Macomb, IL – The Macomb Park District hopes to give people with disabilities a chance to go hunting.
The district says there is growing interest across the state in providing hunting programs for the disabled. Macomb's proposed program would take place at a site near Spring Lake during the archery season.
Park district intern Jason Jones has been overseeing the effort. Jones says he has a passion for hunting and wants to share his love of the outdoors with those who might otherwise not get a chance to experience nature firsthand.
Jones hopes volunteers will donate weapons and duck blinds. He will continue to research other costs and details.
The park district also says it need to talk to the city about its plans because the proposed sites are within city limits.
You can listen to the board's entire discussion of the issue by clicking on the audio button.
Additional information:
*Jones is from WIU. He's a Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration major.
*Jones says he has not done much hunting with people with disabilities. But he learned firsthand what it's like to try hunting with a disability when he broke his leg. He says it proved to be much more difficult than he expected.
*Jones is looking at a wooded site and another that's a bit more open as possible locations for the program.