Opening day of Bev in Ohio today. Another fellow was supposed to go with me and he canceled put at the last minute. On the way I stopped at another farm and got permission and off I went. Although the spot O went has been good in the past for a few, it didn't look encouraging. I took one Bev foothold, a few 110s and a couple 1.5 LS. Also had all the stakes I could carry in one and in the other arm my bag with all of the other necessities. The bank at this run is 6 to 8 feet above the water. So, I walked to a spot that only about 3 feet above the water. I know the bank along the run washes out a lot so I always stay at least a foot to 18 inches back. Just as I started to step over the bank with both hand extended out to my side, so I could my balance when I hit the bottom... The bank collapsed. With all of my weight starting forward, I was doomed. I fell into about 3 feet of water and lit face down against a rock. My face couldn't have hit more perfect if I had planned. I felt my nose hit, some went crack and my forehead hit... I saw stars and almost past out. But my hat cushioned some of the blow on my head. Blood poured from my nose. I grabbed my nose with my finger and the pain brought tears to my eyes. I realized my nose must be broke and out of place. I had gabbed a rag I had in my wader's pouch, covered my nose and could feel the dislocation. I thought to myself, well it can't hurt much more... so grabbed my nose at the base, and gave it quick jerk. Well, I was wrong... It hurt like h...……. it was very painful, but it went back in place.

I guess I set there on my knees about 15 minutes, before I could get my bearing and my feet under me. That is when I began to smell this strange odor. Further inspection production the point of the smell. I had a bottle of Back Breaker in the pouch of my waders, which I guess had hit another rock, and smashed. I had got water in my waders and in the pouch. By this time I was able to stand up and realized I now had water almost to my knees, when it all ran down.

I had a head ache and was staggering a bit. I made on attempt to get back up over the bank, but that was fruitless. So I decided to just wade up the ditch until I could find a lower back. I saw a lot of mink tracks, so as I went I decided to make 3 sets. I figured my head was going to any how so might at least make the best of it.

I guess my beaver trapping may be over, since the one bottle of Back Break is all I had. So, maybe I can find another place that has a lot of beaver and can make some blind 330 sets.

By the time I got home, my eyes were swelling and I have bruises on my nose in a couple of place and my eyes are swelling... and have one crazy headache. I wasn't very pretty before, but this didn't help



Garry-

You look fine there ^^^^^^^^.....or is that a “Before Pic “..?..Glad you made it out !

I was just discussing with a friend about beaver trapping in the winter.

His statement was, "if you trap beaver, you will always find a way to fall or get wet"!

Hopefully its not too deep and doesn't go over the top. That is a "wake up call"!

Take care and be even more careful. We can't afford breaking at our age.

Glad you cheated death to do battle another day.

i apologize for the amount of giggling i did as i read through that.glad you'll be ok and i hope ya get a mink.--watch that bank.

Yeah, I giggled a bit too cause I've been there and done that so many times I can't count'em. Last year squirrel hunting I fell and addled myself bad. On a serious note I'm glad you made the best of it, kept on settin and made it back ok. It's a real good idea to let someone know where and when your going out. Ya don't have to be way out in the land of the midnight sun for something to go wrong. Take care Garry.


PS;
Your pic would look great on a poster that says, " Get off my lawn". You related to Les?

no doubt catch,the gigglin was as much a dozen of the times its happened to me raced through my mind as i read on.

It's a good thing that we are in the sixties today, or it could have been worse. Being dazed and disoriented in freezing cold water can be deadly. I hope you don't need surgery on your nose.

Keith

That beaver trapping can be dangerous.

You are all pretty much correct in your commentary. I probably would have giggled, if it had been someone else, or I saw the same thing happen on TV. For you older guys, remember Peter Sellers and some of the stupid things he did... about the same. Feeling a little better... still have headache and I keep sneezing which is a very exciting experience. I guess the inside of my nose or something is swelling up, it is hard to breath through my nose. It is like having a really bad cold with your sinuses clogged up.

Every stitch of clothing I had on, down to my long johns were wet. I have boots, socks, jump suit, and jackets hanging it front of every floor register.

Well, tomorrow is another day. I had better get at least one mink in the morning, after the trials and tribulations I went through to make the sets.

Garry-

Thank goodness it was not a bottle of Skunky Backbreaker!! Hope you can continue on and can put the hurt on the beavers this time.

Chris

And i thought it sucked when I got both hands in a staked down jake.

You win.

At least noone was there to see it.

Gary, if you private mail me your address, I will get a bottle of beaver lure to you.
Crap happens to each and every one of us when we are not running a line from a computer chair. It just happens.
A couple weeks ago I was breaking up a dog tussle at home. Ended up with a dislocated finger that ended up requiring surgery. Kind of messed up work, trapping, basically everything. But for some reason, I always seem to think that better days are coming. LOL
Contact me if you still need some beaver lure. It will be one old timer helping another.
Mac

Spoken to your friend since the incedent? Stuff like this is why I like to have someone with me when beaver trapping.

Be careful Gary. If you need help let me know.

Stay safe out there Gary. Maybe bring a friend. I like to break my nose the old fashioned way, in a hockey game, lol.

I'm always hoping when I fall beaver trapping that my head doesn't go through one of my set 330's. I think about that sometimes and wonder if I would last any longer than a beaver! Hang in there Garry!

Your story sounds about like what happens to me about once every three days beaver trapping in cypress swamps.
I tell everyone that everything in the beaver swamp is trying to kill you. Submerged cypress knees to trip over only to land on submerged pungi sticks, venomous snakes, gators, every arthropod which bites or stings, jealous husbands (in the bar after checking), etc.
Nothing quite like "riding the pipe" right after taking out one too many sticks from the downstream side of plugged culvert while inside the pipe.
We ain't having tea parties and playing with dolls.

The old guy I used to trap with drank sherry wine all day while trapping,One day(he was in his late 70's) he came back to camp all bloody around the mouth,lol.He fell down the bank and bit his tongue,he looked in pretty rough shape.A couple more bottles of goof took the pain away.