In Mississippi you are required to provide documentation of your disability from two different doctors before they will allow you to hunt with a crossbow. So you might want to start the process now and get all your permits early. Sorry for this long post, but I have just got to tell this story regarding permits, and crossbows.
My older brother lived to deer hunt. He was struck with two highly malignant brain tumors August of 03. By deer season, he was so debilitated he had to be in a wheelchair, but he still had use of his right arm. He asked us to take him deer hunting just one more time before he died. His buddys at work had welded him up a rest on his wheelchair for his crossbow and we practiced off his patio in his back yard.
We had the two letters from the doctors, but time was really critical, so I started calling every State Game agency I could think of to expedite the process. I faxed and called all my congressmen and reps hoping they might have some pull to hurry it along. I hit a brick wall with a beauricratic woman at the Ms Game and Fish Commision. She had to have the original letters from the doctors, a fax was not sufficient. We'd have to go through the normal process like everyone else. After several calls begging and pleading with the woman to no avail, I called one of the regional game wardens and spoke to him about Don. He told me to "take him hunting and don't worry about it". I had already planned on doing it anyway, but it was good to at least have somebody's blessing if we were caught.
We built him a blind with some rope and camo fabric around some trees, and sat out there all day. We didn't see any sign of a deer all day, and he never took a shot. But just being in the woods in his camo, with that crossbow was the thrill of his last month alive.
Two weeks after his "hunt", by which time he was so debilitated he could no longer sit up in his chair, I get a call on my cellphone. It's the women telling me they had recieved his letters and she was working to get him his permit. I told her to throw it all in the trash, as we had spoken to "one of the guys in our region" and he had told us to "take him hunting" and we had done just that about two weeks ago. I told her somewhat sarcastically I "appreciated" her help and hung up. Would you believe that not 5 minutes later my phone rang , and it was her again. I guess she thought I was a total idiot, because she asked "Would you mind giving me that officers name who told you to take him, JUST for our records." I couldn't believe that she would attempt to try and discipline that warden for makingg such a kind and humane allowance for another human being. I let her have it with both barrells! Just before I hung up on her, I told her I'd be happy to provide her with his name, if "she'd provide me with letters from two doctors certifying she had a heart, as it was obvious to me she was one heartless B***H!" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I couldn't believe I had said what I did to her, but I just couldn't help myself. I can tell you quite truthfully however, that I felt reallllll good after having said it!
Mostly I couldn't believe myself, for even giving a minutes thought to the possiblity that I couldn't have taken him hunting unless we got that permit. I'd gladly pay any fines and penalties if I could do that for him again!
Come to think of it, his birthday was this past Wednesday. Thanks for allowing me this small "tribute".
I hope you have better luck than we did.
