disabled hunter crossbow hunters?

[Mtn.Ghost]

Does anyone out there take part in Wa. special use crossbow permit for disabled hunters or had much success in disabled hunting areas around the state. This is all new to me this season. Looking for people in the same boat to share info with.

[Gobble]

Nope, don't know anybody using it but I do support it. 

[sako223]

I have not used a crossbow but have considered it.
I have hunted a number of disabled hunting areas with much frustration of cheating and harassment by able bodied hunters.
The best disabled hunting unit yet for me has been gated private timber land near Spokane where the Northwest Council managed the program.

[Mtn.Ghost]

I didn't really think the dissabled areas had much advantage over others except for the ability to take a vehicle behind some gated ares if need be. I have wondered about the harassment issue . If you haven't had much to do with crossbows you should give it a try its fun, still a huge adjustment from the bow the crossbows sure are heavy that my only gripe, 7-8-9# that's like packing 3 bows around.

[DoubleJ]

What's the limitation standards?  Is it subjective to each reviewing doctor?  I have an unrepairable labrum tear in my right shoulder that prevents me from moving my right arm with much power in all but one direction.  Pulling back a bow is out of the question.  I have been relegated to modern firearm but even that is starting to hurt the shoulder.  I have wondered about this program for awhile but I don't want to look into it seriously if I won't qualify.

[Mtn.Ghost]

Doublej, Hello you say that you have an unrepairable labrum in your right shoulder? I have the same issue in my left shoulder I have had 2 surgeries on it in the past 18 months with no success, still have tear, abraded rotator cuff and the also disconnected one of my bicep tendons to try and relieve some pressure on the labrum nothing worked and no repairs can be made. Your condition is subject to your doctor as far as level of disability Washington state does not have an examination by state board like some other states. I think you would qualify no problem from what I know. My problem is my left side, I hold a bow in my left hand and draw with my right my left shoulder cant take the pressure of holding the drawn bow any longer. I have a cocking device on my crossbow that takes the cocking effort from 150# to 16# works great but make the first shot count because follow up draw is slow. Good to hear from you it seems that our numbers are very few at this point and the more we can share the better, education is beneficial to all in the Field dissabled or not. Here is a name of the woman in charge of the dissabled permit program for wdfw Brenda Cain, shes great very helpfull she will mail you all the paper work you need for the Dr. to review and sign off for you. You can find her # in the dissabled hunter section of the hunting regs. You want to ask about Special use permit for crossbow or special shooting devices for standard bow, vehicle use permit and hunter companion designated harvester card. Hope this helps you, I didn't have any so it took a bit of time to figure it all out with this info you could get it all done in a week. Good luck and keep in touch.       

[Bob33]

I accompanied a disabled hunter last weekend on an elk permit hunt.  He was using a modern firearm.  I was the designated hunter companion.   At the end of the day several opportunities had come and gone, so he gave me the green light to shoot if another chance came along.  It did.

Taking a disabled person out can be a wonderful experience for both parties.

[carpsniperg2]

x2, very cool thing to take part in. i have a friend that hunts with his father in law that has a disabled permit and he uses a cross bow and does pretty well with it.

[Machias]

I accompanied a disabled hunter last weekend on an elk permit hunt.  He was using a modern firearm.  I was the designated hunter companion.   At the end of the day several opportunities had come and gone, so he gave me the green light to shoot if another chance came along.  It did.

Taking a disabled person out can be a wonderful experience for both parties.

That is awesome, thank you!

[sako223]

Here is a link to WDFW disabled rules.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/outreach/access/accessibility/special_permits.htm

[Mtn.Ghost]

All great stuff guys, nice to see the camaraderie between fellow hunters. It's cool that more than one person got to have a great hunting experience with success by helping another  .

[Band]

I'm in a really bad situation for archery elk this year.  After having experienced a major bicycle accident a month ago I am mostly healed except my right shoulder which is still in quite a bit of pain.  I'm in the healing stage and will have a chance to get an MRI done in a couple more weeks, but in the meantime I can't even begin to draw my bow before the pain is very intense.  I believe I have at least 2 tears.

Normally I would be practicing daily at this time of year but not only am I unable to do that but also I may not be healed enough for the early season which starts in 3 weeks.  I'm very concerned that I'll miss my first hunting season ever!

[follow maggie]

I know how you feel, Band- I had to miss last year because of a car wreck.  It sucked sitting in my house every weekend.  My lawyer got me some extra cash for it, though.