First Day Shooting the New Mount

Here is a short video of me shooting four shots with the new mount. The slow motion effects just add to the cool factor. This new mount is easy to get back on target using very little pressure from my chin and arm. I was shooting 1.25 inch groups which are the best I have shot since my injury.  Thanks Jesse for the video and your help shooting today!

Rotary District 7300 Donation, Trac-Fab

I would like to thank The Rotary District  7300  for their very generous donation of a new Trac-Fab all-terrain wheelchair to the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors. It will provide veterans a better opportunity to explore the great outdoors.

Without adaptive equipment like this veterans may not have the opportunity to access off-road activities such as hiking, fishing and hunting. Tracked wheelchairs such as this are the only way veterans and people with disabilities can get off the pavement. After all, nature and the great outdoors is not ADA certified or approved.

Washington Sportsmen Show

My friend Ed and I were recently at The Washington Sportsmen Show, volunteering at the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors booth.  I look forward to the show every year, It's an opportunity to help raise money for local Wounded Warriors .

It's also a great time to check out local sportsman and the products or businesses they are promoting. It's always fun to catch up from last year and see what they are into. Whip Em Baits is a local fishing lure manufacture.  Henry is the Whip Em Baits owner. I attended his last two fishing tournaments. He had some exciting new baits created, and is now selling them all the way in Australia.

McDonald's sportsman we're also in attendance. They put on a fantastic pheasant hunt last year for the Western PA Wounded Warriors,  I spoke with them and they indicated they would be doing another pheasant hunt this year. I'm certainly looking forward to that. 

I also talked with them about producing some hunting braces. These braces would enable wheelchair users the opportunity to shoot again. Having local Boy Scouts who are going for their Eagle Scout or other young people complete the Manufacturing. It's just an idea but hopefully it gets completed this year. 

Preparing for Texas

Santa Claus is not the only person making a list and checking it twice. I'm working on my list for my upcoming hunt in Texas with Savage Outdoors.

Rifle Case (rifle, shells, strap, locks)

Backpack 
Chest strap

Tools (adjustable wrench, pliers)
Tray

Headlamp 

Rangefinder 

Knife 

Balaclava (heavy and light)

Boonie hat

Poncho 

Para cord 

Duct tape 
Zip ties

Hunting license 

Roho pump

Extra BMF Trigger's

Emergency bars, snacks 

Cathater bags (leg, day, night)
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, deodorant)

Bed pads

Bowel program supplies 

Prescription medication
Goose down jacket 

Black shirts 

Camo Columbia jacket 

Black sweats

Black tee shirt 

Socks

Shoes 

Wallet

Ipad 

Phone and chargers

Hat

I have not been on a plane in several years but I still remember the difficulty traveling with a power wheelchair and being a quadriplegic. The airlines certainly don't make it easy. Airplanes are not what I would call Wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchairs are checked like baggage which means I will have to remove my seat cushion and sit in a regular plane seat. This will make it impossible to weight shift on the 3 1/2 hour flight. Because I have no trunk control, I had to make a chest strap to attach to the airplane seat. This will keep me from falling forward in the seat. It's amazing what you can buy on Amazon and put together.

I made the decision to ship down my shooting mount and wheelchair battery charger with UPS.  Trying to handle that equipment through the airport would be too difficult along with my rifle case and other luggage. I'm thankful I have a backup charger to keep at home.

Traveling with a disability brings a whole new set of problems. I try to imagine what I cannot live without for a few days and that's what I plan on taking on my carry-on in case the airline loses my bag. Of course there are all kinds of restrictions on what I can take in my carry-on.

I am also taking back up trigger activators from BMF. If the airline loses my rifle for a few days I can borrow one from the outfitter, attach my trigger activator and still be able to complete my hunt.

.243 Shooting and Venison on The Smoker

 

 

Yesterday I took advantage of the great 70 degree weather to finish sighting in my .243 at the Western Pa Wounded Warriors range.  I get frustrated with my shooting groups these days.  I use to be able to have my shots touching, but as the song goes "I'm doing all right for the shape I'm in".  I have to be satisfied with 1 inch groups.  I am glad its sighted in and ready for my next hunting adventure.

 

In the afternoon we put some venison, pork, a turkey breast and a few pieces of salmon on my weber smoker.  I like to use mesquite wood for my smoke and Kingsford charcoal.  We used a dry rub from A1 this time on the meat and it turned out great.

While the meat was smoking we cleaned the hide from the 8 point rack.  I bought a mounting plaque for it and hope to have it finished soon. I can't wait to see it on my wall.  It was a great hunt and it's a great trophy for my memories.

Mike's Crossbow Buck

Congratulations Mike on taking this young buck on 11/5/14 with Whitetail Disabled Hunting and Associates. Your a great shot with your Tenpoint crossbow, way to go!

Ham & Bacon Shoot

WPA Wounded Warriors had their last ham and bacon shoot for 2014 yesterday at the California hill gun club.I was fortunate enough to win bacon on my first shoot!  I kept the bite trigger on from the pheasant hunt and it worked out great.

It was a fantastic weekend of shooting for me. Pheasants on Saturday, and bacon on Sunday! I'm looking forward to next Saturday, a pheasant hunt at Fairbank Rod and gun club.

 

 

Ham and Bacon Shoot June 1, 2014

I was able to shoot this weekend at the Western Pa Wounded Warriors Ham and Bacon Shoot at California Hill Gun Club.  I had a fantastic day of shooting.  I won bacon on the first shoot, a ham on the second and lost the third shoot in a shootout to Shelly after we tied (15 shooters each round).

Ed designed and built a new battery operated trigger for my Air Rifle.  This was the first time I ever shot this Air Rifle.  I think I will keep it, lol.  Stay tuned for more shooting stories this summer.

Steel Trigger Finger

My friend Ed made this steel trigger pull for a trap shooter he knows.  The shooter is a quadriplegic with good arm movement and this should make it  easier for him to pull the trigger on his shotgun.

The steel trigger will be tapped onto his finger and he should be good to go.  Ed is a true inventor and I am so thankful for all he does for hunters with disabilities! 

Final Preparations for Archery Season

The final preparations are being made for opening day.  Because I am OCD, I like to make a list and check it 25 to 30 times...lol.  So far I have:

Bought Doe license
Crossbow sighted in 20-50 yards
Range finder batteries replaced
Clothing washed in scent free detergent
Broadheads on bolts
Trailer completed
New Adapted Brace

To do yet...

Charge Action Trackchair
Change flashlight batteries
Check Roho seat cushion

Pack Backpack  (cocking crank, knife, drag line, gloves, head net, hat, zip ties, camera, scent free wipes) add tools (wrench, pliers). Sharpie pen.  Spare BMF trigger activator, poncho, one gallon ziplock bag.  Snacks, water, straws, fork.

Change urinary bag, add zip tie
Put bolt into Seat plate
Load Action TrackChair / tie downs.  Tighten spare tire nut
Spare ground blind, stool

Winner Winner, Bacon Breakfast

I was lucky enough to win some bacon at Sundays Ham & Bacon Shoot.  It seems the new gun mount is working out great as a steady and stable shooting platform.  This was my 1st win and I'm sure it's because of the new mount!

Bite Trigger

My buddy Ed is making me a bite trigger this week!  I will be testing it out on my shotgun this weekend at the bacon shoot.

My gun mount is very solid and accurate, the weak link is my arm movement pulling the trigger.  Using a bite trigger maybe the answer... for precision shooting.  The best part is I can keep the BMF trigger activator on and have my hand as plan B. 

Redundancy, One is none and two is one.  Having two ways to pull the trigger makes sense.  I hope to try it on Sunday!  Pictures will follow.

The New Accessible Hunter Gun Mount

Here is the long anticipated ACCESSIBLE HUNTER GUN MOUNT in action.  It is an idea that Ed and I have been working on together for some time. 

He made this model by hand and I am so glad  to have it. As a shooter with a disability, Ed understands the importance of top quality mounts.  We could not buy one so we engineered our own.  It shoots like a dream and is safe to roll around with the muzzle pointed down.

We need to paint this mount and make a few more tweaks to pretty it up, but it is finally here, the perfect gun mount!  Check back soon to follow as we move forward with this mount.

35 Degree's today

It was only 35 degree's this morning at 5 am when I rolled out of my van and into my ground blind.  I thought this was Spring turkey season, not winter...ugh

I did not even hear a bird today let alone see one.  I am hoping for better luck and warmer weather later this week.  Don't forget, today starts all day hunting here in Pa.  Good luck, shoot straight, and be safe.

What a Great Hunter

Adapted Hunting Gear

Can you please take this survey if you use adapted hunting equipment and a wheelchair or pass it along to a disabled hunter. I am working on a new brace and your info would help a lot ! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dF9zd2JkMEtUM3puVzhNVmYtaDBJMUE6MQ

Adapted Shooting Brace

I went to the University of Pittsburgh yesterday and met with a group from HERL to start working on a new shooting brace for high level shooters with SCI. 

The brace will allow the user to shoot crossbows, shotguns and rifles.  It will reduce the recoil, and be highly adjustable to fit a variety of weapons.  I loved meeting the Team and I am so excited to see this process. 

I will not have a model in time for spring turkey season, but should have it for archery !  My plan is to test the prototype this year then make any adjustments and get this brace out to our wounded warriors and shooters with disabilities.

I have used a variety of shooting platforms over the years and none has met all of my needs.  I think necessity truly is the mother of invention, wish us luck.

GAMO Launches New Whisper Fusion Pro Air Rifle

GAMO Launches New Whisper Fusion Pro Air Rifle : The Outdoor Wire

Air rifles can be so much fun to shoot especially for shooters with disabilities.  With the proper set up they can easily be shot at a cheap indoor range.  I happen to know two Veteran Games medalist in air rifle and they are great marksmen.

DIY iphone 5 Scope

 

I worked with a friend to make this low cost iphone 5 scope for a wounded warrior who is blind.  His hunting partner can see through his scope and give him directions and when to safely shoot.

 

It attaches to a scope using a simple hose clamp.  We have about $8.00 invested...

 

What I discovered while testing it on Sunday was, I like it too!  This could be used for hunters with mobility issues as well as visually impaired hunters.  What are your thoughts?

Tree Rider

Check out this great local company !  If you have trouble climbing a tree, this is the tree stand for you.  I wish they had a power wheelchair model !  Tree Rider