Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Hunting Accident (Fall)

Guys I wanted to share my accident with the group in hopes it might prevent someone else from experiencing something similar. Tuesday afternoon I fell approximately 8’ while attempting to open a shooting house door. The door drags on the bottom so once I got it free I climbed up one additional rung and was attempting to get the door open as it hangs up higher on the door frame. In the process I lost my balance and did not have anything to grab onto to prevent my fall. I hit the ground so quickly I didn’t have time to react to the fall. My right leg took the brunt of the fall snapping my femur. Thankfully it was not a compound fracture, I had my phone secured on me with easy access and I had two friends hunting the property that answered my phone call immediately.

It took rescue about 45 minutes to get on site which was pretty quick considering my location. EMS and the extraction crew was there shortly after. They stabilized me and loaded up for the ride to the ambulance. I fell at approximately 1:30 pm and arrived at Baptist South hospital at approximately 4:00. I was treated with the upmost care throughout the entire process. I was very pleased with the medical I received while at that hospital. The orthopedic surgeon patched me up to the best of his ability and now I have long road ahead of me recovering from the injury.

Please use your safety equipment if climbing! If you hunt out of elevated shooting houses ensure your lumber, ladders and stairs are in good condition. Lastly always keep 3 points of contact just as you would on a step ladder.

My ladder was in good condition, had enough lean so it was not straight up. What I did not have were side/hand rails and 3 points of contact. The shooting house had a door that did not open freely. I had climbed into this shooting house many times over the past 3 years with no problem. All it took was one fall to ruin my season and most likely an injury that will affect me the rest of my life.

Be careful!!

Sorry to hear about your accident and hope you heal up quick!

Glad you’re ok Mike!!! Gotta be careful. Praying for a quick and full recovery.

I’m 41, still in great physical shape, and still have the ability to do anything I want to do. With that said, the last year has taught me one thing for sure, and that’s the fact I’m not as young as I used to be. I don’t recover like I used to. I don’t heal as quickly as I used to. I’m sure that’s a routine thing you’ve done time and time again. It can happen to anyone. Guys and gals, be careful, and don’t take your youth for granted.

holy hell mike. glad you are alive to tell that story. may you have a speedy recovery. femur breaks are nothing to mess with. if you need anything holler

Prayers for your recovery Mike. Thanksgiving for your life.

Mike, praying you make a full and speedy recovery, very soon. So very thankful that you are here to share words of wisdom to others. It could have been a different outcome.

Glad you made it out alive! The leg will heal. Falls aint no joke at any age.

X2

Dang it man!! Hate to hear that! Sorry! But could hav been worse! I worked briefly w a guy that fell off a 6 foot ladder changing a light bulb and it killed him

Also - i noticed that great balance i hav had all my life and strength - aint quiet like it use to be. I can get out of balance at 56 lot easier than i ever hav - weird! But i aint who i use to be and one of the reason i mainly hunt out of ground blinds now

Thanks for safety info

Man sorry to hear that. When I retired three years ago I bought four new shooting houses and made 8’ bases for them with very sturdy leaning ladders and little landings with full rails I could step onto when entering them just because of this. Hope you have a good recovery.

So glad it wasn't worse than it was. Yes, even a set of steps can be hazardous when you least expect it.

Three points of contact at all times are rules to live by.

Really hate to read this Mike, but I’m glad you’re well enough to relay the story. God speed in your recovery, and I hope this injury doesn’t affect you forever like you said.

Glad you had your cell handy, that you had decent signal and folks nearby to help.

I hope your recovery goes smoothly and quickly!

This is just a little set back buddy, you'll be back to what you was doing before in three months or so. I broke both femurs in a car accident with one being comminuted. The first week or so walking on that broken femur is going to suck but it will gradually get better. Take something for pain that first week being putting demand on that leg whether youre hurting or not because you will. I hope you have a fast recovery buddy

in reference to taking pain meds.... if you can tolerate it try to get something with an anti-inflammatory in it. yes the good pain meds work but it is the actual inflammation that causes most of the issue... swelling leads to pain, pain leads to pain meds, meds mask the pain and swelling is still there therefor when pain meds ware off pain is still there

Best wishes to your recovery.

Get well fella. Sure hope recovery is speedy.

Glad you didn't get hurt any worse. You had to hit HARD to break your femur. Holy Hell.

We had a platform with a pop up and used a regular 6ft step ladder as the ladder (good angle). One trip up I watched my dad open the popup and get in from the ladder and I build a landing platform before we came back up and attached that to the platform. After doing it I was dumb for not having it in the first place.

If you want a 4x4 platform, build it 6x4 and use the extra 2x4 as a landing area. Even a 2x2 landing area is enough. Only cost an extra $20-30 if you build it out of 2x8's w/ 2x4 rails.

Glad it wasn’t worse and that you had friends nearby to help
Prayers for a speedy recovery