Survival

Safety first, complacency kills

The most dangerous thing that happens to us in the outdoors is when we become complacent.

A few examples from my own life.

1. When I was 17 I was hunting in the mountains by Hood River Oregon. It was the last day of deer season and there was about 1 hour of hunting time left. I came over a ridge and there was a huge Buck (4x5) and 3 does. I sight on the Buck, fire. The Buck drops right there and doesn't move, the Does take off. When I get to the deer, it isn't moving nor making a sound. He looked dead to me, I reached for his antlers, as I touched them he flipped his head around, catching my shirt over my belly. A half an inch closer and I would have been gutted. I dispached it with a shot behind the ear/ My shot had been high, it clipped the spine above the sholder but he wasn't dead and could still move the head.

Always poke the deer with a stick or rifle barrel to verify it is dead.

2. When I was 22, after I got back from overseas, I went fishing with one of my Brothers to a remote lake.

The lake had been forned by a lanslide blocking a creek. The lake was purported to have really large trout.

The best place to fish from with a Fly rod was from the dam. There were some logs floating against the dam about 6 ft in diameter they looked real solid. I walked out on one to the end, there was about 2 ft of open water and then a bigger log a little lower then the one I was on, easy jump.

I jumped, the other log was rotten under the bark and gave way, I fell forward and sprained both ankles. I had to hobble out with the aid of emergency made crutches (10 miles).

Always verify your path before taking it.

3. Last one. Sunday Feb. 8 2009. I was walking down a small hill I walk at least 2 times a week on my farm. I was distracted because I was lookong for one of my cats.
I tripped over a rock I always walk around. I broke my upper arm (humerous bone).

Allways pay attention where you put your feet and what you are doing.

By making assumtions about things before checking and or doing things we have done before we can endanger our lives if we become to complacent.

Be observant, stay aware, Safety first.