Planning with chronic injuries

[Duck-Slayer]

At the ripe old age of 35 I find myself facing the reality that I have physical limitations that are here to stay.

I’ve known my knees haven been shot for years, but got an MRI on the left one this August. Full thickness fissure in the cartilage capping my femur. Still waiting on the referral for imaging on the right one, but it’s historically been the worse of the two, so I’m not optimistic. My deer season vacation last year was ended on the first day when my right knee went out while trying to cross over a downed tree trunk.

On top of that, I blew out my low back today by simply bending over to take screw out of some lumber. Dropped me to the ground, took close to 30 minutes before I could stand all the way back up and limp to the house. Not the first time it’s happened, either. Last time I was just loading the laundry machine. Luckily(?) this has so far been a muscle issue, not the spine itself.

I had bought my first elk tag back in early summer. I have the utmost of doubts that I can get through the steep thick stuff they’ll be hiding in to find one, or that I’ll be able to pack one out if I did connect on a bull. If it doesn’t wreck my knees, it might do in my back. Has me wondering if I should just cancel my hunt now, before I get invested, and my hopes up, too much.

Anyone else dealt/dealing with this level of uncertainty in your physical abilities? How do you plan or prepare for your seasons? Everyone talks so much crap about road hunters, but I’m worried that’s what I may soon be restricted to.

I was in your position, maybe worse in 2006 car wreck, where I had to learn to walk and talk again. At present I’ve had 2 hand surgeries, 2 heel surgeries, 1 lower back surgery. So I never thought I’d be doing what I do now, every year till I can’t. I made the decision to get into pack stock. Specifically pack goats since with my injuries that’s about all I can handle. Fast forward to 2026, I have 4 wilderness hunts planned, 1 done, 3 to go. Don’t ever think that you can’t do it! Make the appropriate decision/plans/changes and start hunting elk every year. Unless you’re dead, there’s 0 reasons to not!
Matt

 

[FairWeather]

I was in your position, maybe worse in 2006 car wreck, where I had to learn to walk and talk again. At present I’ve had 2 hand surgeries, 2 heel surgeries, 1 lower back surgery. So I never thought I’d be doing what I do now, every year till I can’t. I made the decision to get into pack stock. Specifically pack goats since with my injuries that’s about all I can handle. Fast forward to 2026, I have 4 wilderness hunts planned, 1 done, 3 to go. Don’t ever think that you can’t do it! Make the appropriate decision/plans/changes and start hunting elk every year. Unless you’re dead, there’s 0 reasons to not!
Matt

That’s wild, glad to hear you’re doing better than you were before. Do you rent the goats, or own/raise them yourself?

 

[Duck-Slayer]

That’s wild, glad to hear you’re doing better than you were before. Do you rent the goats, or own/raise them yourself?

I raise them myself,
Matt

 

[JLDemo]

I feel for ya, i do. Military has wrecked my shoulder and lower back, but I've opted for physical therapy over surgery on the back, my shoulder required surgery and will again. I don't know if physical therapy would help your situation but it did mine. The VA is so back logged i requested care in the community and was granted my choice of PT and orthopedic surgeon. PT sucks, but man, it's a game changer over surgery if possible.

With my issues in mind, I do have to plan around my limitations. I've really put an emphasis on antelope, upland, and waterfowl because I'm so worried about my shoulders. I do this because I don't need help packing anything. I do miss back country hunting. Big time. I've seriously considered buying a few BLM burrows to pack in an out so I don't miss any back country deer/elk. But just can't justify buying them and only using a few weeks a year.

Renting llamas or goats is a real option, I'm seriously considering it. Wish the VA would pay for that!

I don't have any real advice to help, just encourage you to use the VA or their resources. It all starts with a primary care at the VA to get referrals.

You don't have to stop any adventures, just work around your limits and make sure the fun aspect outweighs the pain. I'm at a crossroads with that, do I endure the pain of all the flack of using a crossbow with my shoulder or just go out and have fun? So far, I've left the crossbow at home. Largely because my wife sends me "it all started with my first crossbow" memes of Kaitlin Jenner.