Legally Blind Hunters in Texas

It seems every once in awhile someone, somewhere thinks about those with disabilities. Whether sight disabled or another type of disability. Being disabled even sight disabled used to mean limiting or restricting yourself from living your life the way you did before you became disabled. Looks like Texas has been giving this some thought at least with those that are legally blind who once enjoyed hunting.

This past Thursday, the Texas legislators passed a bill in the state that now allows legally blind hunters when accompanied by a sighted companion to hunt using laser sight devices.

"A lot of people are shocked", said Chase Bearden of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities who also is in favor of the bill. Bearden continued to say, "What a lot of people don't think about is that you don't just hunt with your sight, you hunt using all of your senses. "

A bill passed by the state house Thursday will now allow legally blind hunters to use laser sight devices when hunting with a sighted companion.

According to Bearden, in Austin, Texas alone there are 30 or 40 groups of legally blind hunters that have hunted their entire lives but their eyesight deteriorated, as they got older and what they had once enjoyed so much they were no longer able to do. There are others that are totally blind but rely on other senses to track dear, turkey and other prey.

The old way was for the legally blind hunter with the help of a sighted companion who would lean over their shoulder while looking through the custom scope to help then refine their aim; however, it was never a clean shot and not quite as satisfying Bearden said during a telephone interview. However, by using a laser sight the sighted companion no longer has to look over their shoulder, he can see where the red laser light is pointing and subtly and quietly advise his companion to move it correctly in one direction or the other.

Previously in Texas it was forbidden to use any type of light while hunting however there has never been a restriction on giving hunting licenses to the blind or legally blind. Under the new bill, the legally blind hunters will be allowed to use laser sights when accompanied by a licensed and sighted hunter over 13, however it still has to pass the state senate.