About Me
I've been hunting my whole life, and hunting as a C-7 quadriplegic for over 20 years. That's one of the reasons why I created my site followmeoutdoors.com, so that anyone looking for info on disabled outdoor rec could find it.
I also started writing an field journal at huntingnet.com/fieldjournal where I can chronicle all of my trips.
Personal Quote
The world can be as good or bad as you make it. So get busy.
Marital Status
Single
Religion
Catholic
Outdoor Interests
Going on safari in Africa; hunting elk in New Mexico; hunting a big mule deer and whitetail; going back to Canada to find the monster cinnamin bear that got away from me; outdoor photography
Likes
hunting dogs; cool september mornings on a duck pond; good friends; crisp, clear days in the mountains; good books; better shots
Favorite Equipment
that's easy, my trigger pulling device.
Favorite parts of the Country or World
New Mexico; Argentina; Canada; Wyoming
Favorite Television Programs
on this network, it's eastman's hunting journal; waddell's realtree roadtrips; jim shockey's show & the wild outdoors.
Favorite Personalities and Heroes
eastwood in the old westerns; john wayne; my parents, for giving me the ability to do whatever I want without question.
Well boys, we had our 9th annual teal hunt this past weekend in my home town of El Campo, Tx, and had 11 disabled hunters come in for the weekend. 2 guys were new injuries and it was their first time back in the field. We had 8 different landowners and several volunteers who gave up their time to help guide our hunters.
After a roast duck dinner on Friday at the Texana Seed Co. in Garwood, hunters were paired with their guides and friendships were either made or rekindled. Also, we worked with some of the hunters who needed some "on-the-spot" adaptive equipment work to test out on the hunts.
In 2 days, the group downed about 85 ducks in all, and everyone saw good action. For some, just getting out was the most important accomplishment. They got to see that some things are still possible even after traumatic injuries.
Next year will be our 10th anniversary and I know it'll be a great one!
Dear Chad;...Boy, I don't even know where to begin; except to say that firstly, I just 'joined' this site @ the beginning of Oct., & Mandy saw my Profile and (Bless her Soul) was kind enough to send me a message giving me your contact info,...& just (in like 2 sentences) told me tidbits of your situation, & how, after seeing/reading my profile, (which you'll totally appreciate if/after you go to my profile to start,...),...she knew right away just how much we share in common,...she was obviously 'moved' to endeavor to "matchmaker " us to get us into contact w/one another - And am I ever glad that she did - ! 'Cause boy was she right - ! If ever 2 guys had 'boatloads' in common,...I can't think of who more than You & I - ! Secondly; I'd just like to make a 'quick mention' re: not contacting you 20 days ago when I 1st rec'd. her msg.,...I'm just now (yesterday & today, finally)coming out of a "bad 3 weeks";... I literally/physically couldn't have contacted U one second sooner than this very second,...& this, to be honest, is even difficult, but I've been so anxious to contact you that (as I always do anyhow, in any given 'situation', I'm "Pushing Myself" to do so;...In short;...the very day she contacted me, I had another "incident" or whatever label this particular occurance most aptly deserves---While my crushed/mangled cervical/ cervo-thorasic spine,...this past July 23rd was my 21st 'Anniversary',...)...You see, after the initial "destruction" from the brainstem on down to approx. 3/4 of the way down to the bottom of my shoulderblades,...*I've obviously had multiple procedures, rehabs,...everything imaginable involved in the whole "gambit",...*****I've been Quadraplegic Twice;... the 1st from which I was able to 'Rehab Back' to approx. 80 - 90 %;...*But then the 2nd time, I was 'Nuthin' from the neck down' (zero), for about a year, & then little x little,...over then following 10-11 months, as hard as I was working in 'Rehab'...I slowly started to feel some progress, & bit x bit I was able to 'Rehab Back' to about 40-50 %;... *But It's always been "Erratic", both in the %'s of the paralysis w/in my body,...& *And the way it would always be "Moving around"---(that would require a phone conv. to actually explain,...) *Some of these "Spinal Injuries" are "simply put; the circumstances are what they are, & don't change[much, if any]),...while some, like me crazy case,...*Oh, by the way;...In addition to my Vertebrae, Discs, Lack of Discs,...all the "hard & semi-hard parts being crushed & mangled,...deformed, & 'Ankelosed'/ "Self - Fused",...*I also "have it" whereby the actual Spinal Cord itself, is literally twisted &shrunk down to approx 1/3rd the diameter of a "healthy" spinal cord,...and *****for a length of approx. 5 inches, from my brainstem going downward, my sp/cord is literally crushed "flat",...leaving veeerry little room for blood/bloodflow;...for oxagenated blood(flow) to find its way through, & into my brainstem/brain/respiratory "goodies" in that exact area,...*Anyhow, I digress again,...*This time (3 wks. ago) 4 no apparent 'reason/s' that I could 'pinpoint',...I went completely parylized from my neck, down to the bottom of my ribcage, and all the way from my neck, thru my trapezoids, shoulders, down my arms, & all the way, completely thru my hands & fingers all the way thru to my fingertips,...nuthin---& all this 'on top of' all the "partial paralysis" (from my neck to my toes) that is always the "normal" condition that I always live with,...*also prob. a phone conv. to explain more intelligably,...*So, obviously, I couldn't even have 'one - fingeredly' "chicken - pecked U an E/Mail,...or "Reply", as I'm doing now,...*Seems as if this has taken me a year - !!! And we haven't even talked about you,...Hunting,...Rifles,Ballistics,...There are soooo many "subjects" & "sub - subjects" I'd like to discuss with you,...???---Perhaps we should speak over the phone --??? *Sorry 4 all "that stuff",...but @ least much of that is out of the way,...Hey,...While I'm Most Sincerely wanting to talk with you & find out all about You "You & Yours",...& all the numerous aspects/subjects/derivatives,...etc,...I don't mean to be rude here, after 'running my mouth',...blah, blah, blah,...*But I'm sure You Can Appreciate it When I Tell U I'm Starting to Have A Hard Time With This &I'm Gonna Have to "Close" 4 Now-----Besides "Replying" back to me,...or whatever;...that is, if You (even) want to,... ***Let me @ least give U My E-Mail Address & MY Tel/Phone # In Phoenix (Cellphone);...If you want, U can E-Mail,...Call Me & I'll Call U Back,...?...Whatever ---???--O.K.???~~~4 Now; Be Well, Best Regards, & God Bless~~~Ben Roth~~~ benroth15@yahoo.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 480 - 495 - 6116 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 2nd morning began almost identical to yesterday’s: a knock at the door about a quarter to six, then a very cordially “get your lazy ass up!” from Ray, a hot breakfast in the main lodge at seven, then heading out the door to hunt. It’s cold & clear again, calm too, perfect safari weather.
Something special about being in the southern hemisphere is that at night all the stars are different. The Southern Cross is visible after dark, Orion is upside down early in the morning before sunrise, and the planet Venus is to the north instead of in the southern sky like it is in Texas.
Today we’re going after zebra, Burchell’s zebra to be exact. There’s also a Hartman’s which is known as mountain zebra. It’s one of the African animals that I have at the top of my wish list.
On the same concession where I’d taken my kudu the day before, we spotted a herd moving across the lower plains almost as soon as we crossed the gate. Immediately, Ray stopped the cruiser to get me set up in the shooting chair in the back. It’s a two-man operation to pull that off. Ray carries me from the truck around back to hand me off to Boisahn (our tracker) who’s up in the back. Boisahn then sets me in the chair. Once the rifle’s in the holder and I get my trigger device on, it’s rock-n-roll time!
Zebra were still on the horizon when we started moving. The plan was to ease closer, skirting the herd until we could get within 200-250 yds, then try to single out a good one to shoot, without spooking them off of course. One thing I quickly noticed was that all these animals like to head into the wind so they can smell where they are going. Survival tactics.
Well, two hours later and we were still playing this cat-n-mouse game. Ray decided to stop pushing them for awhile and set up a pop-up blind along a game trail. He knew where they likely would cross if they wanted to get back to the area where we first found ‘em. “And who knows what we might see come by,” he added. It was a natural funnel.
Ray was exactly right! It was a funnel. Problem was, every animal funneled by in high gear, and the whole zebra herd rumbled by in a cloud of dust when they eventually decided to come, along with blesbuck, springbuck and two nice gemsbok. Ray & I rushed to look over the zebra when they went by, but it didn’t matter. They weren’t stopping.
Half an hour later, we were back in the cruiser and back on the trail. It’d be another hour before we picked up the zebra herd again. When we got within 300 yds, Ray & I had a nice stallion picked for a minute, but the herd swallowed him up before I could get the crosshairs on him. Away they went gain.
Finally, we caught them in a good spot. The herd grazed out into a large opening just as we eased down into a brushy draw. With the wind in our favor, I knew this was going to be my best chance. Still, though, it wasn’t going to be easy. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
There we sat, parked in the draw with the motor off. Ray poured over the herd as I followed best I could through the scope. They’d graze some, walk some, then feed some more, all the while staying in a tight group so no one zebra could be singled out. Smart animals! Suddenly, the herd parted a little, leaving one alone in the middle for a few seconds. I was ready. “You see him? That one in the middle. Shoot him!” Ray barked in a whisper. “Shoot now!”
I settled down on him as fast as I could without rushing and pulled. The rifle cracked and a moment later thumped as the herd scrambled off. When the dust settled, my zebra was still standing, but hit hard. My next shot put him away for good.
He turned out to be better than I could’ve dreamed, a beast of a stallion that took 6 men and a winch to load into the truck. (Above - My PH, Ray Kemp, & I pose behind a beautiful Burchell's zebra stallion)
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Wow - It sounds like y'all had a great (and VERY successful) event! Congratulations, Chad!
Mandy03:07 PM CST