Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Climb Now, Pay Later

I read this in my last copy of Bugle, a monthly magazine from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. I’m not taking any credit for this. I just wanted to put this out on my blog for anyone heading for a high altitude hunt.

Don’t let altitude sickness destroy your next hunt.


Altitude sickness, a.k.a acute mountain sickness (AMS), afflicts those who try to do too much too fast at the higher elevation than they are accustomed to. When I read that nearly a quarter of Colorado ski area vacationers, two-thirds of climbers on Mount Rainier, and half the people who fly to the Khumbu region of Nepal develop altitude sickness, my back country hunting brothers were on my mind. Fact is most of us live at a much lower elevation than where we recreate. For many Bugle readers, “recreate” is synonymous with hardcore mountain elk hunting. This can put us at a disadvantage before we ever attempt our first stalk.

No one will dispute that being at high elevation is stressful to your body, and altitude sickness is most common in hunters coming out West for the first time. Understandably, you’re going to be excited and want to get up the mountain, but by gaining elevation too quickly your body is starved of oxygen. The percentage of oxygen in the blood is actually equal at both sea level and higher altitudes, but decreasing air pressure at higher elevations means you get significantly fewer oxygen molecules per breath once you go over about 8,000 feet. In response, a chain of automatic reactions begins in your body to compensate. Breathing and pulse rates increase, as does the heart’s pumping efficiency and the size and number of red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen. Until your body can adapt, however, this shortage of oxygen brings with it a number of unwanted consequences. Typical symptoms of AMS can include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, shortness of breath and trouble sleeping. It looks and feel like the flu, and most people experience symptoms in the first three days after arrival. The symptoms usually go away by the fourth day-usually halfway through your hunt! No one wants to waste precious days being sick, and you don’t have to.

COMBAT AMS

There are a few ways to fend off the altitude nasties. Before your trip, make an effort to hit the gym more often and lace up the running shoes as much as possible. Fitness at sea level doesn’t guarantee and easier when you’re at 10,000 feet, but being in good shape makes it more likely your lungs will be able to cope with the challenges of the high life. Being fit lowers your hear rate and increases your red blood cell count, similar to gaining elevation. Personally, I try to train at higher elevations as often as possible during the summer, prior to bow season. For example, each summer I head to Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains and run an ultra marathon-a 100 mile race that takes runners on a course up to 9,000 feet. I think this really pays off for me on the hunt.
Drink water copiously and constantly, and avoid alcohol for the first few days.
Getting used to altitude, or acclimatization, helps the cells get along on a smaller oxygen budget. Given more time and a slower gain in altitude, your body will adjust and allow your to enjoy high-altitude hunting with few if any symptoms of AMS.
As a rule of thumb, experts recommend that at elevations above 5,000 feet, hunters should gain no more than 2,000 feet per day. You can climb higher as long as you descend to sleep at or below that 2,000 foot mark. In the past I’ve referred to the mountaineer’s rule, “Climb high, sleep low.” For elk hunters this can work quite well, as many times I find myself camping and sleeping lower, near water, while actually hunting elk higher on the mountain.
While ascending at a reasonable pace is always the best insurance against altitude sickness, a prescription of the drug acetazolamide (Diamox) can be helpful as a preventive treatment. But always, consult with your doctor.

Altitude Sickness Prevention Check List:

1.If traveling by air to a hunt above 8,000 feet, try to incorporate a layover of one to two days at an intermediate altitude.

2.Avoid physical exertion for the first 24 hours. This can be tough for an elk hunter after looking forward to the hunt all year. So while it might not be realistic, just be smart about it. Don’t go full bore right out the gate.


3.Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcoholic beverages. Save the imbibing for after your successful hunt when you are off the mountain.

4.Consume a high-carbohydrate diet. Lots of granola bars, trail mix, etc.


5.When hitting the high country, ascend gradually once past 8,000 feet above sea level.

I hope you enjoyed this article and hope it might give you some good tips when planning a high altitude hunt. Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

What deer hunting means to you?

This upcoming deer season really is going to mean a lot to me this year. Let me explain to you what I’m talking about. I was born November 15th, now for Michigan deer hunters that day is important to them as Christmas is to a little kid. For me, I was gifted with deer hunting and my birthday all in one. For my dad thirty years ago I think he might not have thought so.
This year is going to be very different for me, I moved from Michigan to Wyoming this past summer and planned to come back hunting before I even left Michigan. I have been counting down the days till I get on the airplane to head back home. This season will be very special for me, not only will I be turning thirty this year but this might be one of my last hunts with family and friends. Now I’m not saying this will be my last hunt ever with my dad, but you really need to stop sometimes and think life is short and you never know what the upcoming year might bring. We have a group of family and friends that show up every year to hunting camp. Some new some old, but everyone will not be there forever. This year when you’re at hunting camp or in your blind with your son or daughter this year stop and think, remember the ones that aren’t there with us anymore and cherish the memories of the people that are there with us.
Every year I go deer hunting, and I’m sitting in my blind when the sun rises over the tree line from the east I say to myself happy birthday and instead of making a wish and watch the smoke come off the candles on my cake I want to see smoke out of the barrel of my rifle after I drop a big buck. That’s my birthday wish. I also use this time to clear my head the time in the woods is my filter from day to day life. There is nothing better than sitting in the woods with the cool fall air blowing in my face, my rifle on my lap and doing nothing but hunting. The smells of the fall Michigan woods, now put that on an air freshener.
Thank you for checking out my blog, if you have any comments to what deer season means to you feel free to leave me a comment. Good luck in you upcoming hunt and enjoy your time in the great outdoors.

Wyoming N.W.T.F Banquet

This past Saturday I attended the Northwestern Wyoming National Wild Turkey Federation banquet. It was my first turkey banquet here in Wyoming. I have been a member of the N.W.T.F for over six years now, but this was my first banquet with my new chapter here in Wyoming. The banquet was held at the Cody auditorium and was very well attended, with nearly double attendance that I have encountered at the Michigan banquets I’ve been to. I was welcomed with open arms to the committee of the Northwestern Wyoming chapter. I had a very busy work schedule this past few month, and could not attend the past meetings. The night of the banquet the committee arrived around four in the afternoon for the committee dinner. WOW! I was so surprised for the dinner that was presented to us. Our table was served four whole turkeys, with all the thanksgiving fixings. What a meal!

After the dinner we headed down stairs to get ready for the doors to open to the public. We had over 300 people in attendance for the banquet. The tables were set for ten to a table and each table was served the same meal we had for the committee dinner. Everyone I was able to talk to that evening was very happy with the whole banquet. I had a wonderful time at my first turkey banquet in Wyoming. I would like to thank everyone that was there and most of all thank the Northwestern Wyoming chapter for welcoming me into there chapter.

If you have any questions on joining the N.W.T.F or a local chapter in your area, click on our links page to the National Wild Turkey Federation website.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Western Prostaff Put The Smack Down On Some Waterfowl!!

This past Saturday Up North Pro Staffer Greg Mayton, and I were able to get out and do some waterfowl hunting in the Northwestern Wyoming. This was my first time ever going waterfowl hunting. I do not have a non resident hunting license, so my job was to run camera for them on there hunt. I don’t want to give to much detail about the hunt, Greg is going to blog about his hunt. I will say it was fun and great to get outdoors and get some great footage. I did get to find out the hard way that my chest waders had a nice leak in the crotch area. Very eye opening when it’s 12 degrees and freezing water. All I can say is stay tuned for up coming episodes of Beyond the Wild to see the Western Pro Staff put the smack down on some waterfowl.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Getting ready for your up coming hunting trip

Most of you have read on my blog that I’m going back to Michigan in November to whitetail deer hunt for rifle season. I thought it would be a good time for me to write about what you should plan to take for your hunt. I will be hunting on our family property in Michigan so some things a different for me when it comes to packing for my hunt. The first thing is if your taking a fire arm or bow on a hunt sight it in before you go on your hunt, get comfortable with your rife arm or bow. Next is if your flying to your hunt check with your airline ahead of time to see what is okay and not oaky for you to travel with a fire arm or bow. I on the other hand will be hunting with my dad and I have a rifle back in Michigan that I will be using when I get there. Now that you have your fire arm all taken care of and ready to go, you have to get all you gear ready. I like to lay out all my stuff that I pack in my back pack on the floor. Next I check to make sure all of my gear is in good shape, holes , broken, zippers work. Next I check my gear that will be packed into my back pack for when I’m in my blind, this hunt I will be sitting in my deer blind for many hours at a time. I will not be walking or hiking. I make sure I have hand warmers, a good working compass, maps, if I did not know that area, gloves, hats, ect. I would also make sure I have waterproof matches or a lighter or both. A whistle incase I fall or get hurt I can send out an SOS message with my whistle. I pack bottle water and snacks, trail mix and granola bars. I make sure my flashlights and rangefinder work and have fresh batteries. I have a role of red marking flag tape to use for blood trails, wet wipes, and rubber gloves for cleaning game. I make sure my knife is clean and sharp. I personally have a thermal foil blanket in my pack, you never know what could happen and if you need to sleep in the woods better safe than sorry. I have a grunt call and rattle bag, cameras, and tripod. I have my Dead Down Wind www.deaddownwind.com scent spray in my pack also. Last I have my license for my hunt in my wallet with my drivers license. Money ,and plane ticket.

Next I move onto my clothing. I will check all my cloths for holes or rips, check all zippers and buttons. Fix if needed. I was all my clothes in Dead Down Wind and pack in a scent tight bag for my travel. I wash my Under Armour www.underarmour.com and all my under cloths in Dead Down Wind wash also and pack that in the same bag. I check and make sure my Smart Wool Socks www.smartwool.com are washed and ready to be packed, along with my gloves and hat. I check to make sure my Rocky Hunting Boots www.rockyboots.com have no holes or cracks and are ready for my trip.

I know everyone has there way of getting ready for there upcoming hunts. I thought now was a good time to talk about it. Never wait till the last minute to get your gear around, expecally if your going out of state. Also I mentioned I carry a map. If you have never hunted the area your going to do some homework and check out the land, buy a map or get in contact with the local game and fish or DNR in that state and ask them for information. Most states don’t allow out of state hunters to hunt without a guide. Double check and triple check all your gear and plans for your trip. Good luck and hope you have a safe and enjoyable hunting season.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Caping out your deer for the taxidermist..

It's getting to be deer season and I thought I would put a post up on how to cape out your deer for your taxidermist for a shoulder mount. This works on all deer, elk, and moose. Just remember to much hide is better than not enough, so don't be scared to cut around the middle of the stomach if your not sure where to cut. The picture I posted should help you, but if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.


CAPING FOR A SHOULDER MOUNT
1. With a sharp knife, slit the hide circling the body behind the shoulder at approximately the mid-way point of the ribcage behind the front legs. Slit the skin around the legs just above the knees. An additional slit will be needed from the back of the leg and joining the body cut behind the legs.






2. Peel the skin forward up to the ears and jaw exposing the head/neck junction. Cut into the neck approximately three inches down from this junction. Circle the neck cutting down to the spiral column. After this cut is complete, grasp the antler bases and twist the head off the neck. This should allow the hide to be rolled up and put in a freezer until you can transport it to the taxidermist. These cuts should allow ample hide for the taxidermist to work with in mounting. REMEMBER, the taxidermist can cut off excess hide, but he can't add what he does not have.

When field dresseing a trophy to be mounted, do not cut into the brisket (chest) or neck area. If blood gets on the hide to be mounted, wash it off with snow or water as soon as possible. Also, avoid dragging the deer out of the woods as best you can. Place it on a sled, rickshaw, or 4-wheeler. Rope, rocks, or a broken branch can easily damage the fur or puncture the hide.


If you have any questions feel free to contact me or if you have anything you would like me to talk about feel free to let me know.