Heard anything about blind hunting????

[Mike Harr]

I saw a thread on TBH about blind hunting in Texas.
http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6347
Has anyone heard about this and what would LSBA's stance be?
At first thought it's a little unnerving...

[Tomme]

Losing it. Didn't realize I was on the TBH site when I posted the reply below. Still it's my opinion.


"Let me be the maverick on this one. As I understand it they are hunting with another person, who tells them when they have laid the sight (shown by the laser) on the spot. There shouldn't be any more of a safety consideration here than with a sighted person. By that, if the blind hunter just shoots it into the air or randomly fires it off then it's no more dangerous than if you or I who can see, took random pot shots. So I can't say as I see this as a safety issue.

Now a car is something else as it's moving and takes faster reaction time. Come to think of it, I don't want the blind person taking shots at running deer.

As to the hunting part, that I don't know about. Wouldn't seem too much of a thrill to me to be hunting game I never saw. That's a major part of the thrill of bowhunting to me is how long we have to (or perhaps get to) watch that animal before we can get a shot.

Actually I could see where this could be a real adventure for a blind person hunting with a bow. The deer would be close enough that he would get to hear it. He would still have to make a silent draw and point it in the approximate direction of the quarry and then with coaching bring it to the magic "pick a spot" point and make a good release.

Being blind is something almost too tough to imagine. LSBA doesn't have a policy on this, but if it came up in the EC meeting I think I'd tend to vote for it, at least for bowhunting, and I might even volunteer some time to sit in a blind with someone and be their coach.

JMHO "

[MILNRICK]

I think this was discussed briefly on BOWSITE's Texas Forum sometime last year? I really don't see a problem with it, especially since I can't find anything in the game guide against it -- looked several times since the Bowsite discussions.

As I mentioned before, I know a hunter who's legally blind and who team-hunts with his brother using a rifle. The 'sighted brother' does the spotting and sighting of the firearm (they use an extended eye relief scope on 'high' iron-sighter mounts) and the non-sighted brother does the actual shooting. These two guys are safe very ethical hunters.

With respect to bowhunting, One brother is a long time bowhunter, and attended our IBEP Course last year. The other will probably take it this summer. I don't know if he plans on shooting a compound or crossbow (oops, I used the word CROSSBOW.... I'm in trouble now), in any case, I'll support it.

FYI - I've asked the TPW Hunter Ed folks about it and they fully supported the idea.

[Hot4huntin]

Here is the text of the proposed bill:

80R1572 SGA-F

By: Kuempel H.B. No. 308



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of laser sighting devices by hunters who are legally blind.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 62.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 62.005. HUNTING WITH LIGHT. Except as provided by Section 62.0055, no [No] person may hunt a game animal or bird protected by this code with the aid of an artificial light that casts or reflects a beam of light onto or otherwise illuminates the game animal or bird, including the headlights of a motor vehicle.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by adding Section 62.0055 to read as follows:

Sec. 62.0055. HUNTING WITH LASER SIGHTING DEVICE BY LEGALLY BLIND HUNTER. (a) In this section, "legally blind" has the meaning assigned by Section 62.104, Government Code.
(b) A legally blind hunter may use a laser sighting device during regular hunting hours when assisted by a person who is not legally blind.
(c) The legally blind hunter must carry proof of being legally blind.
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2008, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules that prescribe what is acceptable as proof of being legally blind under Section 62.0055, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The Parks and Wildlife Department may not enforce Section 62.0055(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, until the rules adopted under Subsection (a) of this section take effect.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

From some of the other post that I have read on other forums, I believe many people are under the impression that blind people do not currently have the privilege to hunt and that this bill will allow them to do so. However, it is currently legal for visually impaired people to hunt, but not legal for them to use the laser sighting device. This bill, if passed, will give them an aide which should allow for more accurate and safer hunting, not make it more dangerous. JMHO!

[bustedassranch]

Crossbow???? :twisted: just kidding..I am all for it gun, crossbow or bow..I think it will make it alot easier for the sighted person to help them..which in turn IMO will make more ethical, & safer.