Wounded While Quartering Elk!

[ElkNut1]

This is always on ones minds new or old when miles from camp or rig! If injured it seems panic can set in quickly & we may act in haste & worsen the problem. What can we do to calm the situation as to not add to the seriousness of our situation? This is great food for thought because you never know what can happen in the elkwoods? I've been in on several accidents with knives over the years where ones were cut & the adrenalin rush can really get the best of us. One incident was with my son as he was cutting through the hide of a bull he had taken minutes earlier, I was helping quartering when his knife shot through the hide & into the top of his leg & it buried in deep, it scared the living daylights out of me some years back, all I could think of was him bleeding to death on the mtn. We did our best to stop the bleeding with a tourniquet of flagging tape & athletic tape we carried. (we now carry other blood loss agents) It stopped enough to hobble him off the mountain for nearly 3 hours & rushed him to the hospital to get sewn up. I've seen several other incidents over the years & thank God they all turned out OK. Incidents like this can get a guy to praying!

How about you folks? Please share any misfortunes as this or things that we could carry that may make the difference in stopping blood loss!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

My incident was not nearly as serious, but I had to go to the doctor to get sewed back together.
I was just about finished with an elk I had killed in the early afternoon. The place where the elk dropped must have been very near a Yellow jackets nest. The pesky insects were everywhere. I batted them off the elk and would go back to work on it for a couple minutes then, with some green Douglas-fir boughs I would swat them away again. I had the hide off and reached up inside the elk to cut something. I really don't know why, but I reached up inside and got a hold of something with my left hand, then with my right hand I went in with a razor sharp knife. All of a sudden a Yellow jacket stung my left hand. As a reaction I jerked my left hand back into the knife and nearly lost a finger.
I pinched the circulation off to the end of the finger and walked out to the truck. I wrapped it as good as I could. I waited for my friends to arrive. I expected them as I had left a message in camp for them to come. After they came, they finished the elk and I drove into the doctor.

[elk-n-walleye]

a few years ago my boss told me about his mishap. he had arrowed his bull, tracked the blood trail and located it. He then quickly went to the top of a point to get a signal to make a call out. When he got back he took his knife and began to field dress the elk. upon opening up the body cavity a burst of gases escaped. It was unexpected and it startled him and his reaction caused him to cut a deep gash in his thumb. Fortunately he was cutting away from his body which is Hunter Safety 101.

good thread. hopefully lots of things to think about are posted.

[elk-n-walleye]

My incident was not nearly as serious, but I had to go to the doctor to get sewed back together.
I was just about finished with an elk I had killed in the early afternoon. The place where the elk dropped must have been very near a Yellow jackets nest. The pesky insects were everywhere. I batted them off the elk and would go back to work on it for a couple minutes then, with some green Douglas-fir boughs I would swat them away again. I had the hide off and reached up inside the elk to cut something. I really don't know why, but I reached up inside and got a hold of something with my left hand, then with my right hand I went in with a razor sharp knife. All of a sudden a Yellow jacket stung my left hand. As a reaction I jerked my left hand back into the knife and nearly lost a finger.
I pinched the circulation off to the end of the finger and walked out to the truck. I wrapped it as good as I could. I waited for my friends to arrive. I expected them as I had left a message in camp for them to come. After they came, they finished the elk and I drove into the doctor.

regarding the yellow jackets... what types of remedies would scatter them that could be kept in a pack? would the chili pepper or the therma-cell device work?

[JJ Overkill]

I have yet to be involved in anything like this yet but I do carry gaze and this stuff. I can compress a wound very tightly with this. heck of a pressure bandage. pual whats the other blood loss agent you carry. I might have to find a spot in my pack for it. this stuff is 3M vetrap bandaging tape. found in most feed and seed stores. much cheaper there than say walmart.

[husky390]

Take a first aid class and freshen up on the fundamentals before you go. If you're versed in first aid emergency's, your training will take over. Remember your ABC's! That's Airway, Bleeding, Circulation. Just like getting lost, the worst thing you can do is panic. Stop, gather the facts, and make a plan of action and stick to it.

I have qwik clot as part of my kit, plus gauze and compression bandages. I don't have a tourniquet yet, but I do have para cord and a belt that will work in a pinch. I carry a shamagh and game bags as well and I'm sure those would work in a pinch to wrap/stuff a wound.

[Olydog09]

This is a subject near and dear to my hunting plans. I was born with a degenerative kidney disease and had to go on dialysis about 8 years ago, I have since had a transplant about 4 years ago but when you do hemo dialysis they put what is called a Fistula in your upper or lower arm by joining an artery and vein. That fistula grows large so it can handle the oversize size needles needed for dialysis. Mine grew larger than most and looked like a small python on my upper left arm. I was always afraid of cutting it while working on an animal or even just snagging it on a sharp object as it was so big. I just had the surgery to get it reversed 3 weeks ago as it was that big of a concern to me. When in the field I carried clotters and tourniquets and the army sterile bandage wrap but honestly it was so big that if I had cut it I doubt I could have controlled it before I bled out. Think femoral artery x2 or 3. I used a very stout arm guard as protection when cutting game or doing other things that may have endangered it.

Here is a picture where you can see it on my upper left arm. It went all of the way up my shoulder but the most exposed area is the part you can see in the picture. It was probably 1" in diameter and I was always scared of puncturing it even by just catching a sharp branch or other object on it. So good thread Paul. We need to be aware of possible dangers that we can prepare for when entering the woods.

[Fridaythe13th]

I know a guy who was doing a deer drive in a corn field, it was close to the road so only 2 people carried guns out of the 6 people that were there. Dave who had a gun was walking cross rows and saw a deer, beaded up shot and hit the deer. The deer was so puzzled she got up and ran right at him not stopping Dave shot 3 more time before the deer hit him right in the chest and the gun went flying. He woke up in a lot of pain, got up found his gun but had a difficult time picking it up because the deer broke both collar bones and some ribs. His hunting party was sitting at the truck wondering where he was, when he came out of the corn field. They help him to the truck and empty is gun the first shell out was a fired round that how close the deer was. The only thing Dave could say was, good thing it wasn't a buck. We still ask him why he didn't move over a row. BTW they followed the blood trail and never found the deer. If you hunt in MN look out around corn fields

Last year I did not carry any first aid with me. That is going to change this year. Thank you

[Garrett Drach]

Fortunately all major lacerations I've been involved with have been close to vehicles, so a quick trip to the hospital was possible. The biggest emergency we had in the back country ended with a helicopter ride off the mountain- having a satellite device was crucial to getting help quickly and accurately. And to add to Swede's post on yellow-jackets, we also carry one EpiPen for every hunting pair, just in case someone has an allergic reaction when stung.

[Lark Bunting]

I carry enough in my first aid kit to treat majority of the injuries which could occur while hunting, fly fishing and camping. I don't have an Epipen though...good call. I do have Benadryl though...

We are putting together a kit for my son's pack now. I believe our Rec center offers a first aid course. It would be good for the two of us to attend one this summer.

[Wyo67]

We've been fortunate that any incidents we've had afield have been minor. That said, still carry necessary basic first aid items to the mountains. Emergency blood loss items include spare game bag for gauze, para cord, and a large roll of hockey tape. My partner is also diabetic, so I have extra sugar items for him just in case...

[Swede]

Elk-n-eyes: I really don't know. I did not have anything with me to ward off insects, so I cut some fir boughs to flail away at them. That was not very effective, but was better than nothing.
The area I hunt has a bumper crop of yellow jackets every few years. They can be a real problem. One time I was enjoying a sandwich for lunch. I started to bite down on it, but unfortunately for both of us, a yellow jacket had laid claim to the part I was about to eat. To make a long story short, I survived, but the yellow jacket didn't.

[rowdycwby1]

I've never cut myself to bad yet quartering anything mostly just nicks or slite nicks I've been real lucky so far. I carry a simple first aid kit then I add vet wrap, a couple of scouple blades and suture material and disinfectants just in case. Only thing I want is clotting powder but I might try and get some suffer sticks to carry.

[itsnlkthing]

My first aid kit has all the basics, plus gauze, blood clotting agent and some left over pain meds. I have benadryl but the epi pen is a great suggestion. I have one in the truck but didn't have it with me. Some great ideas here. ..

[Kevrod3]

Not everyone is a lucky as me to hunt the backcountry with a surgeon, so I would take a look at this vid by Cameron Hanes on giving yourself stitches.
http://youtu.be/uJqIqKuxhbs

As much as it would suck to have to give yourself stitches, its nice to know how. My buddy always carries a few needles and some suture just in case. Ace bandage might not be a bad idea as well.

[mds]

No serious mishaps in the hills (knock on wood) but I have been around multiple gun shoot wounds at the range. I carry a booboo kit and a blow out kit. I carry large butterflies and super glue instead of emergency sutures. I sacrifice one outer quick access pocket for the blow out kit, it has hemostats, gauze, wrap, and tourniquet ready for quick access. If I had more medical training, I could add a couple of extra things to treat a few common causes of immediate death. If it doesn't qualify as a booboo, my goal is to keep them from dying and "treat it with diesel" - that is, get them to the truck and the hospital where trained people can fix almost anything.

Great point about keeping cool. My latest field medicine class featured the concept of "eating your Snickers." The story is of a green beret combat medic who carried a small Snickers bar at the top of his med gear. He'd always eat his Snickers before jumping into a medical situation, give himself time to calmly reflect on the right things to do. The one exception is massive hemorrhage, if someone is bleeding out from particular wounds, you need to stop that RFN.

Good thread!

[Ridgernr]

I haven't had any major mishaps either but I carrying Steri strips, super glue and vet wrap. I have a suture kit but I dont carry it in the field , Suturing in the field is not needed and the risk of infection is worse . Super glue and steri strips will do the same and be careful not to seal the wound up completely. Super glue for small annoying slices and steri strips for the bigger deeper cuts.

[Trophyhill]

I wounded myself while going gutless on my buddies mulie this past November. My hand slipped off the hide and I cut myself to the bone on the first joint above my nail on my left pinky finger. Bled like a heart shot elk. I carry first aid supplies in my pack. I wrapped it just tight enough with athletic tape to bring the blood flow to an occasional dribble and was able to clean it and re wrap when we got back to camp that night. Being prepared for these types of mishaps is at the top of my list. You just never know when a more serious injury could happen. I would encourage all to get some type of first aid training and know what to do without panicking.

[ElkNut1]

Wow, lots of close calls! It's good to see more hunters are considering first aid supplies! I don't feel ones need to be over loaded with extra wt. but at least have ways to stop bleeding! We now carry Celotex which will stop major blood loss very quickly. Haven't used it yet & sure hope never will. (grin)

Dave, that cut you experienced had to hurt like hell !! Ouch!

ElkNut1

[Lefty]

Ive had a few Utility knife blade accidents at work, nearly cut my index finger off and another time my middle finger, a few other good cuts on , hands and wrist.

Iv guess Ive been extra carefull in the woods,I use to skin a lot of my fur in the field, never once drew blood in the field

I carry lots of vet wrap in my truck , ATV and first aid kit including quick clot

[Kevrod3]

Wow, lots of close calls! It's good to see more hunters are considering first aid supplies! I don't feel ones need to be over loaded with extra wt. but at least have ways to stop bleeding! We now carry Celotex which will stop major blood loss very quickly. Haven't used it yet & sure hope never will. (grin)

Dave, that cut you experienced had to hurt like hell !! Ouch!

ElkNut1

Paul you said something about Celotex. I Googled it and it came up something about a certain type of insulation. Is it a quick clot substance?

[ElkNut1]

Kevin, yes it is a Quick clot powder I believe. (to date haven't opened it) It has gauze with it that you soak up what blood you can then pour entire bag of contents onto wound, the packet is a bit larger than a koolaid packet so it's small & light weight. I found it out from the armed services, they use it & claim it will stop bleeding from a shotgun blast at close range! After my sons incident years ago I purchased two of them one for him & one for myself, I always carry it. I also try to carry it with us when we cut wood for our homes & camp, you just never know where a serious accident may happen! I'll take a photo of it & post it for you!

ElkNut1

[ElkNut1]

Kevin, sorry bud I was spelling it wrong! It's Celox, here's a link to it -- http://www.amazon.com/CELOX-Temporary-T ... B0032UY9BQ

ElkNut1

[Washington Wapiti]

So far so good . . . *fingers crossed*

[Gutpile]

i've been lucky so far myself. But a few years back, a buddy of mine had a scare of sorts as well. We were about 5 miles from camp and after an uneventful morning hunt, we walked back through an area with a special tree - one with my buddy and his son's initials on it - from 15+ years before. He wanted to stop and remember so we decided to build a small fire, warm up, and prepare for the evening hunt. My buddy just got this super sharp new hatchet and started breaking kindling. I think he just was not thinking and proceeded to slice right through a stick and into his finger. A very deep cut and instant blood. I carry tape but at the time wasn't carrying wound glue. So i started fishing in my pack for tape and he got more and more urgent. He had a quintuple bypass a couple years before and was on blood thinners too - not good. We put a tourniquit on and taped it up, but it was not stopping the bleeding that great - a pretty consistent ooze. We headed back right then, but at a slow pace, speed the heart -speed the bleed. My buddy walked with his hand in the air for 5 miles and we did make it back without serious peril but his finger didn't really stop bleeding fully by then. i've carried wound glue ever since and will look into the coagulant noted in this thread as well - and of course - watch the hatchet use...