My 2013 hunting season is over before it started

[PonyKiller]

Unfortunately it's pretty much a certainty that my 2013 hunting season and early 2014 is over already. Shoulder surgery is quickly approaching, and the recovery time is about six months, and by all accounts i'll be doing PT for roughly six months after that. I've only been hunting a few years and really enjoy it, and to be forced to sit out another year is really a blow.

The good news is after i'm all fixed up, i'll get a good measure of my range of motion back, and in the end should be able to return to deer hunting and likely duck hunt. But what to do till fall 2014? I'm thinking of getting into reloading to give me something to do hunting and shooting wise for a few months. Other than that, can't do much but wish and plan a hunting trip for 2014 hopefully. My plan will likely be outside of my homestate of NJ, a shot gun only state.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Is it possible that you can shoot using your weak side?

 

[PonyKiller]

The weak side is the one getting fixed, the strong side just got fixed a few months ago. When i'm done therapy the strong side will be good as new. Unfortunately when all is said and done the weak side will have a limited range of motion, and pretty low weight and action restrictions.

 

[sixgunner455]

.22lr, pistol or rifle. Rabbits and squirrels. No reason to not do *anything* until you can take the shotgun after deer and birds again.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Well I do wish you a speedy and successful recovery! Small game with a .22 may be a possibility if it is something that you are into.

 

[Hanzo581]

Hope you recover quickly.

Till then, grab Cabelas Big Game Hunter for computer to try and scratch that itch.

 

[Patocazador]

Unfortunately, a lot of shoulder surgeries are unsuccessful. For the most part it is due to not doing the rehab the way that they instruct. There's quite a bit of pain involved in doing some of the recommended motions and exercises so people don't do them because they hurt. If you follow through, you have a good chance of recovering and having normal motion.
I was told 16 years ago to have shoulder surgery. Seeing the failure rate, I opted to do PT and get a couple of cortisone injections. I have not regretted my decision.

 

[PonyKiller]

Thanks for the well wishes fellas. Believe it or not, I've never hunted with a .22, but next spring may be a first, though looking at the regulations .22 hunting appears to be relegated to opossums and raccoons, what a state.

As far as the surgeries and recoveries go, so far so good on the right, though as of yet I haven't chanced any sort of recoil, it's still quite tender, and other than my fingers going numb while typing, driving or being sedentary, it's not so bad. The PT stuff isn't awful it's far less painful than working was a few months back, I still have little strength though. The muscles are still there and coming back online nicely though. Having one working arm is nice, I can dress myself and don't get stuck in coats like a straight jacket. Both of which are disheartening for someone not 40.

Unfortunately I am well past the point of PT and shots. Things took a downhill turn, and in a short period of time went from a nuisance to virtually immobile. So now it's time to chop cut and rebuild. We'll see how I deal with northern winters after i'm bionic!

I picked up cabelas big game hunter 2012 not too long ago for the xbox, been experimenting with it already, I've yet to find a secret area, spend half the time wandering around blasting trees and fences trying to find some new realm... kinda like real life save the gunfire, sabot slugs are about 2.50 a pull.

 

[627PCFan]

Nothing wrong with tagging along with a buddy whos going hunting.

 

[jrdolall]

Camera operators are always welcome to go with me.

 

[PonyKiller]

You know it's funny I never considered filming or just tagging along, something to consider for sure. We'll have to see how far along recovery is, and try to dissuade my buddies from using tree stands if i'm tagging along. No one wants to be all stealthy in a tree with a one armed fidget nearby on the ground.

 

[jbkebert]

spend the time learning trapping. Your shoulders will be fine and it will teach you to be a better hunter.

 

[Fremmer]

You know, you could get a permit for a crossbow and hunt deer in the brush, set up near a trail. Why not give it a try?

At least in some states you can do that.

 

[jmr40]

Don't bet on it being a complete washout. It really depends on the surgery and how well you body responds to therapy. My son had a torn labrum repaired in December and was playing HS football in May. Just over 4 months later.

I had knee surgery in late March and 10 weeks later in early June completed an 11 mile hike in the Smoky Mt NP gaining 3000' going up and lost it coming down with no issues.

Not everyone recovers the same, but a good surgeon, trainer and hard work on your part, make a huge difference in how fast you recover. Genetics plays a part too. Some people just heal faster and there is nothing you can do about that.

 

[MCgunner]

I'd just use a handgun if that's doable. My Contender, off a good rest, will reach and kill to 200 yards, a little mini rifle. I've taken 5 deer with it over the years. Bow hunting would be out. That would suck. Good luck and take care of yourself, don't do it if the doc says not to.

 

[MJD]

It doesn't have to be a total waste. In may, in fact, be a great learning experience to you as a hunter. If you're not carrying a gun or bow, the pressure to "get meat in the freezer" is off. I'd take it as an opportunity to scout in advance of hunting season, then get out in the woods during hunting season and observe animal behavior. For me, anyways, getting out in the woods and observing animal patterns is half the lure of hunting. And harvesting something never hurts, of course, because I also really enjoy nature's bounty on the grill or in the cast iron.

 

[jrdolall]

+1 to the above. I became a much better hunter when I stopped killing deer.
When I was in HS and college it was automatic. A deer with horns(spikes or 10 points)died as soon as he stuck his head out. Once I started "hunting" instead of "Killing" I was spending most of my days just watching deer and their behavior. It is not uncommon for me to video a deer and then get home, look at the video and ask myself "why didn't you shoot that deer?". I have learned so much more by watching how bucks react to their environment than I ever did by shooting them. Hopefully you will be able to get in the woods a lot with a camera.

 

[DeepSouth]

I go to church with a guy that had a shoulder surgery a few years back and started turkey hunting with a 410 now he still does, says he likes the challenge. I find it difficult enoulge already.

I'll bet if you get creative you can pull something off, maybe hunting with a pistol? Crossbow, as has been suggested. Where there's a will there's a way.

 

[PonyKiller]

Thanks for all the options and advice, lil more info here. I'm about two months out of the first one, labral tear, arthritic clean out and a few other things on the shooting shoulder. It's coming along nicely all things considered. The other's looking increasingly like a total replacement unfortunately. So that means roughly 20lb weight restriction on the one arm, so regular bow is out, but I could probably do cross bow. Our state is shot gun and muzzle loader only, no handgun and very little rimfire.

I do like the idea of "camera hunting" That's mainly what hunting is anyway, watching and learning. If i'm not healed up enough by the season to participate in traditional hunting I'll likely give that a go. Will be less sh*t to carry throught the woods that's for sure.

Like ya'll said a lot of it will be determined by when it happens and how I heal, lots of therapy and listening to the docs. Lots of options I haven't thought of.

 

[Geno]

Sorry to hear about this. Goodness know I have had too many surgeries, literally dozens, and of those about 10 were neuro (cervical). That is when I became familiar with the TC Arms Contender pistol and the TC Arms Encore pistol. If you haven't tested them out, you're missing out. There are some very mild cartridges that would let you keep hunting.

For example, a .44 Mag in either pistol is very mild. Even the .243 and 7-08 are very mild in a 15" Encore pistol! Avoid the .270 Win in the Encore pistol...it's vicious. There are good alternatives for you if you choose to keep active.

Good luck on that PT...still going to PT myself. There's hope yet.

Geno

 

[Patocazador]

With a 20 lb. restriction you may have a tough time with a crossbow because they are heavier than a compound setup by quite a bit. I never weighed my Barnett Wildcat but it feels like it weighs 15 lbs. plus it is very cumbersome to carry any distance.