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U.S. Veterans with Disabilities Find Hunting as a Source of Therapy

According to The Craig Daily Press, a recreational therapy program has allowed U.S. veterans the chance to “manage their physical and psychological disabilities through hunting.” It started as a simple deer hunt, and has expanded into hunting for elk and antelope. The program has been in operation for 5 years, and has given 45 veterans, both men and women, the chance to use hunting as therapy.

When originally started, the founders believed they faced 2 seemingly insurmountable problems. First, the program would require the VA to sponsor a treatment program requiring the use of firearms. Second, accommodating some service-related disabilities in the woods wouldn’t be easy.

The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife helped draft safety guidelines for the VA regarding the use of firearms. Additionally, they were able to obtain special licenses allowing veterans to perform actions due to their disabilities otherwise deemed illegal.

A perfect example is providing veterans restricted to wheelchairs the ability to fire a weapon from the window of a vehicle. A license granted last year also gave a blind veteran the ability to go deer hunting by using a laser sight.

The program gives veterans the opportunity to be around other veterans and enjoy the outdoors. The program can help veterans realize that their disabilities are only as limiting as they allow them to be, and living an enjoyable life is still possible.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.