Any other wheelchair archers?

[halfseminole]

As I'm now in a wheelchair a fair bit of the time, including almost all the time I'm outside of my own property, I've been adjusting to the wheeled life and starting to work on relearning to shoot from my chair and without my dominant eye.  I've almost completed my first wheelchair quiver and I made myself a Scythian bow replica to practice with, but how do you guys avoid hitting your legs?  I have to twist to the side, which is very uncomfortable at the moment.  Should I look at a more asymmetric bow?  Anyone got any advice at all?

[ChuckC]

Ed, with that long draw you have, it sure puts a limiter on your options.  Maybe a change in form to drop some inches in draw length may be in order.

I can shoot kids bows that I make by bending my bow arm, quite a bit actually.  They are light and lets me do that.  I am guessing that you can do the same. I am also guessing that dropping down even more in draw weight may be necessary.

I am guessing that without being able to shoot to the side or maybe to be able to lean forward quite a bit, you are, again, limiting yourself.  Since our normal form includes a near 90 degree to the target stance, I am gonna guess that shooting off the side is doable, with practice.

At the current time, I am able bodied and I don't have wheelchair experience.  I have watched folks shoot that share your limitations, but I have not experienced them myself.

Last advice... I guess that, like many of us you are proud of your desires and your abilities in shooting trad archery.  Don't let that get in the way of using whatever is needed to let you continue launching arrows for as long as you are able, and getting outside and enjoying the world that we inherited.

ChuckC

[halfseminole]

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 Image too large  

Here's a shot of me turned and my new practice bow at near full draw.  I'm working through some weakness in the left shoulder from being out of practice.  I can lean forward and turn sideways, my issue is that I have nerve damage in my right leg and only half the ball of my right hip.  I've got more options than a lot of people in similar situations, I'm just trying to figure out how to continue my favorite pastime.

[ChuckC]

Is that a PVC bow ?  You made that ?   How ?

ChuckC

[halfseminole]

Heat gun.  Plenty of videos on youtube telling you how to make all different kinds.  This one's a Scythian, but I think I need further up the asymmetry scale to Hun.  We'll see after shooting this one a bit.

[zipper bowss]

Contact Mark Sharp. He can give you some tips.

[M60gunner]

Many years ago the Junior college I was attending had a man in a wheel chair on their archery team. He shot the FITA targets (500 round) . There is a member of our club that shoots from his wheel chair and from his ATV. Yes, he turns so that he is at a 90 degree angle. He shoots a 35 lb target bow. I think his bow is at least 64 in long. He has a long draw also, shoots a 32 in arrow.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Bump for another chance at responses.

[foxbo]

A guy which I have not heard from in years named Jack Capper, shoots a 48" Elburg Mite from his wheelchair. He lives out in Iowa. He loves the elburg cause it's so short and is easy to shoot from his sitting position. Maybe you could put up a request on the Iowa forum.

[BOWMARKS]

Ed

It sounds like you and I have similar problems in this sport. I also spend all my time in a wheelchair and have also lost the use of my right dominant eye . I started out with those Horse bows 10 years ago but have moved up a little to 56" to 58" recurve and longbows by "canting" my bows 25 to 30 degrees to be able to see the target but mostly to quit hitting the wheels of the chair.

I also as I say have lost the sight in my right eye. I fought that for a couple years but finally went to shooting left handed and began shooting better being able to focus on the target better with my now dominant left eye.

Hunting is a real problem but I have gotten lucky a couple times. My way into the woods is with an ATV. You may say how do have any luck scaring every thing away with that thing?? Well I live on a lightly traveled country road that over the years I have seen a very lot of deer crossing at one area. My son and I go in about July and put up a back screen of camo and build a small brush pile in front of where I will sit.By time hunting season rolls around the deer have become used to these changes we made and now the ATV and I just look like a big brush pile.

Now as far as the noise of the ATV goes we have set up maybe 30 yards from the road so that I probably just sound like another car going down the road.

As I said I have only gotten lucky twice on two small whitetails in the last ten years so its not a walk in the park. When it does happen I will say it is quite a accomplishment. Its also handy to have a friend around to do some tracking and dressing out your trophy for you!!!!

There is a whole lot more to learn at this new type of Traditional archery we are involved in keep in touch with me if I can help out anymore and keep me posted on your successes.

Good Luck Mark    

[halfseminole]

Mark, it's good to talk to somebody that is doing this too.  I can walk a little, but only unsteadily and I can't stand well to shoot with any stability.

I learned Asian styles first, so it's not a new thing to me-I shoot with a thumbring and I'm already fine with asymmetric composites.  I'm sad that I have to give up my longbows, because they were easy for me to make but a 72" bow just won't work from the chair.  This Scythian is a spitfire for its size.

How do you handle the quiver question?

[BOWMARKS]

Quiver at the indoor range is a 2" PVC pipe with a flange to hold it upright.

Quiver on the ATV is a bolt on hooked to the milk carton that is bolted to the back rack that supplies me with a place to carry supplies and is also my back rest.

[wapiti792]

You guys are amazing!    

[BOWMARKS]

Mike I wouldn't say amazing ?

This is just a very enjoyable sport and one you can do sittin on your butt!!      

[Todweelz]

I do some work for a local group of whelchair hunters and fisherman. I know of two that shoot trad bows out of there chairs, I haven't seen them do it but will ask when I see them next. Had a accident awhile back and found myself in a chair for about 4 mos. I could shoot a 62" recurve out of mine if I scooted to my rt with my left side facing the target, kind of a one cheek on the chair thing. Good luck !  and yes Mark amazing !! you guys show more courage and determination than anyone I have ever met the guys on the wheelin team are just plain awesome!