19 replies to this topic

[gsp23]

I saw a couple posts on some people hunting but didn't see any discussion on wheelchair setup. I have a few questions for some people.

1) Are there any hunters out there and if so how do you carry your gun? I have found a manual wheelchair online that is made specifically for hunting and comes with a gun rack on the front of it but its about 6 feet long and doesn't sit very high off the ground (not to mention it doesn't disassemble very well). I am looking to go pheasant hunting and dont want to be dog level going through the weeks or I will need chest protectors too . Another reason I need to be normal wheelchair height is so I can keep an eye on my dog when going through the taller grasses and CRP. I have a pointing dog so I will have a few seconds to get the gun out of any holder to take a shot but need to make sure it won't take me much longer than that to get out (and the gun will be loaded going through the field unlike when going deer hunting) I got a good deal on a Quickie XTR that I will be using for hunting and am working on riggging that up. Any thoughts on carrying the gun while I wheel out?

2) I am going to be using some real knobby mountain tires, the chair I am going to use current is set for 0 degree camber. I am thinking if I increase to 8 degree camber then it would be more stable over the rough terrain, however, I am wondering if it would cause more problems as the tires wouldn't contact the ground as well and I'm wondering if that is going to cause problems with traction. I'm sure I can figure out by trial and error but rather get some input before I get out there or buy the 8 degree camber tube. I could also use the 4 degree camber setting as well if that might be better.

3) With regards to front casters, would the big honkin 8 inch casters, maybe 1 1/2 in width be the best for going through the woods or would the smaller ones work better for easier lifting off the ground? I am newer to a wheelchair and am working on doing a small enough wheelie to free front casters when stuck but i'm no too good yet. I have seen more experienced users baha through grass using 3 inch casters 1 inch wide with no problem and then me on the crummy folding rental Invacare EX2 with 8 inch casters 1 inch wide get stuck every 5 feet!

Thanks for any feedback on the above. One thing I forgot to mention and its important, I want to go out bird hunting with my dog, this means that I will be moving through a field and behind her while she zigzags in front of me looking for birds. After we work a field I will be going to the next field and do the same thing so its a lot more wheeling than deer hunting where you get out to the stand and wait (although I may be doing some deer hunting this year as well). Just need to make sure I get a seatbelt for this chair too so I don't get thrown out of when going over the uneven terrain!

[russ1]

Quote

I am going to be using some real knobby mountain tires, the chair I am going to use current is set for 0 degree camber. I am thinking if I increase to 8 degree camber then it would be more stable over the rough terrain, however, I am wondering if it would cause more problems as the tires wouldn't contact the ground as well and I'm wondering if that is going to cause problems with traction.

Bikes lean over much more than 8degrees when cornering and the tyres are made to work when cornering so this shouldn't be an issue

[gsp23]

Good point, thanks... so the 8 degree camber it is. I found something called the MTC Freedom wheel which attaches to the front of a chair and lifts the casters off the ground and it is a single 14 inch knobby that sticks out front. Supposedly would work well on the conditions I would be in so I'm looking into that now.

[mike]

aantiix, on Sep 30 2006, 04:33 PM, said:

I saw a couple posts on some people hunting but didn't see any discussion on wheelchair setup. I have a few questions for some people.

1) Are there any hunters out there and if so how do you carry your gun? I have found a manual wheelchair online that is made specifically for hunting and comes with a gun rack on the front of it but its about 6 feet long and doesn't sit very high off the ground (not to mention it doesn't disassemble very well). I am looking to go pheasant hunting and dont want to be dog level going through the weeks or I will need chest protectors too . Another reason I need to be normal wheelchair height is so I can keep an eye on my dog when going through the taller grasses and CRP. I have a pointing dog so I will have a few seconds to get the gun out of any holder to take a shot but need to make sure it won't take me much longer than that to get out (and the gun will be loaded going through the field unlike when going deer hunting) I got a good deal on a Quickie XTR that I will be using for hunting and am working on riggging that up. Any thoughts on carrying the gun while I wheel out?

2) I am going to be using some real knobby mountain tires, the chair I am going to use current is set for 0 degree camber. I am thinking if I increase to 8 degree camber then it would be more stable over the rough terrain, however, I am wondering if it would cause more problems as the tires wouldn't contact the ground as well and I'm wondering if that is going to cause problems with traction. I'm sure I can figure out by trial and error but rather get some input before I get out there or buy the 8 degree camber tube. I could also use the 4 degree camber setting as well if that might be better.

3) With regards to front casters, would the big honkin 8 inch casters, maybe 1 1/2 in width be the best for going through the woods or would the smaller ones work better for easier lifting off the ground? I am newer to a wheelchair and am working on doing a small enough wheelie to free front casters when stuck but i'm no too good yet. I have seen more experienced users baha through grass using 3 inch casters 1 inch wide with no problem and then me on the crummy folding rental Invacare EX2 with 8 inch casters 1 inch wide get stuck every 5 feet!

Thanks for any feedback on the above. One thing I forgot to mention and its important, I want to go out bird hunting with my dog, this means that I will be moving through a field and behind her while she zigzags in front of me looking for birds. After we work a field I will be going to the next field and do the same thing so its a lot more wheeling than deer hunting where you get out to the stand and wait (although I may be doing some deer hunting this year as well). Just need to make sure I get a seatbelt for this chair too so I don't get thrown out of when going over the uneven terrain!

[mike]

i suggest leaving the wheel chair be hind and think about getting a quad runner they are cheeper than a wheel chair and you access more spots they also have gun holders so you can shoot one handed and if you cant drive one by yourself someone else cfan drive for you
oh yeah they also come with automatic transmission

[gsp23]

I thought about that, the problem is that in my state in order to hunt from a motiorized vehicle you need a special license which I dont yet have. They take a long time to process those applications and pheasant hunting starts this weekend and goes through the end of Dec. Next year this might work out better but I am trying to come up with a manual solution this year so that I can still get out there a little bit. I might not be able to do all the fields if they are too thick or hilly but I thought maybe if I could get out to some of them then it would be worth it.

When I was in inpatient rehab I had Recreational Therapy and that therapist asked me what I would miss doing the most that I could do before but I couldnt do now and the first thing that popped into my head was hunting with my dog. I love that more than anything and just want to get out there with her.

[Texaswheelz]

I've been deer hunting a few times, but all that takes is getting to a spot and sitting still and waiting. I just went in my normal chair but I have always done wheelies the whole time while moving across through woods, snow, mud..etc. Just carried my rifle across my lap. Pheasant hunting though i'm sure would be much more different.

[mike]

here in minnesota we have a non profit group called capable partners they pair you up with non disalbed
partner that will take you out fishing and hunting.
the also gain access to areas not open to the public hunting i shot my first deer from the chair this way.
if they dont have a group like this in your area maybe you could start you r own
www.capable partner.org check it out they may be able to point you to an organiztion in your area
good luck hunting you will get out if you relly want to dont let nothing stop you

[gsp23]

mike, on Oct 13 2006, 09:56 AM, said:

here in minnesota we have a non profit group called capable partners they pair you up with non disalbed
partner that will take you out fishing and hunting.
the also gain access to areas not open to the public hunting i shot my first deer from the chair this way.
if they dont have a group like this in your area maybe you could start you r own
www.capable partner.org check it out they may be able to point you to an organiztion in your area
good luck hunting you will get out if you relly want to dont let nothing stop you

Thank you! I am in Minnesota as well. I go hunting with my boyfriend but if he is pushing me along then he cant hunt at the same time as I am trying to figure out how to pheasant hunt. Deer hunting, he has already offered to help me into a ground blind. I will check out that site right away.

[gsp23]

mike, on Oct 13 2006, 09:56 AM, said:

here in minnesota we have a non profit group called capable partners they pair you up with non disalbed
partner that will take you out fishing and hunting.
the also gain access to areas not open to the public hunting i shot my first deer from the chair this way.
if they dont have a group like this in your area maybe you could start you r own
www.capable partner.org check it out they may be able to point you to an organiztion in your area
good luck hunting you will get out if you relly want to dont let nothing stop you

I just checked out that disabled partners and looks like that wont work for this year as there are mandatory meetings that I wouldnt even be able to do. It looks like their pheasant hunting is from a ground blind which doesnt sound like any fun to me. I miss being out there following my dog around the field and going out whenever I feel like it on a weekend. I will continue to try and rig something up to my manual chair and see if there is anyway I can get out in a field or two at least.

[DaveP]

I will continue to try and rig something up to my manual chair and see if there is anyway I can get out in a field or two at least.


A friend of mine manufactures hand and power cycles (www.teamhybrid.co.uk). The Viper power-cycle attaches to the front but he also builds different specs for clients. For example, the normal electric power hub is only 24v but he now has 36v hubs. You can also have hubs on your back wheels and double-power packs. Check out the web site as it has a video.

Why a spare set of wheel for your chair with some big chunky offroad tyres and put a 36v hub in each wheel. Add a front Viper and you've got 3-wheel drive. OK, it needs more power so you can carry 2 or 3 batteries - I think the batteries are getting smaller too so you may have more options for "juice".

Email Mark and see what he says...

[gsp23]

Thats a good idea Dave, I will have to look into that. A handcycle that I can attach to my existing wheelchair may be a good idea it would give me stability and would allow me to propel by either the hand crank or the regular way with the rear wheels. Get the front casters off the ground and some knobby tires and I might be cruzing across a field

[RYAN68]

I would think you should be able to get away with using a quad to pheasant hunt... If the DNR throws a fit, ask them what in the hell and I supposed to do. I would think that trying to push a chair through a CRP field would just kill you, especially with how rough they are. We have 65 acres of CRP ground behind our house in Iowa, its all Highly erodible ground, with all the gopher mounds and holes, and brush, it would be way to hard, plus by the time you kick up a bird and get situated, pull up your gun, that bird will be long gone...

I would just call the local DNR officer and talk to him, let him know what you are planning to do. I would think he would let you be.

Edited by RYAN68, 14 October 2006 - 05:13 PM.

[gsp23]

I really want to get out there in a manual chair. Some fields will be next to impossible but others I might be able to get around in. I will figure something out eventually. I am not really interested in a motorized solution as driving on a 4-wheeler isnt the same thing. If I can manually wheel myself through at least a couple of fields then I will feel like I'm really hunting.

[carpenter]

When navigating the rough land in the back forty, either a lawnmower, or tractor is employed here. Those sort of machines seem to be much less costly, and far more practical than specialized wheel chair gizmos.

[LuckyinKentucky]

aantiix, on Oct 13 2006, 08:33 AM, said:

mike, on Oct 13 2006, 09:56 AM, said:

here in minnesota we have a non profit group called capable partners they pair you up with non disalbed
partner that will take you out fishing and hunting.
the also gain access to areas not open to the public hunting i shot my first deer from the chair this way.
if they dont have a group like this in your area maybe you could start you r own
www.capable partner.org check it out they may be able to point you to an organiztion in your area
good luck hunting you will get out if you relly want to dont let nothing stop you

I just checked out that disabled partners and looks like that wont work for this year as there are mandatory meetings that I wouldnt even be able to do. It looks like their pheasant hunting is from a ground blind which doesnt sound like any fun to me. I miss being out there following my dog around the field and going out whenever I feel like it on a weekend. I will continue to try and rig something up to my manual chair and see if there is anyway I can get out in a field or two at least.

MTC freedom wheel if ya can afford it and are dead set on stayin manual. When I carry my rifles I make the strap quite tight,place the butt of the gun between my legs and put my right arm through the strap allowing the gun to point up and behind my right shoulder(dont let anyone walk behind you cause during wheelies it'll be pointin at em). You just need to expirament with how to quickly transition from carry to fire position. Also Most Shottys dont have carrying straps so you may want too invest..without the strap the gun can drop between your knees which leaves the business end at about face level...ouch!! I havent tried it and It may not work or be risky but if you don't want a stap or find it too restricting for a quick draw maybee put a strip of strong velcro along the butt of your gun and also one where it would rest between your legs maybee this would work.......having said all this let me warn you....regardless your gun could still fall and with being loaded...well you get the idea. I enjoy just shooting as much as I do hunting but when I do hunt I usually use either my ATV or UTV. The paperwork in my state took about 4-6 weeks but on the bonus /along with being able to hunt from a vehicle/ liscence cost 5$ vs 45$ and in addition most wildlife management folks are more than happy to help U share their passion...It prob even makes em feel good. maybe this'll help u for spring season or next Fall. Oh yea always take a cell phone!!!!!!!

Edited by LuckyinKentucky, 19 February 2007 - 11:13 PM.

[gsp23]

LuckyinKentucky, on Feb 19 2007, 04:08 PM, said:

MTC freedom wheel if ya can afford it and are dead set on stayin manual. When I carry my rifles I make the strap quite tight,place the butt of the gun between my legs and put my right arm through the strap allowing the gun to point up and behind my right shoulder(dont let anyone walk behind you cause during wheelies it'll be pointin at em). You just need to expirament with how to quickly transition from carry to fire position. Also Most Shottys dont have carrying straps so you may want too invest..without the strap the gun can drop between your knees which leaves the business end at about face level...ouch!! I havent tried it and It may not work or be risky but if you don't want a stap or find it too restricting for a quick draw maybee put a strip of strong velcro along the butt of your gun and also one where it would rest between your legs maybee this would work.......having said all this let me warn you....regardless your gun could still fall and with being loaded...well you get the idea. I enjoy just shooting as much as I do hunting but when I do hunt I usually use either my ATV or UTV. The paperwork in my state took about 4-6 weeks but on the bonus /along with being able to hunt from a vehicle/ liscence cost 5$ vs 45$ and in addition most wildlife management folks are more than happy to help U share their passion...It prob even makes em feel good. maybe this'll help u for spring season or next Fall. Oh yea always take a cell phone!!!!!!!

I actually got my hands on one of those MTC Freedom Wheels and while I can control my chair on flat ground, I find that going over uneven terrain the wheel has a tendancy to spin which results in me pushing on my right wheel and continuing to go straight or sometimes even going to the right instead of going to the left as expected. I find that I am constantly having to do wheelies in the field just to move in a direction I need to.

Do you have one of these MTC Freedom Wheels and if so how do you solve the problem of getting the wheel to turn in the direction you are steering the chair instead of continuously flipping around and having the problems I am having?

I looked into the Buzzard made by Eagle Sportschairs but it looks like I may just end up with the same problem there execpt I would have 2 wheels that dont want to cooperate with where I am steering and having to move them accordingly with the hand grips up front. I also checked into the TerraTrek Outlook but am still doing research into that one.

[4estGimp]

Carrying a weapon is fairly easy if it's a Thompson Contender with a sling.

I love hand cannons.

[BBender]

BBender
for bird shooting with a dog i use a manual chair and to hold the shot gun a regular single gunrack with a short piece of ABS pipe capped and lined with foam, clamped to the inside of the chair frame. It is pretty secure for the gun and relitivly fast to get into action(grouse and phesant won't wait all day), over rough ground I pretty much wheelie the hole time, as the large front wheel(freedom) was allways getting me stuck. Also be carfull with overhead passing shots, it is easy to flip over, which can be quite exiting with a discharging gun. I also suggest that you take a cellphone with you. Good hunting
Barry

[gsp23]

BBender, on Mar 4 2007, 11:04 PM, said:

BBender
for bird shooting with a dog i use a manual chair and to hold the shot gun a regular single gunrack with a short piece of ABS pipe capped and lined with foam, clamped to the inside of the chair frame. It is pretty secure for the gun and relitivly fast to get into action(grouse and phesant won't wait all day), over rough ground I pretty much wheelie the hole time, as the large front wheel(freedom) was allways getting me stuck. Also be carfull with overhead passing shots, it is easy to flip over, which can be quite exiting with a discharging gun. I also suggest that you take a cellphone with you. Good hunting
Barry

Ah, ok well I guess its not just me with that stupid wheel then. I found a way to mount the gun was with those fin grips actually made for ATVs but they work well and secure the gun in place. I find that a full day out in the field over some of the terrain I go over I just get too tired after a couple fields by doing wheelies the entire time. I am still looking into chair options but will probably hold off till fall now before I investigate further. If contacted the mfg of the TerraTrek Outlook and they referred me to a local dealer. Apparently all local dealers can get a demo model to try out, and the same dealer told me about the Lasher Beast which might be a good or better option. Since the fields will change so much between now and the fall, I figure I will probably wait till later in the summer before I persue this further so I can try out on that difficult late summer / fall terrain.