I need your vocal and moral su
 

My name is Thomas H. LaQuey. I could use your verbal and moral support in the form of an email, sent to The United States Department of The Interior. Mark it to the attention of Doug Gentile at [email protected] Please ask your all of your organizations members, neighbors and friends to send one as well.

I have been working for the past few years to get the permission of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, to allow me to use a crossbow in the bow season. They have turned me down. I presently have a complaint filed against them with the Department of the Interior as they control the federal monies of the CDOW. I filed the complaint under the Americans with Disabilities act.

My disability began in about 1997 when I had the ball of my left shoulder removed and a prosthesis installed. My shoulder also has nerve and muscle problems not allowing me to hold up a rife or draw a bow. I want to be able to hunt the bow season with a crossbow just like disabled hunters are allowed to do as needed in about 34 states. Colorado has said they will only allow me to hunt those seasons if I use a devise where I have to pull the bowstring with my teeth or use a bow brace where I would have to tie the bowstring to my body. My dentist has said no on the mouth tab and the bow brace would be so cumbersome moving through the black timber over downfalls and under and through brush. A crossbow would allow me freedom of movement equal to that allowed normal bow hunters.

I am not the only disabled hunter in this spot and The Department of the Interior has told me they have had other complaints from other states that do not allow the crossbow because they were petitioned by bow hunting organizations filled with non-disabled hunters who do not want to allow the crossbow. I am only asking for them to allow it to the disabled who require its use because of the nature of their disability. This could be decided in a case-by-case manner. Please send your email to Doug Gentile mentioned above, stating that you believe the disabled deserve to be allowed the dignity to hunt side by side with other hunters in the most equal manner possible to them.

Thanks for your help

PS I really need your help with these emails, so please forward my message to everyone in your mailbox. Doug Gentile said support in this manner would be taken into account when they go to decide my case. Thanks Again

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

First let me welcome you to the board thl1, second I just finished sending a letter as you requested and will get the word out. I am presently trying to get a dis-abled hunters Orginization started here in Va. I can tell you right now that you would be allowed to use a crossbow in Va. Good luck my fellow hunter, we will do what we can.

The Tazman

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

thl1, you've got my support. I sent the email to Mr. Gentile and asked that he petition all states that do not allow crossbow to please review and hopefully change their policy to allow physically challenged men and women to enjoy the outdoors just as anyone else. I agree that this could be allowed on a case-by-case basis and I believe that Texas does allow use of a crossbow for hunters who can't physically draw a bow or hold a rifle. Good luck and welcome to the board. Keep us in mind when you get that deer, elk, etc... We love to see pictures of a successful hunt.

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

You've got my support.My email is on the way.
My husband uses a crossbow due to his disabilities.
I really hope you get approved.I know how important
it is to y'all.

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

Welcome to the forum thomas. Sent the e-mail.Best of luck there.Let us know how its going, and if we can help any more. I dont know if a disabled hunter can use a crossbow here in Ak. but I do know the Ak. Dept. of Fish and Game does a lot to get more hunters out there. lamar.

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

WELCOME, you have it ,many states have cross bows for disabled hunters . Have you contacted some of these bow hunting groups yet?

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RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

Welcome to the board. I use a crossbow here in PA, with a disablity permit. It's opened up a new world for me. Love having the time in the woods. I will warn you flat out though. There is ALOT of predjidice against crossbow hunters by some compound hunters and many archery groups. Which is beyond me. I'll write a letter, more then happy to help. Just look past the ignorance of some hunters, and you'll have a whole new world opened up to you!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

Email sent, wish you the best of luck.

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

k....on the way:)

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

You have my support, In Virginia , a disabled hunter can use a crossbow, and the results of that disablity is not as severe as yours.
Good luck to you......Power in numbers. ~Ben

Hunting ; an act of love for nature guided by the strongest spiritual forces.
http://www.adventuresoutdoors.freehomepage.com/

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

Done. Good luck and keep your spirits up.

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RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

I do not mean to sound horible here, if i am not mistaken, when prepared to shoot with a crossbow you raise it as you would a rifle, and are forced to hold it up as you would a rifle as well.

"My shoulder also has nerve and muscle problems not allowing me to hold up a rife or draw a bow. "

I am only looking at this as the state of colorado would. I sent the e-mail anyhow, but i do not recommend you saying that to the state of colorado, otherwise any legal action will be rined on that basis.
Vegitarian: old indian word for bad hunter

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

Hey thl1.Welcome to our group.I've been busy at work the last few days,and just got a chance to read your post.Sorry to hear of the
obstacle that you have run up against friend.It seems that if you are
a hunter,you are always battling one hurdle after another.
Well,I just wanted you to know,that I have sent my e-mail on it's
way to Mr. Gentile.I sincerly hope that it will help you.Keep us up
to date on how it is going.Best of luck to you!!
<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> whack

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

you got my support too. sendin the letter... hope u get apporved. and dont stop fightin


shoot em, EAT em, Mount em

Edited by - mrfishy34 on 04/18/2002 13:20:44

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RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I do not mean to sound horible here, if i am not mistaken, when prepared to shoot with a crossbow you raise it as you would a rifle, and are forced to hold it up as you would a rifle as well.

&quot;My shoulder also has nerve and muscle problems not allowing me to hold up a rife or draw a bow. &quot;

I am only looking at this as the state of colorado would. I sent the e-mail anyhow, but i do not recommend you saying that to the state of colorado, otherwise any legal action will be rined on that basis.
Vegitarian: old indian word for bad hunter
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Deerhtnr, I use a crossbow because I can no longer hold a compound. A rifle or a shotgun kick fairly good. A crossbow has almost no kick. The limb absorbs most of the kick. Also with the limb being vertical, it helps balance the bow making it easier to hold it. Something like a tight wire walker's pole does. There are also devices to help cock the bow for the hunter, but the hunter still has to get close enough to the game for the kill.

A crossbow for a disabiled hunter just gives this hunter the abillity to bow hunt and enjoy the outdoors. I know that I am in Ontario, and crossbows are premitted anyway for any hunter. But without the crossbow, I and many others could not hunt or be able to enjoy the thrill of hunting.

Tom

RE: I need your vocal and moral su
 

Sent mine as well...Good luck thl1....

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Dear Mr. Gentile,

It has been brought to my attention that disabled hunters in Colorado are not allowed to use a crossbow to pursue game animals. In my state (NJ) and 33 other states, this practice is allowed when an individual is handicapped. I would ask you to please consider changing the rules to allow such hunters the opportunity to feel normal again. Hunting is a tradition that many of us love deeply. Any person with this “love” should not be denied this opportunity. I ask you for the sake of all hunters that may be held back due to a disability, be allowed that chance to hunt again by means of a crossbow.



Thank you for your time.



Joe Zjawiony

Somerset, NJ



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