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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > Hunting Articles Archives > Taking Advantage of Disabled Hunting Opportunities
Taking Advantage of Disabled Hunting Opportunities
Shane Greif - JHO ProStaff
- Washington State
May 27, 2005
A successful hunt
And a successful reunion between father and son, back in the field after 10 years with the help of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. |
My dad, Al, was involved in an automobile accident in the early 1990s which considerably reduced his mobility. The results of his injuries had kept him from enjoying what he loved for far too long. Now, having raised me as an outdoorsman under the big skies of Montana, and being an avid outdoorsman himself for most of his life, it didn’t take too much talk to assure him that opportunities exist for outdoorsmen and women with limiting disabilities.
Now, in reality I knew very little about how to obtain specific information that might help us get headed in the right direction. That’s when I started with a phone call to the WDFW wildlife division in Olympia, WA. I had my initial reservations that I would get much traction, but, within no time they had pointed me to a “not-so-visible” network of professionals and volunteers who work specifically with this state’s disabled hunters to help them get into the field.
One group specifically spearheaded these efforts and was instrumental in providing us with the information and additional contacts needed to make it all happen. Karen Wallingford-Perez of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council in Spokane, WA was just wonderful and guided me through every twist and turn. In the end, she made it feel like a turn-key process.
The morning of the hunt, we pulled up to the pre-determined locked gate with combination and either sex whitetail tag in-hand. Access to this specific area was limited to disabled hunters only, and we were both excited to think that the reduced number of hunting pressure might help our efforts.
As we spent the morning and early afternoon driving the many logging roads, talking to fellow hunters and glassing from turn-outs along the way, we were blessed to see Shiras moose, Merriam’s turkeys and plenty of mule deer along the way. Although the whitetails weren’t as sociable this day, we didn’t seem to miss them much. As the afternoon threatened to bring an end to a memorable first day and we watched as other hunters took up stands for the afternoon hunt, I had a feeling that we might do well to hold out deep in the hunting area until the last 20 minutes of shooting light. Then, as many hunters will fold up early and head back to camp before dark, the thought was that the deer would begin filtering out of their daytime beds, about the time dad and I worked our way back out of the area.
As the shadows began to darken and with one quick glance at the watch, it was time to fire up the diesel and continue with the hunt. We were both excited and the timing just felt right. About five minutes later as I eased out of a timber thicket and began crossing through one of the three large clear-cut openings, something caught my eye over my left shoulder. Two mature, whitetail does accompanied by two yearling fawns stood 20 yards off my driver’s door. As I slowly stopped the truck, I quickly asked dad, “would you like to take a doe?”
With an excited, “yes,” we were out the door and working into position for a shot. As we worked out the details, the deer were working on their own plan of not sticking around.
With some coordination and the rifle snug on the shooting sticks, all we needed was a clear path at a standing deer to continue playing the game. As I made fawn bleat sounds and whispered to dad which deer to focus on, the larger doe stopped at about 100 yards, and then the rifle rang out. With two 360 degree spins, the old doe hit the dirt hard and didn’t move again. After a couple of good high-fives and hugs, we were on our way to wrapping up a beautiful day in the field.
Since I wanted to try to get a couple of pics of dad with his deer before we lost all daylight, I quickly grabbed my Glen Peters Pack-board and hurried out to his trophy. With a speedy field-dress and a few good lashes to the pack, I was on my way out. Something to note…even northern whitetail does are heavy.
We had a blast and even got to drive home through the snow the next morning. The planning paid off and our time together was priceless. So again, I want to thank Karen at the INWC, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and all of the great folks who give their time to helping disabled outdoors men and women better enjoy their time spent with nature. We really appreciate all that you do for us.
Location:
State: Washington
Area: Northeast corner
Equipment:
Rifle: LH, Browning A-bolt, Stainless Stalker w/ BOSS, .300 Win Mag
Scope: Leupold VariXIII 4.5x14x50AO with Butler Creek flip-up scope covers
Ammo: Hornady Custom, 165 grn. BTSP
Binoculars: Burris Signature Series 12X-50mm with Crooked Horn Outfitters Bino-System
Shooting Sticks: Home-made bamboo – JHO article
Boots: Canada™ Hunting Boots by Meindl
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