VA handicapped hunt...please read

[barry]

As some of you guys may know I am paralyzed so the following is very near and dear to my heart. This hunts just gets better every year...please read.

The Bedford Outdoor Sportsman Association Inc. (BOSA) hosted its 3rd annual Gunnin’ For Gobblers spring turkey hunt on April 23rd. Seventeen physically challenged hunters from around the state plus one from North Carolina participated. Five nice gobblers were taken with two of them weighing over 21 lbs. Highlight of the hunt was getting a bird for a retired marine who is blind and having another disabled veteran take his first turkey ever. There were several other close encounters but in each case the bird came out the victor.

This year we had hunters attend from the following VA counties: Bedford, Roanoke, Franklin, Lynchburg, Moneta, Evington, Reston, Craigsville, Henrico, McGaheysville, Covington, Danville, Waynesboro, Stanardsville, Berryville and Fayetteville, NC.

This year’s hunt made 10 years that an event like this has been held here in Bedford. This hunt was originally started by a national outdoor organization but BOSA has since taken over and has hosted this event for the last 3 years. We here in Bedford take pride that this hunt has been the most successful of its kind in the state of VA for 7 years running as well as being one of the best in the  for a small non affiliated organization such as we are.

Over the 10 year span of this hunt a total of 34 birds have been taken by 17 different hunters. Twelve of these were hunters that took their first turkey ever on this hunt. On top of that, BOSA can now say that we have guided two blind gentleman to a successful hunt, which is quite an achievement in itself.

If you guys ever get the opportunity to guide on a hunt like this...DO IT...it will be much appreciated

Oh yeah the old fat man in the wheelchair with the bird in the middle, that's me

[GR8CALLS]

Barry

 Sounds as if there was a good time, had by all. A very worthy and well put together hunt. If you would, keep us posted as to the dates for the next BOSA. I for one would love to donate a call for a lucky hunter.

Thanks!

Bill

[barry]

Wow! Thanks so much for your offer GR8CALLS
We host this hunt on the 4th Sat in April each year and yes I will let you know

[Trapperscott]

Barry, what an awesome event and hunt for such a worthy cause.  Congrats to you and everyone involved.  I know exactly what it's like to take a physically challenged hunter on a turkey hunt.  A couple years ago I had the opportunity to take a young man who was blind since birth.  We had a great time that weekend.  And he was able to kill a gobbler with no help from me touching the gun.  He did it all on his own.  I just whispered directions on up down, right left, NOW!!  It was one of the highlights of my hunting career.  His name is Alex and one of the biggest practical jokers I've ever been around.  Everyone that knows me knows I am always figuring out some kind of practical joke to pull on somebody.  I got pranked by Alex that weekend probably the best I've ever been got.  Here's the story.

After Alex killed his gobbler and we got back to my truck, I asked Alex if he wanted a coke or water.  I had an ice chest in the bed of my truck.  He said sure.  I walked around to the bed of the truck only to discover that the lid to my ice chest had blown off and was lost.  I told Alex about it and voiced my displeasure about it. 

On the ride back to where we were staying, out of the blue, Alex starts yelling STOP, STOP, PULL OVER, there is the lid to your ice chest.  I just saw it.  And of course, I hit the brakes, and got off in the ditch and pulled a Dukes of hazard spin around, and got back up on the highway headed back the way we had just came from.  I start asking him how far back down the road was it that he saw it??  I'm looking on the shoulder of the highway for my lid, Alex isn't saying anything.  I'm intent on finding my lid, I ask Alex again how far back as I'm looking in the ditch for my lid.  Alex still isn't saying anything.  About that time, he bust's out laughing uncontrollably.  I turn and look at him and ask him, what the heck is so funny???  He says between outbursts of laughter, HOW IN THE HECK DO YOU THINK I SAW YOUR LID??  And it hit me.  LOL.  We laughed about that the rest of the weekend.

Despite Alex's disability, he is an avid outdoors man.  He is a self taught violinist that plays by ear.  There is not much that he won't try. 

Scott

[GR8CALLS]

 Scott

  That reminds me of a Goose hunt I was on with a good friend, Jim Clay. I bought along my youngest son JC and Jim had his son Jase who was born with spina bifida. We carried Jase to the bind and the temperature hovered around 12 degrees. After limiting out I looked at Chase and said how do you feel? His reply was, "It is so cold out, I can't feel my legs", he then laid on his back an laughed as hard anyone I have ever seen laugh. You have to love how the handicapped can come up with the best I gotchas, at the right time.

Bill

[Trapperscott]

Bill, some of the best times come out of the blue when you are least expecting it.

[Mmcdonald]

What a great event!! Well done and congrats to all involved!!

[barry]

Barry, what an awesome event and hunt for such a worthy cause.  Congrats to you and everyone involved.  I know exactly what it's like to take a physically challenged hunter on a turkey hunt.  A couple years ago I had the opportunity to take a young man who was blind since birth.  We had a great time that weekend.  And he was able to kill a gobbler with no help from me touching the gun.  He did it all on his own.  I just whispered directions on up down, right left, NOW!!  It was one of the highlights of my hunting career.  His name is Alex and one of the biggest practical jokers I've ever been around.  Everyone that knows me knows I am always figuring out some kind of practical joke to pull on somebody.  I got pranked by Alex that weekend probably the best I've ever been got.  Here's the story.

After Alex killed his gobbler and we got back to my truck, I asked Alex if he wanted a coke or water.  I had an ice chest in the bed of my truck.  He said sure.  I walked around to the bed of the truck only to discover that the lid to my ice chest had blown off and was lost.  I told Alex about it and voiced my displeasure about it. 

On the ride back to where we were staying, out of the blue, Alex starts yelling STOP, STOP, PULL OVER, there is the lid to your ice chest.  I just saw it.  And of course, I hit the brakes, and got off in the ditch and pulled a Dukes of hazard spin around, and got back up on the highway headed back the way we had just came from.  I start asking him how far back down the road was it that he saw it??  I'm looking on the shoulder of the highway for my lid, Alex isn't saying anything.  I'm intent on finding my lid, I ask Alex again how far back as I'm looking in the ditch for my lid.  Alex still isn't saying anything.  About that time, he bust's out laughing uncontrollably.  I turn and look at him and ask him, what the heck is so funny???  He says between outbursts of laughter, HOW IN THE HECK DO YOU THINK I SAW YOUR LID??  And it hit me.  LOL.  We laughed about that the rest of the weekend.

Despite Alex's disability, he is an avid outdoors man.  He is a self taught violinist that plays by ear.  There is not much that he won't try. 

Scott

Awesome story. That's what I love about our hunt the camaraderie that forms between hunter and guide