Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Hunting after heart attack

I'm currently in the hospital recovering from a heart attack. They're doing a heart Cath tomorrow morning. They don't expect to have to do any open heart surgery so I should be home Saturday. My concern is that deer season opens in 10 days here and I'm going on a hunt to PA in two weeks. How limited do you think I'll still be and will I be able to hunt at all? Should I take the .243 instead of the 30-06?

Hey Mike, so SORRY to hear this. Get well ASAP.

I'm not going to speculate about how soon/long. Man it's so individualistic. People are different and so are Dr.s

I was fortunate time wise. My heart attack happened near the end of 2013 so I had 11 months before gun season.

The best advice I can think of is: Follow your Dr.s (plural) advice.. Maybe get a second opinion.

Take care man and GET WELL.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I'll definitely get the Docs opinion tomorrow. I guess I'm just getting worried about my hunting trip.

That's understandable. A lot depends on how much if any damage your heart sustained. I had 4 stints installed and no surgery.

I don't know many Dr.s are avid hunters or shooters, so that would affect their opinions about shooting. I'd think you'd have to limit your physical exertion. I don't play dr. cause I ain't one.

As for as rifles are concerned "IMO" a reasonable recoil might be ok.
I think physical exertion would be a greater concern.

Get back to us after seeing the Dr.

Jerry

Will do. Thanks

Recover now; hunt later. Or, don't do either.

Sorry to hear this. Take care of yourself.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and many more years of deer hunting!!!!

Be thankful it didn't happen in deer camp. Wish you a speedy recovery.

Thanks guys. It's just about heart Cath time now.

We're all pulling for Ya!!!!

DEFINITELY what 4ager said!!!

Prayers sent.

God speed to you. The fact that you are still thinking about deer hunting is a good sign in it self. Let your Dr. be your guide and listen to him/her. You have to think about the long term. Good luck and we all are pulling for you.

Thanks everybody. They fixed an aneurysm and put a stent in for a blockage at the top of my heart. But they found another blockage at the bottom of my heart and they will perform the same procedure next month. From what I'm being told I'll be able to hunt on flat ground with a mild rifle.

Excellent news!

Fantastic news about 'getting' to hunt at all this soon.
Be sure to limit your exertion. A little more might be a little too much.

Great news about fixing the other problem too. Truly modern medicine is 'miraculous' compared to just 50 yrs. ago.

Be careful - have fun - be careful - good hunting - be careful - good luck - be careful - have a great time - be careful. IOW - don't overdo it.

Jerry

I'll be certain to not drag a deer or load one in the truck. I'll have help if I need it.

Don't ask me ,above my pay grade. I know my doc would be upfront about my abilities and give it to me straight. Hopefully yours too.
I missed my hunts because of a blown out knee. Got invited to hunt pheasants in Kansas. His advice because I'm still recovering" Enjoy, you know your limits " then again it ain't my ticker.
Oh yes thats what friends are for. Hauling out your deer. Loading the truck and whatever else doc said be careful about. Have fun!

are you getting stents ? i have 5 of them in me and feel fine.

I got a stent today and I'm getting another stent in a month.

a man without stents is not a man . must be from a fortune cookie.

Have you changed to a heart healthy diet?

It has been almost a year since I had mine last hunting
season..
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/10947135/1

Do what your Doc says and you should be fine.
A year out from mine still have not got all my
strength back maybe never will?
I would go with the smaller caliber for now
if I was you.
Good Luck !
I still have 4 more years to wait before I can get
a Hunting Lic here to finally get to go hunting
again!
Been hunting 50 years total
last year was the first time
I did not get to hunt because of losing my hunting lic.
God Bless AMRA

That name is not just a catchy slogan. I am lucky in having a healthy heart at almost 70 but a had an internal carotid endarterectomy 3 years ago for a 90% blockage.

A healthy diet, 4-6 hours /week of vigorous exercise and good regular sleep hours will extend both your duration and quality of life. The best investment I have ever made is a simple home gym. A good quality treadmill and elliptical, some kettlebells and free weights will suffice if you use it regularly.

I retired in April and am really enjoying feeling good enough to do everything I want, albeit somewhat slowly.

LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR, CARDIAC REHAB WORKS!!

Good luck and have a great hunt when you are ready.


mike r

Mike - a "heart healthy diet" means...If it tastes good, spit it out.

Seriously it makes sense to eat smarter.

Jerry

Jerry, you're the second person now who told me that.

That is pretty close to true. It is hard to admit that biscuits and gravy are not your friends.


mike r

AMRA, I remember your unfortunate story. I actually commented in that thread.

Amen.

I'm home and I'm cleared to hunt in two weeks. Even mountains as long as I don't get out of breath. I'm not cleared to shoot 30-06, or even 270, and don't know when I will be either? .243 for the foreseeable future.

Your MD said it was OK to shoot a 243 but not a 270?

Best of luck MM.

Thanks smokepole.
Yes, my MD's exact words were, "no 270 or 30-06, but 5.56 and 243 are fine".

Most MDs wouldn't know the difference!!

I know, I was surprised!

Healthy: If you enjoy eating it, you shouldn't have it.

Yup.

Been there - done that.

Quadruple bypass six years ago.

Recoil is not an issue IF your chest has healed up normally. This takes six weeks or more. You do not want to push that process as a sternum which has not knit properly is extremely irritating. I know this from experience.

The limiting factor from here on out will be your physical condition. I have been able to hike, climb, ski & hunt but I do it in a somewhat toned down manner.

Get in shape, stay in shape, keep the weight off & watch your diet. Fear of pushing your limits will result in a lack of critical exercise which in turn will increase your risk.

Good advice!

Prayers for a good outcome and being able to use your 30-06.

Thank you. :-)

Do what you need to so you can look forward to many more seasons. Best of luck to you.

Good luck

There is much hunting after heart surgery. In Oct '98 I had open heart surgery to repair a malfunctioning valve. Walking was a big part of recovery so I walked and walked and walked.

I hunted harder in December and January than ever before, I did drives for my friends and carried a 243 while doing it.

In 2013 I had a near miss while deer hunting. I shot a doe and was dragging it downhill on snow and thought the big one was coming after a 20 yard drag. It turns out I had a blockage my Dr. referred to as a "widow maker". Two stints and some more walking and this year I'm hunting as hard as I did in '98 but now i'm carrying a 444 Marlin.

It's all about your mental state and weather or not you are ready to give up. Listen to your body, it will tell you when you are F'ing up and talk to the Dr. If he/she
is worth a damn, will tell you moderation is your friend and life goes on nearly normal.

So sorry to hear this Mike. When you look at a rifle to use, don't look past a centerfire .224 of some sort and the faster the twist the better the program as far as I am concerned.

A quick story.... a good friend of mine had a 10 year old grandson that was going deer hunting for the first time this fall. He had been shooting a .223 for practice and I told my friend that I had an 8 twist 22-250 700 he could use with 53 grain TSX bullets. The young man had his other grandparents buy a 700 in .243 for him. He took the 22-250 and 243 to the range, shooting the 22-250 first then the 243. He fired several shots out of the 22-250 and one shot out of the 243 because it kicked too much for him. He wanted to use the 22-250. He proceeded to fill his and several of his party's tags (party hunting is allowed here) with 5 deer including a 4x4 buck. He shot deer to 250 yards with the 22-250 with no issues. It was a pretty good season for the 10 year old!

At any rate, good luck with your hunting and next procedure.