Get in shape before attempting your next hunt

For several years, I've held back writing about a very serious health issue that occurred afield.

Even though I enjoy eating white tail back straps, elk back straps, and roasted moose and caribou, I do not hunt these animals any longer for a variety of reasons. I no longer enjoy the cleaning aspect of the hunt after an animal is brought down.

But all that doesn't count when it comes to wild turkey.

Something of a very serious nature happened several years ago when I scouted a beautiful chunk of territory far west of Springfield.

The late Mike Seeling, photo chief for this newspaper, and I usually hunted geese and wild turkey. We shared a cabin on the hunting grounds and on the morning of this hunting day I was feeling quite queasy and experiencing a tremendous headache.

We left the cabin long before the sun rose and quietly used the four-wheeler to get to a gravel road. We then walked through the woods to our hunting blinds.

When I sat down to get into shooting position, I apparently passed out. I had no idea what happened nor did feel anything to suggest why I passed out.

I suddenly heard a tom turkey gobble. The sound came from an area behind my location, so I recovered, got up, gathered my equipment and softly made my way toward the gobbling bird. I never got there.

I passed out again after a few steps, When I came to, I realized I was in trouble. I sat up again and after 15 minutes or so I finally was able to stand. I made my way to the gravel road we used to get into the hunting area. I was going to sit on a log and wait for Seeling to pick me up and drive back to the cabin on the four-wheeler.

To make a long story shorter, I spent the next three days in bed while nursing a 104-degree fever.

I finally told Seeling I was driving home even though he argued it would not be smart for me to drive home alone.

I got as far as Bolingbrook when I once again passed out. But luckily for me I had just pulled over to the highway shoulder. Minutes later I started again and this time I made it home. My wife took me to the hospital, where an emergency doctor told me I was fortunate to have made it that far. My temperature had climbed to almost 106. I was having conversations with relatives who had passed on years before.

Long story shortened.

I somehow picked up a "bug" days before the hunt and it subsequently knocked the stuffing out of me. The infection rapidly spread to several parts of my body as well as getting into my gums and throat.

The internal medicine physician made a specific point of telling me I was severely out of shape, dehydrated and generally screwed up. Because of all those elements, I allowed the encroaching illness to help "kill my engine."

So if I may. Here's my non-medical advice to you.

Before any trek through the woods, climbing a hill or mountain, or hiking miles to a woodsy destination, get into peak physical shape. Until recently I was waking two miles a day and using weights to rebuild my arms. And I am increasing my exercise regimen even more to return the strength I once had.

When something happens in the woods, make sure your cell phone has coverage and you're still able to use it.

Be safe out there.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.