bullfrog00 Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 (edited) Just thought I would share an interesting story that happened 2 me Tuesday morning. Skipping all the hunt details since that is the boring part of the story this time. I walked out to the bird I had shot and stood over him for at least 2 minutes admiring him and enjoying the moment. The bird had already expired and I had watched him go limp. I reached down to pick him up and when I got a firm grip on his legs and lifted he decided to get his last few death flaps in. When the bird started to flap he rotated in my hand. In doing so the spur punctured my palm between the thumb and index finger. I tried to open my hand to drop him but his spur acted like a fishhook and just dug in. I felt his spur pluck the nerve that runs up my index finger like a guitar string. My index finger went numb. The spur popped out of the wound and brough some meat with it. So there I am standing over a bird with a puncture wound in my hand that has meat literally hanging out of it. Luckily there was another hunter in the area that gave me a hand carrying the bird out. I get to urgent care and they sent me to a hand specialist. He performed exploratory surgery on my hand to make sure the nerve wasn't torn. Fortunately the nerve had only been stretched and so I will regain feeling in my finger eventually. But now I have nice zig zag stitching in my hand. the center of the stitching is from the spur. The 2 ends are what the surgeon did 2 open it up and clean the mud out of it and look at the nerve. I will wear a falconer glove from now on The spurs were barely over an inch and neither one were very sharp but they obviously could do some damage!! Edited April 24, 2009 by bullfrog00 added pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKYhunter Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 OUCH!!!!! I've heard of that happening. I've also heard of people actually losing the cornea in their eye from wings flapping and the ends of the feathers being worn down from strutting. Glad you nerve is still intact. Congrats on the bird. One things for certain, you'll always remember him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Dang that hurts just looking at it. That is crazy that it was kinda a delayed reaction, kinda like a dead snake. Good thing those weren't 1.5"ers. I've had them cut my hands and wrap my gloves up so tight that it feels like your wrist is going to break. I grab them my the head now, haven't had any problems with that technique. Congrats on the expensive bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 YEEEOUCH!!! That hurts me just looking at it. I've heard of that happening, but luckily(knock on wood) I haven't had it happen to me. Hope it never does! Hope you heal up and get back at em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 OOWWW!!! Gee whiz.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 OUCH:eek: that sounds really painful...congrats on the bird though:D;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyfarmer Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 ouch as said! I wont pick mine up untill I make sure he's gone. If you do, just hold them loose in your hand so if they flap you can let go fast. I had a friend that got cut since he decided to pull a Rambo and try to hold the flapping turkey. That lasted about 1.1 seconds before he got cut. spurs are some deadly weapons... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 thats why they use em as weapons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slash Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 OUCH! Not only will you remember that bird for a long, long time but I will remember this story every time I shoot a turkey, as to not let the same thing happen to me. I can't even begin to imagine how much that musta hurt. Let us know how long it takes to get feeling back. Congrats on the bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyfarmer Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 I also learned the hard way as a lil one on the farm LOL.. The roosters didnt think to much of me, espically after I got my first go kart. But their spurs get 3 times as long as thunderchicks;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 Sorry to hear about your hand! Hopefully sharing this story will prevent something like this from happening to someone else. I know a lot of guys want to pick a flopping bird up by the feet to prevent feather damage (taxidermy). Much safer to just hold it down with your knee and squeeze the neck till it's limp. That's what I do anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Sorry to hear of it , just be carefull in the future. It could happen to any of us for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Stand on his head until he's dead. Quite frequently they'll stay stone still for almost a minute before the death throws kick in. That's when you won't expect it and you can get hurt. Even a jake can wreak havoc with his little nubs. I'm glad it wasn't worse for you. It sure could have been from the sounds of it. BTW, you probably should get some hand therapy since you have some nerve damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 :eek:ouch, cool scar though. I bet you will change your ways the next time you handle a bird. Congrats on the kill as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Dude!!!!! I've been jagged and poked at pretty hard a few times.........but........DUDE!!!! :eek: He gave it all to you. :eek: Look at it this way........you'll have the best turkey hunting story in most any circle of turkey hunters you'll ever BS with. :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Congrats on the bird. I'll have to remember not to grab ahold of mine when I get one...hopefully I get one I mean. Hope the hand heals quickly and fully. If you are indeed right handed you'll need it to drop the hammer on some more in the future. - Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 you poor thing....I remember going up to my first bird, laying there dead and i reached down and grabbed him up, i grabbed the spur, 1 1/4 in lil daggers, Man did it hurt and that was just me, I couldn't imagine what it would of been like if he had any life left in him..hope you heal quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkergirl Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Ouch!!! hope your hand feels better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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