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Total Frustration
With archery season well underway here in Virginia I am missing my compound bow more every night I head to the woods. Now, I am lucky that Virginia is one of the States that considers crossbows archery equipment and in doing so has saved my archery season.
The reason things are frustrating for me is I was severely injured in an auto accident in April of 2010. I healed fairly fast from all the pulled muscles, bumps and bruises, the broken teeth took a little longer to correct, BUT my left elbow was injured. So far this injury has not healed or has been able to be corrected.
All of the stands I use are not too far above the ground because climbing with only the full use of one arm isn’t easy. Then there is the holding and steadying of the weapon, be it a crossbow, smoke pole, or shotgun. When I shoot I have to use shooting sticks. I am right handed and right eye dominant. This means I have to be able to hold the weapon study with my left arm and aim. Without shooting sticks or a shooting rail or window frame this is impossible for me to use any weapon safely or accurately.
If this is total frustration for me then I can only appreciate those other more severely handicapped sports men and women out there that are fighting far more than I am to get out in the field.
This is why I have been doing everything I can for the last few weeks to help get a local sportsman back into the woods. This young man was injured at work a few years ago and is now confined to a wheelchair…. I have gotten the guys from his old hunt club to build him a wheelchair accessible shooting house that can be almost driven up to with his van. The guys in the club are now making a path that will be wheelchair friendly. The shooting house will not have a hard floor and no solid door so John can roll right in. This house has been built overlooking one of the busiest game trails the club has on its property.
Our disabled hunter knows nothing of this house yet and he will see it and get to use it the first day of black powder season. John’s father has purchased his son’s hunting license for him and has sighted in his smoke pole. The night before the black powder season opens (November 4th) John’s father is going to ask him to ride along and do some scouting. That is when he will see “John’s House” for the first time.
Good Luck to John and to all of the hunters out there who have challenges beyond the range of normal!!
Comments(2):
Hunters with challenges
Wednesday, November 09, 2011 clyde
A great writeup on how we can help our handicap hunters get back in the game
UPDATE
Saturday, November 12, 2011 Luanne
John Killed a doe on Wednesday (nov 9) from his house. It took him a couple of weeks but he can now get to the shooting house by himself. He has many many fellow hunters in the area to help him retrieve any game he takes from his house. His family reports he has become a different person since he is able to get into the woods again!!
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