 Wheelchair Sports, Inc.
3033 W 2nd ST. North. Wichita, KS. 67203
Muzzleloader deer hunt for disabled
hunters at Marion Reservoir
Dear Hunter:
This is a letter of introduction and an invitation for you to
participate in a muzzleloader deer hunt for disabled hunters at Marion
Reservoir. This event is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Marion Lake Association. This
is the 11th year that the hunt has been held.
The event will be held during the muzzleloader season, September
20th-October 5th, on the Marion Waterfowl Refuge area. This area is closed to
other hunters at all times. We are the only ones that use it. We set up a base
camp at French Creek Cove, which is immediately adjacent to the refuge. Hunters
are welcome to camp at French Creek free of charge.
We have 4 morning hunts scheduled (starting at 5:00 am). We have
coffee and doughnuts before going to the blinds and a breakfast provided by the
Lake Association after the hunt (usually about 10:00 am). We have 6 evening
hunts (starting at 5:00 pm and ending at the close of shooting hours)
scheduled. The Lake Association will also host a guided catfishing trip on
Friday morning, the 26th.
The blinds are camouflage plywood blinds with 4 sides, a roof and a
floor. We have 8 blinds in 3 sizes, either a 4’x4’ floor or a 6’x6’ floor and
new as of last year we now have blinds with a 4’x8’ floor. Transportation to
the blinds is provided with the help of volunteers on either John Deere Gator or
Kawasaki Mule ATVs. We also have a specially designed trailer with a 12’ ramp
pulled by a small tractor for very muddy conditions or hunters who are not
easily transferred out of their wheelchairs.
The hunter may choose to hunt with the assistance of a friend/family
member, a volunteer or alone. However, the assistant will not be allowed to
shoot a deer. All blinds are given a two-way radio so that they can make
contact with the base camp at all times. Volunteers also assist with tracking
wounded animals, field-dressing and transporting game. We will transport the
animal to the local locker plant in Hillsboro if you wish. Otherwise,
processing of the animal after field dressing is the responsibility of the
hunter. We will have a wheelchair accessible porta-John at the base camp.
Hunters are responsible for bringing their own muzzleloading firearm
and ammunition, hunter orange gear, a Kansas Hunting License and the appropriate
Deer Permit (usually a Whitetail Either Sex, and/or a White-tailed Antlerless-only).
Deer Game Tags are not applicable to our hunt because the land is department (KDWP)
managed. Hunters who are not in wheelchairs may wish to bring their own
chairs. We’ve found that a comfortable swivel-type office chair works
well.
Over the past ten years, our hunter success has been about 50% with
most deer harvested being does, although a few nice bucks have been taken.
Normally, everyone sees deer, and most years, everyone gets a shot.
Enclosed is a calendar of the hunts that we have planned. Please
“X” the days that you plan on hunting and mail the sheet back to me. If you are
unable to hunt, you are welcome to go on the catfishing trip or just enjoy the
fellowship of the pre and post-hunt meals.
Give me a call at the Corps of Engineers office, (620) 382-2101, if
you have any questions. You can also give me a call at home, (620) 382-2910, if
you have questions about weather cancellations or the like.
We would sure be happy for you to join one of the finest groups of
hunters that you’ll ever run across.
Neal Whitaker
Park Ranger
Torey Hett
Administrative Assistant
Last Updated:
September 14, 2007
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