Montana AG Network: Adaptive equipment for hunters with disabilities

Published

1 year ago

January 12, 2025

Montana AG Network: Adaptive equipment for hunters with disabilities

BOZEMAN — In the snowy Bridger mountains, you’ll find Robert Enigl, a man who’s always on the move.

In his lifetime, Enigl has developed quite a lengthy resume, including participating in the2022 Beijing Paralympics, social media influencing, and outdoor recreation.

Mack Carmack, MTN News

Robert Enigl

Enigl loves to fish, ski, hunt, and anything else related to the outdoors.

On his property outside of Bozeman, he runs a strawberry farm and a golden retriever dog breeding business.

With an already successful resume, it’s even more impressive when you learn about the accident that literally turned his life upside down.

“I remember the front flip felt like slow motion. I remember rolling three and a half, four times, and I remember on the last roll I was holding the ceiling seeing dirt, sky, dirt, sky,” he said.

About 11 years ago, Enigl and his best friend Ben were in a traumatic car accident after hunting in the Gallatin Canyon.

“They said they were getting a helicopter, and I’m like, ‘Oh good, for my buddy,’ and they said, ‘No, the helicopter is for you.’ That’s when I realized I was pretty screwed up at the time,” he said.

Robert Enigl's hospital photo — Robert Enigl’s hospital photo

Enigl suffered a spinal cord injury, partially paralyzing him from the waist down.

Instead of neglecting his passion for skiing, hunting, and fishing, Enigl adapted, as painful and frustrating as it was.

“At the end of the day, you can’t look at (paralysis) as ‘My life’s over.’ You got to learn how to adapt. And I think ‘adapt’ is probably the best way to describe someone in a wheelchair,” he said.

Now, Enigl happily lives on his farm with his wife and two children. He’s still pursuing his hobbies, in part, thanks to the Cutting Fences Foundation.

The non-profit organization, founded by Kendra Lewis, helps provide adaptive equipment to hunters, ranchers, and farmers with disabilities.

“That $20,000 off-road hunting vehicle, I wouldn’t ever have access to it,” said Enigl.

“There aren’t many organizations that specifically target farmers and ranchers with disabilities and try to meet their needs. So that’s where it all started,” Lewis said.

Lewis started the organization during the occupational therapy doctoral capstone.

For her project, she began a 10-episode podcast that featured members of the community impacted by their disabilities. The podcast is where Lewis met Enigl.

She then turned her project into a non-profit organization a year later, eventually providing adaptive equipment for hundreds of people.

“It was a moment to share hope for individuals and kind of create a network of resiliency as well,” Lewis said.

“I feel like I get to do more cool stuff now than I ever got to do before I got paralyzed,” Enigl said.

Enigl was able to adapt and do many “cool” things because of the foundation, and help from a friend.

“One powerful chair, one manual chair doesn’t always do the trick for living a full and functional life,” Lewis said.

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Man dies in Highway 93 crash in Lake Co.

Published

5 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Man dies in Highway 93 crash in Lake Co.

RAVALLI, Mont. — A 35-year-old man is dead after a two vehicle crash on Highway 93 North near Ravalli on Sunday morning, according to Montana Highway Patrol.

The driver of a Honda Civic traveling northbound in the southbound lanes was declared dead on scene after colliding with a Ford F-150 that was traveling southbound.

The driver of the Ford F-150 was injured in the accident taken to St. Luke Community Healthcare in Ronan.

Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek near Red Lodge

Published

17 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek near Red Lodge

CARBON COUNTY — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working to acquire two senior water rights along the West Fork of Rock Creek near Red Lodge to address critically low water levels that are threatening the fish population.

The creek, which flows around the Red Lodge community, may appear full to casual observers, but wildlife officials say the flow is dangerously low for fish survival.

Watch FWP discuss the need for these water rights for Rock Creek:

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek

“To have these water levels, it can have an impact on the fishery over there,” Chrissy Webb with Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. “Over the past few years, we’ve been seeing really low water levels for these trout, which is obviously a huge issue. Fish, of course, need water.”

The proposed solution involves purchasing two senior water rights that were previously used for irrigation and transferring them to remain in the stream for fishery protection.

“This would be water that was once diverted for irrigation. Those water rights would transfer to remain in the stream for the protection of this fishery,” Webb said.

Acquiring water rights is a complex process, but Webb emphasized the urgency of the situation. Without intervention, the fish population could decline quickly.

“We need water levels to be at a certain level for fish to survive. And we need water temperatures to be low enough for these trout to survive. And then, like I said, some places in Rock Creek have even experienced total dewatering of the stream bed,” Webb said.

FWP plans to purchase the water rights for $330,000. The process involves the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

“They’re working with the owner of those water rights to transfer their purpose from irrigation to being in stream flows,” Webb said.

The DNRC will ultimately decide whether FWP has the authority to purchase the water rights. The access to water would come from Giant Springs in Great Falls.

Michael Downey with the DNRC said mid to low elevation areas are particularly lacking adequate stream levels, but is confident they will rise as the year continues.

“If you look at where snowpack is right now, even those places that are below normal, certainly that Rock Creek drainage is probably the one in the area that looks worse than most,” Downey said.

On Feb. 12, the DNRC will decide if the FWP has the authority to purchase those water rights.

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Indiana lands commitment from Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Indiana lands commitment from Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams

Indiana football continued its reload in the secondary on Sunday with the commitment of Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Williams made his commitment to head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers after a weekend visit to Indiana. Williams has three years of eligibility remaining.

MORE: Transfer Portal Thread | Indiana football transfer portal tracker | Indiana football’s transfer portal wish list: A position-by-position breakdown of 2026 needs

Williams, who hails from Houston, Texas, amassed 46 total tackles, eight pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2025 with the Bobcats. He also forced and recovered a fumble this past season.

The 2025 season was Williams’ second at the college level after he redshirted in 2024 as a true freshman.

Entering this portal cycle, cornerback was a large question mark for the Hoosiers. D’Angelo Ponds could potentially leave early for the NFL Draft and depth corner Amariyun Knighten has already entered the portal, but outside of those two, Indiana returns everyone else at cornerback.

Williams now joins a 2026 cornerback room that features returners Jamari Sharpe, Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell, while Ponds’ decision on his future is expected to come following Indiana’s run in the College Football Playoff.

Williams is rated as the No. 795 overall transfer and the No. 91-ranked cornerback in the portal.

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