Hunting Forum

First off, I am a new member and I would just like to say hello to all my fellow disabled hunters in the club. I was U.S. Army for 17 1/2 years, with my retirement time cut short by an RPG. I was a tank crew member through Desert Storm, and a Commander of a tank/crew from the beginning of Iraq/Afghanistan campaigns. After I returned home to Arizona and went through all of my physical therapy and learning my new limits, I too have been looking forward to hunting here in my state. I am curious to all of the other disabled hunters how exactly do we hunt?  I have limited walking ability, using a cane permanently. I am hoping to find a manufacturer of a shooting stick with a cane type head so I can not only get to the elk and deer, but shoot from a good stable platform as well. I have been doing quite a bit of coyote hunting successfully just using a bi-pod mounted on my rifle. Anyone ever come across a shooting stick like I have described?

Again, I am a newbie here to the club, but a hungry-to-hunt newbie in need of suggestions.
 

(100% disabled, rods, screws, and plates-both legs, and rods/screws in lower back-3 fused vertibrae.)

 

 

Hi AZtanker, I'm clad to welcome you to NAHC Disable Vets Forum and I too was in the Army for 15 yrs. I'm at 80% now, a far from a 100% but I keep trying. Where are you from? I'm from S.C. I use to live in Washington State, they have a good elk herd there are three species of deer as well. You mentioned something about needing a cane that can be used as a rifle mount as well? Well, I have to use a cane and I would consider using A Tripod Stand/ shooting sticks, you can easily use one of those rubber band type elastic thing to wrap it so you can walk with it and when your ready to shoot you can easily set it up for shooting. I can only think of two companies that make it one is Primos and the other one I can't remember exactly, maybe Z-pod. They cost about $90.00. Academy's outdoors, Sportsman Warehouse sells them. Good luck and again Welcome to NAHC. Your Brother at Arms, Ernie

iramirez2: if you feel like taking a break from S.C. and want to visit Fl., let me know. Will be glad to help you. Es otro compa.

I use a primos shooting stick. a bit priceyu but it works greta as a walking/shooting stick. Not the bi-pod. I absolutly love mine.

Hi Tenera1, I got your message today and appreciate the offer compa.  My name is Ernie what's yours?  How much does a Hunting license for out of state (non-resident) hunter cost, in Florida?  Let me know something whenever you find out something, ok?

iramirez2: cost is not much if you don't go around town telling people you are out of town, hunting on my property, etc.etc.. I'll get to your PM and answer it with more specifics.

Thanks Brother I appreciate that. Oh, I just got you e-mail to me in spanish, it'll tell you more when you read it Bro

Hello everyone. I am an Army veteran of 4 years, with a combat tour in Iraq. I am disabled as well, but these injuries are minor compared others on this forum. My 2 biggest disabilities are hyperacusis disorder in my right ear (severe pain from loud noises or hearing a certain pitch), and having been diagnosed with PTSD. I also have tinnitus in both ears.

This is the year that i am starting to hunt as much as possible. small game, turkey, pheasant, deer... lots of animals to put meat on the table.

I just wanted to say good luck with all your hunting to my fellow Disabled Veteran Hunters.

I'm a Disabled Veteran too, 100% rating. I now live in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I was in the Navy for 11 years, and now I am trying to learn to be a hunter. Never got to hunt before I joined the military. But trying to get out now to do it, when my back isn't bothering me to bad that is..

AZTanker I would suggest the Stony Point shooting sticks as these are the ones I use having limited mobility and they work great. They adjust from 27" to 63" and I keep them at 63" and use them as a walking aid and then I can either shoot from a standing position or a sitting position with them set at 27"'s which makes them ideal for those like us. If my memory serves me correctly I believe the cost was $79.95 and I bought two sets as my youngest son also hunts. Welcome to the boards.

I've said it before...I truly believe that we are not "Disabled" as much as we are all "Re-abled". Sure, we do things different, maybe not as fast but we are lucky because we get the extra time to enjoy or experience what we're doing and best yet, the folks we get to do it with. Guys, however you hunt, whatever you hunt,, the key is to get out and do what you can HOWEVER you can. Even if it means going back to when we were kids andf hunting the backyard for squirrels, or even bugs with the grandkids or kids. Take the chance to look at the experience through THEIR eyes while your at it. You won't be sorry. I've hunted off of bicycles, tricycles, 4 wheelers, and even had a time when my boys carried me into the stand. Yeah, sometimes it means a bit more noise going in or out but it doesn't mean we're missingut, in fact, I look at it as a blessing since we have the added benifit of appreciation that alot of folks miss out on.
God Bless you all and your courage for facing each and everyday with wide open eyes and hearts and experienceong God's daily gift to the fullest. I promise, I'll keep on doing MY best to as well.

Brian,

so true a statement has never been writen...I look at it this way...GF has one arm..she gets out and does what she wants...easiest way to get her to try something is to tell her it might be to difficult for her....me I say never never ever let your disability become a handicap...

Just have to learn how to work around them as I do .Just dont let it put you on the couch as many do and then complain .

Complaining is 1/2 the fun though.....LOL

Yes I know and the other half is getting of the couch .I rigged up a pully system to put deer on my quad .

Disabled vet here as well. 16 years in the Army and neck and back injury got me 4 years short of retirement. Still fighting the VA as most are they have me at 20% but have not been able to work in over four years. I recently got into shooting as a hobby and plan to start hunting this fall here in Illinois. Already collected 16 guns in 6 months and look forward to getting even more. My 14 year old daughter started shooting with me and I really enjoy spending time with her doing that knowing she enjoys it and is not doing it just because dad does. She asked if she could have a shotgun the other day she wants to try shooting the orange flying things as she calls them lol. Looking forward to learning from the forums here and sharing any knowledge i a may have as little as it may be.

rhennessey .On fighting the VA have you contacted Disabled American Vetrans .For help .And you don't have to be a member for them to help you
And welcome to the BB .

Brian, AMEN to the re-abled thing. Being disabled just means we have to get there by a different route.

rhennessey get yourself to your nearest Disabled American Veterans office and talk with an RSO who will then take great care of you. The DAV was started by a Colonel from WWI and is fully satffed by Veterans and I can promise you they know more about the VA and it's many rules and regulations than any one person working for the VA. Keep this in mind in that the VA is a government agency whereas the DAV is the only org that I know of that is wholly run by our brother Veterans. After 13 years of being lied to and put off I was directed to the DAV and after a 15 consult with a fellow Veteran who works for the DAV he took only the top 2 pages of my medical records and ask if I would sign a Power of Attorney so he could represent me in the VA's court which I did and 9 months later I was awarded a 100% rating and back paid at 100% of a Sgt E-5's pay and now recieve my base pay as a Sgt. These men and women are ALL veterans and their only mission is to help and better the lives of their fellow Veterans. I ask you to please contact the office nearest you and make an appointment and let them take it from there. They are in no way affiliated with the VA nor the government at all and I will go as far as to guarantee that they will be able to help you and get you the highest rating and pay possible. My email is bigdawgwalls@yahoo.com and you can send me a message with your phone number and we can discuss in depth what path you need to take to get the benefits you have EARNED my brother Veteran.

PS: I should have included my take on being disabled and that is we are not as physically fit as most are but always remember that we are not HELPLESS just a bit slower.