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Coventry, Vermont - October 28, 2003
Like most avid hunters, Michael Gaboriault has his sights set on this coming season -- despite the fact that the 43 year-old is a quadriplegic.
Gaboriault suffers from ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He's been forced to give up many things, but not hunting.
"It's one of the only things I can still do," he said.
The Gulf War Vet learned of his disease in 1997. His condition might be service-related. Some studies suggest exposure to nerve gases in the Gulf War left many U.S. Soldiers, like Gaboriault, sick.
But with help from friends and family, Gaboriault maintains his first love, what he calls "Christmas for adults."
If it's hunting season in Vermont, you can bet that Gaboriault is taking to the woods. And for you hunters out there, you have some competition. Because more often than not, he's right on target. A wheel-chair mounted gun is adjusted by a joy stick he moves with his nose. The weapon is fired by sipping air into his mouth.
Last fall, he tagged a wild boar at a preserve in Charleston. One shot -- more than 175 yards away.
When he's not hunting, Gaboriault chats on-line about it -- using a computer that runs by reflective tape pasted to his forehead. He shares his love of the sport with other disabled people.
He told Channel 3's Darren Perron that he hopes he can convince other disabled people that they can hunt too. When asked if he feels like he could be inspirational, he humbly answered, "I hope so. I hope so. I'd like to be."
And it appears he's right on target.
