Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Opportunist on September 26, 2008, 04:56:47 PM

Title: bad news!
Post by: Opportunist on September 26, 2008, 04:56:47 PM: My wife slipped on our front porch the other morning rushing out to go to work and fell on her right shoulder. She went to the doctor and after exam/x-rays was told she sprained her shoulder.

Whew! At least it wasn't as serious as it could have been (like a torn rotorcup)! She was told 3-6 weeks to recover and she's wearing a sling and was prescribed plenty of pain meds. Then it hit both of us at the same time, her Oregon elk rifle hunt is in 4 weeks. It took 7 points for her to draw her tag.

I called ODFW to see if they had any kind of medical/illness release so she could not go on the hunt and retain her points. Nodda, only in death.

What to do? I've got a .243 in a winchester model 88 she could use and I've got a slip on SVL recoil pad I could put on it. She was going to use my 30-06. I think if I limit her shots to under a hundred yards and shoot 100 grain bullets and only take perfect broadside shots, she'll be good to go, hopefully. We are going to wait until the last minute to buy her tag in case her shoulder doesn't heal fast enough. I'm going to scope my .22 lr to at least get her some trigger time with no recoil. I hope she heals quickly.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: rainshadow1 on September 26, 2008, 05:09:23 PM: Weak hand. Have to head to the range ASAP with the .22 and train the opposite side trigger finger!

Bad Luck! Hope you're able to work it out and still go!
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: robodad on September 26, 2008, 05:24:16 PM: Though a bit clumsy, she should be able to adapt to the other side in no time if she was keeping both eyes open while looking through the scope the first way, I have actually practiced that method just in case this exact thing popped up, Keeping both eyes open helps in more then one way as well, by being able to see with the non scope eye you should be able to detect any movement on that side of your gun especially if your partner was moving in the direction you are pointing, with one eye shut and they move in front of you by the time you know it they have filled up your objective view and it is too late.

Like rainshadow1 pointed out it is time to get to the range and do some real practice, I would hate for her to miss that hunt because of something that can be overcome so easily !!!

Good luck and let us know how she does !!!
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: Fullabull on September 26, 2008, 05:25:25 PM: Opportunist,

I would also talk to physical therapist. Is an SVL the same as one of the limbsaver pads? If not I would get one, they make my sons 7mm 08 shoot like a dream! I think she will be good enough to go. I can't remember the last time I felt a recoil when shooting at an animal anyway ;)

Let us know how it turns out.

Fulla
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: WDFW-SUX on September 26, 2008, 05:28:34 PM: She has time......and she only needs to be able to shoot the rifle one time anyway I say cow girl up :dunno:
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: Opportunist on September 26, 2008, 05:32:46 PM: I'm going to see if she can shoot lefty. I also have a model 88 in .308 which is a lever action so it can be shot right and lefthanded. I feel more comfortable her shooting an elk with the .308.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: finnman on September 26, 2008, 05:34:49 PM: This is a hunters worst nightmare! Getting seriously injured before a hunt!
I would do what the doc says. If he says do some therapy-do it!
Either way, a .243 with a SVL pad should be okay for her. She may feel some pain on the shot but it only takes one well placed bullet to do the job.
I hope the best for her and your hunt! It sounds similar to my perdicament, my wife has 11 elk points going into next years Oregon drawing............decisions............I have been leaning toward the Mt. Emily bull hunt, which tag did your wife pull?
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: Opportunist on September 26, 2008, 05:40:28 PM: If I told her to cowgirl up, she'd probably cowgirl up her foot right up my ass. :chuckle:

The biggest reason she doesn't want to miss out on the hunt is I do all the cookin' at camp!
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: Opportunist on September 26, 2008, 05:41:53 PM: Finnman, She drew 1st season Murderers Creek.

Fullabull, SVL pads are the sims pad, I'll definitely be putting that on, thanks.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: kirkl on September 26, 2008, 05:56:47 PM: Im with the rest, if she cant left hand it take that 243 with the limbsaver and hit that bull behind the front shoulder and youll be bringing a bull home.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: uncoolperson on September 26, 2008, 06:14:58 PM: Quote from: rainshadow1 on September 26, 2008, 05:09:23 PM
Weak hand. Have to head to the range ASAP with the .22 and train the opposite side trigger finger!

Bad Luck! Hope you're able to work it out and still go!

If she can shoot lefty off a rest grab her one of the giant bipods/monopods.

always a fun thing to try. and a fun skill to have.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: mkcj on September 26, 2008, 06:23:10 PM: OP where is rose valley? I have a 280 with muzzle brake and limbsaver pad I put together for my son's to shoot when they where younger we might be able to work something out for her to use it on the hunt let me know
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: 300rum on September 26, 2008, 08:57:20 PM: Take a pistol..........I have a S&W 500 4" :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 26, 2008, 09:07:21 PM: My wife had right shoulder surgery a couple of weeks before deer season. She had a 3" vertical incision, right where the butt stock goes. I made the ugliest pad you've ever seen for my .243, of packing foam and duct tape. That little 2x3 mule deer was a trophy, I sure was proud when she she dumped him - one shot to the heart, quartering on.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: 300rum on September 26, 2008, 09:17:36 PM: Seriously, about the pistol thing, i would look at an encore or a contender.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: uncoolperson on September 27, 2008, 07:28:20 AM: You might also try finding someone on here that reloads 06 or 243 and try to convince them to put a box of toned down rounds together...
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: Opportunist on September 27, 2008, 07:35:01 AM: mkcj, Rose Valley is east of Kelso. Thanks for the offer! I'm going to see if the .243 will work for her but I'll definitely keep your offer in mind.

Doublelung, If the sims pad isn't enough I'll have to try the foam pad idea, thanks.

uncoolperson, I've got all the reloading dies and worked up loads for the .06, .308 and the .243. I've considered a toned down load out of my .06 also. thanks.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: DeKuma on September 27, 2008, 07:37:06 AM: I saw that Cheaper than Dirt has Remington MAnaged Recoil on sale. They might be the ticket for the 06. Supposedly they take 50% of the recoil out, add that to the Limbsvaer recoil pad and it should be pretty simlar to the 243, but in a 30 cal round for more wound trauma.
Title: Re: bad news!
Post by: Opportunist on September 27, 2008, 07:56:58 AM: Dekuma, My hunting partner bought some of that ammo for his wifes gun, my wife and my partners wife drew as partners for the same tag along with a couple of other buddies. I'll have to check out the ballistics on the managed recoil ammo.