Worst bow season ever!

[Band]

Ok I just can't stand it any longer - I've got to let out my frustration!  After bow hunting for elk the past 5 years I finally got my very first shot opportunity.  It happened on opening morning on the East side as I was guiding a buddy and we got into a herd with a screaming bull right after first light.  It was the easiest shot I ever expect to get in my life.  I was standing exactly 30 yards from a broadside adult cow and a spike (both legal animals!) that didn't have any idea I was there and when I started to raise my bow for the shot I remembered that my bicycle accident 2 months ago had prevented me from being able to draw my bow back so I left it at home.  And to make matters worse, my buddy was far enough away that he didn't have the shot due to excessive vegetation in the way so the herd ended up slipping away!

And here I sit, finally able to pull my bow back (but only with a significant amount of pain), and way out of practice for the past 2 months so the season is just going to slip on by!  I guess I always get the late season but my special spot is buried in snow so deep during the late season there is no way the elk will be in the vicinity and I don't know where the buggers head off to.  I could not possibly be more bummed out.  Somebody say something to help me make it until next year!

Just got the MRI results today and I have a torn ligament on my rotater cuff.  Not bad enough to require surgery, just time and some physical therapy will make it heal.

[NRA4LIFE]

Hang in there, I had the same injury 8 years ago.  I couldn't lift my left arm farther than about a foot from my body.  I too didn't need surgery.  It took about 6 months of PT but I regained probably 95% or better of mobility and arm strength in that time.  Close to 100% after a year.  Do all the exercizes at home that they direct you to at the scheduled frequency and you'll be fine for next year.

[steen]

My husband and both shoulders repaired and the second which is the right (he is left handed) did not heal as well.  He cannot throw a baseball like he used to be figures that is because he didn't finish the physical therapy (on the left side).  It is not as easy to do the work that it was in the younger years.  He's been in business for himself for at least 5 years so doesn't have to work as physical as before but he worked out an agreement on the Navy Base to work as an employee and the first 5 weeks were hard.  Now he is mostly running the crew and not physically working.  We all get old.  Stick with the therapy and stay in shape.  good luck!

[Little Dave]

Maybe tell the story to a kid that you might take hunting someday.  They crave good stories like that and will dream about learning to do what it takes to hunt elk.

[elkoholic]

At least you know you could have shot them... sunday the 11Th I had a big 6x6 at 50 yards and clipped a friggin leaf and sailed an arrow over his back, it was by far the biggest bull I've seen while bowhunting elk pushing the 300" mark. My buddy was more upset about the missed shot than I was, I was actually laughing about in and as happy as can be as I got to get up close and see such a magnificent bull... ended up shootong a big cow on the 18th...

[yajsab]

Should of taken lots of pain killer before first light. 

Take care of your injury and the opportunity will come again.

[Ihuntelk2]

Well i would have to say i feel the same way most yrs i have yet to kill a elk with my bow and i have hunted for 6 yrs, but i am certian that it will come. sometimes i just want to throw in the tall but i love it too much to let it go..lmao good luck..