Fitness for hunting

[Gobblernut]

Great subject!! I think it would actually be hard to find a exercise routine to prepare yourself for this type of hunting..Especially where i live here in the mountains of southwest VA. Maybe some cardiovascular exercises..Like running or riding a bike to expand the lungs..But then again us country boys are use to these mountains..

[STEROIDCHICKEN]

i have always been some sort of a physical nut....i owned a fitness center back several years ago and was probably in te best shape of my life until....
1987, i was in a motorcycle accident. i was hit broadside by a man who ran a red-light, fumbling trying to find a cd. he was traveling approx. 60 mph which a motorcyclist doesn't have much of a chance at that speed. that was the day that i met or should i say, saw my "guardian angel". i was thrown 70 feet and remained concious after hitting the asphalt. i was trying to remove my helmet and was having no success doing it because all of my bones in my fingers were protruding out. i laid there when i felt a comforting hand on my shoulder, this man removed my helmet and was gone in the blink of an eye. i describe the man to the officials and no-one seen this man other than me. my right foot was cut almost all the way off and my lower leg was demolished. once the emts arrived, they said that they were gonna have to remove my foot. i begged them to try and fix it which they said that the doctor would make that call. once at the hospital, i actually died and they were able to recover me. i had already asked the doc to do whatever he could to save my foot. i figured that i would be waking up as an amputee...they were able to save it and said that i would probably not be able to walk again properly....after being bed-riden for a year and a year of re-hab, i made my mind up that i would some-day walk agian. after several long months of doubt, i held my head up high and forced myself to excercising harder and harder...to this day, i chase those birds with the best of them.if the motivation is there so you have to go with it. the only trouble that i really have to this day is cold weather beings that i have a metal bone from my knee to the ankle....whatever you put your mind to, there is always a chance to acheive it....
sorry for the rambling, just thought i would share my story along with the others. 

[grunt_doc]

inspiring story, thank you.  Isn't it amazing what a determined mind can do?  knowing that you are now ok.....did the bike make it?[:(]
 
Doc

[STEROIDCHICKEN]

the bike nor the car made it...both were totalled. i am very fortunate to have survived it. angels are always watching whether you know it or not. 

[grunt_doc]

I'm with you 100% on that one!!  I've had plenty of situations that should/could have ended poorly for me.

[longbeardjoe]

I'm sure these ole boys had enough adrenaline to climb a mountain after this hunt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURo3zq3fII

[wordbird]

ORIGINAL: STEROIDCHICKEN

i have always been some sort of a physical nut....i owned a fitness center back several years ago and was probably in te best shape of my life until....
1987, i was in a motorcycle accident. i was hit broadside by a man who ran a red-light, fumbling trying to find a cd. he was traveling approx. 60 mph which a motorcyclist doesn't have much of a chance at that speed. that was the day that i met or should i say, saw my "guardian angel". i was thrown 70 feet and remained concious after hitting the asphalt. i was trying to remove my helmet and was having no success doing it because all of my bones in my fingers were protruding out. i laid there when i felt a comforting hand on my shoulder, this man removed my helmet and was gone in the blink of an eye. i describe the man to the officials and no-one seen this man other than me. my right foot was cut almost all the way off and my lower leg was demolished. once the emts arrived, they said that they were gonna have to remove my foot. i begged them to try and fix it which they said that the doctor would make that call. once at the hospital, i actually died and they were able to recover me. i had already asked the doc to do whatever he could to save my foot. i figured that i would be waking up as an amputee...they were able to save it and said that i would probably not be able to walk again properly....after being bed-riden for a year and a year of re-hab, i made my mind up that i would some-day walk agian. after several long months of doubt, i held my head up high and forced myself to excercising harder and harder...to this day, i chase those birds with the best of them.if the motivation is there so you have to go with it. the only trouble that i really have to this day is cold weather beings that i have a metal bone from my knee to the ankle....whatever you put your mind to, there is always a chance to acheive it....
sorry for the rambling, just thought i would share my story along with the others. 

 
Inspriring story SC. I too had a near death/paralisys accident that the doctors said turned out good due to my physical condition. Here's a link to the story as told by an editor from east Tenn. Even though this is a deer hunting incident, I hope if y'all will read the story, it will inspire y'all a little.
http://www.tnhunting.com/stories/garrett/billyword.html

[Cut N Run]

I went back in to a specialist because my left shoulder just isn't healing like it I think it should almost a year and a half after the wreck I was in. I do rehab exercised daily with almost no change.  I turns out that the separated A/C joint actually laid some new calcium and grew a "new" bone.  Unfortunately, the "new" bone grew directly into the pathway of my nerves (& blood vessles) between my head and my arm.  The new bone is going to have to be surgically removed which is risky to the nerves to my left arm.  Since the arm is already screwed up (it feels like I hit my funny bone almost constantly and I only have about 30-35% strength compared to before the wreck) I'm going for it.  The bad thing is I will have to wait until January to have the surgery and recovery is 3 months, so I sould still be able to turkey hunt in Spring as long as there are no complications (I will miss the Fall season).
 
A good friend of mine knows another guy who had the same type of surgery done and they ended up cutting the nerves in his arm by accident.  He got a big insurance settlement, however his arm is all but useless and it just hangs at his side like an extra sleeve on a shirt.
 
I'm more than a little anxious about this deal.  I can't go on being broken like I am & it hurts every day.  I know this doctor is good at what he does, I just hate it will be so long before I can git-er-done.  You can bet I'll be working my @$$ off to be ready for Spring Turkey season.
 
Jim

[allaboutshooting]

Hey Jim,

I'm very sorry to learn of your continued trouble and I'm sorry you'll have to wait so long for surgery. Doris and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks,
Clark