Let's get to know each other

My name is Greg and I am a disabled Hunter.  Specifically I am paralyzed from the chest down due to a diving accident where I broke C4/C5  in 1999.

Prior to my injury I was a fanatical bow Hunter, hunting several states each year for Whitetail deer and Turkey.  It's taken me a long time to get back into the sport of hunting and I would like to share this experience with all of you. We can learn from each other's experiences, maybe save each other some time and hopefully be more successful in our outdoor adventures.

The season just ended for archery here in Pennsylvania, at least until after Christmas.  I'm not sure if I will get out for the second season to fill my remaining two Doe tags. Snow and my Permobil C-500 power wheelchair do not always get along.

This October I was extremely fortunate to be a part of a special needs hunt sponsored by Whitetail Management Associates of greater Pittsburgh .  A group of dedicated men and women gave up their Saturday to help me bowhunt again.

Friday evening I tried to sleep but my arms were aching and burning twice as bad as normal, It was really bad. But I kept thinking about the possibilities of Saturday morning and the opening day of buck season in Pennsylvania.

I was up at 4 AM and getting dressed for the field.  My brother John and I met the group from WMA at  6AM, and went to our hunting site. By 6:45 AM my double bull archery blind was set up and I was hunting, with my Parker 175 buck buster crossbow!

All morning long I was entertained with watching a red fox, squirrels, chipmunks and the sound of nature all around me. But unfortunately no deer....

Lunch time came around and the guys from WMA provided a great pizza and Ice-T lunch for John and I. It was back into the blind for me while my brother John decided to take a nap behind my blind. It wasn't 20 minutes later when a group of deer came by stopping 24 yards from my ground blind.

I was able to get my safety off independently, take aim and send the bolt at my target, a mature doe. The 100 grain Rage broadhead found its mark and quickly dispatched the doe.  She only traveled 20 yards downhill !

The sound of my Parker crossbow going off, awaken my brother who asked me  if I got one. I quickly told him the story and he walked out to retrieve my arrow which had completely passed through the doe.

He called the guys from WMA and they quickly retrieved my trophy. I thought my day could not get any better but they told me it was early afternoon and now it's time to get a nice buck.

For the rest of the afternoon they concentrated on getting me a shot at a beautiful eight point buck. When the time came I was able to make the shot and with a little tracking they recovered my 8 point!

It was one of the best Saturdays since my injury, I really love Bowhunting and the opportunity to be in the field.

I would like to thank Kips Deer Processing in Carnegie Pa, for processing both of my Deer at no charge and preparing my 8 Pointer for the taxidermist!  Parker crossbow's also donated one dozen arrows to help make this dream hunt come true. Thanks to everyone who played a part in my success!