Hunting has always been a very important part of my life. After an accident in 1991 that left me a quadriplegic, I didn’t let it hamper my enthusiasm for the sport. It would prove to be very different and down right frustrating at times, but with help of family and friends, it all came together. There are so many people who have made it possible. My wife Julie, who has to get up at 4:00 a.m. to help me get dressed, brother-in-law Russel Zaft who builds the custom rigs needed to hold my bow and guns. A very close friend of mine, Bob Haslett, who every season tirelessly, scouts, asks landowners permission to allow ME to hunt on their land. When Bob takes me out, it’s me that gets the "hot spot," he goes to a different spot within ear shot of me to increase my chances of getting a deer. Then there are last but not least the landowners, without their kindness all else would be futile. It amazes me just how many land owners that despite me being in a wheelchair, allow me access. A lot are curious on how I do it (shoot..Etc.) and give me credit on still "getting out there" I explain to everyone that asks or is curious, Im still an outdoors man, but on wheels.

As far as deer hunting is concerned I have been very fortunate. I have harvested four deer with my bow and two with my shotgun. This year’s deer was the biggest I’ve gotten since the accident and it rivals the few I took while still able bodied.

Bob and I got setup bright and early opening morning with expectations running high. This was the second yr. I’ve hunted this parcel of land for two years. The land owner Pete, no last name to respect his privacy, allowed me and one other person to bow hunt there. As daylight broke I had two does step out into the open from the thicket. I watched them browse around 15 minutes or so, they slipped back into cover never offering a clean shot. A short while later I caught movement, it was a single horned spike out about 40 yards. As I watched him meander around, I got a good look at him, it was ‘ol Snaggle horn. The previous year I had seen him he was a big bodied 1 1\2 year old spike horn, that’s when I named him. He eluded me that year and would do the same this year, he would stay just out range, as I am a meat hunter, any of the deer that morning would have been fine, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Bob and I hunted hard all of the opening day and Friday. Deer one hunters zero. Bob was on his way to his camp Friday night and wouldn’t be with me till the following week. I hunted Saturday and Sunday in some of the warmest weather I can remember, I believe it kept the deer bedded up till late evening. Monday rolled around and I decided not to go out that day, being it was still unseasonably warm. The out look for Tuesday looked the same only with rain mixed in, it didn’t look good. Tuesday was another warm day, but not a drop of rain all afternoon. It was 3:45 in the afternoon, I was working on my computer looking outside, it was gorgeous. My wife walked in the door from work and helped me get ready for an evening watch. She took me to my ground blind cocked my bow and she was off. It was now a little after 5 P.M.. At 5:45 the woods turned black with turkeys, 15-20 birds from 8 to 30 yards! I put a big tom in my peep sight, and didnt touch off the release. I was thinking two dollars, just two dollars for the tag I didn’t have! I’ll never get a chance like THIS again. All I could do was to sit back and watch the show. They soon wandered off, I removed the release from my mouth and relaxed.

It’s now 6:10, the wind is blowing a little harder now as I sat reflecting on the turkey show. The sun broke out and it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I was awe struck as the woods turned golden. I thought, this is why I’m out here, if this is all I am going to see it will be worth it. But ‘ol Snaggle horn showed himself 50 yards away to breakup the rest of the evening. I sat and watched him feed, waiting for him to close the gap between us. As I kept my bow trained on him, I caught movement out of my left eye, all I could see was a big body and horns. I turned my wheelchair while watching the spike and the new deer so as too not to spook either one. I slowly moved by chair until I was in line with the new arrival, but he ended up walking toward the spike. Fortunately the spike was intimidated and stepped away ten yards. The bigger buck turned right abruptly, which would bring him within 20 yards of me. I had one more turn to make with my chair. As he ducked behind some trees, I made the move. The chair hit the back of the stand with a thump, my heart sank. He stood behind those trees, for what seemed like hours, when he stepped into the open my pin was right in line with him. I took the shot and was positive I made a good hit! My son, George jr. came a short while later. After explaining to him what had happened, he looked over the area for signs of a hit. As he circled around in the dark, he found the trail and 20 minutes later he found the deer. I heard the excitement in his voice as he yelled out "10 pointer." I couldn’t believe it (I never stare at the rack, that comes after)! My wife and other son Jesse came to check on us as it was getting late. George jr. and Julie dragged the deer out and I finally got a look at it. What a beauty! It ran a total of 50 yards. It was a clean, double lung shot. I’ve had some great seasons, but I think by far I’ll have trouble topping this one.

Equipment used: Oneida Eagle Bows Stealth set at 60#. I’m a Staff Shooter for Oneida.

Easton XX75 2114 Topped with 100 gr. Rockets 3 blade mechanical tips

Bodoodle Pro-500 Rest

Toxonics Predator Sights

TRU-FIRE Release