Usually with a month to go before a big hunt. I start worrying about what could happen to cause my hunt to be cancelled or cause me not to go. More recently it's been health issues, and how to stay healthy that last thirty days.

I've had two close calls in the past month. After not having bowled for ten years I got talked into going to a mall. Rented bowling shoes. First approach, planted the left foot and it didn't slide an inch, "pop", the left knee.

I'm still feeling that.

Next up my doctor says my blood thinner medication isn't working and asked me to increase the dosage 50%. A week later my wife thinks we need a spa treatment so I get the foot reflexology while she gets a massage. The guy is a little too strong with the manipulation, but, what the Hell. Next day both feet are swollen and all toes are black from the tips to about an inch into the foot; internal bleeding, great.

I'm two weeks from take off, I'm not taking any more chances, not doing anything new, or changing my normal routine. I've got a buffalo and a sable waiting for me if I can keep from bunging myself up any more.

In 2004 my dumb move was walking 18-holes in borrowed shoes, a size and a half smaller than mine. Net result, lost one big toenail a month before a backpack Dall Sheep hunt. I taped the other on, but lost it three days into a ten day hunt.

So what do you worry about when you get close to take-off, with Africa in your sights; being stupid or being unlucky?

Funny thing you asked.. A couple of months ago I had to cancel a hunt for siberian ibex (+ brown bear) in Russia, because of a bad knee (probably because of borreliouses from a tick bite).. The hunt involved a lot of trekking through rough country and my doctor advised me not to go. Never had any health issues actually so this was new to me.. My booking agent has promised me I can use the money for another hunt, and I will probably be doing this next may instead.

But it was frustrating for sure. I had booked well in advance and had been looking forward to the hunt for almost a year..

The travel insurance I have will cover any financial loss due to health issues, but not the frustration..

I have always been very careful before such important hunts, but there`s something you can never can foresee. So being unlucky is my biggest worry, I guess..

hey - whats going to happen will happen, what do you want to do - stop living?? I'll got 2 kneecaps that will pop loose on occasion a herniated disc in my back and a seperated shoulder, but i'm still on my way to alaska to go moose hunting. be careful, but don't worry about what you don't have control over anyway

Last minute injuries and/or illnesses seem to plague us all -- and we all spend the last month or two before a big hunt trying our best to avoid them, often to no avail.

But, there is an answer -- one of those answers so obvious that we overlook it.

Simply plan the trip one or two months earlier, so that all of the injuries and/or illness happens after you've returned!

Next problem.

I usually worry that I'll smack my trigger finger with a hammer or otherwise debilitate it while at work.

About three weeks before my safari last year (my first), I developed a huge chalazion on my eyelid. It was blurring my vision pretty badly in that eye, and about a week out from the trip I decided, on my doctor's advice, to have it surgically removed.

My vision was still a bit blurry when I got on the plane in Dulles, but it finally cleared up by the time I landed in Africa... I'm glad I got it removed, but man, I don't want to ever go through that again.

Never even thought about it until I read this post.
You can only control so many things anyhow
Robert

I make my living as a professional rodeo cowboy, riding bareback broncs, and have for the last 14 years. Our only off season is in December, therefore I am competeing virtually all year, usually right up to the day I leave to go on a hunt I have booked somewhere.

I have occasionally worried about getting hurt before a big hunt, the first time I went elephant hunting......well I tore the Medial Collateral ligament in my right knee and sepparated ribs on my left side 2 weeks before the hunt......I went, took 800mg of Ibuprofen 3 times a day and shot a bull after 11 days of walking..........

Last year I was booked to go to Mongolia for Ibex and again, two weeks before I tore the Medial Meniscus in my right knee........I went, took 800mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day and was able to take a great Ibex and Gazelle.....

I am leaving for Namibia on Sep 29th and I just completely tore my right groin muscle and sustained a partial rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder as well......now I do have 5 weeks to recover before I leave but if I was supposed to leave tomorrow I would get on the plane.......take 800mg of ibuprofen 3 times daily and go hunting.......

Whats the point....I have worried about not being able to make a hunt because getting injured is, potentially, a daily occurance in my profession....but I have come to realize that if you get hurt before a hunt you are either able to suck it up and do it or you are not...either way it is out of your controll so dont waste any sleep or change your routine, if it happens well make a plan from there.

As an athalete I truly believe that if you worry about something negative, long and hard enough you will bring it upon yourself.....it works in reverse as well, if you want something bad enough, truly want it deep down inside, where it consumes you.....you will make it happen. So with that just think happy thoughts

Sorry, didnt mean to get all "out there" on yall

Dang, Silwane.....and I thought designing buildings was a dangerous profession...paper cuts on the trigger finger are brutal....but I don't feel so bad now.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
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Kidney Stones......

Good point!!

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
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Telling my wife about the next trip.

luggage handlers

Silwane,

Sounds to me like booking a hunt gets you hurt. Every time you book one, you get hurt.

MJines sort of beat me to the question, "What is your biggest worry"

My wife finding out what the hunt costs!

OK, you guys are jacking with me now. I leave for my first trip to Africa in 27 days. I have been trying not to think about any potential injuires. My job is relatively safe, but I have 48 alligators tags to fill between 9-2 and when we leave. I have been doing this for 30 years with no serious injuries. But then what could happen with rifles, pistols, knives, hooks, airboats, snakes, and alligators?

Playing hoops with some NBA guys in a pickup game in 2003, I tore my left groin. Not real bright as I left for Tanzania a week later. I taped it up and kept my mouth shut. You can't fix stupid...

Jeff

Hurricanes

Right on BNagel........right now Fay is hammering my house with raindrops the size of your thumb at about 50 mph.
Guess us Floridians have to take the bitter with the sweet!

.....but I do have a big generator...just in case.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
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My biggest worry is whether my luggage and guns get through to my final destination.

Namibiahunter

I worry about something coming up with the family and with injuries too. But the worst anxiety is worrying that my rifles will get there with me. I'm a lefty and the idea of elephant hunting with a borrowed rifle sucks, with a barrowed righty rifle - send chills doewn my spine.

JPK

I don't worry much - since it's about as constructive an activity as chewing on rocks - but, as others have said, safe arrival of luggage, and rifles in particular, at the destination airport does worry me.

But even then I only worry at the last minute, while I'm hanging out at the baggage carousel, looking I'm sure like a lost kid in a crowd searching for his parents.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Kidney Stones......

Those are a bitch. Have a friend who really wants to go buff hunting, but he has recurring stones and can't get out of range of a surgeon for too long. Bad luck.

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
My biggest worry is whether my luggage and guns get through to my final destination.

Namibiahunter

Mine, also. Always. I've had a rifle lost in transit and don't want to repeat that again.

Just get tough or die!

silwane-

Maybe you could try something a little safer, like bull riding

WHAT IS MY BIGGEST WORRY?

Not ever getting back to Africa, but at the age of 72, and on a fixed "LOW" income it looks like a given, at this point!

..............Damn, it's hell to get old!

quote:

..............Damn, it's hell to get old!

Yes - but congratulations on having made it. The alternative is not something to strive for. And, as I'm starting to learn, getting old is definitely not for wimps!

Mac....we will all allow you to live vicariously thru us.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
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I worry about my rifles. I had one stock crack lengthwise a couple weeks brfore a safari and it gave me serious stress.

Mike,

So how much for a gator hunt? Sounds like it might be a ball.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by silwane:
I make my living as a professional rodeo cowboy, riding bareback broncs, and have for the last 14 years.

That may be the first time I've seen a picture of a still-moving animal on this forum

Being worthy.

How about being less than three weeks from departure and letting a screw on the stock of a .375 H&H get a bit loose and have the scope and rings get torn apart by recoil at the range. Expensive mistake and damn near gave me a stroke last week.

Dean

Maki

That was mine two years ago. I was finishing the last tune-up at the range and about to bag the rifle when I glanced at the front ring. It was sitting at a slightly cocked-angle and the screws were nearly stripped. I ran back to the gun shop, had them re-mount the scope, and back to the range to sight-in and get my confidence back. I'm sure everything would have parted on the sight-in shot in camp in Zimbabwe if I hadn't caught it.

Health issues. I´ve been on seven trips to Africa and the only crap I´ve had has been from my body... I´ve never cancelled a trip due to health issues but sometimes I´ve had to make compromises.

Kensco

quote:

get my confidence back

That is the big one, for me shooting is all about confidence. Maybe it is just wishful thinking, but since the rifle was put back together with new scope and rings it feels more alive. I got a different brand of rings, and while they are supposed to be identical to the broken set, there is some small difference. The old set up fit me very well, the new set up is darn near perfect. Can't wait to get to the range tomorrow.

Dean

Oday,
"It's tough getting old" you say!

Hmmmm, I hadn't noticed! in fact I refuse to notice!!

Tough getting old is a WHOLE lot better than the alternative,eh. Counting the days 32 heading downward.

Gustav is now my biggest concern. I live about 10 miles from the coast directly in the current storm path. We leave for Tanzania in 19 days.