Congratulations Ed

Congratulations Ed on harvesting this nice six point with a Tenpoint Crossbow today.  Your Rage broadhead sure did it's job on this buck!  Thanks go out to Glenn and Rich from Whitetail Disabled Hunting and Associates for taking this veteran out today.

Making Plans

I am making plans to hunt this ground blind this weekend.  The last time I was in it, I had this buck at 20 yards but it was doe season only.  Lets see if he or one of his big brother's gives me a shot.

Fairbank R & G, Wounded Warrior, Pheasant Hunt 9/28/2013

 

On Saturday, September 28th, I was hunting with the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors and the members of Fairbank rod and gun club.  This is the third consecutive year for the pheasant hunt and it was a beautiful day.

I was lucky to harvest a pheasant who flew across my shooting zone.  I took several shots at birds and missed.  I can't begin to tell you how exciting it is for me to take a rooster. Please watch the video

The pheasants were moving very fast, I was not the only shooter who missed a few birds.  It's not about being successful on every shot, its about hunting again with friends and family.

I was using a new bite trigger system that my friend Ed designed specifically for this pheasant hunt.  It worked out extremely well and was easy to use.  It always amazes me what he can manufacture at his workbench in his basement.

Thank you to all the volunteers who came out and made this day possible.  I really appreciate all the work and planning that takes place to make this event enjoyable and safe for hunters with disabilities.  A big thank you goes out to Rambo the retriever for finding my bird and bringing it to me!

WMA Accessible Archery Hunt 2013

On Saturday I had the pleasure to go hunting with Whitetail Management Associates of Pittsburgh.  They set up a special doe hunt for four hunters with disabilities.  All of the members gave up their first day of archery season to get us into blinds, drive deer and assist us hunters with disabilities.

The day started early for our host Ryan, he was up at 2:30 AM putting a whole pig on the smoker, and getting everything ready for our arrival at 5:00 AM.  We would be hunting on his farm where he built several ground blinds specifically for wheelchair users.

After saying hello to several volunteers which I have met over the years, we were off to the ground blind.  By 5:30 AM, Beth and I were sitting in the middle of an apple orchard waiting for a mature whitetail doe to walk by.  The weather forecast was severe rain, but the rain had not started yet.

 

About 7:00 AM we were able to spot this buck 20 yards from my blind.  Unfortunately it was Doe only, so all we could do was take pictures.

 

By 8:00 AM several doe had been by the ground blind, unfortunately my limited mobility kept me from taking an ethical shot.  That did not stop Beth from taking pictures.

 

9:00 AM brought the rain.  This rain would continue all day until 8:30 PM.  I felt really bad for the volunteers who were driving deer to the hunters.  They never complained and could not do enough to assist us.  They were successful in pushing at least 11 deer close by me, but again I could not take the shot.  At 11:00 AM they came to take us back to the barn for a lunchtime feast!

I quickly learned that one of the hunters (Mike) who happens to be a double amputee was successful in taking two doe with his Tenpoint crossbow.   Zach and Bob had the same results as me, seeing lots of deer but were unable to pull the trigger.

 

Lunch was fantastic and I was able to speak with two Pennsylvania game commission officers about their work in the commonwealth.  One of the officers, Jack, told me an interesting story about recently rescuing a buck from a well and another buck that was tangled in a soccer net.  I also spoke with a few of the hunters who will be joining me this year on my bow hunt in Illinois. 

After a few hours in the barn enjoying the great food and camaraderie of the other hunters, we loaded up in the rain and headed out to a new location using a portable blind.

 

The evening hunt was almost an exact copy of the morning.  I was seeing lots of deer; unfortunately I was unable to get on them.  Hunting with a disability can be very challenging which makes the rewards that much sweeter.  Legal shooting light eventually came and I had to quit for the day.

 

Some people may not view this hunt as being successful, because I did not harvest a deer.  I know it was successful because I had the opportunity to hunt with great friends and experience bow hunting again in Pennsylvania.

Thank you to all the volunteers at Whitetail Management Associates for all you do for individuals with disabilities every year.  I’ve made some great friends within your organization and really appreciate everything you do for conservation and the sport of bow hunting.

 

 

 

 

MALLORY'S STORY

Mallory suffers from Rasmussen's Encephalitis and has undergone life-saving operations. Rasmussen’s encephalitis is a rare, chronic inflammatory disease that usually affects only one hemisphere of the brain. It occurs in children under the age of 10 (and more rarely in adolescents and adults), and is characterized by frequent and severe seizures, loss of motor skills and speech, paralysis on one side of the body (hemiparesis), inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), and mental deterioration.

Most individuals with Rasmussen’s encephalitis will experience frequent seizures and brain damage over the course of the first 8 to 12 months, and then enter a phase of permanent, but stable, neurological deficits. Scientists currently think that Rasmussen’s encephalitis is an autoimmune disease in which immune system cells enter the brain and cause inflammation and damage.

MALLORY'S STORY

Mallory Mashburn contracted Rasmussen's Encephalitis at the age of 5 and began having seizures. In a short amount of time, the number of seizures that Mallory was suffering from ranged from 75 to 200 seizures a day. Mallory’s mom and dad, Gene and Tiffany were forced to make the very painful decision to try a possible life saving surgery, in which the right side of her brain was removed & which would leave their young daughter suffering the same effects as that of a stroke patient.

After Mallory’s surgery and months of extensive inpatient therapy to help her learn to speak and walk again, she is finally seizure free but Mallory will require therapy and assistive devices for the rest of her life. Mallory has not let the physical challenges she deals with on a daily basis stop her from participating in her love of hunting. In 2012 Mallory began a quest to be the first physically challenged youth to score a turkey grand slam.

She traveled with the WWWO crew to Tampa, Fl. March 22, 2012 to begin the first leg of her journey and killed her Oseola. In April WWWO flew her to Nebraska to hunt for the Rio and Merrium species which she completed in one weekend!

Mallory returned home to Mississipi and in May traveled to Tennessee where she finished with a bang on a great Eastern and therefore making her dream to become indeed a reality! Mallory continues to amaze and inspire us on a regular basis and we are proud to have her as part of the Woods, Wheels & Water Outdoors family.

We hope that her story of overcoming physical challenges will inspire others who are facing their own challenges to dare to DREAM BIG and go out and make their dreams come true! Thanks for sharing Greg! God bless you!

Lisa Crawford, WWWO Secretary/BOD

A Great Hunt

 Davin Fisher, 17, of Montauk, NY was an Accessible Hunter before Boy Scout Troop 136 did a fundraiser to purchase him an Action Trackchair in May 2012. He was born with Spina Bifida, which keeps him in a wheelchair most of the time, but that doesn’t keep him from getting around. He always pushes the boundaries of where his manual chair can go and now where the Action Trackchair WILL GO!!!

He’s been out a few times for deer this season with some sightings but no take downs as of yet. His lottery number came up in the NYS Deer Management Permit lottery, so he’s had some extra time to hunt for his first deer.

On January 12, Davin, his father Bob Fisher and his friend Max Akkala got up before dawn to go duck hunting on Fort Pond in Montauk. They got to their spot and got Davin in his Action Trackchair. With 8 decoys set out off the shoreline and dawn about to break Davin began using his duck calls to lure the birds in.

 

Right away they could see ducks coming into the area and Davin was able to call a few close enough for a shot. They got a Mallard Drake and 3 Hooded Mergansers also known as Sawbills because of their serrated, hooked bills.

 

Later on that day Bob deboned the ducks and made a duck parmesan dish that Davin said “was very good!” but not his first time that way. With only a week left on his NYS DMP he’s hoping to get into the woods a couple more times. When asked if he’s waiting for a big buck for his first deer his response was “I just want a deer!”. Great job on your duck hunt! And good luck bagging your first deer!

 

 

Breakout the Crossbow

Today I had the chance to dust off my Parker Buck Buster 175 crossbow and put some bolts down range and on target.

I started the day shooting a tight three shot group at 20 yards, I was shooting about four inches low.  After a quick scope adjustment (20 clicks up), I was on target.  Then I was good at 30, 40 and 50 yards.

Going to the range and shooting my crossbow is the best Saturday I could ask for.  The best part is I get to practice until September before hopefully getting a whitetail in my sights!

B Square Mount

I decided to remove my B-Square Mount  on my mossberg 535 shotgun.  I ordered a Picatinny rail to replace it.

The B-square mount was not secure and would rise on the recoil of my shotgun.  I'm not sure I had it installed correctly but the picatinny rail is a cheap (7.00) fix.  Taking it to a gunsmith would be much more.

I plan on using the 535 with it's slug barrel for whitetail this fall in Allegheny county, which is shotgun only.

Be Safe and Good Luck Today

Know the Law...

Spring Gobbler Season:

April 28- May 31, 2012

Statewide. Only turkeys with visible beards are legal. Hunting by calling only—no stalking —one-half hour before sunrise until noon from April 28 through May 12, and then from one-half hour before sunrise to onehalf hour after sunset from May 14 through May 31. Hunters are asked to be out of the woods by 1 p.m when closing hours are noon.

Regulations:

In both spring and fall seasons, it is unlawful to possess or use live turkeys as decoys, or to drive or use electronic callers or devices. Dogs can be used to hunt turkeys during the fall season but not during the spring.

Blinds:

The use of turkey blinds is legal under the following definition: Any artificial or manufactured turkey blind consisting of all man-made materials of sufficient density to block the detection of movement within the blind from an observer outside the blind. Artificial or manufactured turkey blinds consisting of all man-made materials means blinds must be constructed of plastic, nylon, canvas, cotton cloth, plywood or other manmade materials. Blinds made by piling rocks, logs, branches, etc. are unlawful.

The blind must completely enclose the hunter on all four sides and from above to block the detection of movement within the blind. When fluorescent orange is required at a stationary calling location in fall seasons, at least 100 square inches must be displayed outside the blind and within 15 feet of the blind, visible 360 degrees.

Spring Gobbler Season:

Arms & Ammunition:

1) Manually operated and semi-automatic shotguns limited to a 3-shell capacity in the chamber and magazine combined;

2) Muzzleloading shotguns of all types and gauges;

3) Long, recurve, compound bows or crossbows with cutting-edge broadheads.

Fine shot no larger than No. 4 lead, No. 2 steel or No. 4 of any other approved nontoxic shot. Rifle/shotgun combination guns may be used if ammunition is limited to shotgun shells. Carrying or using single projectile ammunition, rifles or handguns is unlawful.

Fluorescent Orange Requirements:

Spring Season: Fluorescent orange is no longer required but is recommended when moving through the spring woods.

Tagging, Reporting Requirements:

Successful turkey hunters must follow all instructions printed on tags supplied with licenses. Separate tags are provided for fall and spring seasons. The turkey must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The tag must be securely attached to a leg until the bird is prepared for consumption or mounting. Once you have used your tag it is unlawful to possess it in the field.

Missouri Deer Hunting.. Part One

I just returned from hunting near Kirksville Missouri with Dreams Become Reality.  Beth and I made  the 13 hour trip to  hunt with Chris and Tina Gillin and Chris's brother Jim.

This was a fantastic opportunity to harvest  a mature whitetail with some true sportsman .  Dreams Become Reality is a charity that serves individuals with disabilities (children and adults) as well as Veterans.   There was absolutely no cost for me to participate in this hunt! 

We arrived at approximately 7 PM  Tuesday evening in Kirksville Missouri.   We were staying at the Super 8 Motel.    The motel was older, but accessible, very clean and the employees were extremely friendly .   They even made arrangements for me to charge my Action TrackChair on my trailer in the parking lot.  We kept the tarp on it and charged it outside because it was 38 inches wide, to wide to take into the room.  

The first thing  Chris and I did was go to the local Wal-Mart, to purchase an out-of-state hunting license.    Make sure you know your Social Security number and also take along your hunter safety cards from your home state. 

 After obtaining the necessary license, we all went to dinner at a steakhouse beside the motel.   We talked about where we would be hunting the next morning and what to expect. I finally settled into bed at around 11:30 PM with a wake-up call for 3:30 AM.  Needless to say I did not sleep a wink, I was too excited.  After all, this was better than Christmas! 

The temperature was 23° so  Beth had me dressed as warm as possible .  Chris and Jim knocked on my door at 4:15 AM  and we were ready to begin my dream. 

Boots for Quads

Click

I have to be very careful with my footwear , I cannot feel from the chest down and I can easily receive a blister or sore very quickly from any type of footwear.    I normally wear tennis shoes but this winter I am going to try this hunting boot from cabelas. 

It contains 400 grams of thinsulate and is waterproof, hopefully it does not mark or cause a sore to develop on my foot.   The price is certainly right at $59.99,   if it works out. 

Stay tuned for a shoe review from a man who cannot feel his feet, this should be interesting .... Like a priest being a marriage counselor

Barrys Bear

One for the Bucket List
By Barry Plouse 

It all started with the end of the 2009 PA bear season.  My hunting friends were disappointed with not seeing any PA bears.  Though there are random black bear sightings in our Tri-County area of Northwest PA. We had to go east to have any chance of seeing a bear.  Having lost both of my parents within a two year period, I started to realize how short life can be, so I started a Hunting Bucket List for myself, my brother and some fellow hunting friends.  First on the Bucket List is a Black Bear Hunt for all of us.  We decided to make it a Maine Black Bear Hunt.

Since I am a C5/6 quadriplegic and use an electric wheelchair,  we needed to find an accessible Outfitter in Maine.  I did the search on the Internet and found one advertising accessible hunting and lodging. (http://westernmaineoutfitters.net)  I contacted them, got their references, checked them out and made the reservation for the 2^nd week of the 2010 season.  This Outfitter goes above and beyond in all aspects of the hunting experience.  It was like lodging at a 5 star Hotel while hunting. 

After a year of waiting in anticipation, we were over-packed and loaded for “bear” and heading to Maine with a trailer in tow.  Did I mention we were over-packed?  At the last moment I changed my firearm of choice to my crossbow.  After a phone call with my Western Maine Outfitter guide Dave Jones, he said “bring the crossbow, it’s a 17 yard shot!”  We arrived 5 hours early and were greeted like old friends.  We meet everyone with a handshake and it was returned with an open hand, a smile and big welcome to Maine Bear Hunting.

 After a good nights sleep with the Maine bruins running through our dreams, the guides educated us on the Maine Black Bear habits, actions and how to hunt over bait.  We are hunting the 3pm—sunset time slot.  Our group of hunters were divided into two groups. 

My brother Cecil and I were assigned to guide Dave Jones.  We had to drive miles into the baiting sights over old logging roads into the Maine forest.  I am the first to be dropped off since I am in the electric wheelchair and would need help to the ground blind.  The trial to the ground blind was rocky and my lock down bolt on the bottom of my wheelchair for driving my van kept scrapping the exposed rocks and creating a loud scrapping noise. 

My thoughts were every scrapping noise lessens my chances of seeing a bear!  My guide and brother helped me to get set up for the evening.  I am in a doghouse tent type of blind with only the front window open toward the bait area.  I took notice of the denseness of the forest and how it was like tunnel vision to the bait area. My guide Dave refreshes the bait area with their secret combination of goodies and he and my brother wish me luck and leave for the evening.  The crossbow and me are cocked, locked and ready to rock! 

 After an hour or so the nature show begins!   Maine red squirrels are about the size of our Pennsylvania grays.  They start their chattering and the investigation of the fresh bait.  I was out numbered 10 to 1 easily by red squirrels!  A raven landed next to the bait area; they are 4-5 times larger than a crow and just as noisy.   Then like a drone attack a red tail hawk tries to take out the raven on the bait.  They battle as they fly through the dense forest and making enough noise to scare a New Hampshire bear! 

Another hour passes and red squirrels are back to the bait area.  Without a warning a red tail hawk was back and on a red squirrel clenching it in his talons sitting on the bait barrel.  The hawk leaves the bait area and perches on a nearby branch on the blind side of my ground blind.   I can hear the squirrel squealing while clenched in the talons until the hawk finishes him off.  Am I watching a nature show on Discovery through my ground blind window? 

 My only concern being in a wheelchair in a ground blind with 3 sides covered is what if a bear comes behind me and wants to check me out?  With that thought embedded in my mind, a red squirrel falls from a tree, lands on my head, slides down my back like a bear nose sniffing a new bait barrel!  I lean forward throwing nothing but elbows and thinking here we go my only fear is here!  But the red squirrel lands behind me and enters the ground blind with me and now I am leaning over pushing the squirrel out!  Time to regroup because the magical hour is upon me.

The daylight is slipping away and forest has quieted down.  Now the mosquitoes have come out to play and feed!  I left my Thermo-o-cell behind to help control my scent and less chances of making noise.  As the magical hour of dusk approaches, I am second-guessing my decision of using my crossbow.  But I love the challenge and the thrill of my crossbow.  

While battling the mosquitoes I look back out of the blind to see a bear silhouette appearing like a black ghost without a sound within 25 feet of my blind.  I feel the rush starting, but I remember the guide’s advice to slow down, to analyze the size, to observe the actions of the bear and to not rush a shot.  I immediately start thinking of my situation, I am 25 feet away from a hungry Maine black bear in an electric wheel chair, zipped into a ground blind, armed with a one shot pointed stick and miles from anyone, wow this is good stuff!

The bear looks my way and looks at the bait area, lucky I am well concealed and holding my composure.  The bear decides to approach the bait; he goes to the left side of the bait and smells the goodies.  I am now looking at the size of the bear since I can use the bait barrel for a prospective and decide he is a shooter bear. 

This is my best shooting side of the bait area but the bear does not give up a high percentage shot opportunity.  After the bear whacks the rock holding the lid on the bait barrel it makes a loud metal on metal noise and spooks the bear backwards.  Now the bear approaches the right side of the bait and stands just like a 3D target. 

Daylight has now almost disappeared and my time is running out.  I have to readjust me and my crossbow to the opposite side of bait area.  While readjusting I create a new noise in the woods and bear looks right at me!  I quickly find him in my red dot scope, find the 20-yard dot and place it the kill zone and pull the trigger.  I hear the whack, that whack of exploding lungs, the bear jumps and grunts and turns to run away from me.  Then the crashing noise through the dense Maine forest , this was the loudest noise I heard all evening.  I am noticing the crashing noise is getting closer and closer, then it stops 15 yards from me.  Then the next noise I hear is the bears last 3 breaths.   An expiring black bear makes a death call that would send shivers up Daniel Boone's spine!

 Now the loudest noise in the Maine forest is my heart!  I am now sitting in the darkness with the mosquitoes buzzing me.  With my heart pounding, I start to recap just what has happen in a matter of the last 2-3 minutes, I can’t believe it; a C5/6 quadriplegic just harvested a 190 lb., 4-year-old black bear boar with my crossbow. 

My thoughts turn quickly to thank God, to thank my Dad and thank my brother for being by side in the woods and giving thanks to my lovely wife and daughter for allowing me to keep active in my love of hunting.  

After an hour waiting for the guide and my brother, they show up to retrieve me out of the darkest dark I have ever been in.  I decided to play it cool and wait for them to ask me if I had any luck.  I’m noticing the flashlights coming closer, then the zipper being undone behind me.  They ask me if I saw anything and I calmly reply, “Yes, he’s laying right over there.”  They quickly abandon me in the Maine dark forest once again and rushed over to where I was pointing at yelling out nice bear, nice bear!  Next the dragging of the bear and me out of the woods ends the hunt, but the memory is etched in my mind forever.

 A special thank you and recognition is needed to Western Maine Outfitters, without them creating an accessible hunting opportunity none of this could have happen!  FYI all five hunters saw Maine Black Bear during our week long hunt.

 I now think that my “Bucket List” might be upgrade to a “ Barrel List”!

South Fayette Disabled Sportsmen Deer Hunt 2011

The Action TrackChair is Here

Last night Doug delivered my brand-new Action TrackChair ! I think it is a phenomenal product for individuals with disabilities who rely on power chairs for mobility.

I can't wait to take this thing out into the woods for a few hours. Right now it's in my bedroom .... don't think I didn't stare at it all night, lol.

Tred Barta Bags 400lb Bear

Eagle County TV host bags a bear | VailDaily.com

Using his Action TrackChair and his long bow he was able to take a 400lb Black Bear in British Columbia.

My wheelchair will be here July 2nd, I can't wait to start exploring the outdoors again.  This Action TrackChair provides the Ultimate in mobility for everyone who loves the outdoors.

Action TrackChair at Full Speed

As you can see the chair is no speed demon but it gets the job done going across this field. The camera does not show the angle of the field but it is probably a 30° slope.

The tracks provided a very smooth ride across the field and I'm told it's even smoother on snow.

Action TrackChair Test Drive

I had the pleasure of test driving the Action Trackchair yesterday afternoon.  How would I describe it or review it for you?

1.  It's absolutely the best all-terrain wheelchair I have ever seen . 

2. In My opinion,  it appears to go almost anywhere ( within reason) at least anywhere I would want to  go bow hunting .

3. For  a tank, it drives and rides extremely smooth, although a little slow.

 In all honesty I was very impressed with this wheelchair to say the least.   It absolutely opens up the outdoors for individuals with disabilities.   The only negative is, it will require a trailer to take to my hunting locations  because it is to wide for my van ramp (37 inches) . 

The wheelchair will require some customization for my seating purposes.  I need to add a chest strap or harness, remove the padded seat and install a seat plate for my cushion (Roho Quatro).  I also need a strap on my knees to keep my legs together.

There is no debate on whether or not I want to purchase this wheelchair, the only question is how to come up with the purchase price.

Public Land Hunting

Outdoor life has a great article about hunting on public lands here in Pennsylvania.  Hunters this year have taken some outstanding

Whitetail deer on public land as you can see from this picture.

As a person with a disability I find it much more difficult to hunt on public land. Gaining access to the woods with my wheelchair is very difficult and I find private lands much more access friendly.

I have a plan for gaining access next year that involves a Polaris four wheeler and cart. I will talk more about that in a future blog.

What are your thoughts on hunting public land? Do you prefer private property or public game lands?

Deer Decoy

Meet Miss November

She arrived at my house yesterday and I plan on using her ( that sounded bad ) on Saturday along with the can from Primos.  I don't believe it will only draw in bucks....... I'm hoping for a mature doe to come check out the decoy and the sound.  What are your thoughts on deer decoys?