(Subtitle: UTV Olympics.)

Please be careful out there this coming weekend, since I know a large group of y'all will be getting stuff started wherever you hunt.

I was changing batteries on a pig trap camera today. The camera is up on a pole and I forgot the step ladder. I carefully backed up the CanAm and proceeded to climb up in the bed. I put my left foot on the right rear tire and I lifted up my right foot up and into the bed and turned it 90 degrees to the left and wedged it between a heavy toolbox and the edge of the bed. Then...my left foot slipped off the tire. I'm only 6', and I was never in dance. The camera pole broke my fall, or else I'd of snapped my right tibia and maybe the fibula. I am gonna be some kinda sore in the morning. Upon review, I really wasn't that vulgar verbally. Realizing that every stupid mistake might be the last at this age has a way of focusing your mind beyond profanity.

1. Try very hard to not work alone.
2. Double and triple check the list of equipment you MIGHT need.
3. Make double-dam sure your phone is charged. (It would have been an epic adventure to make it the 6' to my phone.)

Dang, that could've been really bad. I've had some close calls here on the ranch over the years. I try to be as safe as I can, especially around the tractor and equipment.

I break your #1 rule all the time but try to mitigate the risk.
I pop an ear bud in my left ear and stay on the phone with my daughter the whole time I am working in the woods. She knows which stand/feeder I am working on and has my two best friends in her contacts on her phone. There is also an emergency number for the place I hunt and fish at and a company ambulance can be there in less than 15 minutes to most of those places.
Other wise I wouldn't be going alone. The places further off road or where a vehicle can't get to have to wait till I can have someone else with me.
Glad you didn't break your leg, that could have turned bad very fast.

Daughters like that don't grow on trees. That's an excellent plan.

Wait a minute, you were never in dance?

Hard to believe, I know.

Yessir, great TTP.

I'm often alone, but need to think better about my own safety plans.

agree ... stay safe and think twice

Just glad you are okay, you nimble guy you.

"Okay" is a broad term this morning. There's some gentlemen at the rest home that are moving around better than I am.

everyone always be careful, or at least as careful as you can.

When i was in my early 20's I took a bad fall at the ranch and thought I broke my neck. Turns out I kinda did, as it mis-aligned two vertebrae, I discovered that years a later.


Could have been much, much worse, I had no phone nearby and I probably would have sat there for a day or two before anyone found me.

#4. If you're more than 30 minutes from a hospital, make sure you have helicopter insurance.