12 years ago my friend John fell from a tree stand while deer hunting and became paralyzed from the waist down. It's impossible to say what any of us would do if this happened to us but I have seen what John has done with his life and I'm truly inspired. I was introduced to him by fellow Bowsiter "Jimbo" and have been excited to see how the passion to hunt still burns with John! This is the story of his desire to get back to successfully hunting deer with bow & arrow.
The great state of Kansas has a special season one week before regular archery season for handicapped and youth hunters. The hunter can use any weapon but John loves the bow and arrow. I talked with Forest Bows who has some excellent ground and asked him if he would host John and he and his wife Kelly excitedly agreed to host us all.
I hope you enjoy this story of how we prepared and then hunted deer and thus the title of this thread "It takes 3 guys and a gal to kill a deer."
Preparation for this hunt started last February when I told John of our plan and he jumped at the chance. He had to apply for his Kansas tag then set about getting his Mathews NoCam shooting properly and accurately. As we got close to September Forest and his wife prepared 4 blinds. We would then use Forest's Bad Boy Buggy to transport John to the blind and I would sit with him and try to video. Here is a picture of one of the blinds.
John then drove himself from Massachusetts to Kansas stopping to visit his oldest son in Ohio. I met him there and we were sky high with anticipation. Forest had some great bucks on trail camera.
John is paralyzed from the waist down but has developed incredible upper body, arm and shoulder strength. He is a top notch wheel chair tennis player, skis and swims almost a mile three days a week. At home in Massacusetts he has participated in "special seasons" since his injury. Here is a picture of a successful turkey hunt we did last May in Maine!
We knew between John, Forest and myself we would need to figure out how best and safely to get John to these blinds. Here is a picture of Forest loading Johns chair for the ride in. We collectively decided to hunt pm only which allowed us to set up properly in the light then have Forest come in with the Bad Boy to run any deer off for the transport out. The first day we had a doe and two fawns come by which got us very excited. We got the bugs out of our transport system and felt very confident.
When we got home Forests wife Kelly had prepared a fabulous dinner and we had a great day in building our collective bond to achieve success. The comradery and teamwork was building!
On the second day we needed a SE wind to get across a creek where Forest had some of the best bucks on camera. It had rained the night before so the creek was up and when we went across some of the mud flew up and hit John. This picture shows him smiling at the thrill of the ride. We used the creek water to get the mud off John and us before settling into the blind.
As deer will do we saw only one fawn that pm hunt but did get a taste of how hard this would be as two different deer did smell us and sound their snorting alarm. The other thing we discovered is how hard it is for John to get drawn in a blind as he is fixed in his chair to a 8 to 10 yard left to right shot.
Home to another fantastic meal by Kelly and kidding around conversation. As you guys know the comradery of giving each other a fun/hard time is common in hunt camps and our group was no exception. We asked and learned many things about how John's life had changed after his accident. One second changed everything for John and his entire family. If he has one message to all you guys it's get that safety harness on and use life lines.
That night we got incredible Kansas rain followed by flash flooding. The river in this picture is normally 20 feet lower. Quite a shock seeing the river so high and crop fields under water. Because of these flood waters only one of the 4 blinds would be hunt able this pm. Thankfully Forest and Kelly set up four.
After getting settled in the blind on day three we immediately had a fawn go by then shortly afterward two small bucks. John's Kansas tag was good for an antlerless deer and either sex deer so if he got a good shot at a doe he would take it.
Just before sunset a doe and fawn came by but no shot. A few minutes later another doe came by and John patiently waited for a shot opportunity.
Here is the short video of us getting to the blind on day one then John's shot on day three. Listen for the thunder in the background and also John's comment after his first shot at a deer in 12 years.
"Went right through it" was John's comment. I can not fully describe how nervous I was when John had the bow in ready position then pulled back. The "three guys and a gal" wanted it so bad but perhaps this was just too hard. It was now John's turn to do what he had practiced and dreamed of for so long. The many things we TAKE FOR GRANTED are driven home by experiencing moments like this. We are so blessed to be here TRYING!!!
As you can see by the shot the doe heard John pull back and was on high alert. The shot was a pass through but immediately I knew this would not be an easy recovery. Coupled with the heat of the day and now a quickly approaching thunder storm I knew we were in for a tough road.
I immediately texted Forest to come on in. By the time he got there I had gathered up our gear and checked the arrow. It had good blood so I immediately tried to find blood in the direction the deer went. NOT A SINGLE DROP!
Forest told me to get John transferred to the Bad Boy and while I was doing that he went off in the direction the deer went. Somehow, with zero blood, he found the deer and dragged it back to where the shot was taken. He then drove John to the arrow and asked which way the deer went. John could not immediately see the deer from the buggy but when he finally did a bunch of loud hollers were made!
This moment was pure magic as we all realized the big buck we dreamed John would get met nothing to actually "getting a deer"
At that very moment the sky's opened to a torrential downpour. While all three of us and the big doe were heading back the thunder and lightning was every where John yelled out at the top of his lungs "this is best hunting day of my life"!!
Because of the pounding rain and need to get back to the truck I had no pictures or video after the shot but we immediately headed to the meat processor. John loves venison and this deer would be excellent eating. Here is a picture of us taken by the butcher.
Fantastic story, Charlie! This is what bowhunting is all about. Congratulations to John on a well earned deer! Thank you for documenting it through pictures, and sharing it here on Bowsite!
Thank you, Charlie. You do so much for our sport, and that you took the time to help John experience this hunt says a lot about the terrific man you are. Same to you, Forest... and to your wife, Kelly. You opened your home and helped make it a week John will never forget. Good stuff!
John, my friend... you are the man! Congrats on the doe and on a great hunt.
Thanks everyone! After a "rip roaring" night of story telling (by our standards) we then set about to get John a buck. We went back to this blind across a creek. This is the picture of two bucks John saw and then missed.
Thanks everyone but would you believe we got more out of doing this than John??
If any of you or someone you know is handicapped and struggling please send me a PM and I will get you in touch with John. Talking to him may be helpful. He is an inspiration for living every day as a blessing!
PS: This bird picture was taken at the Kansas Ranch and to me it represents John's spirit! Be free my friend!!
I am the disabled hunter in the thread and cannot tell you the thrill and joy this hunt gave to me. This is the first deer I have shot with a compound since my injury. I met Charlie a couple of years ago when Jimbo found out I was going to Charlie's Island for a disabled hunt in Rhode Island. Jimbo described Charlie as a Bowhunting "LEGEND" but he is so much more.He has taught me so much about hunting in general and Bowhunting in particular. I honestly do believe he gets as much if not more out of helping and teaching me to become a better bow hunter.Forest likewise did virtually everything he could to put me in a position to shoot a deer. He and his wife Kelly are some of the nicest people I have ever met! They were the most welcoming ,helpful and accommodating hosts I have ever experienced. I consider them and Charlie "friends of a lifetime"! And yes I have watched that video dozens of times!
What an inspiration for those of us who can still make it to the blind under our own power ! Even as it gets harder every year as we age, just look around and you can find an example of someone who will simply not give up.
My hat is off to John and all his " crew " of helpers. Good on you guys ( and gal ) and congrats John !
Here is a picture of Kelly and Forest at the Aspen, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival this past weekend!
Forest and Kelly own a beautiful Ranch in Kansas and Forest leases many prime deer hunting acres both North and South of the Ranch for deer hunting. If any of you are looking for a fun Kansas whitetail hunt send Forest a PM.
Congrats John you are an inspiration to us all! Charlie, Forest and Kelly you are a class act and very admirable in taking the time to provide such a great opportunity for John and to carry on the true spirit of bowhunting.