I’ve had the opportunity to go on a lot of group hunts all over the United States and become friends with some of the people who lead these necessary causes. The following is a list of some of the ones I have been involved with and know to be legit, either by attending the actual event as a hunter, putting it together myself or being friends with the people in charge.
Keep in mind that the ones listed here are not the only ones. They are merely the clubs that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. There are many states that have some type of outdoor events for disabled hunters & fishermen. The following list will get you started.
1. Chairbound Hunters is a small organization based in Wheatland, WY, that takes out a select number of wheelchair-bound hunters every year primarily on pronghorn antelope hunts and occasionally mule deer hunts. These hunts are rifle hunts conducted on a one-on-one basis and last for two to three days. Most hunts are conducted in October every year which is a beautiful time to be in WY. Hunters stay in a local motel and are responsible for applying for a non-resident license. All hunts are on private land surrounding Wheatland.
2. Wyoming Disabled Hunters started in 2008 with the goal of providing an affordable hunt for disabled sportsmen. They host 10 disabled hunters every year in late October/early November to pursue deer out of ground blinds with archery equipment. In 2012, they added a small number of elk hunters for some bull & cow elk hunts.
3. UFFDA is a nice little organization of disabled archers based in Minnesota. They hold one whitetail hunt in MN and 2-3 in WI every fall. They also offer members opportunities to go on guided hunts for antelope in WY, bear & deer in Canada, and exotics in Texas at reduced rates. UFFDA president Dan Hendricks publishes a UFFDA magazine as well as a Horizontal Bowhunter magazine for group members.
4. Global Opportunities Unlimited was formed by Dustin Berg in New Mexico. They offer support for any type of outdoor activity in NM that you want to do, but their main focus is on hunting & fishing. They have also started a WC basketball team, the first of its kind in that state. Some of the events they will host, some of them they find able-bodied help if you need it. Basically, you can contact Dustin and tell him what you want to do and he will do his best to help if he can.
5. North Carolina Handicapped Sportsmen is a small group that puts on 2-3 hunts per year in the state of NC, primarily for whitetail deer. A good friend of mine helps run the organization and she also attended one of the hunts where she took her first buck ever. This is a perfect opportunity for anyone looking to get out in the woods and who needs help doing it.
6. Serve Outdoors is an organization that I am involved with in southeast Texas. We have a turkey hunt in April, a saltwater fishing event in August, a teal hunt in September, and a deer hunt in December every year, all in Texas. We also do some youth hunts and wounded warrior hunts in combination with some of our annual events. All participants need only be responsible for travel expenses.
7. Wheelin’ Sportsmen is the first of the “biggies,” the nationwide groups. Created in 1996 by Kirk Thomas, Wheelin’ Sportsmen is a subsidiary of the NWTF and has a footprint in almost every state across the nation. They run mostly turkey hunts but have branched out into deer hunting, women-only and youth hunts whenever the opportunities arise.
8. Outdoor Buddies was founded by the late Sid Sellers at Craig hospital in Colorado, OB puts together a wide variety of outdoor events for its disabled members, including camping, fishing, turkey hunting, quail, and pheasant hunting. They are one of the few that offer upland bird hunting, but their focus is on hunting mule deer, antelope & elk in the state of Colorado. There is also an OB hunt in neighboring KS for whitetail.
9. Buckmasters’ American Deer Foundation is an offshoot of Buckmasters, the BADF has been organizing disabled group hunts in the deep south for over a decade. They used to have a “listserve” that would notify all members who signed up of upcoming hunts by email, but now they provide that service through the BADF Facebook page. There is a lot of good information on adaptive equipment, outfitters, and groups operating in other states. One of the benefits they offer is providing grants for adaptive equipment and/or transportation costs for individuals who cannot afford them.
10. Physically Challenged Bowhunters of America was founded in 1993, the PCBA is the largest group of disabled bowhunters, holding hunts in Kentucky & Ohio every fall for whitetail deer and an antelope hunt in Wyoming. A major emphasis is placed on reaching people with disabilities who have never been exposed to the greatest recreational therapy in the world – bowhunting and archery.
11. Outdoors Without Limits is another Kirk Thomas-founded program. Kirk left Wheelin’ Sportsmen in 2007 and began his own group called OWL in order to create national hunts for people with disabilities in every state across the country. Right now, OWL hosts annual hunts in all of the southeast and is spreading westward. The main difference between OWL and every other group hunt is that OWL hunts will accommodate 50-150 hunters on their national hunts.
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I'm looking for someplace in my area of southern ohio that takes disabled people hunting. I used to be an avid deer hunter and loved fishing until I had a car accident a little over 18 years ago and I'd love to get back into the woods.
I am writing today seeking some advice, since you have access to a great deal of information & a vast list of contacts. My request is lengthy as I will try to explain the situation in hopes you can direct me to the right resource. I have goggled & applied on my own, but no success so far.
BACKGROUND: My husband, Jim, is my hero & I don't say that lightly. He is my "Jim" of all trades. He was my home repairman/plumber. My redneck engineer & a poor man's MacGyver.
Jim was a police officer & fire fighter for 35yrs. He has a long history of community service including numerous involvements with the Red Cross, FEMA, the Texas Taskforce, emergency management, etc. He assisted with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita & Ike. He is a HAMM Radio operator & a severe weather storm spotter. He assisted with several tornadoes & has saved countless lives assisting the National weather service with warnings for rural areas lacking storm sirens. He was a firearms instructor, a PADI scuba/rescue diver, police academy instructor, an assistant Geology/Earth Science teacher at Texas A&M Commerce (formerly East Texas University). He has always been an avid outdoorsman, physically active & extremely busy! He has hunted & fished all his life. We have 7 children, 8 grandchildren & 3 great grand children, all of whom he has taught to hunt & fish. His efforts helped feed our large family many times over the years. He also taught our children to respect & safely handle firearms. All of our children are now involved in community service as well. 3 of our 4 sons served in the military. 1 is now a disabled veteran, after several tours in the middle east. 1 works for the government & still deploys. 1 is an emergency medical dispatcher & another is a volunteer firefighter. Of our daughters, 1 is a 911 operator (like me), 1 is a trauma nurse who also works part-time for the VA. 1 is a sonographer specializing in cardiac problems & detecting male cancers. She is also a brittle type 1 diabetic who's life story is incredible in it's own right. She is alive today, because of Jim. All our children are amazing. They are a direct reflection of their father's influence & example. Jim has been a member of NRA several times over the years, though he is not currently. He is now 60yrs old. He has been medically retired due to disabilities & suffers from some PTSD.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END: Many years ago, while on patrol, my husband was assaulted by a burglary suspect. He was kicked multiple times in the abdomen, eventually contributing to the development of several hernias, requiring surgery. He had surgery returned to duty several weeks later. Over the next few years he had multiple hernia surgeries & had several mesh patches implanted. 2 yrs ago it was discovered these patches had not only failed but had also perforated his abdominal wall & bowl cavity. We did not qualify for the lawsuit involving the failed mesh, for reasons I still do not understand, so we would shoulder the expenses on our own. Regardless, he would have to undergo extensive life altering surgery to prevent a life threating problem. The decision was not easy, he knew he would never be the same, he just did not realize how much so at the time. None of us did.
THE REALITY: The surgery was very lengthy, extensive & expensive. It was not covered by workman's comp. They removed his abdominal wall & replaced it with another patch. He was hospitalized for 10 days. He was unable to walk or care for himself for months. I missed a great deal of work. It was a test of our marriage for sure. About 8 months later, as he was just beginning to gain some strength & mobility, he tore his remaining abdominal muscles, developing a massive flank hernia. He required another surgery & hospital stay. I can not put into words how horrific this has all been for him. He is now on a 10lb weight limit for life. He must wear an abdominal binder 24/7. He can not bend or lift well. He can not walk much distance or stand long periods of time. Our house needs repaired & he can no longer do it. The lawn needs tended, I do it when I can. We now have to pay someone to do the things he used to. I am financially unable to retire & stay home with him right now. He had to resign from the fire department & most of the activities he was so involved in. He is broken. He is not the same & it breaks my heart. When I get frustrated or angry with all of this, I have remind myself how much worse it is for him. Most days he is happy to be alive & he does what he can to help within his abilities. Some days are not so good.
THE HORROR: We live in a very small town about 60 miles NE of Dallas. Everyone knows everyone. Most know Jim was a police officer (he was even police chief in town for awhile), very few know his current condition. When the police officers were ambushed & murdered in Dallas a few weeks ago, Jim took it especially hard. Over the years he has worked or trained with many officers from other agencies, including Dallas. We are a law enforcement family. Two of our son-in-laws & a grandson are officers, our daughter is a 911 dispatcher as well as myself. While he was not close to the fallen officers, they were brothers-in-arms non the less. We have also been receiving threats on our lives & have had to be placed on close watch for possible retaliation. The continued attacks on first responders, coupled with his limited abilities, have left him feeling vulnerable & inadequate. They have also triggered more horrible nightmares. He has a buddy named Auda Derby. They have hunted & fished together nearly 40yrs. Auda is a military & law enforcement veteran. He was also injured on the job as a firefighter & was disabled prior to Jim. They have helped each other mentally, physically & emotionally for many years. This has been a hard month on both of them.
THE POINT: Fall is coming. Our favorite time of year...usually. It's hunting season. In years past Jim & Auda would be planning their season, packing gear & headed to a lease somewhere.
Not this year. He no longer has a hunting lease (we had to let it go due to finances). He refuses to get another one since he is unable to hunt deer or large prey. He will apply for a type 2 permit to hunt on public lands this year. The problem is he can not hunt alone, he can not walk much distance or climb at all. It is depressing & humiliating for him to ask for assistance carrying items like an ice chest or backpack. He feels like he is not a man & thinks he is worthless. God this is so hard! This man is my world, my partner & my best friend. He has given so much of himself to so many people & causes over the years. He is the most generous, patient & intelligent person I have ever known. I want to do something for him in return.
I am trying to find someone who specializes in assisting disabled hunters. Someplace that understands the problems associated with the physical limitations as well as the emotional trauma of those disabilities. Someplace to provide assistance without him having to ask for it or explain why he can't carry something. Someplace a first responder might feel safe & not have to worry about the other hunters trying to harm him because of his profession. Someone who may even be familiar with PTSD. Someplace he might be able to have the companionship & camaraderie he is missing. I have done some research & most of the hunts I have found are priced way out of my range or are only offered to disabled military vets. I have entered his name in several sweepstakes. I have purchased some tickets for some draw hunts. Please understand, I am not looking of a handout or a "Go Fund my whatever" page. I just want Jim to be able to go hunting. I don't really care where or what for. I have some limited funds for travel expenses or licenses. I am looking for places that offer these hunts & perhaps a chance to win one or qualify for one. I would be willing to write an essay, enter a contest, endorse a product or program, etc. However, I draw the line at being "Naked & Afraid" or eating bugs...ok I might eat a bug...maybe. If you have any ideas, websites or contacts I could check into, I would greatly appreciate your response. I will continue to try to find places to apply online for a him. He would never ask for himself & he is not aware that I am doing this for him.
Some girls have heroes...I married mine. Sincerely,
Shawnna Davenport Training Officer
Greenville Police Dept & Fire Communications
(903)457-2900 work (903)269-7231 cell
The smallest buck and largest buck are 6 by 6 and twelve by twelve!!!
I have always used a 30_30 savage armes long rifle.
I have been hunting since I was 4
What type of rifle scope would you recommend? What do you think about the Firefield rifle scope. I've read about it and it received some pretty good reviews and specs (https://www.pointoptics.com/firefield-riflescope-review/)
Hi, We are a 501c3 Christian organization, Special Youth Challenge of SE MN, that takes physically challenged youth on two hunts in SE Minnesota. One Wild Turkey in May and a deer hunt in the fall. We have done these all volunteer hunts for 10 years. Contact Zac at 507 421 9778 for more information, to sign up for a hunt, or if you are stirred to donate. Our Facebook page is Special Youth Challenge of SE MN