| A qualified professional hunting guide may be the | | | | opportunity of a lifetime to receive a hundred dollars |
| choice option for the urban hunter with little time to | | | | for leading you to a deer they are familiar with. |
| scout and investigate hunting prospects. When | | | | Paying someone to help locate a nice deer for you |
| attempting to hunt unfamiliar territory, a guide can | | | | does not mean that they will bring it to you on a |
| make the difference between a good and a bad | | | | leash. There will still be plenty of sport involved |
| hunt. Unless you have thorough knowledge of the | | | | matching wits with the wily whitetail. |
| land you wish to hunt, you might spend unfruitful | | | | PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS |
| days in the bush without the help of a guide. Another | | | | Deer hunting is a sport open to the young, the old, |
| name for a guide might be a "scout." | | | | and the handicapped. There is a way for almost |
| A guide can keep you out of trouble. He can limit | | | | every person who desires to hunt deer to do so. |
| frustrations and save you time. A guide can help with | | | | Deer hunting is one of the most widely accessible |
| retrieving, gutting, and caping trophies. The guide can | | | | sports. |
| accurately predict the packing and preparation needs | | | | The blind can participate to a remarkable degree by |
| of the hunter, thereby eliminating the need to | | | | going with a companion to a hunt and experiencing all |
| purchase or pack certain items. He will tell you what | | | | but the actual shooting. Many blind people become |
| you should bring and what will be furnished, what is | | | | adept shooters by learning to compensate for their |
| available locally and what is not. | | | | sight loss by increasing their hearing perception. Their |
| Most hunters balk at the thought of "pay hunting" | | | | marksmanship is usually limited to gun ranges where |
| and feel no need for someone else to help them | | | | little bells are attached to targets and pulled by |
| with a hunt. These hunters generally think that such | | | | strings. Some blind hunters, with the aid of an |
| setups are for "tin horns" or the corporate executive | | | | assistant with eyesight for obvious safety reasons, |
| class. The price of a guide service may appear large | | | | may actually take deer. |
| at first, but after examining the whole spectrum of | | | | The wheelchair-bound hunter has an advantage over |
| things you may find that a guide will even save you | | | | most hunters in that he will not be able to yield to |
| money in the long run. It is often the case that a | | | | the itch to get up and walk around when his patience |
| hunter would have come out better if he had hired a | | | | runs thin. Although wheelchairs are not practical for |
| guide. | | | | the roughest terrains, the majority of hunting areas |
| Personal recommendations from other hunters who | | | | are to some degree accessible to them. One of my |
| have used the guide or guide service are the most | | | | acquaintances who is without the use of his legs |
| often used leads. | | | | manages to take his deer each season from an |
| It is a good idea to do a thorough job of | | | | adapted ATV. |
| investigating a game ranch or guide service located | | | | Determined individuals often overcome physical |
| through a magazine ad before making the leap of | | | | limitations through improvisation. Their hunting |
| employing them. Ask for references, preferably from | | | | techniques may be creative and grandly satisfying |
| your area. Get several of them and check each one. | | | | responses to their handicaps. Such hunters are |
| The time spent here is worthwhile. In writing to | | | | granted special privileges by law-enforcement |
| request references, include a self-addressed, | | | | agencies to allow for their differences and encourage |
| stamped envelope and be courteous. If telephoning | | | | their participation in the sport. Physical limitations |
| for a reference, then do so at an appropriate time of | | | | might suggest that a person should hunt close to a |
| day. References should be current. They should be | | | | roadway and not attempt to track or retrieve a deer |
| references to hunts the year before and not several | | | | without assistance. Taking part in drives and risking |
| years ago. The clients which you locate might pass | | | | becoming lost by walking deep into the woods should |
| on pertinent information to you concerning your guide | | | | be avoided. |
| such as that you should pack a can opener because | | | | Hunting with an able-bodied companion may be a |
| the excellent guide always forgets his. | | | | must. The companion should be aware of specific |
| Any guide worth his oats will guarantee a shot. Other | | | | physical limitations and of any first aid he might be |
| guide services and game ranches charge a set fee to | | | | required to administer. |
| hunt and extra for a kill. | | | | It is important to consider physical limitations in |
| A few phone calls or e-mails prior to the hunting | | | | planning the hunt. Access to the hunting area, the |
| scheduled with a guide could get you in with a | | | | type of stand, the selection of a companion, weapon |
| hunting partner, not just a guide. It helps to break | | | | type, and other matters should be scrutinized in |
| the ice and form a friendship before the hunt. | | | | advance. |
| If contracting the services of a professional guide | | | | There are far too many instances of heart attacks in |
| service or game ranch is not in the cards for you yet | | | | the deer woods. |
| you need the help such an outfit would provide, then | | | | If you are under medical supervision and using a |
| you have other options. | | | | prescription medicine, be sure not to forget it in the |
| Ask a successful hunter of your acquaintance for his | | | | excitement. Not only could forgetting it cause medical |
| assistance in guiding you. Most hunters will | | | | problems, but having to go home to get it could foil |
| enthusiastically help you get your first deer. They | | | | your hunt. |
| remember their first deer and really want to enjoy | | | | Where there is a will there is a way for the |
| the experience again through you. Offer to pay for | | | | handicapped who wish to hunt whitetail deer. |
| the hunt if they are willing to take you along, and at | | | | Disadvantaged hunters derive greater satisfaction |
| the very least, split the cost of the gasoline. | | | | from their efforts. |
| Some backwoods types would consider it the | | | | |