EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I thought I read here someone took people with Autism hog hunting. I would like to take an eighteen year old boy with autism hunting but not sure how it would go.

I have not been around a ton of autistic people, but I would think it would take alot of effort, not saying it's not a good idea, just think you would have to be super careful.

Just dont give him the knife......

He has a knife on his belt now. Very high functioning I guess would just need someone to stay with him.

Gothim shooting cans right now. Next is driving. I hate "I can't"

Where are you located?

He is near Magnolia TX and will be there for a week. I am removing the word can't from his vocabulary.

I have a son with autism.i guess it depends on the severity, and Dub, you'll have to be the judge of how much he understands as far as , live, dead, and how if you kill something , there aint no do overs. Mainly i'd worry about how he understands concepts and such. Obviuosly, he is high functioning, communicates,, maybe has a form of autism ,, like arsbergers, and will do quite well, but has difficulties understanding and relating to people.  Kind of like a kid i helped with, you ask him how do you feel? He feels his arms and legs with his hands and replys' OK' .  I've watched you on the board and you're a square shooter, he'll be in good hands, it's a good thing you're doing .

Another thing just hit me, dont be surprised if you load up, let dogs out and get out a ways, and all of a sudden he changes his mind and decides he dont like hunting. I could imagine he has a picture in his mind of what a 'hunt ' will be, and once he gets out in the heat, briars etc, he may change gears. U might want to take him for walks in the woods and tell him youre hunting just to make sure he understands the walking, sweating , stickers part involved. I'd never try it solo, take some one he feels comfortable with, would hate for your dogs to be on a rank boar and he decide that was the time he wanted to go back to truck,,, then your help could tend to him 100% , while you tend to your dogs and hogs 100%.
Thats real encouraging he likes to shoot and the like,,, man ,, i wish my boy was along that far, he really dont have any vocabulary cept 'i want' and fill in the blank.  Good luck though, and let us know how your efforts come along

I just took him in a golf cart. I drove like it was 4x4 down trails that would be hard to walk. He did good. I think I would prefer to just hunt with someone else and their dogs so I can just watch him and help him get to the bay. If he wants to stick the pig fine and if he doesn't then that is fine too. He was shooting a dead squirrel earlier so I think he will like it. He is sticking trees with my Kabar.

I think ya got it covered. just be certain he understands you cant stick or shoot people, they dont tolerate it near as well as the cartoon characters do. And like I said you'll know how much he can handle and wat he can deal with. sounds like you got a good relationship with him.

 I say go for it, My son is autistic along with other problems. I say good for you dub, not many would even think about taking a special needs child/person out to do anything like hunting. I cant wait for my lil guy to get big enough to go and trust me he will be going.

How old's your boy, Big Ben? Lord , my son is 26 now,,

Amokabs, He will be 7 easter sunday. He is our miracle child, He was born with cytomegalo virus(CMV) and was'nt supposed to live past 6 months let alone walk, talk, and go to school like a normal kid. He has went farther than any of the experts predicted and we thank god everyday for him. He was also diagnosed with autism and adhd about 2 years ago. He goes to regular class like all the kids his age and is in the top 10% of his class but we have done some major work with him at home, lots of hours spent with him each week even through the summer to keep him up with the class. I know it sounds like Im bragging, well I am. We are very proud the lord has blessed us with him.

Dub- I've taken several people with all types of medical problems and I'd be more than happy to help you one weekend with him.  Sounds fun.  Shoot me a message anytime or call me.  972-689-0238

Ninja stepped up as long as I give him Smiley lessons. We can hunt real close so if he freaks out or just wants to leave we can just leave. If all goes well I will try for other hunts. I think he will enjoy himself but I want to be careful just in case. If he decides to stick a hog I will have my good knife and he can keep it.

big Ben, sounds like ya'll have really done good, i 'm real proud for ya'lls hard work paying off.
Dub, you really have this hunt thought through and i bet it's gonna be something all ya'll are gonna enjoy and remember. I'm really proud how you've taken this on, it's not something to be takenlightly, and you've gone way above and beyond to help a special kid out, and to be his buddy.   

I just pray he feels the love and enjoys himself.

That Ninja bailed out on me. He said he was scared he might find an ape in the woods. Is there anybody hunting near Magnolia TX that would let us tag along? He will only be here through this weekend.

Dub,

   All of my dogs are out in central and west Texas being hunted by friends right now, otherwise I would be glad to take you and your bud. For what it's worth, I think it's a good thing you are doing for this fella, and hope that someone is able to get y'all on a hunt this weekend.

That is not true Warren. Since it has been so clearly defined, Thats about all my dogs get on in the woods these days.  ;D

I sure hope you can get this hunt in bud. Good luck!

Just for others Ninja got called into work. Thanks for offering and sorry things did not work out. But I don't want no apes anyway. I know Ninja can take me giving him a hard time and knows I was trying to be funny.

But I would like to take him out in the woods for what could be a life changing time. Or it could not mean a thing. Only time will tell.

What about a wooded pen? I know it is a bad weekend. I have through Monday. A wooded pen may be better because it is a shorter time and more controlled.

hay dub have u considered takeing him to a bay pen first just so he can see the dogs work and kinda get the feel for the whole thing barking and all the noise etc. mabye even flip one?

Dub,I believe Mr. Mason has a wooded pen for use. Pm him and see.

Thanks Mr Mason. He played his Nintendo DS while walking around. He said it was half fun and half a waste of time. But he wants to go on a hunt sometime. If he comes down again I will take him out on a hunt.