doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ruminations while walking the 6-mile horse trail

Closed to equestrians that is!

Every Saturday or Sunday I take my golden retriever Samba and walk the 6-mile horse trail (for my 59th birthday I did two loops. Why? because I could). While walking the trail I’ve see possems, rabbits, pheasants, deer, and turkeys (but very few equestrians), in fact what got me started walking the trail is that from October through the first week of January the area is used for put and take pheasant hunting. Long after the pheasant season is over Samba gets to flush the pheasants that made it through the season. I shoot at them with a blank pistol and she glowers at me for missing, we’re a team.

Samba's on a pheasant

I like taking long walks with Samba, it helps clear out the cob webs in my brain. However,the last couple of times I’ve been on the trail for some reason I’ve wondered how many of my friends both on and off-line are not going to make it through the hunting season. I’m not talking about shooting accidents; I’m talking about heart attacks. I guess it’s because I have so many hunting buddys who are very heavy, smoke like chimneys, and still brag about over drinking. I’m very lucky; through no real dedicated effort of my own I’ve made it through 59 years and am still in good health. How I’ve been so lucky is that I like being active and I never took up smoking (or drinking much for that matter). My Dad was an alcoholic who smoked 2-3 packs a day and died of a massive heart attack at 69; the doctors say there’s a correlation, I’m not a doctor. Quite a few of my friends smoke, I wish they didn't but I'm okay with it. When I tried smoking, the first time I burped up an old ash tray taste that was the end of that!

Enough about me, are you guys preparing yourself physically for the hunting season? Be honest with yourselves, are you in good enough shape to climb a tree into a deer stand, climb back down and handle a deer after you’ve shot it? Can you carry your shotgun, shells, and a bag of decoys slung over your shoulder while wading through a marsh in the dark? Can you walk for miles over rough ground chasing the wily pheasant, quail or chukar? Those high country elk mean steep slopes and high altitudes, are you physically up to the task? Maybe a pre-season physical exam is in order, it could save your life.

I probably should have asked these questions back in April or May, but still they’re not too late to ponder and if you found yourself huffing and puffing after climbing a flight of stairs, maybe you should look at spending this hunting season in the gym, riding a bicycle, or walking the fields, starting with short rides or walks of course (I’m not a big proponent of running, I look upon running as future joint problems). Maybe you should make this sacrifice in trade for being able to spend many more future years in the field.

I hope I haven’t pi$$ed anyone off, it certainly isn’t my intent, I just don’t want to lose any friends this hunting season.

Steve

With some gray in my beard, and being 6' 180lbs, I'd have to say yes - I am!
...and I do smoke.
Hold on a moment doc!


Okay I'm back now, just had to hack-up a little blood
I'm cool.

Stay in good health Rockdoc, we have lost too many good people already
And thanks for the pics of Samba, good lookin Golden Retriever!!!
All the best

Well said Steve-ANYBODY over age 50 or with any risk factors (the most important of which is family history of heart disease but also hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, and Metabolic Syndrome: central obesity, high triglycerides and low HDL, hypertension, and glucose intolerance) should have some form of diagnostic heart stress testing before the season. The equivalent of 2 drinks daily seems to protect from heart disease, any more increases the risk of hypertension, high triglycerides, obesity, and liver disease. Do it for your family if not for yourself.

Rockdoc them old stompping grounds look familiar! I to should get out and do a little more walking for the upcomming season. I had a little bit of a hard go of it the first couple of days last season and Im under 50yrs old. No excuse for that...Paul

Steve, I agree with you in getting in shape, but in reality you should be in good shape all the time not just for hunting seasons. I am 60 and at age 52 had 3 heart attacks in a 2 weeks. I had 3 blockages in 2 arteries. They balloned them and within a couple of days on going home, one closed up again. Well to make a long story short, they put a stent in and knock on wood, everything so far is good. Both of my parents died of heart attacks early. My weight was always decent, 180-190 lbs, for 5'10". My combined colesterol was 211, blood pressure not bad.
I see my cadialogist once a year now along with a stress test and ekg, walked 12 minutes on the tread mill. Now my colesterol is low, LDL 78, HDL 34, Triclyserides 54. Can't get the good cholesterol (LDL) up, higher is better.
My whole point is, no matter what your age, doing a lot of walking, running, weight lifting, etc. unless you see a doctor and go through testing, you might like me think everything is fine. I thought I was in good shape, quite smoking 11 years ago, and have a drink once in a while. Was told by doctors that it is hereditary.
So please everyone, over the age of 50, go see your doctor, don't wait for something to happen.
Just remember what happened to Jim Fix, the long distance runner, his heart exploded from a blockage. David

Steve,
I turned 50 this May and noted I had some problems with joints and pains. I'm working my way back to better health. My new Lab pup is driving me to do more every morning and evening. No more couch potato stuff. I'm 5'10" / 193lbs and loosing it with a target of 175 maybe less. I'm walking/running regularly and feel much better. My doc says I'm good to go on exercise with no heart probs. Chloresterol is inching up just a little and I'm working on that too.

Chuck
Starting about 10 years ago I began having trouble with ostio-arthritis in my hands and wrists. It wasn't bad, only bothered me during large scale weather changes and normally taking a single Aleve tablet would take care of it. At the urging of a friend, I began taking two Glucosamine/Chondroitin tablets a day (I'm cheap, I buy the Costco "Kirkland" brand)within two months the periodic achy finger joints were pretty much a thing of the past. I still have a small problem maybe once or twice a year in my right wrist, but even when I have a problem it's not as bad as it was and Aleve will take care of it.
I've had friends (including my wife) who've tried G/C and it didn't help them at all, but it sure has helped me.
Steve

Lowell
Sorry I upset you, I'm glad you're cool now !
Steve

Steve, i think that is a great post and very thoughtful of you being concerned about your fellow hunters health and well being. I have reached the age of 65 and am 5'10" tall and weigh 177 lbs. Except for high blood pressure i am in good health. I have been walking a couple miles nearly every day with Bo my Brittany. God has blessed me! Never smoked or drank and hope to do some bird hunting after the durn deer season goes out. Good health to all! Bobby

Steve,
I recently got on G/C mix to aid with some hip pain that started a few years ago during chukar hunting. Seems to have helped.

I also had bad attack of gout in my left ankle that was as painful as anything I've experienced. The swelling and pain never quite went away since June, even though the doc put me on medication and anti-inflams. I did some internet searches on herbal remedies and tried black cherry juice and tabs to no apparent effect, then went on to try fish oil caps twice a day. By the second day the residual swelling was gone and nearly all the residual pain. I'm running a walking again for exercise where I couldn't before this.