For almost a year, about 60 of Brandon Bradshaw's welding students at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center have been working on a special project.

It's been a learning experience for some, but for those who have done a great deal of work so far, the project has been a way to use their technical skills in helping the disabled.

Ryan Holderfield, a 17-year-old high-school senior, has helped build the steel frames for a series of deer blinds the Army Corps of Engineers is using especially for mobility-impaired hunters in the local region, primarily near Lake Wappapello State Park.

"These guys love to hunt and I like to help in any way I can," Holderfield said.

Ditto for Chris Pagel, also a 17-year-old senior in the CTC's welding program.

Dalton Scott, 17, welds together metal for a deer blind accessible to hunters with disabilities Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

Pagel has spent many hours over the past several months cutting, welding and grinding pieces for the deer blinds -- "just about everything there is," he said.

The young men's instructor, who is involved in the National Wild Turkey Federation and its Wheelin' Sportsmen group, said he heard about the need for the blinds through a contact in the Corps.

All of the pieces used to construct the blinds are paid for through grant funding, and students in the welding program have donated time and effort in building them, while others in auto body classes have been painting the completed frames.

From there, the rest is up tothe beneficiaries.

"(The Corps) actually finish the blinds, as far as putting the outside material on and putting in the windows," Bradshaw said.

Dalton Scott, 17, smoothes out welded metal to be built for a deer blind capable for hunters with disabilities Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

Since a little after Christmas last year, nine deer blind frames have been completed, with one more still in progress in the CTC's welding shop. That one should be finished by the end of the month, Bradshaw said.

Eric Lemons, a natural resources specialist for the Corps' St. Louis District, said the disabled hunts are arranged through the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the number of people who take part in the various events has grown.

"The hunt grew from two people to 25 people at this point in time, and we have multiple partners," Lemons said, with the CTC being one.

Other partner organizations donate taxidermy services or provide shooting sticks, among other things.

But as for the CTC, "they've been there since the beginning," Lemons said.

Dayton Gibson, 18, welds together metal to be built for a deer blind capable for hunters with disabilities Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

Of the deer blinds constructed by the students this year, seven already are in use on property owned by the Corps.

Exterior skins, or a waterproof, plastic sheeting composite painted with a camouflage design, have been added, along with floors and windows for spotting wildlife.

In addition to being used for hunting game, the blinds are ideal for bird-watching in the spring, Lemons said.

"We want these blinds to be multiuse," he added.

ljones@semissourian.com

Dalton Scott, 17, welds together metal to be built for a deer blind capable for hunters with disabilities Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

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