United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Has anyone gone bird hunting successfully after their BPI?

I used to go duck, partridge, turkey, quail, and dove hunting with family and old friends but haven't since my injury 6 years ago. It's starting to drive me nuts. The only thing I can think to do is to rig a light 20 gauge or 4-10 with a modified stock as a pistol grip. I hate to think of walking through the woods with that though. Not only being more dangerous due to lack of control, I'd look like I was hunting humans, not dinner.

I did talk to one TBPI guy back in Vermont and he said he just steadies his gun on the side of a tree. It took me a little to realize he was talking about shooting a walking bird. I may have a handicap, but I'm not aiming at any bird that's on the ground. It better be in full flight, or I'd rather not go at all.

If anyone has heard of anything, please pass the word. Hopefully soon we'll have a large collection of adaptations and reconfigurations that will be posted all in one location on the new website.

Thanks,
Chris

Haven't gone bird hunting, but I did try deer hunting. I'd strongly recommend a pistol with a scope. You can get a stand at the hunting supply shops in case you must use a crossbow or rifle. You rest the front of the gun on the stand and they have one or two legs. Beware though, you will be limited as far as the angles you can shoot at quickly. Moving the stand and handling the gun all with one hand is nearly impossible. So you will have to rotate your whole body around the stand. If you try a crossbow, make sure its light enough for you to use with one hand. Even then I'd recommend a stand with it too. Hope this helps.

I have an OBPI and have been able to hunt/harvest all the birds that you mentioned. I use a 20 gauge for the small fast moving birds and a 12 for turkey. I added a pistol grip stock and use a safari sling that holds the gun at waist height. It makes a shotgun or rifle much easier to carry and with a light gun you just push forward to mount it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=350658
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0005803220723a.shtml

Another gadget that helps while turkey hunting is a gun rest made by H.S. Strut. It buckles around the knee and has a V notch to hold the barrel or forearm stock. It is made for shooting in a sitting position as you would be while turkey hunting.
http://www.eders.com/products/hs-gun-re ... t-apg.html

I’m sure that you can set up a gun that would be safe to hunt with and carry in the field.

BTW, spring turkey season just started here. I was lucky enough to call in and take my second turkey ever on Sunday morning.

This may be a bit of a tangent, but how about archery? One of my dreams has always been to learn how to use a bow and arrow and now it seems impossible. Have you ever tried this with one arm?

I'm sure I've seen an archer sitting with the bow on his / her feet, and the string in the hand. If that does it for you, some simple straps to hold it to your feet shouldn't be that hard to do.

As to the archery question, I used a crossbow last season and it worked well. These are illegal in most states unless you have the injuries we have. Here in Michigan all I had to do was have my physical therapist sign a form to verify my injury and they gave me a life time licence to use a crossbow during archery season.

That's so cool!

Christopher, I think its great you started this thread ! Would be something that might interest James, into visiting UBPN, but hes not quite there yet. Anyway, he loves to turkey hunt, shoots sporting clays and trap, and does very well left handed. He was just in a trap tournament last weekend. Hes uses a Benelli ultralight 20 gauge. He says its the perfect fit for him just the way it is. He handles it very well. They also have a Benelli ultralight for left handers. James also had the opportunity to meet and take shooting lessons from Will and Darby Fennell, world champion FITASC . (sorry, just had to throw that in there and brag a little) LOL !

I remember seeing a website for one armed people, they were hunters themselves. Try googling "one arm dove hunt". It leads to a whole bunch of sites I think.

He doesnt use any adaptions at all. Hes gotten pretty strong in his good arm but it tires alot more quickly now.

He amazes all of us in all he can do with his BPI.

Thanks for the websites, Ill have to check those out.

Priscilla (mom to James, RTBPI-age 16)

Hey Angela,

There is a man in Kentucky named Tim Farmer that has a TBPI and does an outdoor show called Kentucky Afield. He shoots a compound bow with a mouth tab on the bow string. The bow is drawn by biting down on the tab and pushing the bow forward with nonBPI arm.

There is another way to use a bow by attaching a draw lock. The draw lock holds the bow in the drawn position until a safety is released and trigger is activated.

The Physical Challenged Bowhunters of America helps people come up with ways to use archery equipment. They have information on their website about the mouth tab and draw lock.

Hope this helps,
Chris LOBPI

Hey, thanks for the research I will have go to that website and get some visuals. It sounds so fun. I got to try some archery when I was little and loved it. I'm glad it's still something I can pursue.