Please Don't Quote Me Finally, in 1903 they had a song, "Navajo," accepted by a stage show, "Nancy Brown" and it became a hit. That breakthrough opened some doors to the future and they sold more. At the time "cowboy" songs were the fashion and their "Cheyenne" became a hit also despite the competition. It was the beginning of a popular songwriting team who together wrote over three hundred tunes.
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Disabled Hunters Have Hunt of a LifetimeThe second annual deer hunt for sportsmen with disabilities was held at the Lost Mound Unit (former Savanna Army Depot) of Upper Miss Refuge on November 22 and 23. Hunters and their assistants were treated to the hunt of a lifetime. Field surveys showed the deer population to be about double the recommended population levels and big bucks were abundant. Lost Mound Site Manager Alan Anderson was excited about the continued success of this program and stated "It was a high quality hunting experience by a special group of sportsmen. Their daily challenges of living were overshadowed by the enthusiasm and determination for deer hunting. They provided both inspiration and encouragement to the staff and volunteers that administered the hunt." An interesting part of the hunt was the personal stories of the hunters that included seven in wheelchairs. One was paralyzed when he fell out of a tree stand while deer hunting, another was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. Two are members of a wheelchair rugby team, a full contact wheelchair sport. Todd Heckert of Addieville IL (in photo) is a young quadriplegic that blows through a tube to engage an electronic trigger to fire a shotgun mounted to his off-road wheelchair specially designed by his dad, Kevin. The device uses an electronic door lock to engage the trigger. This special hunt allowed 15 hunters and their assistants to harvest four deer each. Twenty one hunters applied through random drawing. A P2a medical disability was a requirement and assistants must be able to track and retrieve deer. The hunt was conducted in areas undergoing environmental clean up so hunters had to complete a mandatory safety orientation. A total of 22 deer were harvested with the largest buck being a 12 pointer weighing 165 pounds. The participation by out of state and down-state Illinois hunters increased this year due to the outreach by Buckmasters, a national deer foundation. One third of the hunters were from out of state including Alabama, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The Fish and Wildlife Service wants to improve this special hunt and is seeking a partner organization or community project to assist with different aspects of improvement. The sand makes it difficult for wheelchairs to maneuver so there is a need for shooting platforms to be constructed at the hunt sites. Other needs include volunteers to help with the hunt, setting up the area, working the deer check station, and helping hunters with tracking and retrieving deer. The disabled and youth deer hunts will be held at Lost Mound again next year. If you are interested in more information on these special hunts, either as a hunter, assistant, potential partner organization, community project, or a volunteer to help with the hunt, contact the Upper Miss Refuge office at 815-273-2732.
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