Cabin Fever

I drive 100+ miles each day commuting, then more with usual running around. I have a '05 Toyota Corolla that I bought new, that now has 189k on it. It's my workhorse! Only changed the oil, tires, breaks, and she's good to go!! Don't think you could put that thing down with a bullet! LOL Had an '06 Nissan Frontier 4x4, that I bought new, and only had 78k on it when I traded it in last week. That POS was a money pit!! One thing after another! We were told last month that the rear differential and some other things were shot and it would cost $2,700 to repair! Screw that! Cut our losses and traded it in last week on a Honda Ridgeline 4x4.

Curious, is this the Stinger 3G?

Curious, is this the Stinger 3G?

I had pics last year of a huge buck where the velvet was just starting to crack on Sept.12th. A neighbor sent me pics of the same buck and he still had quite a bit of it's velvet hanging on Oct. 18th. Very unusual.....

I have to admit, I feel stupid bringing it up to people sometimes, as I know it was my own fault and 100% preventable. Kind of like people getting hurt in an auto accident that didn't have their seatbelt on! Well, DUHHH!! I sat with my daughter through her hunters safety course and felt like crawling under the table when the instructor brought up the importance of wearing a safety harness while hunting from a stand! I should have spoken up, as I might have saved someones life someday, but I just hung my head feeling like a dumb ass. I guess, I just hope I can save someone on the forum from going through what I (and my family) have gone through, because of my negligence stupidity. My daily pain reminds me of it and that it could have been MUCH MUCH worse... Ya' know, I might just talk to some hunter and bow hunter safety instructors in the area, tell them my story, and offer to share with their classes, if they would like. Something I could do to give back and maybe save a life, if their parents don't have sense enough to get the kids safety harnesses on their own or even if a new adult hunter that is unfamiliar with them.

Was thinking... Are we "sick" for wanting to see the exit shot??

If you're good at law and have an interest in the outdoors, have you considered doing something along the lines of Environmental Law or Environmental Engineer/Specialist? I work for a very large company as an Environmental Management Representative. I ensure my areas/buildings are in compliance with environmental regulations (Title V, MACT, RCRA, etc...), in conformance with ISO 14001 guidelines, and also in compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910. The Environmental Engineers or Specialists stay on top of changing regulations and decipher the legal jargon. They then bring me into it to tell me what needs to be done to comply. I relay the information to management, take it to my areas/buildings, make it happen, and stay on top of it to be sure we remain in regulatory compliance or ISO 14001 conformance. My work helps ensure we will be in good shape when we are audited. Basically, I just help keep our nose clean! I like what I do, as I do get a sense of satisfaction out of it. I'm not only helping to protect my employer from thousands upon thousands of dollars (/ day) in fines, but I look at it as also helping to protect the environment too, from pollution (air, water, soil, improper hazardous waste ending up in landfills, improper hauling of dangerous/hazardous across roadways, etc...). If my commute wasn't so far, I might even say I love my job! Have you considered teaching Environmental Law?

Very Nice! Cool idea having the other cam on the opposite side! Was hoping to see the footage from that cam during the shot too. Too graphic? LOL

Nice! I'm sure you'll be happy with your choice!

Paula - There is a video link (to the left of the price) on the HSS lifeline site http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/lifeline/ , that shows you how it works.

The other thing I learned from the fall was that 230lbs of red-hot-lovin' makes a hell of a THUD when it hits the ground from 20'!

Getting to be about that time!!

Right On!!!

I posted my story the last couple of years, hoping it will wake some fellow hunters up, so they won't have to go through, what I have: Exactly 4 years ago this month, I fell out of my treestand while out checking stands. I always wore my safety harness while hunting, but this day, I just happened to be out checking trailcams, and unexpectedly, thought I would check stands also, to kill two birds with one stone. I climbed up 20', looked the stand over, tried to shake it, but seemed rock solid. I grabbed a limb for balance (that I have used over the past 3-4 years everytime I got into this stand) as I transferred my weight from the climbing stick to my stand. I heard a "snap", when the now dead limb broke, and I knew I was screwed... I didn't panic, but was almost at peace, understanding that I was either gonna be dead or paralyzed when I hit the ground and at that point, freefalling, it was out of my hands. The first thing I said was, "Oh Rose" (my wifes name), almost apologizing for my stupid mistake. I remember hitting the ground and rolling down the hill. When I opened my eyes, I slowly moved my arms and legs. I almost chuckled to myself, thinking I had just fallen 20', I was still alive and apparently didn't get hurt! I stood up, immediately fell over, THEN the pain hit! I knew I had broken my foot and ankle. Not knowing if I had any internal injuries, that the adrenaline was covering up, I grabbed my cell and called my wife, to let her know my location. I then crawled and hobbled on one foot ~1/4 mile back to camp (screaming in pain the whole way). LONG story short, I broke my foot in 3 places. But, that has proven to be the least of my problems. I have so much joint damage, bone on bone grinding, and now arthritis in about every joint in my foot, that I have terrible daily pain and it limits my day to day activities. I had my 3rd surgery in Dec. '12, that required some joint fusion and ankle surgery. With each surgery, I was in a cast, on crutches, and no weight bearing for 8-12 weeks. On top of the physical pain, I racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills, felt like a burden on my family, lost the entire hunting season that first year, and lost a LOT of money being out of work while recovering. While I was laid up the first time, I ordered the HSS Life Lines for EVERY stand that I have. (Yep, it cost me over $300, but still well worth the investment!) I've learned that most treestand falls happen when you are making that transisition between steps and the stand, just like mine. Until my fall, I always wore a safety harness while in the stand, but it wouldn't have done me a damn bit of good anyway, because I wasn't even in the stand yet to strap in! If you don't use a LIFELINE http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/lifeline/ or something similar, you're still an accident waiting to happen! "Oh, but I'm very careful and pay attention", yeah, I was always "extra careful" too!!! Keep telling yourself that..... tick, tock..... Using a lifeline, I am attached to the tree from the time my feet leave the ground, until I climb back down! If I slip or fall off the steps, the prusik knot on the lifeline locks up and prevents me from falling/hitting the ground. Both my kids (teens) hunt, and ever since day one, I bought them each a HSS Pro Series safety harness! I know I got out of this treestand fall VERY lucky, as the outcome could have been much much worse. My daily pain, 4 years later, is a constant reminder of my stupidity! Makes me so sad to hear stories of hunters that have fallen out of treestands, knowing that it was 100% preventable!! You could even have a medical issue (heart attack, stroke, diabetic attack, pass out, dizzy, or whatever) in the stand, that could cause you to fall out of the stand. That safety harness will save you from hitting the ground!!! Plus, if you don't wear a safety harness for yourself, do it for your wife, kids, parents, or other loved ones that are depending on you returning home safely... Be safe and happy hunting. For Your Viewing Pleasure! This was a couple of weeks after my last surgery, in between casts! Franken-Foot!!

I dusted off the coon traps last fall, for the first time in years. The only reason I did it, was to take out a few nest raiders and help manage the population. I trapped all along my lane (~1/2 mile) at camp, as to not intrude in the woods and spook and deer, since I was out there to bowhunt. I got ~14 coons and opossums. The guy buying the pelts was right on my way home anyway, so it wasn't out of my way at all. I only got $6-$10 for every coon. Didn't skin 'em or anything. Wasn't doing it to make $ anyway...

The HSS has a 4X/5X you could inquire about. http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/wp-content/uploads/HSS-900_OrderForm.pdf I see their 2X/3X is rated to 300lbs, so the 4X/5X should do the trick for you.

I just peel 'em and eat 'em! No recipe required! Makes a nice snack!

When I planted them in the past, I always lightly disced them to cover, then rolled. This year, I broadcast the seed 3x, about 4-5 days apart, so I couldn't disc them in to cover the seed. I just rolled each time to get good/firm seed to soil contact. Plus, in the past, I didn't have a flock of turkeys tearing the hell out of the seed either... I now have white garbage bags AND aluminum pie plates blowing in the wind in the plots! We'll see... Hoping this stretch of sun (Finally!) will get things growing and greening up. I'm seeing some green. The neighbors triticale field is starting to green up nicely too.

Unfortunately, I'm sure this won't be the last one that we hear about this fall.... WEAR THOSE SAFETY HARNESSES, LINEMANS BELTS, AND USE LIFELINES!!!! http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/

WTF....

A pic would help make it more tempting...

That sucks! Such a shame fellow hunters have such a lack of respect for eachother.

And ya know, what few deer there are around, I would like to keep around, to better the chances that one of my kids (14 and 18) will get, to keep their interest in hunting! Geez, I even refrain from shooting some deer myself to keep them around! My son has been bow and gun hunting for 4 years now and has only gotten 2 does! He's never had the opportunity to shoot a buck. This will be my daughters first year! Of course I don't want someone tresspassing on my property! The signs say "POSTED", NOT "Welcome"!!

Man, those are nice!! That first one has some hellacious (is that a word? ) mass to it too!

Very Nice!! Hopefully he'll have that rack all polished up for ya'!!