Top Shot Champ

Q&A With 'Top Shot' Winner Chris Reed Field & Stream I really enjoy the show Top Shot, I wish they had an accessible version for me to compete in!

I mostly shoot my crossbow and have to be careful with any rifle recoil, but I would certainly enjoy the competition of Top Shot Accessible Version; for any of you television producers looking for a new show !

Full Choke Mossberg 535

I thought I would ask the question,  which shotgun choke do you all like to use for turkeys ?

I will be shooting a Mossberg 535, 12 gauge, using 3 inch turkey loads  from federal, and I plan on using the full choke that came with the shotgun.

It holds a very nice pattern at 40 yards , I can't really justify spending $40 on a XX turkey choke...

 What's your experiences with  the full choke ?

Boonie Hat and Facemask

Since we're on the subject of hats, I don't think there is a better all-purpose hunting hat than the boonie.  Throw in the included facemask and this goes from the spring turkey woods to the early-season bow hunt.

Free Hat Update

The free hat from federal that I sent in for on April 4th arrived yesterday.  That was quick and painless for any rebate offer... did you get yours?

Pa Game News

I just received my first copy of the Pennsylvania Game News .  I have been meaning to subscribe for quite a while and just got around to doing it.

It has several great articles this month about turkey hunting and another article regarding different types of targets for bow hunting.  All around I will enjoy reading this magazine.

I can read the magazine online which makes turning the pages so much easier.  All I do is type in my account number and a generic password and I can read everything online.  This makes it so much easier for people with disabilities and individuals with dexterity  issues

Dreams Become Reality

I would like to mention a local organization Dreams Become Reality a group of men and women who are dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities go on guided hunts.

I think it's fantastic when I see individuals giving their time and resources in order to help other men and women enjoy the outdoors.  Assisting disabled hunters is full of challenges that take proper planning in order to overcome and be successful. They certainly know how to do it at Dreams Become Reality. 

If you're looking to donate to an outdoor charity, I would like to recommend this one.

SWPA Successful Bow Hunter Course

I just received an e-mail from my friend Paul who is an instructor for the Successful Bow Hunter course here in southwestern Pennsylvania.

I took the course last year and I can honestly say after Bow hunting 15 years I enjoyed the class very much and picked up a few new ideas and learned a few things.  For more information go to their website  and get registered.

The class consists of an online test and a required field day with examination.  It's a lot of fun and a lot of great information.  Local field days are as follows:

Here is the 1st round Successful Bowhunting classes posted on the PGC webpage:

06.11.2011 - Chieftan Archery, New Kensington

06.25.2011 - Coraopolis District Sportsman's Club, Coraopolis

07.09.2011 - Peter's Twp Recreational Center, Venetia

07.16.2011 - Allegheny Country Rifle Club, Pittsburgh

08.20.2011 - Rochester Sportsman's Club, Rochester

More dates TBA

Taxidermy

Today my friend and taxidermist Jim dropped off my eight point buck that I was fortunate enough to take with my crossbow last October.  As you can see, he looks fantastic between my mule deer and nine point, which were taken prior to my injury.

It's a beautiful example of taxidermy and a trophy I will enjoy viewing the rest of my life.  Being able to harvest this spectacular buck from my power chair using a crossbow is something I will always remember and be proud of.

Turkey Calling

Pa Trout Season Opens

My brother John had a great opener today while trout fishing !  Nice job, time to heat up the oil, nothing beats fresh trout in a light beer batter .

U.S. National Park Service Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

U.S. National Park Service Free Entrance Days in the National Parks April 16th - 24th you can visit all National Parks for free, get out there and enjoy our nations best asset's

Largest Mule Deer Sheds of All Time

F&S Exclusive: Highest Scoring Mule Deer Sheds of All Time Found in Colorado Springs Field & Stream

Before my injury I would always go out in the spring to scout for new turkey hunting locations and look for sheds.  I never found anything remarkable in the antler department, and certainly nothing like this Mule deer.

Congratulations on the find of a lifetime, it's amazing that you found both antlers !  Your hard work and dedication paid off with an outstanding trophy.

Broadheads and Long Shots

I was on Field & Stream Magazine's message board this morning when I ran across this question asking about what type of Broadhead would provide accuracy out to 100 yards?

The person lived out west and stated he has heard of guys taking shots at 100 yards... To me that is extremely irresponsible and increases the odds of wounding an animal.  Ethically I would never take a 100 yard shot at an animal with my crossbow.

I shoot mechanical broadheads ( Rage two blade 100 grain ) at the archery range and consistently group shots out to 50 yards.  I never shoot beyond that distance at targets, and would never think of shooting a deer at that distance, let alone 100 yards.

I pass on a lot of deer because they are too far away or I am unable to get the best shot.  I think we owe it to the animals we pursue as responsible hunters.  It's just my opinion, but the 100 yard archery shot is the type of publicity hunters and archers can live without.

Turkey Calling 101

I like this video, he gives a lot of good tips. Give it a try

State to declare open season on porcupines

State to declare open season on porcupines

I don't believe I will be rushing out trying to shoot a porcupine this weekend. But I certainly can understand the need to thin the population...

Porcupines can be quite destructive and if one is destroying your home now you have the option of eliminating it. What are your thoughts on an open season on porcupines? Will you be shooting any?

Your Favorite Knife

I believe if you talk with 10 different hunters and asked the question " What is your favorite knife ? " You would probably receive 10 different answers.

When I graduated high school over 25 years ago, I bought a Buck 110 folding knife. I used that knife for years and it quickly became one of my favorites.

After my injury, I gave away almost all of my hunting and camping equipment. So when I decided to return to bow hunting, I had a lot of gear to buy.

When it came to purchasing a knife, it was a no-brainer for me. I bought the Buck 110, the knife made its debut in 1962, carries an unconditional lifetime warranty and I believe is one of the best all-around hunting knives anyone could ask for.

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?