Help Tough choice.

[huntnut66]

Hello All,

I'm 47 years old and have hunted colorado several times before but now face a tough decision i need some help deciding on whether to continue elk hunting or give it up? In september of 2013 i suffered a heart attack and ended up with stents as a result. I had to cancel my 2013 rifle hunt. Doctors have cleared me to do anything i chose, but im concerned about the altitiude. Has anyone here ever gone elk hunting after having a heart attack and stent placements and if so how did you do.

Thanks in advance.
Pete

[ElkNut1]

Pete, welcome to the ElkNut Forum!

First & foremost I'd be consulting my doctor for the answer to your question. If the OK is given but elevation is a crucial part of the decision making then I'd consider lower elevation elk hunts. There are plenty of states with elk in the 4000" to 6500" elevation that hold decent numbers of elk on public land OTC hunts. Just food for thought!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

Welcome to the forum huntnut166. Here in Oregon there is public land OTC areas available at sea level. There is a lot of land below 6,000 feet elevation. Do you have anyone to hunt with?

[huntnut66]

Elknut1 & swede

Thank you for your replies My cardio doctor said go and have fun, he also said go as far you can and when you get tired just stop and take a break ( common sense) as far as someone to hunt with the group i normally go with hunt has only hunted in co. but we havent even discussed other options as of yet.

[Still Hunter]

I've had doctors tell me to stop hunting. That was 5-6 elk in the freezer ago.

If you want to die faster. Stop doing something you love. If I die on the mountain hunting for elk. It will be with a smile on my face.

[huntnut66]

Still Hunter thats exactly how i feel. I LIVE FOR ELK HUNTING!!! Iwas crushed lasst year when i had to cancel the the trip but i lookED at it as I would give up one hunt to hunt for a lifetime.

[Still Hunter]

As you said already. Just use common sense. When I was younger and my heart was going 200 BPM I just kept going. Now at 71 years old, I stop and take rests along the way. No matter. I still get to the top.

The important part is to not give up. Screw negative people who tell you you can't do something.

[Indian Summer]

I had a client once who had a severe reaction to altitude. We had to take him off of the mountain and get him to the hospital. We came up with a plan, asked the doc what he thought, he liked it, and it went well.

We still hunted anywhere we wanted to but instead of staying on the mountain 24/7 he stayed at the bottom at the trailhead camp and went back up to hunt each day.

Think about the word "cardiovascular". If you do things like aerobics and treadmill time you'll really be preparing your body for altitude. Then when you plan your hunt I'd say stay below 9000 feet and you'll be fine. You might have a plan to camp low like we did with that one hunter too. To tell the truth I have never hunted elk much higher than 9000 feet and mostly around 7000.

Like Paul mentioned.... Tell your doctor exactly what your plans are and maybe schedule as thorough physical for right before you leave to hunt. And of course.... once you're there don't over do it. Good luck.

[cnelk]

A few years ago I hunted with a guy who was fairly young [late 30s]. Heart disease ran in his family.
He was a NonRes, lived at about 1000ft
At that time, he had 5 stints in his heart. It didnt slow him down at all. He was an elk killing machine

The only scare we had was one time he killed an elk at 10,500ft and while he was gutting it out, he cut his hand.
Being on Coumadin, he started bleed pretty good. We got him off the mtn, back to camp and got the bleeding stopped.
Went back the next day and retrieved the elk

Put your condition behind you, but be aware of it, and go hunt elk

Good Luck

[pointysticks]

i say you stay at it!! the doctor gave you his/her blessings.. so let's do this!! you owe your ticker the best damn fun you can muster..i say, get on a physician monitored exercise program..eat like you mean it..low fat, no fast food, low sodium...be the model patient.

the heart attack was a wake up call..are you gonna answer? you can always hunt with one of us..i'd be happy to pack a portable AED in my pack for you bro..

you pay for the horse packer guys. hehe.

[huntnut66]

Everyone,

Thanks for the advise and the offers on helping me. I truely appreicate it. i looked at the area we hunted last year and it was 9000 ft or lower. the group seen alot of elk and shot two beauties. Like cnelk said put the condition behind me but be aware of it.Pointysticks i have answered the wake up call already doing cardio rehab, NO FAST FOODS, cut was back on the red meats and eating alot of fruits,veggies and fish(yuck) thats the real incentive is to harvest an elk is for the meat. The doc says its good for me and I love it.