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Hunting method exemptions open doors outdoors
MDC
11/22/02
Medical conditions that make hunting difficult don't have to stop Missourians from enjoying the thrill of the chase.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Fifteen-year-old Justin Montgomery of Poplar Bluff experiences a rush of excitement when a deer appears within range of his hunting blind. Adrenalin flows, his heart races, and time takes on a slow-motion quality as his senses focus on his quarry like a laser. In that transcendent moment of oneness with nature, the fact that he has spina bifida is among the least important things about Montgomery.
Montgomery, 15, joins the approximately 425,000 other Missourians who answer the call of the wild each November, pursuing deer with firearms and bows and arrows. He is able to do so, in part, thanks to the Missouri Department's policy of granting hunting method exemptions to enable people with disabilities to participate in various types of hunting.
Spina bifida, a birth defect that causes varying degrees of paralysis, occurs in approximately one of every 1,000 newborns in the United States. Montgomery can handle a rifle without too much trouble. He has hunted doves, squirrels and turkey, and he bagged his first deer on opening day of firearms deer season Nov. 16.
"He's just like any other kid," said his father, David Montgomery. "He likes computer games, watching sports and fishing. As far as he's concerned, he can do anything anyone else can."
Justin's can-do attitude has practical limits. This year, he decided he wanted to hunt during archery deer season. Dave knew that his son couldn't draw a regular bow, and crossbows aren't legal archery gear in Missouri. However, he also knew that the Missouri Department of Conservation sometimes allows hunters with disabilities to hunt in ways that aren't available to most hunters. With a doctor's letter certifying that Justin isn't physically able to draw a bow, David was able to get an exemption allowing his son to hunt with a crossbow.
Justin hasn't bagged a deer with a crossbow yet, but he had one close enough for a shot. The deer was facing him rather than standing broadside. Since he couldn't be sure of a quick, clean kill, he didn't shoot. But with his hunting methods exemption, Justin can look forward to many more archery hunts, just like any other young, avid hunter.
Kenny Singleton, of Vienna, was born without physical disabilities. But the semi-retired computer programmer has discovered that even able-bodied people can become disabled at any time.
Singleton's discovery came when his oldest son took up bow hunting. He wanted to share his son's new hobby, but discovered that he was unable to draw a bow due to severe, permanent tendinitis - commonly called tennis "elbow."
Because he had never hunted with a regular bow, Singleton, 54, felt self-conscious about asking for an exemption to hunt with a crossbow. But his desire to spend time with his son eventually prevailed.
"I didn't know if I would qualify, and I thought there would be a lot of red tape," said Singleton. "But it was easy. My family doctor wrote a letter saying that I wasn't able to draw a bow and that I probably wouldn't ever be able to. That's all it took."
Singleton is shopping for a crossbow.
At age 25, Everett Dooley of Palmyra was riding bucking broncos in rodeos. His last ride 20 years ago ended in a fall that broke his back and left him without the use of his legs. Now a dispatcher for the Northeast Power Cooperative, Dooley still is physically active. He says he never considered surrendering his passion for hunting.
"I got hurt in September and spent nine months in the hospital," he recalled. "I was back out in the woods the next fall and killed a little 6-point buck."
Because of his loss of mobility, Dooley has a hunting method exemption that allows him to hunt from a stationary vehicle. He says he seldom uses it, however. "If I don't have anyone to go with me, I might hunt out of my van and call a friend on my cell phone for help if I shoot a deer."
Dooley said he had hunted all his life, and you still can find him hunting ducks, deer, turkey and other game almost any time he isn't at work. "When you love something as much as I love hunting, I can't imagine letting anything stop you from doing it," he said.
So far this year, the Conservation Department has issued more than 2,429 hunting method exemptions. 963 were temporary. In the other 1,466 cases, doctors certified that applicants have permanent conditions that prevent them from hunting as most other hunters do.
Applications for hunting method exemptions are available from Conservation Department regional service centers or from Protection Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, 573/751-4115.
For information about areas with special facilities for people with disabilities, request the free booklet "Missouri's Accessible Outdoors" from any Conservation Department regional office or nature center, or visit http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/accessibility/.
- Jim Low -
MDC
11/22/02
Medical conditions that make hunting difficult don't have to stop Missourians from enjoying the thrill of the chase.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Fifteen-year-old Justin Montgomery of Poplar Bluff experiences a rush of excitement when a deer appears within range of his hunting blind. Adrenalin flows, his heart races, and time takes on a slow-motion quality as his senses focus on his quarry like a laser. In that transcendent moment of oneness with nature, the fact that he has spina bifida is among the least important things about Montgomery.
Montgomery, 15, joins the approximately 425,000 other Missourians who answer the call of the wild each November, pursuing deer with firearms and bows and arrows. He is able to do so, in part, thanks to the Missouri Department's policy of granting hunting method exemptions to enable people with disabilities to participate in various types of hunting.
Spina bifida, a birth defect that causes varying degrees of paralysis, occurs in approximately one of every 1,000 newborns in the United States. Montgomery can handle a rifle without too much trouble. He has hunted doves, squirrels and turkey, and he bagged his first deer on opening day of firearms deer season Nov. 16.
"He's just like any other kid," said his father, David Montgomery. "He likes computer games, watching sports and fishing. As far as he's concerned, he can do anything anyone else can."
Justin's can-do attitude has practical limits. This year, he decided he wanted to hunt during archery deer season. Dave knew that his son couldn't draw a regular bow, and crossbows aren't legal archery gear in Missouri. However, he also knew that the Missouri Department of Conservation sometimes allows hunters with disabilities to hunt in ways that aren't available to most hunters. With a doctor's letter certifying that Justin isn't physically able to draw a bow, David was able to get an exemption allowing his son to hunt with a crossbow.
Justin hasn't bagged a deer with a crossbow yet, but he had one close enough for a shot. The deer was facing him rather than standing broadside. Since he couldn't be sure of a quick, clean kill, he didn't shoot. But with his hunting methods exemption, Justin can look forward to many more archery hunts, just like any other young, avid hunter.
Kenny Singleton, of Vienna, was born without physical disabilities. But the semi-retired computer programmer has discovered that even able-bodied people can become disabled at any time.
Singleton's discovery came when his oldest son took up bow hunting. He wanted to share his son's new hobby, but discovered that he was unable to draw a bow due to severe, permanent tendinitis - commonly called tennis "elbow."
Because he had never hunted with a regular bow, Singleton, 54, felt self-conscious about asking for an exemption to hunt with a crossbow. But his desire to spend time with his son eventually prevailed.
"I didn't know if I would qualify, and I thought there would be a lot of red tape," said Singleton. "But it was easy. My family doctor wrote a letter saying that I wasn't able to draw a bow and that I probably wouldn't ever be able to. That's all it took."
Singleton is shopping for a crossbow.
At age 25, Everett Dooley of Palmyra was riding bucking broncos in rodeos. His last ride 20 years ago ended in a fall that broke his back and left him without the use of his legs. Now a dispatcher for the Northeast Power Cooperative, Dooley still is physically active. He says he never considered surrendering his passion for hunting.
"I got hurt in September and spent nine months in the hospital," he recalled. "I was back out in the woods the next fall and killed a little 6-point buck."
Because of his loss of mobility, Dooley has a hunting method exemption that allows him to hunt from a stationary vehicle. He says he seldom uses it, however. "If I don't have anyone to go with me, I might hunt out of my van and call a friend on my cell phone for help if I shoot a deer."
Dooley said he had hunted all his life, and you still can find him hunting ducks, deer, turkey and other game almost any time he isn't at work. "When you love something as much as I love hunting, I can't imagine letting anything stop you from doing it," he said.
So far this year, the Conservation Department has issued more than 2,429 hunting method exemptions. 963 were temporary. In the other 1,466 cases, doctors certified that applicants have permanent conditions that prevent them from hunting as most other hunters do.
Applications for hunting method exemptions are available from Conservation Department regional service centers or from Protection Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, 573/751-4115.
For information about areas with special facilities for people with disabilities, request the free booklet "Missouri's Accessible Outdoors" from any Conservation Department regional office or nature center, or visit http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/accessibility/.
- Jim Low -
