Vince I know what you're talking about when it comes to lawmakers. We've had a number of serial shooters & everytime I see one in the news I wonder when some new law will come out of it. We've lucked out thus far.
Keep it coming...

You know that is the beauty of handgun hunting. You can do what you want to be doing with both hand free. Still hunting is just that much easier. if you want to climb a tree you can. My experience is, when deer see you don't have a stick in your hands they are less concerned. I have walked up many more deer when handgun hunting that I have with a rifle. I define walking up on a deer (in the woods) as I can they are unaware of or unconcerned of my presence at 30 yards.

longwalker

True Longwalker, same here. Many a deer has fallen to my hand cannons because I was not carrying a rifle and seemed to pose no threat. I like the fact that I can ride my 4 wheeler to and from the blind with out an extra case bolted on to the racks,(I already have a hard case on the back)

Friends All.....Being an ole' Florida handgun hunter since 1956 and retitered from the gun and ammo co's........I have enjoyed all of this thread! It does bother me to see fellows shooting one type of hangun jump anothers choice. Since 1956, I have tried about all of them and come to the opinion "like the hunting situation dictate the action type".
My standerd hangun for years was an old Ruger 44 (mae in 1956). Tried hard cast #429421, but felt it had too much penetration and not enough tissue damage.....used my dogs to trail up lots. Then went the route of various "Magic" jacketed bullets.......some expanded, some did not! Played around with TG's.....interesting, but not in close cover with true wild hogs. Even played with an original 1858 Remigton cap & ball awhile.
To a back fall many years ago ice climbing and messed up various parts of me.......lots of bones replaced in my right hand. I have settled on a slicked out 6" Smith & Wesson 686 with a 180 hard cast heat treated bullet, with lots of meplat area! Works great in these Florida swamps and coastal islands were a long shot is 50 yards......sometimes times about underfoot with a Spanish tusker.
So......seems to me that any so-called handgun (including the stock-less rifle kind) are OK........just match it to your type of hunting. I just like something that's handy, quick, and has six rounds in it.....matches my hunting situation.......James@Dixie Slugs

I don't think I will be hunting with handgun this season...I did just about all my hunting last yr. with my 14" 7-30Waters and also use revolvers too. But last season I had my second open heart surgery the last wk of bow season. I knew I had some blockages but was trying to make it through deer season and maybe spring gobbler before doing anything. I shot a doe with bow and almost had heart attack dragging her out so went to Dr. and had open heart. Anyway that was on Oct. 21 and my surgeon said I could not shoot a gun of no kind till XMAS day. Well I didn't agree with him and figured a handgun would do no harm..so the second wk of Nov. I was in my Summit Climber with my scoped T/C handgun.
Bout the last part of Nov. I was up a tree in a SW Central Fl, public land area and here come as big a racked Fl. whitetail buck as I'd ever seen and I've killed 3 on this public land that score high enough to go in the state registry.THIS is one of his rubs. I had been using a mono pod rest for the handgun..still hadn't shot it and wasn't going to if I didn't have a shot at deer..but had convinced myself that if I held it out at arms length rested on the mono pod it would recoil straight up and not back into my arms and chest causing any sternum or heart problems. The buck walked straight to me and stopped broadside 5 steps from my tree. I had already adjust the mono pod and had the Burris 2-1/2x7's cross hairs right behind his shoulders and the hammer cocked when he stopped. I said a quick I hope I don't kill myself and squeezed the trigger...the hammer fell and CLICK! The buck threw his head up and we just both froze him trying to decide what I was and me cussin to myself and thinking it has to be a bad primer..(I reload) I try to recock..but T/C's don't do that without breaking the action open. So we continue to stare and I think if he will relax I'll break it open and try again..but he gets a whiff and takes off blowing as he goes.
Wouldn't have mattered anyway I had the gun set on rim-fire barrels instead of center-fire. However it could have been the best mistake I ever made..who knows what may have happen if it had gone off. I might have got two with one shot. Me and him. I didn't end up shooting until two wks before XMAS and missed a 8pt with my Wby 240mag rifle.

Hang in there Hoyt, I have had 2 heart surgerys and there is life after, just not the same as before for some of us.

Hoyt, Don't give up the ship. June 14, 2005 I had 5 bypass's done. Then I had the heart attack. Chances are I'm younger that you, but don't let that stop you. I worked hard to be able to hunt last fall. Maybe to hard. The result was good. I duck hunted, shot some ducks and geese, went pheasant hunting and got my birds, and went deer hunting. The doctors pretty much told me not to do any of that. In fact they tried to scare me out of shooting due to the recoil. I listened, and took due care. I still am waiting for permission to lift weights.

The shotgun didn't bother me at all. My 44 Magnum Super Redhawk was easy to shoot and I did hunt with it for deer, however I did shoot my deer with my 338-06, Zero problems.

My advice is don't let the docters hold you back. They are going to error on the side of safety. When in doubt they say no. Use you head and just keep pushing yourself. Walk as much as you can and keep making the walks longer. AS far as dragging deer, I don't do it any more. I skin and quarter in the field, then pack the game out. I sounds like alot of work, but it is still everything you have to do anyway. With the added bonus that the animal is still warm and infintely easier to skin. I would sooner pack an animal 2 miles than drag one 100 yards.

Good luck and hunt what you can this fall.

longwalker

My wife got me a Polaris Sportsman 500HO 4 wheeler for draging deer and other critters after I had my first heart attack, The most I do now is load them on the trailer and drive home.

Hoyt,

Although I'm young, pretty healthy, never had a open heart surgery, heart attack, or 5way by pass

I've got to admit if I was older with heart problems I'd have Lone wakers attitude. What do doctors know anyways ?? Everytime I watch the TV or read the news there is some doctor telling everyone EVERYTHING I (as do most people as well) eat, think, breath, and do to relax is in some way or another "bad" for you. If hunting is relaxing for you I think you should keep at it.

And congradulations on thouse huge deer!

Dimitri

Well men..I've had 4 angio pasties, 2 open heart surgeries and 2 stints..not to mention about 12 heart caths.
I had my first by-pass surgery when I was 42yrs. back in 1989 and then another 5 by-passes last Oct. 21st. My surgeon told me I couldn't shoot a gun of any kind till Xmas day.
I was climbing trees with my climbers and hunting with my handgun 3 days after opening day of deer season..which was 4 wks after my open heart surgery. That was the tricky part pulling my body weight and stand up while resting my elbows on an open front Summit. I didn't shoot a rifle till I missed a 8pt with my wby 240mag. 8wks after the surgery. I did wait till XMAS before shooting my .54cal. flintlock.
I didn't know it at the time but all my by-passes had shut down right after my surgery. I knew I was having chest pain when hunting but hoped it was just my surgery healing up.
However..it got so bad..especially when I would walk back to the vehicle after the afternoon hunts at night. I would have to stop every so often just to get the pressure in my chest and back to subside. I finally went in to town and to my cardiologist and he said I had to go in hospital for a heart cath. I said no..I will go in after deer season ends in 3 wks. and he made me sign a waiver.
I made through deer season went in and found all my by-passes had closed up to 80% or so shut. My cardiologist said it was a miracle I didn't have a heart attach while hunting and that I had no idea just how many blockages I have in my heart ( I had 7 before the open heart and then the 5 they did closed) and that my only option is a series of 6 to 8 stints done in phases and he did 2 then. Those where my same options I had before he said open heart was my only option and I had it...for what turned out to be absolutely nothing but all the agony that goes along with open heart surgery.
Anyway I've made it through spring gobbler season killing two gobblers with my flintlock I made and am hoping and praying I can make through this deer season before any more stints or problems. I've got a bow hunt scheduled for Ill. and sure would like to make it.
I don't have any other choice..I have blockages in my heart arteries now over 80% closed..but so far no chest pain. I ride my bike 15miles every other day at least and so far so good.
I just wish deer season would hurry up and get here.

Wow Hoyt....you are one very gutsy man. I agree with what the others have said....up to a point.

Dr's do tend to err on the side of caution, but there decision and advice is made with the benefit of experience. I too am carrying injuries but NOTHING like the problems you are having.

All I can add to the advice already given is: By all means enjoy your hunting this year so long as it doesn't kill you in the process. If there is the slightest doubt in your mind or your partner's mind DON'T do it. Remember, there are hunting seasons every year but you have only one life. Throw that life away for the sake of one hunt and you don't get to enjoy all the ones in the following years.

I'm a greed bugger....I want to enjoy as many hunts with my mates as is humanly possible.

Good luck with the upcoming procedures mate, and hurry up getting better...there are deer waiting for your return.

Cheers, Vince

Quote::

I've had 4 angio pasties, 2 open heart surgeries and 2 stints..not to mention about 12 heart caths. I had my first by-pass surgery when I was 42yrs. back in 1989 and then another 5 by-passes last Oct. 21st.

Ok Maybe the doctor knows alittle of what he is talking about.

Do what you think is best. Still you did get 3 deers that managed to get on the State records. Thats probably better then alot of hunters have done in their whole lives

Dimitri

Hunting and getting ready to go is pretty much all I do anymore. It's just me and don't have anybody to worry about so I just do what I like. My dad was a big time quail hunter and when he found out he had heart problems when he was 50yrs. old he sold his dogs and quit hunting. Just hit the couch and stayed there for about 15yrs. I swore I'd never do that if in the same situation. I don't kid myself and know with all the blockages in my heart one could break loose any time..and I always hunt alone and long ways from vehicle..so I except my fate whatever it may be. I can't even imagine a good life without being in the woods doing what I love. I just have to keep from pushing myself past a certain physical limit and hope for the best.

Hoyt,
Hang in there bud. Made the same decision two years ago myself. I will not list the problems, but lets say, I have some serious problems and some very rare complications, like being alergic to disolving stitches, which make surgery to correct the problems out of the question. When your mortality is upon you, you have but two choices, quit or do something you like to do. Some quit, wring their hands and go sit on the couch. We have chosen to get as much living in, for the time left, as we can fit into the remaining days. Hats off and waving.....
Ed

Lifes a bitch isnt it? So just make the best of what ya got and go with the flow till the end, I do what I want, when I want. and dont give a rats A$$ what people think about it anymore.