Should I try to continue hunting
I grew up hunting. It’s an activity I love and and last year my son has gotten into it and we had a successful hunt last fall. But I was diagnosed this spring and I am not confident that I can handle it? Is there anyone else with MG out there who continues to hunt?
you both have excellent comments. Even when I was undiagnosed I would simply NEVER hunt alone. I will always be with at least 1, so no problem there. I am newly diagnosed so have not had a long talk with my son yet, but he knows that it will be 4x4 drive into a blind and sitting still for me only from now on. last season we took a deer with a black powder rifle before the disgnosos and he had to do much of the work even then. I wonder if I had it back then> I just thought I was out of shape!
The only thing i can see that would be difficult with hunting is success hunting, but it all depends on how MG effects you. For me I have trouble lifting anything mildly heavy with MG. My personal lift limit likely went from moving something 100-150 lbs to difficulty picking something up over 30-50 lbs. So if i were to get a deer it would have to be a very small deer for me to move it. But that can be addressed by hunting with a partner who can help. It also depends on your mobility. Prior to MG I would hike 4k's foot peaks weekly, now hiking a 2k peak is a major effort, but I can still do it, with LOTs of breaks. As long as it is flatish, i'm fine, anything steep is extremely challenging, require many stops. Again it all depends on how MG effects you. I have to say being on infusions, made me much more able to do light effort things, prior to infusions, MG got really bad. Whatever you choose, work you way into slowly and don't go alone.
I would say always hunt with someone else. Otherwise, continue doing what you love doing. Using an ATV, a deer stand or maybe just sitting at the edge of a clearing should be no problem. Gutting and carrying out a deer could be challenging. Make sure you have quality help. And know your limits. Rest when you need to. Don't push it. I was a bird hunter and eventually had to give up the long days of walking through milo. But in the early years of MG,, I could do it safely with a group of understanding friends, taking some breaks. And I could go on big game hunts in the mountains, but usually just stayed in camp and tended the fire for the others. That's fun too. MG robs you of many of your dreams, but you can make smaller dreams and live a satisfying life.
