Max
12-02-2002, 04:27 PM
Kyler uses skills to get disabled hunters back to the woods
By RUTH STANLEY Managing Editor December 02, 2002
Eric Dirig used to be a hunter before a motorcycle accident left him a quadriplegic.
John Emery, of Bloomfield Ind., was also an outdoorsman before an accident three years ago left him paralyzed.
Thanks, however, to the skills of Brian Kyler, both men are able to get back out in the woods.
Kyler says he comes from a long line of fabricators and welders, and has used his skills to fix some things on Dirig's chair, but when he saw what passed for a gun rest built for handicapped hunters, he knew he could do a better job.
The gun rest, provided through a Buckmasters program, required modification of the gun so that it would fit into the rest. The modification, which included cutting down the stock of the gun, left it unusable by anyone else.
Kyler set to work to improve the gun rest.
The project evolved over an eight-month to a year period with Kyler working on the project on nights and weekends.
The shooting rig Kyler designed and built requires no hand movement and is joystick operated by the user's mouth to aim and fire the gun. A similar rig works for crossbows. It requires no modification of guns or crossbows to use the rig.
"It shoots great," said Emery. "I had a hard time holding a gun, now I hit everything."
Since Kyler built his first shooting rig, he has sold six more gun rests nationwide. Three have been through the Buckmasters program and three more have been through word of mouth. He has shooting rigs in Vermont, New York, Texas and Florida. He has 14 more built at his home.
The apparent need has led Kyler to develop a company, BE Adaptive Equipment, LLC, that he and his wife are currently operating as a sideline business.
"I'm just trying to help some people. Basically, all the needs (of handicapped) are taken care of except for leisure needs," Kyler said.
With that in mind, Kyler has built other items, such as trays and remote control holders to assist handicapped people.
"We're operating under the motto that 'if you can dream it, we can build it,'" Kyler said.
As for Dirig Emery, Kyler has helped them return to a portion of their lives that would otherwise be lost to them.
"It's great to get around and be out in nature again," said Emery. "(Brian's) a very super- nice guy and very special."
©Post and Mail 2002
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6250894&BRD=2026&PAG=461&dept_id=338873&rfi=6
By RUTH STANLEY Managing Editor December 02, 2002
Eric Dirig used to be a hunter before a motorcycle accident left him a quadriplegic.
John Emery, of Bloomfield Ind., was also an outdoorsman before an accident three years ago left him paralyzed.
Thanks, however, to the skills of Brian Kyler, both men are able to get back out in the woods.
Kyler says he comes from a long line of fabricators and welders, and has used his skills to fix some things on Dirig's chair, but when he saw what passed for a gun rest built for handicapped hunters, he knew he could do a better job.
The gun rest, provided through a Buckmasters program, required modification of the gun so that it would fit into the rest. The modification, which included cutting down the stock of the gun, left it unusable by anyone else.
Kyler set to work to improve the gun rest.
The project evolved over an eight-month to a year period with Kyler working on the project on nights and weekends.
The shooting rig Kyler designed and built requires no hand movement and is joystick operated by the user's mouth to aim and fire the gun. A similar rig works for crossbows. It requires no modification of guns or crossbows to use the rig.
"It shoots great," said Emery. "I had a hard time holding a gun, now I hit everything."
Since Kyler built his first shooting rig, he has sold six more gun rests nationwide. Three have been through the Buckmasters program and three more have been through word of mouth. He has shooting rigs in Vermont, New York, Texas and Florida. He has 14 more built at his home.
The apparent need has led Kyler to develop a company, BE Adaptive Equipment, LLC, that he and his wife are currently operating as a sideline business.
"I'm just trying to help some people. Basically, all the needs (of handicapped) are taken care of except for leisure needs," Kyler said.
With that in mind, Kyler has built other items, such as trays and remote control holders to assist handicapped people.
"We're operating under the motto that 'if you can dream it, we can build it,'" Kyler said.
As for Dirig Emery, Kyler has helped them return to a portion of their lives that would otherwise be lost to them.
"It's great to get around and be out in nature again," said Emery. "(Brian's) a very super- nice guy and very special."
©Post and Mail 2002
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6250894&BRD=2026&PAG=461&dept_id=338873&rfi=6