Hunting season for people with disabilities begins today, runs through Sunday

by Chris Killian | Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette
Thursday October 16, 2008, 9:15 AM

AUGUSTA -- A special, four-day deer hunting season for people with disabilities begins today in Michigan.

People who have a permit to hunt from a standing vehicle and who are 100 percent disabled as defined by the U.S. Veterans Administration or are legally blind can participate in the hunt, which runs through Sunday.

The hunt is open on all private lands and in limited public land areas.

Hunters are allowed to utilize technology that is otherwise banned, such as a laser sight that projects a red dot on a deer, allowing those who are legally blind to better see their prey. A sighted person must accompany them and give them the OK before they pull the trigger, said Rod Clute, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

"Many of these disabled folks were deer hunters before they were disabled," Clute said. "This event is about allowing them to participate without having to worry about getting out there on opening day when it's so busy."

The Purple Heart Hunt, an annual event at the Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta geared toward veterans, will bring together hunters with disabilities this weekend.

See more in Breaking News, Outdoors

Years ago, I worked as a policy analyst for our state senate. One bill before the committee was to allow power driven fishing reels so disabled people could fish.

A local animal rights group testified against the bill saying it gave the fishermen an unfair advantage.

The bill never got out of committee!(killed by Dems, I will add).

One bill before the committee was to allow power driven fishing reels so disabled people could fish.

To allow them? It's a pretty sad state of affairs that we now have to propose bills for allowing things. All that is not explicitly forbidden by the law ought to be permitted ... at least that's how it works in a truly free country.

I think it’s time to pray for Chris Killian (author of the article).

If s/he’s known as any sort of a conservative...gonna’ catch hell
from the advocacy groups and liberal nutburgers.

Hopefully Killian will learn an important lesson: proofread.
Even proofread twice before publishing!!!

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Hunting season for people with disabilities begins today, runs through Sunday

by Chris Killian | Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette Thursday October 16, 2008, 9:15 AM

by Chris Killian | Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette
Thursday October 16, 2008, 9:15 AM