Autumn’s cooler evenings and changing colors make it a rewarding time of year. For hunters and agricultural producers, it can be a less safe season due to increases in activity and stress.
Michael Stotz, DO, Avera family practitioner, said a yearly checkup ahead of the busy season can help you prepare for the increased activity.
Get a Yearly Checkup
A yearly checkup help you and your provider notice changes to your health.
Schedule Now
Prepare for Physical Challenges of Hunting
Hunters may not have kept fitness levels high to appreciate the additional effort needed to hike, haul and shoot when they return to the trails to bag game. A pre-season doctor’s visit is a great way to avoid unwanted drama while driving birds or stalking deer.
“It’s not just hunters – we can all be susceptible to over-exertion injuries, or taxing our heart and lungs to the point of potential risk,” said Stotz. “Good hunters prepare for the season, and an annual checkup is a good way to make sure you’re 100% ready and able to have a great season bagging ducks, pheasants or anything else.”
Hunting scenarios can call for hours of sustained exercise, whether it is walking, trudging through uneven, muddy terrain or substantial standing. Each can put a body to the test. The strain can add up, especially for the older hunter, if you didn’t prioritize exercise in the off season.
“Big-game hunters, especially those who may need to bring deer or other larger game back to their vehicle across a longer distance, may want to consider strength training as well,” Stotz said. “It’s a great way to feel your best before you head out to bag a trophy buck.”
Stotz said that while some hunters might think it’s too late now to begin exercise, every minute of workout will help. The guideline should be about 30 minutes each day. Those half-hours will offer a boost to your physical ability.
Other Hunting-Day Considerations
- Hunters should also consider the weather conditions – extreme cold can increase risk of heart attack
- Be ready to shed layers if the sun comes out and the day gets warmer than expected – which happens often in the Midwest.
- Big meals, especially before the hunt, and the intense emotions that often accompany hunting can trigger negative cardiac situations – the most severe being heart attack.
Harvest-Time Health Challenges
Farmers face fall challenges that are both physical and mental.
“Harvest time is the busiest season for most farmers, who are trying to deal with weather and the change from Daylight Savings Time to get work done as quickly as possible,” Stotz said. “Early mornings in the combine and late nights hauling grain trailers to the farm can add up and cause problems, not to mention make judgement fly out the window.”
Proper rest, hydration and planning all can help farmers and other agricultural workers to avoid potentially dangerous situations, he said.
How Stress and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
Being aware of your mental stress and well-being is also important. Long hours, market prices and weather-related issues can all be triggers.
“Stress can make us cut corners or push ourselves harder,” Stotz said. “Fatigue, especially when working with large and potentially dangerous equipment, can make for an unsafe situation when you’re under stress.”
It’s also important to restrict access to certain areas during harvest, including field and loading areas if kids are on the farm.
“There will be challenges that come with harvest season that do not come any other time of year – shorter days, bigger worries and plenty of work to do, so plan ahead, stay in good physical shape and be willing to ask for help,” said Stotz. “A heart attack or serious accident isn’t worth the risk if you’re pushing yourself too far or working to the point of breakdown.”
Most importantly, it’s important to talk with someone if stress starts to feel overwhelming. Call Avera’s Farm and Stress Rural Hotline at 800-691-4336.
