Lightning Strikes a Herd of Deer | Outdoor Life

Lightning Strikes a Herd of Deer | Outdoor Life

Wow I never seen this before....

Be Adaptive Equipment

If you have been following along here you know I recently purchased a new shooting brace that attaches to my wheelchair and holds my crossbow or rifle / shotgun.

The other day when I was putting it on my wheelchair I noticed that the front fork was shaped like a Y, and my crossbow forearm was a little wide and would do better with a U shapped bracket.

I contacted the manufacturer, Brian and Renée over at Be Adaptive Equipment and even though I purchased the LM-100 shooting rig through one of their distributors, they were happy to talk with me and manufacture a solution.
 
Brian manufactured a new bracket shaped in a U specifically for my Parker crossbow.  Not only that but he shipped it UPS and I had it here two days after speaking with him.

It's nice to know that customer service is still alive and well and that people in manufacturing treat you the way you would like to be treated. 

I think this is a great example of a company that enables and empowers individuals with disabilities and I thought you all should know about Brian and Renée.

3 - D Follow up Post

I should mention that I think shooting at 3-D targets is a great deal of fun and very realistic.  It also provides an opportunity to learn to estimate accurate yardage and proper shot placement on the animal you are hunting.

Unfortunately, I rarely shoot at 3-D targets using my crossbow because of arrow penetration.  My Parker Buck Buster 175 will sink a crossbow bolt (arrow) 8 or 9 inches into the 3-D target.  This makes it extremely difficult to pull the arrow out.

Whoever is assisting me with shooting that day has a really difficult time pulling out the bolt and re-cocking my crossbow.  It really becomes a lot of work.

I enjoy using a target bag like this one, it lets my assistant easily pull the bolt from the target.  How about you?  What types of targets do you enjoy shooting at?

Falcon Archers 3D Schedule

Here is the schedule for all the 3-D shoots this summer taking place at Falcon Archers .  It's a great group of men and women dedicated to archery, come out and show your support and get ready for the season!

Free Hat

Federal Premium Turkey Loads is offering a free hat with the purchase of a box of shells.  I picked my shells up over the weekend and have the rebate offer in the mail.

I am really looking forward to receiving this new camouflage hat although I'm not exactly sure I need another ball cap.  It's funny how many hats one person can collect, after a while I tend to give them away.  I was purchasing the shells anyway, the free hat is just a bonus.

Headlamp

I am very fortunate that my Permobil C-500 is equipped with lights.  This makes getting in and out of a dark van, parking lot or ground blind not only easier but safer as well.

If your wheelchair is not equipped with head lights, you may want to consider using a headlamp similar to this one made by Black Diamond .  There are certainly cheaper headlamps on the market, but I have used this one for several years since the last blizzard left my home without power for several days.

The great thing about a headlamp is you always have light where you are looking.  Being a person with quadriplegia, a headlamp is the best solution when darkness falls.

Parker Concorde

Ok,  I can't wait to shoot one of these and see how it performs.  Then I'll worry about coming up with the $1200 it's listed for....

I love my Parker Buck Buster 175 crossbow that I bought last year, I think its made by a great company that makes fantastic products.  I think it will be a few years before I replace it.  But when I do, this one will be looked at first.

New Brace LM100

I received the new adapted hunting Brace ( LM-100 ) and I thought I would show you how it looks on my wheelchair.  I have not had the opportunity to take it out on to the range yet, so the review will have to wait .

It's definitely made from quality, heavy-duty material and should last a lifetime.  I am looking forward to giving it a try with my shotgun later this month.  Stay tuned for more information.

$30.00 Permit Required for Pa State Shooting Ranges

Starting April 1 of this year if you are not a licensed hunter or furtaker in the state of Pennsylvania, it will cost you $30 per year to use the state shooting ranges.

I think it's a reasonable charge to use the state's facilities if you are not a licensed hunter.  But it would be cheaper to purchase an adult hunting license for $20.70.  You can read the news release by clicking here . 

I do hope the new charge and recent improvements to the shooting ranges will facilitate better accessibility for individuals using wheelchairs, but I have not been to any ranges to venture an opinion on accessibility.

What are your experiences at the Pennsylvania State ranges regarding accessibility?

3 Things

Being a hunter with a disability like quadriplegia can present a few challenges to say the least.  Three items I try to keep in my backpack are:

1. Plastic zip ties- they make an excellent fastener, but they can also be made into loops and taped onto objects.  This enables me to pick up the item using my finger or thumb, since I am unable to grasp objects.

2. Duct tape- it's always good to have a little duct tape with you, when you're traveling in the woods, it probably has 1001 uses (see above).

3. Velcro- I like to have things Velcroed to my wheelchair within reach of my hand.  Using Velcro, I can also easily remove, replace or exchange items that are temporarily secured in place. 

Always use the soft side of the velcro on any surface your hand may come into contact with.

What are some everyday items that make your hunting experiences easier or better?