought it would be a good idea to go duck hunting. It was 0 degrees and god only knows what the windchill was...

So like an idiot in complete darkness with only a rechargeable spotlight in my hand I went flying up the river in my 1652 weldbilt to shoot a limit of those stupid ducks and geese.

I got to were I wasted to go and tripped on my decoy bad and fell head first into the Susquehanna river. No life jacket on.

By the time I got back to the boat ramp my waders had frozen solid and I had to use my elbow to break the ice to straighten out the waders.

I left the boat in the water with the anchor out and went to my truck and had to strip down to my skivvies and run the heater for 30 minutes to regain feeling in most of my body.

I could keep going but I really don't want people to look down on me for the stupid things I have done. I literally should be a statistic. I have a family now and I don't do outlandish things nearly as often.

FYI- I didn't shoot a limit of ducks and geese that morning and the barrel wasn't smoking on my SX2...lol

I won't think your stupid, please do tell...

 

[Horsenhike]

Waterfowl hunting is the worst. Man, it was my first foray back into hunting as an adult, and did I ever pull some stupid stuff. My mom and ex-wife made me promise to always wear my life jacket. Good thing.

First day ever hunting with a goose spread, my new boat with a gas motor! Boy, I was really ready to slay some birds. Right out of the gate I cut an anchor line with my prop and watched on of my decoys float across the lake. Figured I didn't want to waste time, and would get it later. Couple hours in with no geese even seen I decided to go get my decoy. That is the day I learned about a 14' Jon boat on a windblown shore. It occurred to me just as I beached that this might be a bad idea. Took me FOREVER to get off that shore. I'm a strong guy, and it is only because of that I was able to get going. So stupid.

To top it off I almost did the same thing this summer spearfishing. This time with a wide and deep v-hull. You can't just push this boat around. Wind came up and the anchor started dragging. Grrrrr. Smacked my foot on a rock in chest deep water leaving them black and blue for a couple weeks. Pretty stupid.

I have some more.

 

[kidoggy]

I won't think your stupid, please do tell...

Another time in 2004 after a long night of debauchery in college I thought it would be a good idea to go duck hunting. It was 0 degrees and god only knows what the windchill was...

So like an idiot in complete darkness with only a rechargeable spotlight in my hand I went flying up the river in my 1652 weldbilt to shoot a limit of those stupid ducks and geese.

I got to were I wasted to go and tripped on my decoy bad and fell head first into the Susquehanna river. No life jacket on.

By the time I got back to the boat ramp my waders had frozen solid and I had to use my elbow to break the ice to straighten out the waders.

I left the boat in the water with the anchor out and went to my truck and had to strip down to my skivvies and run the heater for 30 minutes to regain feeling in most of my body.

I could keep going but I really don't want people to look down on me for the stupid things I have done. I literally should be a statistic. I have a family now and I don't do outlandish things nearly as often.

FYI- I didn't shoot a limit of ducks and geese that morning and the barrel wasn't smoking on my SX2...lol

keep them stories coming.
if you read my ,"what dumb thing I did post ", you should know you won't be judged by me.

 

[kidoggy]

This occurred in march of 2010. Not hunting related, but mountain related. Some background, I have been around a lot of avalanches in my life. A lot. I have been involved in over 25 of them myself. I have been in the mountains all of my life and do take avalanches very serious. On this day I just flat out screwed up. this is a copy and paste of what I had saved on my computer from then.



Well I made about a half dozen metal mistakes on sunday and almost killed myself and a buddy. This one has been making me think more than i already do. But i made mistakes and almost paid for it.

Basically i ran up this trench\chute and once i entered i knew the snow was conducive to sliding.( i have caused to many to not know what the snow feels like). I got out of the trench when i could and went over a convex knob to get out of the trench. I thought to my self, that was not good, but didn't think about it anymore. I got ontop of a finger ridge and looked into the next bowl to see how it looked. I than noticed cracking and slabs forming all around me. Luckily from kayaking i know what it feels like to be moving and not going anywhere.(surfing holes) It felt like i was surfing on my sled. I thought of pulling the abs cord but i saw my way out and went for it.
getting out of the slide was the only thing going thru my mind. I knew i could get out and nothing else mattered. After i powered off of the first slab, i was catching the next slab and watching the slab that was in front of me pull away from me. I hammered the throttle like a cornice jump and jumped off of the slab into the area between slabs and than the debris pile was pilling up right in front of me. I hammered it again to jump thru the debris pile and just missed a big snag coming out of the debris pile. I landed hard enought to have my chest hit the handlebars and push them forward. ( thank god for tekvest). I was than out of the slide and sidehiling right below it looking for a way to go and a place to renter the slide, because i didn't know if anyone was buried. Luckily no one was. as i was sidehilling below it i noticed a big snag being whipped around like a rag doll. This one would of hurt.


I did make mistakes and it almost cost me.

scary stuff .glad you made it.
only once while sledding did I GET INTO A SITUATION LIKE THAT AND IT WAS a spooky feeling.

wasn't a huge slide but all I could do was sort of ride the slide and now and then gun it to jump ahead to another slab.
was also lucky enough not to get buried.

 

[ScottR]

2.5 miles from the truck, hunting solo...

6 inches of snow....in the low spots.

I shot two elk filling my bull and cow/calf tags...

My help didn't arrive for 24 hours, I was a tired unit packing elk by myself.

 

[Fink]

You'll note, most of these stories involve waterfowl hunting.. Is it because waterfowl hunting is inherently more dangerous, or duck hunters are just dumber? I'm afraid I already know the answer.

 

[ScottR]

You'll note, most of these stories involve waterfowl hunting.. Is it because waterfowl hunting is inherently more dangerous, or duck hunters are just dumber? I'm afraid I already know the answer.

Well...may not be dumber, just a little off...