Randy’s Story
The story of Randy Underwood and the members of Woody’s forum is truly one of
Hunters helping Hunters. Randy is a Florida sportsman who has spent a lifetime
enjoying the bounty of the north Florida swamps and woodlands. From small game
to alligators Randy has hunted them all over the years. An injury left Randy
with a fused spine and an amputated leg. Neither of these procedures went well
and the pain has limited his mobility as much as his amputation. Without the
assistance of friends and family Randy could not access the woods and swamps he
loves so much. Randy adapted to hunting from a ground blind but was totally
dependent on others for transportation and scouting. To regain his independence
and access to the woods would take equipment Randy lacked the finances to
readily acquire.
When the membership of Woody’s became aware of Randy’s circumstance they
responded with an all out effort to return one of their own to the woods. As
many involved want to remain anonymous we will continue the Woody’s tradition of
using forum screen names in telling this story. An electric cart was donated by
Mule69 and family. The cart had not been run in quite a while but provided a
great starting point for an off road cart conversion. Firewagon, another Woody’s
member from Florida volunteered to take on the overhaul and modification of the
cart for Randy. He and fellow members of the Winter Haven Fire Dept. would
completely overhaul and convert the cart to be a functional and reliable hunting
vehicle. Firewagon picked up the cart while visiting his Georgia hunting camp
and he and his firefighter friends set about the conversion.
Other disabled members of Woody’s forum provided insight to what would be needed
to get Randy back into the woods. Without a wheel chair that had running gear
capable of maneuvering off hard surfaces access would still be limited.
EagleEye, himself a disable hunter donated a light weight wheel chair that could
be equipped with the correct running gear. While Firewagon and his fire fighters
worked on the cart a fund raising effort to fund the wheel chair and cart
repairs was in full swing. The wheel chair under went a transformation as it
passed was from hand to hand of the Woody’s membership. Priveye, another
disabled hunter, refurbished it in camouflage paint. It then got RealTree
upholstery and powder coat rims. New bearings, puncture resist tubes and
aggressive tires adapted the chair for the woods.
This labor of love was not to be without its challenges. The electric system of
the cart seemed possessed and required professional attention to get it running
reliably. In the end the cart was refurbished with new batteries, wiring, heavy
duty controller, 4 inch lift kit, and 20 inch tires. Camo paint and powder
coating were donated by another Woody’s member. Woodyites also donated hunting
clothing, a cart gun rack, new battery charger and a storage canopy, as an
effort to care for one of their own.
No effort of this scale can be completed without appropriate funding. The Woody’
s membership raised $1,500.00 to fund parts and shipping of the equipment that
Randy needed. If you drop by Woody’s outdoor forum give a shout to Randy, screen
name BoxCallWillie, to hear of his latest hunting adventure in his new
equipment. Be patient in waiting for a response because, thanks to the
membership of Woody’s, Randy Underwood has returned to woods.