I don't really know how to start this post off. The events of the last two days have weighed greatly on my mind and I’ve struggled with whether to tell the story or not.  Truth be known, I don't want to. But if it helps someone else down the line to not follow the mistake I made two nights ago, it makes it more than worth it.

So here we go. If you are here, you most likely know that I’m a photographer/videographer. With that, I’m always looking to get creative and new angles of different things. The other night was no exception. We just took delivery of our new high speed camera and wanted to get a couple test shots with it shooting a bow. A buddy of mine was with me and was the shooter while I was running the camera. He took a test shot and smacked the target right in the bullseye. So I went to set the camera up for a second shot.

I wanted to get the angle from back behind the target to see the arrow leave the bow. I was off to the side from the target a little, but tried to make one last adjustment before the shot as he was drawing back. That's when things went horribly bad. He tried to put down and accidentally bumped the trigger. The arrow fired, skipped off the concrete and went straight into my leg. Now, from my perspective I vividly remember not knowing what just happened. I heard the bow go off, I heard the arrow hit the concrete and I heard it break something. My initial thought was that it hit the carbon leg of the tripod and the leg kicked back and hit me in the leg…..then reality set in. I looked down at my left leg to see an arrow stuck through my shin, half the arrow showing in front and half out the back. This next detail is one I hope people truly absorb because I did what I 100% should not have done. I reached down and yanked the arrow out of my leg as fast as I could. By doing so, that opened the gates to lose blood, fast. It took all of 5 seconds for me to make it clear that we needed to head to the ER immediately. Not to get into too many more details from here out, the short story is I’m doing fine. I’ve been in the ICU for the past 2 days now and fully expect to go home today if there are no signs of infection. I have a broken leg, a pretty significant puncture through some muscle and a heavy heart on this one. I know and am so very thankful that we escaped this one pretty well considering what else was possible in that situation. I cant thank my friend enough (who will forever be anonymous) for keeping a clear mind and getting me to the hospital so quickly. He did everything right in an emergency situation, the true mark of a great man.

With so many people out filming hunts these days and wanting to get that one great shot, this is a quick dose of reality to make certain safety is always placed well in front of getting any shot. I’m very strict with safety when my son shoots and I feel like an idiot for breaking my own rules just to test a new camera out. Its 100% my fault and I know it. I hope this can be a quick reminder to everyone to pay extra attention to safety.

As for what's next…I’m now 9 days out from my elk hunt trying to figure out how I can go and have a chance at a bull with a broken leg. I’m playing it one day at a time, but have every intention of giving it a go…even if I have to OPTIFADE out my crutches and go super slow into areas that are not too steep. We’ll see. Right now, I just want to get out of this hospital…