Hunting with a Physical Disability
It’s November in Vermont, and many families will participate in hunting season. In my family, it's bigger than all sporting events combined!
I’m Ben Wimett, one of the assistive technology specialists for the Vermont AT Program. I have cerebral palsy, use a power wheelchair, and use other aids to help with fine motor and dexterity. This will be my 19th hunting season. I am able to fully participate in a family tradition, one that thousands of Vermonters enjoy - I just have to do it differently.
In this article I will cover some of the hunting adaptations that I use. I am available for individualized recommendations. That said, I must stress that hunting can be a very dangerous sport. Firearm safety and other hunting safety protocols should be considered above all else. Safety must always come first! All hunters must follow appropriate licensing requirements. More info on Vermont’s hunting seasons and regulations is available on the Fish and Wildlife website. Of note, Vermont offers free permanent licenses for Vermonters with disabilities.
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Getting in the Woods
The first thing to consider is your chair. Before I got my Action Track chair, I worked with my durable medical equipment provider to obtain aggressive tread pneumatic tires for my daily chair. These tires have improved traction over the foam filled type, and will help you get more places off the beaten path. That said, this is Vermont, and your typical spots are not going to be wheelchair accessible even with the improved traction.
This is where creativity comes into play! I have gotten to many remote spots by riding on a trailer pulled by a four wheeler or utility tractor with a hitch. I recommend using ratchet straps and making sure you are secured to the trailer at all four attachment points when being transported. Again, safety is paramount!
Alternatively, there are all-terrain wheelchairs available if you can secure the funding. This past spring, with the help of friends in my community, I was able to purchase a tank-like off-road wheelchair from Action Track Chair in Minnesota. I no longer need to be towed behind a four-wheeler!
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Choosing A Gun
I highly recommend consulting with a local gunsmith or gun dealer and talking to them about your needs. Remember, safety first! Some general guidelines include:
- Gun length: typically shorter barrels and stocks will provide a lighter weapon, allowing for more maneuverability in ground blinds.
- Re-coil: when you shoot a gun, the inertia of the round being fired causes the gun to kick backwards. Be sure to consider recoil when selecting a firearm and mount. I use a Be Adaptive Mount which does an excellent job eliminating recoil from my muzzleloader and deer rifles. Generally, shotguns have the most recoil followed by muzzleloaders, and then rifles. If you are worried about recoil, a smaller caliber rifle may be a good choice, depending on what you are hunting.
- Chambering ammunition: if loading the chamber is a barrier due to dexterity challenges, consider an autoloading/semi-automatic rifle or shotgun. Muzzleloaders do not offer a semi-automatic option. My research led me to purchase an autoloading shotgun from Benelli, with their synthetic stock which is made from a more flexible material that virtually eliminates all recoil.
- Left and Right-handed Variants: they make models for left and right hand dominance, which affects which side the shell ejects on, and which side the safety is on. Both important factors if you have limited dexterity.
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Mounting your firearm
It is possible to make your own gun mount, but I choose to use the limited mobility mount from Be Adaptive, made in Indiana. They have a wide variety of gun mounts available based on different levels of need. It has held up extremely well for more than 15 seasons, and I have only had to replace some screws. They even have a robotic option with a camera mounted to a scope!
Concealment:
I use a pop-up blind. These are available from many different manufacturers. Choose one without a built-in floor. This way you can simply undo a few of the ground stakes and flip the blind up on it’s side to enter it and exit.
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I could go on forever about different modifications for the outdoors. If you would like more information based on your specific needs, please feel free to email me directly and I would be happy to assist. From one hunter to another, here’s to a bountiful season; have a great time out in our majestic outdoors, and best of luck in harvesting ethically sourced, local, and delicious food for your families.
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This newsletter was submitted by Ben Wimett; A.T Access Specialist serving Rutland, Windsor, Windham, and Bennington Counties.
The Vermont Assistive Technology Program can be contacted by phone at 1-800-750-6355, or by email at dail.atinfo@vermont.gov. More information about our program can be found at www.atp.vermont.gov. We are currently conducting virtual Assistive Technology Demonstrations.
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The Vermont Assistive Technology Program is part of the Vermont State Government’s Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living. The Vermont Assistive Technology Program partners with the University of Vermont’s Center on Disability and Community Inclusion to provide assistive technology services.
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