Access to the great outdoors

For Rainbow City resident Eddie Brooks, time spent in the woods hunting is a real treat.
“A bad day of hunting is better than a good day at the house,” jokes Brooks, a Vietnam War veteran who was severely injured in battle and lost both his legs as a result.
Brooks takes advantage of the Alabama Hunting and Fishing Trail for People with Physical Disabilities. He began hunting at R.L. Harris Management Area in Randolph County – which is owned and managed by Alabama Power, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) – after it became part of the program several years ago.
“It’s a great program because it allows us to enjoy the outdoors and takes away some of the stress associated with hunting for a person with a handicap,” Brooks says.
Frank Allen, an area wildlife biologist with ADCNR, says the hunting trail offers the physically disabled a chance to experience the state’s natural resources.
“It is the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ responsibility to provide opportunities to all hunters, not just the ones that are able to hike 10 miles or climb 20 feet into a deer stand,” Allen says.
Brooks is not only grateful there are safe locations available for physically challenged hunters, but also that he can continue to share his love of the outdoors with his family. He noted that a hunter is allowed to bring an assistant to the site if needed.
“Occasionally I do bring along an assistant or two – one of the grandkids,” Brooks says.
Alabama Power annually licenses more than 80,000 acres for recreational hunting and works with the ADCNR to feature the Harris location and the Smith Management Area in Walker County as part of the statewide network of hunting, fishing and shooting sites for those with physical disabilities.
“The partnership between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Alabama Power Company has been extremely important to the success of the physically disabled hunting trail,” Allen says. “This is a perfect example of a state agency working with the private sector to achieve a common goal. … Without this partnership, the hunting trail would not exist.”
Brooks encourages others to take advantage of the facilities and says the hunters he hunts with all agree the staff at both locations operated by Alabama Power are some of the best. “They go out of their way to help you; it doesn’t take long and you learn each other’s names and look forward to talking to them.”
Alabama Power employee Sheila Smith, who works as a team leader in Shoreline Management, says she looks forward to hunting season each year.
“The entire staff enjoys talking to these hunters and taking their calls. We can’t wait for ‘our hunters’ to start calling,” she says.
Most of the time, the staff doesn’t get to meet many of the hunters face to face.
They usually just speak over the phone, but Smith says that over a period of time, she feels like she has gotten to know them personally. Smith says the best calls are the ones that come after the hunt is over and they find out whether a hunter got a deer and how many he saw.
“It’s nice to hear the excitement in their voice, and just to know they enjoyed the trip,” she says.
All of Alabama Power’s lakes have fishing sites available for people with disabilities.
“These can be found at our day-use parks and some of the public boat ramps. We are glad this is another way we can encourage people to fish and enjoy the lake,” Smith says.
With hunting season under way, many hunters are enjoying Alabama’s great outdoors with their eyes on the prize. Thanks to areas like the ones offered at Smith and Harris, many people, despite their disabilities, are able to keep that dream alive.
For more information on hunting and fishing for the disabled, contact the ADCNR at 1-800-262-3151.