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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: don kauss on January 01, 2010, 10:22:00 PM
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I keep reading about people carrying their cell phones hunting for "emergencies." How many of you have ever actually had an emergency that truly required a cell phone call to accomplish anything other than circumventing an inconvienience? Just curious.
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At the medical examiners office we get calls from police stating that via a cell call to report someone falling from a tree and dieing.
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I always carry mine when in an area that it is usfull anyway. I have not yet had a real emergency though(I am quite thankful for that). I have used to get permision to come down onto some private land and get a ride back to my truck one time though while lion hunting and ended up 13 miles from my truck in waste deep snow and 20 below temps. I was glad I had it that day.
I do however have experiance with people getting lost and calling in. Having been on search and rescue. I have heard many stories of someone finding another hunter hurt and was able to phone for help also.
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I turn mine off and put it in my fanny pack. It does not take up much room and if something unfortunate were to happen i have it with me.
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I carry it now from time to time, as I get older I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Originally posted by doug g:
I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
My feelings as well.
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I heard a story of a hunter that fell out of a stand and was paralyzed immediately. He was hunting a different area and didn't tell anyone he was going there hunting. Luckily he had his cell and could call for help. If not...... who knows? I carry mine always, but thank God I've never had to use it.
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That's true, Greg, just remember to grab your fanny pack from the hook as you fall from your tree. :D
I'm thinking more and more like Doug every day. I keep my phone on silent and in an outer pocket where I can get to it, then pray I won't need it.
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I keep mine in my pocket all the time while hunting.
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It only takes one "real" emergency to kill you. The phone could save your life. I carry mine almost every time I'm on stand. It is usually turned off or to silent mode and I never answer it but I have it in case something bad happens and I need help.
Bisch
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I had to call to get a guy out of the woods...he rolled his ankle under a 400lbs rock and i was the only other guy around for miles. He left his home b/c he didn't want to be bothered with it.
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I keep mine on vibration mode. I usually don't answer it but I do check to make sure it is not from my wife or kids. A family emergency is more important to me than saying I don't want my hunt interrupted, at least to me anyway. Must be an age thing.
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I've used mine to call in game violations I witnessed. One time the CO was in the area and I got the satisfaction of staying on the phone and talking him right onto the violator...
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I have mine with me always... just can't stand the thought of not texting 24/7.
:D
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i always have mine while hunting for emergencies. it is on vibrate. and the only time i text is while hunting. to check in with other hunting buddies.
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It is another important safety device, which can't be used if it isn't included in the rest of your safety gear.
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Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
I have mine with me always... just can't stand the thought of not texting 24/7.
:D
I not only don't I know how to text, I can't figure out the camera thing on it either. Can't hardly see those damn little buttons, anyway... :D
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I carry mine always.A few years back wile turkey hunting I took a load of #4s to the chest, neck ,and face.I was in no condition to call but my buddies cell got help there fast.I hope nobody ever has to make that call but I'll always carry mine.
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Mine's always in my pocket when I hunt. I don't expect my house to burn down either, but I carry homeowner's insurance. I did use the cell once on a hunt to call for assistance when driving to my hunting spot, I hit a nice 8-pointer which disabled my truck. It would have been a long walk.
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If you had 3 daughters at home like I do, you learn the texting thing pretty fast. Never go hunting with out mine, if the kids aren't hunting with me, there constantly texting me to see how my hunt is going.
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I don't see anything wrong with having a cell phone handy, but I turn it off. I have never had an emergency that required on but I had a friend fall out of his stand once in a position where he could not reach his steps or the stand and could not unto his homemade safety harness he had no choice but to hang there 6' off the ground for an hour until the guy he was huning with came along a cell phone would have been nice. What amazes me is how many guys will go hunting way out in the woods with no first aid kit, compass or firestarter. I have alot of friends tell me a compass isnt needed if you have a GPS unit- but I am a firm believer in murphy's law-batteries die out, things get dropped on a rocks and break and somtimes just dont work. a good compass is almost foolproof.
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I work and play in the woods daily and have had many times where a cell phone saved a lot of sweat and boot leather. Varies from vehicle problems/accidents to a dead bear in a log landing. Now with kids I can't imagine being without some sort of communications. If nothing else I can call home when I arrow something so a search party is not sent by my wife when I'm a hour late.
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I have. Eight days after buying my first phone I had a screw in step pull out and down I came catching my left armpit on another step and ripping a 7" gash across my armpit and up the front of my shoulder. I called 911 and gave them the info and told them where I was. The guy with the rescue squad said "wow I can see the bone", I said thanks. I probably could have walked out, maybe, but it would not have been smart to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. At the hospital they worked on me for 2 hours that night. The doctor joked saying she had to reattach my arm. I was lucky there was no major nerve or blood vessel damage. They worked on me for 2 hours that night. That was October 16, 1996. I do not use screw in steps or any other method of getting up a tree that has any projections stick out that I can get caught on should I have a fall. So yes I carry my phone. Going to the woods without my phone is like going to the woods without my bow. You can't be too careful.
Jack
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I HATE cell phones, but I love my wife, so I carry a phone when I go to the woods.
It is on vibrate, but I don't answer a call unless it is from Joan or my 85 year old mother.
I fight some medical trouble that would keep any sensible guy out of the woods, but being "out there" is the most enjoyable remnant of my former life, and it means a lot to me.
The phone is in my left hand pocket, and reachable of I fall and get injured. I don't INTEND to use it any more than I intend to "use" my safety harness, but it feels wise to have there, just in case!
When I shot a doe just before dark earlier this season, I made a quick call to say I'd be an hour later than usual getting home because there was work to do! It was better than having my bride of 30 years sitting home worrying...
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I can't imagine anybody not having one handy if needed. They are an absolutely great tool for safety and help if you get into trouble and take up very little room. Mine stays in my shirt or jacket pocket. With all the other junk....er, useful stuff, most guys pack around in their packs that seldom if ever gets used, a phone could conceiveably be the most useful tool of all....Dave
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My buddies and I were on a hunting trip a few years back; camping at a somewhat remote State Forest campground. Up on the bluff above our campsite, a person from another camp had been sitting on a rock outcrop polishing off a bottle of whiskey that afternoon. He tried to stand up and fell 30 feet to the ground. A tree stopped him from rolling the other 300 feet down into the stream by our camp.
He had some neurologic deficits. With trauma, time "can be" extremely critical.
We had air care land at our campsite.
In the end, the guy ended up OK. He picked a decent spot to fall, quite a few of us in camp were Paramedics and we all had cell phones. :)
Wouldn't you feel foolish having something happen to your health that could have been changed by carrying a cell?
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I had a buddy and son get lost in the woods last year, he called 911 for help. The Sheriff in return called my other buddy at work to find out what general area they were in after they spent the night in the woods!
I would rather have it than not, calling someone for different kinds of help is a plus in my book!
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I have been on calls that involved it - dispatch was notified by the hunter via cell.
Bisch said it right - dont let the first real emergency teach you that it is a good idea to carry your cell hunting as your first real emergency could be your last real emergency. Then you will be a statistic that will teach others to carry their cell phones while hunting. Period, way it is.
J
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Originally posted by Scott S.:
Mine's always in my pocket when I hunt. I don't expect my house to burn down either, but I carry homeowner's insurance. I did use the cell once on a hunt to call for assistance when driving to my hunting spot, I hit a nice 8-pointer which disabled my truck. It would have been a long walk.
Now thats a true statement!!!! I don't understand why so many people have issues with people carrying cell phones hunting. If it saves a life or not, they don't hurt a thing! How many lifes could have been saved back in the day if cell phones were around. And 50 years from now people will be asking why I have to have my GPS chip installed in my hand by the government. :bigsmyl:
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Have and not need... ya know.
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How many times have you actually "needed" your safety harness? But you'll be glad you've got it when you do fall.
Same principle, you may need it tommorow you may never need it, but it's nice to know it's there.
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I have never needed my cell for emergency but nice piece of mind. Also works well to get help dragging on sucessful hunt. Getting older is not for whimps.
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Never wore snake boots when I was younger, but now I do, Because the wife insists on it. Was bitten 7 times over an 18 year period, only 2 times bad. After my good hunting buddy made this fact known to her, it was no more hunting alone or wear snake boots! I wear the boots.
Look at cell phones the same way. Don't really want to carry one but it makes the family feel better about me being out there alone.
Also I've started leaving a game plan when I hunt alone with my nephew. He knows the areas I frequent and if anything were to happen I am confident he can get help to me quickly.
I have found the phone handy twice, as I made the decision to drastically change my plans. Just called and left a message with the Nephew before leaving the truck and heading for my new location.
He understood completely why I called, and the Wife couldn't believe I was that thoughtful.
He actually talked her in to buying me a Garmin Vista Hcx for Christmas. Now he says if I change plans just call and leave him my stand coordinates.
Here we go again, I'm still a compass guy. Guess I need to learn this new technology to keep them happy!!!!
You'd think it could have stopped with the snake boots!
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I bring mine with me, but I don't get service in most of the area I hunt. I can get a faint signal if I find a big open space. I've made it a habit of letting someone know where I am hunting.
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if ya got one, never go afield without a cell phone - ya never know ..........
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About 3:30PM on the 26th of December a good friend of mine fell 15 feet from his treestand and broke both legs very badly. His cell phone might have saved his life. He was able to call emergency and avoided lying in freezing conditions for hours hoping someone might locate him. He is very thankful he had his cell along.
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Opening day 2004 I shot a doe. Started to drag her out and made it about 5 ft. Called my son who was 35 miles away. I had a Quad. bypass.
Hap
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Better to have and not need.
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Three years ago on a antelope/mule deer hunt my friend had a motorcycle accident. He had a concusion and was not breathing for a while. We were 50 miles down on a dirt road we had to drive 10 mile to find service. Having a phone saved use a good two hours. We were able to have the ambulance meet use half way out. When you finally find yourself in a bad situation you will be glad you have your phone. I am in the always off the beaten path and alone alot. The phone has help me alot,ether broke down, needing help with quarters. If I could have a satelite phone or a spot system, ect.. I would. Now my phone is always turned off when I'm hunting,but it is nice as a back up.
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somehow i think Charlie's a leg-puller...
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Couple years ago I had a broadhead fall out of my bow quiver and I walked onto it. Went into my left thigh about 1/2" past the Zwickey Eskimo. I did NOT have a cell phone with me. Luckily, I was camped with some other guys and was able to get to the truck and honk SOS repeatedly on the horn and two of them came back to camp on the run. Also luckily, I didn't do any serious damage and about 17 stitches later I hobbled back out into the woods and hunted that evening.
Honestly, I feel naked without my cell phone along when I hunt. About like driving a car with no seat belt.
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When I was younger I mostly hunted alone when I wasn't hunting with family. A casual remark about the quarter of the state where I would be hunting as I headed out the door was the usual. Never thought much of it. Now in my sixties and my wife is more concerned for me. For the first time this year I carried a cell phone with me always and left a pretty good map - my wife felt much better. For hunts in areas without cell service, I make a Google-Earth photo screen of my intended hunt area and include tags for trailheds, parking areas, campsites - as much detail as I can manage. I include contact info for people we know who are familiar with the hunt area. My wife really appreciates this and feels better for it. I'm pragmatic. I know full well that there are any number of things that could go wrong and even with the phone, maps, Google-Earth screen it might be years before my varmint-gnawed bones were found. But maybe, just maybe, I could be helped through a bad situation. The effort I expend is small, it's interesting for me, helps my wife have peace of mind. I honestly feel it's better to have the phone and make the location information and not need it than to need it and......
Take care all - Charlie
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I was hunting by myself one late December morning last year. I fell into a river trying to cross it at 5:30 in the morning carrying a Lone Wolf tree stand, tree sticks, pack, Gray Wolf Jacket and wearing woolen bib. When I made to to the other shore I knew I was in trouble because it was 15 degrees out, and had to get back across.
I had to recross the river. I fell again, but this time I was wedged against a log under water on my back with the current holding my in place.
I realized that I was going to die, but I could not move. I had to summon every bit of strength to stand up. I made it out and fell a few times climbing back up the icy bank.
Now I had a 1/2 mile walk to my car. The weight of the wet wool was tremendous.
By the time I got to my car I wasn't cold anymore and I felt quite comfortable. I sat down because I was so sleepy and just wanted to rest. I wanted to take a nap to regain my strength as I was so fatigued.
However, I felt my head and it was completely covered in ice and my clothes were also completely frozen.
I finally had a rational thought and knew hypothermia was setting in, so I threw off my pack, stand, sticks and started shedding my wet clothes.
Nevertheless, standing totally naked in the snow at 15 degrees with a light breeze I was pleasantly comfortable, but so tired. I knew I was in trouble now.
I had a pair of sweats in my car and a warm jacket. I turned on the car and the heat full blast. I soon started shivering uncontrollably.
I rested for an hour and realized how close it had been, and what may have happened if I didn't get myself up while trapped on my back underwater in the icy river or if I had taken a nap.
I don't think a cell phone would have helped and was actually of no use as it was wet from being immersed, but I always carry it in case of a fall.
In spite of all this I never let go of my bow during the whole ordeal.
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I carry my cell for the same reasons. My wife is happy that I carry it. I have never needed my safety harness but I always wear it. A little insurance can't hurt.
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They are not very expensive, they take up very little space, and they are easy to use.
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Never had an emergency while hunting that required assistance. I still like having my cellphone with me "just in case."
I look at it kind of like a safety harness, I've never needed and hope I never do....but I feel better knowing it's there.
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I have mine, but it is usually n the bottom of my fanny pack. Never know what I will need it for, but hope, if its ever needed, it is within reach.
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I have heath Issues.so I would never hunt with out it.