My year revolves around hunting. I know that is crazy and for many it is not moral. But I feed my family with it and find the challenge gives my life purpose. Some seasons have already begun but the most important one is a month away and planning out your hunt is very important. I used to think that having a stoma would be the end of my outdoor and hunting fun. But it turned out to be just the opposite. There was indeed a lot of planning and training that went into getting back into hunting shape, but this was a task that I was able to overcome after an ostomy surgery. My gear for my stoma is super fun to go over to me. I want to talk a bit about how I use it to succeed.
Now my positive outlook is because my stoma saved me. It helped me live a better life. It was because I was going to be safe and healthy after. So I was rather optimistic going into the whole ordeal. Later is when I started to get down on myself for probably feeling that I was never going to be able to go outside. The thought of never hunting again scared me and saddened me because that is what I look forward to doing every year. I love the adventure and the experiences I am able to share with family and friends. My ability to lift and drag scared me because deer can be 200 to 250lbs.
Rules are different in all states, but for my state, you have to carry the deer out or drag it. You cannot cut it up or quarter it like many other western states. This means that if you get a 175 or 250 lb deer you may have to drag it a very long way. That is physically hard on the body from your legs to arms. It also means that I thought my stoma would stop me from physically doing this. At first, I gave up, but after months I decided to start heading to the gym and working my way into a stronger self. I started very slow and low on weight and cardio, and with time and work I got stronger and faster.
But smells matter more than almost anything in the woods. I knew that my ostomy bag would smell and that deer have an incredible sense of smell. I was truly afraid that this would stop me from ever being successful in hunting. Yet again I was afraid for no reason. There are not only amazing pills you can take to limit scent but also bag deodorizers and scent blocking material as well. One of my greatest fears was stopped in its tracks by getting the right gear for the task. I talked with a few ostomy manufacturers and got exactly what I needed. It was a complicated dance of training and research, but I am now ready to go out and be successful in the woods. I really believe that if you are determined to do something even if it is active that your stoma should not hold you back. My knowledge has been shared with me by others. So learn from all the sources you can!
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