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Photo by David Kenyon, MIchigan DNR
Wheelin’ Sportsmen from around the country recently took part in a hunt at Michigan’s Fort Custer. |
Michigan access
“Look about you” to find accessible outdoor opportunities in Michigan
Last year, Michigan hosted 10 Wheelin’ Sportsmen events, including pheasant hunts, sporting clays shoots, deer hunts, turkey hunts and fishing. But sometimes the best times we have outdoors are when we are out there with just a buddy or family member, minus the crowd. For those times between Wheelin’ events, Michigan offers a vast choice of outdoor public places for sportsmen. And it’s getting better.
“We are improving accessibility to our parks all the time,” said Michigan DNR spokeswoman Mary Dettloff, referring to a $2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to improve handicapped accessibility in the state park system, called Access to Recreation.
Al Stewart, upland game bird specialist with the Michigan DNR, recommends the 9,000-acre Maple River State Game Area for its barrier-free blinds and premier accessibility. Stewart won the 1992 Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award for his work at this area. Located on the southern peninsula, Maple River holds the largest contiguous wetland complex in mid-Michigan, and therefore, touts excellent waterfowl hunting.
For those who may want to take their cameras, Maple River marshes attract thousands of geese, swans and ducks on annual migration flocking to breeding grounds up north from March through May. Bird watchers may also spot herons, osprey and bald eagles.
A little farther to the west, still in the Maple River Game Area, but near the town of Maple Rapids, a barrier- free trail of crushed limestone leads to permanent wooden blinds and also to cement slabs with PVC-tubed corners, so hunters can attach their own blinds. Some of the blinds run along a little ridge in an old apple orchard. Stewart has accompanied hunters who have taken rabbits and woodcock there. A little farther from this spot, more blinds overlook a forest. Wheelin’ hunters have bagged turkeys from this site.
Just up the river from Saginaw Bay, the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge offers a premiere non-ambulatory deer hunt every November. For 20 years, staff at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and volunteers accommodate up to 40 hunters in heated blinds, set in the best spots. Hot meals, great guides and tracking dogs, if necessary, complete this perfect two-day hunt.
“Come, roll with us!”
Wheelin’ Team 457 offers more outdoor experiences for Wheelin’ Sportsmen in Michigan.
Founded in 2003 by Ray Brown in North Branch, Wheelin’ Team 457 provides physically challenged sportsmen with indoor and outdoor sports and recreation. A non-profit organization, it began as an air-rifle group and expanded into other recreational and traditional pursuits.
Wheelin’ Team 457 Event Coordinator Dave Clemens, who is vice president of Motion Machine, a company that builds adaptive equipment, designs and creates gear to aid disabled outdoor enthusiasts in the program.
Most of the 150 Wheelin’ Team 457 members are also Wheelin’ Sportsmen members that have attended two local chapter banquets — the Thumb Area and Blue Water Chapters. Clemens said they do not look for accessible areas, because with the help of other volunteers, including NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Team 457 members, they can build the adaptive the equipment so that Wheelin’ Sportsmen can hunt and fish in places that don’t offer access. You can check the organization’s Web site (http://wheelinteam457.net) to find upcoming events.
“Everybody has high praise for this hunt,” said Park Ranger Tom Horb. “Even non-residents will travel to Michigan – if they are lucky enough to get drawn – to partake of this opportunity.”
Jeff Lichon hopes to get drawn for the hunt at Shiawassee every year. In fact, since his spinal cord injury in 1994, he has only missed three hunts.
“It doesn’t matter whether you draw an antlerless or either-sex tag,” Lichon said. “It’s a great hunt because you always get to see some true quality bucks and interact with great people who volunteer their time to help out.”
Jeff doesn’t just hunt here, though. Every fall, this avid sportsman, who propels his own wheelchair, switches from summer tires to a more rugged, 24-inch tread to accommodate his off-road forays into forests and marshes to hunt. He also uses an electric scooter. The Wrangler, by Pride Mobility, can travel up to 10 miles per hour quietly and has adequate ground clearance for handling relatively heavy debris. He is actually able to sneak up on a turkey in it. He calls it his “glorified Amigo.”
Jeff also recommends hunting deer and waterfowl at the Shiawassee State Game Area because it offers a couple of blinds that are accessible for pursuing each game species.
For other waterfowl opportunities Jeff admitted, “I’m a sucker for Saginaw Bay.” This former vice president of the Saginaw County NWTF Chapter likes the cattail marshes of the Linwood area on the west, including Nayanquing Point managed waterfowl area.
When he wants a change, he likes to walleye fish in AuGres, or salmon fish in Oscoda, where there is a sturdy pier.
“Whether at work or in the outdoors, everybody does things his own way,” Jeff said, “and I found there’s always a way to figure out how to do things independently.” — Barbara Baird