For Love of the Hunt

Many of you may not have noticed, but the Maine hunting seasons have already begun with archery, bear, moose, waterfowl, and upland bird starting back in September and October. November is when things really gear up with the firearm deer season ushering the legions of pumpkin (blaze orange) people into the woods.

With so many hunters in the field, you would think being shot or falling out of tree stands would be the biggest dangers. Not so. A handy-dandy Google search revealed that heart attacks are the number one cause of death among deer hunters. Hiking steep and rugged terrain in frigid weather and the excitement of shooting a deer—along with a long drag back to the truck or cabin—put a lot of strain on a person’s heart, especially someone with cardiac disease or risk factors for it. Even the sedentary nature of stand hunting followed by bursts of adrenalin can get a heart pumping to a potentially harmful degree if a person is older and out of shape.

Let’s be honest, a lot of us hunters are not in the best physical condition. Many smoke, don’t exercise regularly, and are overweight. I am no specimen myself. I have usually added some girth throughout the spring and summer and approach the hunting seasons with a strain on my belt. Luckily I bow hunt and run bird dogs, so by the time October is winding down I have dropped as much as 15 pounds. Even so, at 51 years old, I am not the man I used to be as I exchange my bow and scatter gun for my deer rifle in November.

So what are aging and unfit hunters to do? First, before heading into the woods, they should have had a physical exam to determine their susceptibility for a heart attack. Known risk factors need to be checked, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Follow your doctor’s advice concerning any strenuous activities you are planning . . . such as hunting.

How do you know if you may be having heart problems? Cardiac issues do not usually cause sharp pain, but pressure over the chest. It can radiate to shoulders, neck, and arms. It can be accompanied with nausea, sweating, and shortness of breath. Don’t overreact, since many other ailments and circumstances can mimic a heart attack, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and take precautions.

Here are some commonsense steps that can be taken to avoid potential disasters. Hunt close to roads or camp. There is nothing more satisfying than having the woodsman in camp return to see your “camp deer” hanging from the game pole. Hunt with others rather than trekking out alone. Make sure you tell family and friends exactly where you will be hunting. I always leave a detailed map of where I will be on my kitchen counter. My cell phone is a necessity for everyday life but I find it intrusive while in the woods, so I keep it on low vibrate but always bring it.

Learn how to use a map and compass. Get comfortable with a GPS, but always keep a conventional compass attached to it. The panic associated with being lost or “turned around” is not good for the heart—trust me, I’ve been there, done that.

Hydrate yourself and bring a candy bar or two! I used to be able to go all day with hardly a sip of water, but after feeling faint and disoriented while bird hunting a few times I learned to haul water and snacks for me and the dogs.

Probably the best thing a person can do to increase their longevity in the field is to stop smoking. I smoked from my mid-teens until my late 30s. What stopped me? Not the fact my wife is a respiratory therapist and shared horror stories about her smoker patients who were now housebound and on oxygen. Not that my kids would go on “stop smoking campaigns” and place notes all over the house, in medicine cabinets, sock drawers, and in my truck pleading for daddy to stop. Nope, what got me to quit was my fear that if I kept it up I wouldn’t be able to follow my dogs after upland birds, or be able to climb a mountain in search of a Maine buck. Selfish to be certain, but there it is. My love of the outdoors and the sporting life got me to quit smoking cold turkey.

So, take a good look at yourself. It’s tough getting old and with age come increased health issues and concerns. Are you a candidate for a heart attack? If so, go get checked out by your doc and take some commonsense precautions this season. Your heart and your family will thank you.

Brad Eden is an artist, writer, Registered Maine Master Guide, and owner/editor of the online magazine www.uplandjournal.com.