Think

It states right on the label of some prescribed drugs that it is not to be used in powered syringes. Well, that is exactly what a dart is; a power syringe that flies. This makes for a very dangerous situation, as not only could you inject yourself easily, but an innocent bystander forty yards away could be in trouble.

As with any firearm, safety rules and caution needs to be at the forefront of your thoughts. While driving west on a highway before entering Stillwater, Oklahoma to purchase some needed supplies, I noticed a barn covering a set of steel corrals and a working chute. I was impressed with all the thought that must have gone into its construction. It was laid out in a manner to handle cattle in a very efficient manner.

Just away from the cover of the barn was a loading chute that had a rather large sign by it with just one word: THINK. I believe the owner placed it there for the benefit of his hired hands. It’s easy to get injured or injure the livestock if your head is in a location where the sun doesn’t shine. This one word piece of advice certainly applies to handling drugs and guns, especially at the same time!

Aside from the normal precautions and safety rules regarding guns and their handling, you should also keep alert to the characteristics of the drugs you will be using. I am unaware of any antibiotics currently manufactured that would pose a significant risk to human life or health if just skin exposure occurred. Now that doesn’t mean there are not some others out there that I am unaware of. Read the precautionary labels on your medications and if you are unsure or don’t know, ask someone that does – specifically your Vet! If you really want to stay on the safer side of things YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND GLOVES WHEN HANDLING ANY DRUG.

I am aware of some drugs used in sedation and tranquilizations that are very dangerous to humans should accidental exposure occur. Should you get a droplet of one of these drugs on your skin, you could be in trouble. If you accidentally get sprayed or the drugs come in contact with your mucous membrane, such as your nose, eyes or mouth, you are in trouble. There is a synthetic morphine manufactured that is 10,000 times more potent than actual morphine. (Now you know how elephants are knocked out.)

Anyone dealing with such drugs should have the antagonist, or reversal dosage pre-loaded for injection should any person be accidentally exposed to these drugs. This should be a first step before handling such drugs. Some of these potent drugs have no antagonist that exists. A face shield, latex gloves and arm covers should be employed whenever mixing such drugs and loading them into a dart.

I learned a great deal on the subject of “The Chemical Immobilization of All Species of Wildlife” while attending a class by Dr. Keith Amass of Safe Capture International. One of his points I can share with you is that you should always advise your physician and local hospital of potentially dangerous drugs you are handling before you handle them. This way, if an accident were to occur, they know immediately what you were exposed to and procedures required that can be taken to save you or a coworker’s life.

I would suggest that any reader of this publication that has an interest in “tranquilizing” take the course put on by Safe Capture International. They have a web site, www.safecapture.com, and you will find they put on scheduled classes around the United States. Not only will you be taught how to keep yourself safe, but also the animal under your care and control. Unless the curriculum has changed, after completing a sixteen hour course and passing a final exam, you will be certified in the chemical immobilization of animals. I intend on “refreshing” myself again with this class when given the opportunity.

If you look on the label of any prescription drug bottle you will note a box labeled “Note to the Physician.” It would be a good idea that ole doc knows what to do immediately for you without having to take the time to read the drug bottle while you’re lying on the stretcher.

Be and stay educated and informed on what you are doing and the potential consequences of your actions.

Consider yourself to be weaned and on your own. If you screw up it’s not the drug manufacturer’s fault. It’s not a dart company’s fault. It’s not someone that’s distracting you that is at fault. It’s your fault.

Think.

Don’t let yourself become complacent with firearm safety either. Complacency is just a form of not thinking and I am guilty of this once in a while. I am going to make an excuse while there is no excuse. Here it is.

My cousin had been unexpectedly admitted to the hospital after recently purchasing some stocker cattle. I told him I would go check his cattle and dart any that looked bad. I asked him which of the steers had received darts and what medications were used. He couldn’t tell me much, as he had not kept medical records on them. (I’ll get to the importance of keeping cattle medical records later in the book.)

Well, back to the story. There were three heads that were in pretty bad shape. The first one I ran across had evidently never received a shot before. With the steer being one of the smaller ones weighing around 450 pounds, I shot him with a 5cc dart containing the prescribed drug at a 10 yard distance. I got him.

The second one I found was lying down by himself and had been darted more than two times judging from his behavior. I shot it with a 6cc dart from the pickup window as he was in a fast walk 25 yards away trying to put some additional distance between us. I got him.

I found the third steer hiding in a patch of weeds on the other end of the pasture. It’s hard to tell how many times he had shot this calf! After several attempts to get a good broadside standing still shot, it became evident that I was going to have zero cooperation on his part. I was using an X-Caliber projector. I had it loaded with a dart and charged the projector with CO2. The barrel was sticking out the window of the truck. I took the safety off, and just as I was getting ready to fly the dart towards him, he turned 180 degrees and was shortly on the opposite side of the truck. At this point, I was feeling very sick with a “stomach virus,” and I really wanted to get myself back to my house. I slung my door open to exit the truck so I could get a shot from across the hood. I neglected to put the X-Cal back onto safety. I must have touched the trigger while getting out, and injected my door panel! (see photograph)

After loading another 6cc dart with the prescribed drug I finally shot the steer in the neck forty-five yards away as he was in a fast trot. I finally got him!

The outcome to all this turned out OK, but I was fortunate. It had the potential to be a very bad deal just because I was thinking of getting the hurried shot off instead of what was really important. Don’t become complacent Mark! A few days later I placed a duct tape Band-Aid on the door panel. It should serve as a good visual reminder for me to THINK.

The photo should also give you an idea of what extreme excessive impact trauma is. I know a fellow who was doctoring his 300 pound cattle with 3cc darts and ended up with a problem. He was injecting the cattle at close range and was unattentive when he chambered a yellow load instead of a green load. He buried a 3cc dart up to the tailpiece in the neck of a calf. At least he didn’t hit anything vital; but he did have to catch the calf to remove the dart and treat the wound.