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Annual Wheelchair Hunt nets great
success for disabled Hunters
PHILLIP M. TAYLOR, SR.
Publisher
 The
spirit of giving was the tone and temper that flowed from heart to heart as many
set their weekend agenda to lend a helping hand to disabled hunters. Safari Club
International Low Country Chapter sponsored the ACE Basin’s first successful SCI
Low Country Chapter Annual Wheelchair Hunt, in collaboration with Sgt. Lynwood
Kearse III and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) along
with Bobby Harrell, president of the South Carolina Disabled Sportsmen
Association on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29th.
Fifteen mobility impaired hunters were awarded applications, by SCDNR, for
this year’s hunt, however, 13 actually participated. Hunters from Colorado,
Georgia, North Carolina, and various locations across South Carolina
participated.
The event appeared to be a very joyous occasion for the hunters and
volunteers. Fairly new and seasoned hunters shared bragging rights and provided
peer support for each other to cope with their impairments.
The support of the volunteers made it possible for Bubba Jennings of
Orangeburg, who has suffered impairment for about fifteen years and didn’t think
he would be able to get back in the woods, to participate.
Tom Ulmer, a disabled hunter of eight years and participant in this
weekend’s event, brought in a 9 point buck on Friday using a .30/06 and an 8
point buck Saturday morning using a .243.
 Ulmer
learned of disabled hunt opportunities through a South Carolina newspaper,
several years ago. He made solid contact with Harrell during one of his first
disabled hunts, and he now attends, at least, four events each year.
“It’s only because of the skill of his guide,” said Chapter Member Ernie
Dorsey, as he tried to claim the credit for Ulmer bringing in two bucks during
the weekend hunt.
Julian Ohmer of Williams, SC has been hunting since he was eleven years old.
Last weekend’s wheelchair hunt was his second disabled hunt this year. Ohmer
really enjoys hunting and he looks forward to going on at least four to five
hunts each year. He didn’t bring in any bucks on this hunt, but history bears
that the young man has killed an elk, a Russian boar hog, and many other
wildlife.
Other hunters were Vijay Viswanathan, Robert Powell, Mark Riffle, Bowen
Smith, Joe Brown, Wen Bumgardner, David Stanton, Rick Edwards, Rudy Chilton and
Steve Avinger.
The Lowcountry event was the brainchild of Chapter Member Mark Peterson, who
participated in a mobility hunt for the impaired last fall in the upstate of
South Carolina. After attending the upstate hunt, an enthused Peterson
approached the
 Lowcountry
Chapter of Safari Club International to sponsor such an event in the ACE Basin
area. The group consented to hold a similar event once a year.
Nemours Plantation, which is located between Beaufort and Green Pond on Hwy
17, hosted the event. The plantation also provided many other amenities, such
as, the grill and wheelchair accessible portable toilets. Many other area
plantations, such as, Cockfield, Brewton, Mackey Point, Rose Hill, and Bray’s
Island, provided support for the hunt as well. They opened their properties to
the hunters and made special provisions near trees to allow for clear and level
access for wheelchair hunters.
Various businesses, organizations and volunteers provided incredible support
for the hunters. Pop-up ground blinds and shooting sticks were made available to
hunters, in part, by a $1500.00 donation from the Low Country Chapter to SCDNR’s
“Take One Make One” program. Sgt. Kearse along with other SCDNR officers also
helped to manage the hunt.
The Schawbel Corporation, manufacturers of ThermaCELL mosquito repellent
system, donated 15 ThermaCELL units and 5 of their new ThermaSCENT units, which
attract big bucks.
Dewey Richardson, owner of the Outdoor Products Development Group donated 15
of his "Black Death" magnum scent dispensers and a supply of his "Black Death"
premium deer urine ("The Ultimate Scent for the Ultimate Hunter") for use during
the hunt.
Chapter Member Calvert Huffines, of the Huffines Company, donated funds to
pay for wheelchair accessible motel rooms for all of the hunters.
Sharon Stevenson, owner of The Glass House restaurant provided Friday’s
lunch. Jamey Copeland of Walterboro Feed, Garden & Pet Supply provided
Saturday’s lunch.
Master Taxidermist, Larry Quinn, of American Sportsman Taxidermy in
Tallahassee, FL donated a shoulder mount for the wheelchair hunter who shot the
biggest buck during the hunt.
Jolie Collins, Operations Manager with Pearlstine Distributors provided soft
drinks and water for the event. He also helped the DNR set up wheel chair stands
for the hunt. He also heard of the event by reading a South Carolina newspaper.
Other volunteers included Sgt. William Matthews, SCDNR, Ernie Wiggers,
Nemours Wildlife Foundation, Ray Bass, Nemours Wildlife Foundation, Eddie Mills,
Nemours Wildlife Foundation, David Crosby, SCI Chapter President, Missy Crosby,
SCI Chapter Member, Chris Thomas, SCI Chapter Treasurer, Clint Lemon, SCI
Chapter Past President, Camille Lemon, SCI Chapter Member, Col. Thomas Hodges,
SCI Chapter Director, Rick Bennett, SCI Chapter Member, Tammy Bennett, SCI
Chapter Member, Mark Peterson, SCI Chapter Director and Webmaster, Holly
Peterson, SCI Chapter Director, Ted Stoney, SCI Chapter Member, Dean Elsey, SCI
Chapter Member, Jolie Collins, Operations Manager, Pearlstine Distributors,
Dennis Fleming, SCI Chapter Member, Joe Hamilton, QDMA Founder.
Generally, disabled hunts are provided through private, federal, and state
opportunities at various times, during the year. SCI Low Country plans to hold
an ACE Basin wheelchair hunt once each year. The South Carolina Disabled
Sportsmen Association holds at least eight such activities each year mainly
throughout central and upstate areas.
For more information concerning Safari Club International Low Country
Chapter or it’s sponsors, please visit their website at
www.scilowcountry.org.
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