September 5, 2007
News flash: Deer hunting could kill you*
A couple of interesting scientific studies have gotten some attention in recent days. Not because they are particularly groundbreaking, though.
In one, researchers found out that men, when searching for mates, pay a lot of attention to women's looks. Yeah, that's a shocker.
In another, scientists determined that men with certain risk factors for heart disease face a higher risk of having a heart attack when deer hunting.
I kid you not.
The researchers affixed monitoring equipment to 25 heart-attack-waiting-to-happen men. Of the hunters, 17 had a history of coronary disease. The rest had other risk factors, such as being overweight, smoking, or suffering from high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Amazingly, walking over "uneven" terrain -- i.e. hills -- or dragging a dead deer got the men's hearts pounding. Duh. It's called physical exertion.
And you know how we deer hunters say our heart starts pounding when we see a deer? We're not making that up. Seeing and shooting a deer also elevated the subjects' heart rates. THAT'S WHY WE DO IT.
Anyway, the increased heart rates can cause irregularities and could lead to heart attacks, etc.
I'd like to think that hunters who hear about this study might be motivated to try to get in decent shape before the season. Some might. I fear others could just use it as excuse to never venture more than a few feet from their truck or ATV, which they were probably doing already anyway.
*If you are already at risk of dying because you have a bad ticker.
Comments
[September 6, 2007 12:41 PM]
Bob HI rank this one with the statement that everyone who ate carrots in 1840 is dead!
Any studies of how some at risk guys risks are reduced because they get out in the field hunting and exert themselves a little?
Just more anti hunting drivel with a different slant. However, in Va., construtional we now have a right to hunt so they are wasting their time here.
later
[September 10, 2007 3:03 PM]
TerranceI doubt sitting on the butt is any better for you. Most hunters the only exercise they get is hunting. I believe it probally helps more people then it hurts so just keep hunting.
[September 11, 2007 10:03 PM]
Mark TaylorThanks for the comments, Bob and Terrance.
I don't know that this is an anti-hunting study. I think it was just some scientists who read a story about some hunter having a heart attack and thought, "We should study that!" only because there have already been 53 studies that have proven that obese people are more likely to have heart attacks while running than thin, fit people.
No doubt getting out there is better than sitting on the couch drinking PBR and watching hunting shows. And, while I'm not sure hunting is the only exercise "most" hunters get, it probably is the most exercise some of them get.
I've gone into hunting seasons in what, for me, is pretty rotten shape. It's no fun. I hate sucking wind on the walk to a stand, or while doing any of the tough stuff that REAL HUNTING involves. I'm actually in decent shape this year and it's made a difference even in my scouting.