Healing Through Hunting

By Lieutenant Colonel (R) Steve Osterholzer, U.S. Army

“This is never going to work and I feel ridiculous,” rang through my head as I followed Roger across a field carrying a screen decoy towards a group of turkeys. The three toms with hens could plainly see us as we trudged across 800 yards of field devoid of cover taller than a blade of grass. A freak storm the night before had dumped nine inches of snow which made us stand out even more. To make matters worse, Roger’s back, wounded in combat in Iraq, suddenly spasmed. Unable to bend over and standing well over 6 feet, from the bird’s perspective the screen tom decoy floated four feet off the ground with four long legs. Amazingly, the birds remained as we closed the distance. 500 yards. 300. 200. 100. “This is insane but I just may get a shot here,” I thought as my stomach knotted with the tension. Slowly dropping to our knees, we crawled on through the snow.

At 75 yards the toms could stand it no longer. Enraged by the advancing Predator decoy, two of them suddenly raced towards us gobbling madly. Roger hit the dirt as the birds, sensing something amiss, suddenly veered right on a full sprint. I pulled up my gun, leading the first bird. Though this was my first turkey hunt, I knew enough to aim for the head. I’m trying to hit a target the size of a baseball at 50 yards moving really fast. This is way harder than knocking

down an elk. Time stood still as I focused on the bead, took a deep breath, and squeezed the trigger…

As a combat vet I was on this Eastern Colorado hunt through the generosity of an organization called Hero Expeditions, better known as HEX. “As a non-profit organizing hunts for service members, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, and family members of Fallen Heroes, we believe giving back to those who’ve sacrificed so much for our country and communities is simply the right thing to do,” said founder Jeremy Heid.

“My lifelong friend Derick was a soldier who was severely injured in Iraq and barely lived,” recalls Jeremy. “When he came back he wasn’t the same. Despite us both trying, our friendship wasn’t the same. I wanted to help him but I didn’t know how.” A short time later Jeremy, a commercial videographer by trade, was filming a California watefowl hunt comprised of soldiers wounded in war. “I told them my friendship with Derick wasn’t the same. They explained Derick would never be the same. Our friendship would have to start over.” The conversation was monumental. “Hearing their stories and seeing how healing the hunt was for them emotionally, I felt called to help other heroes the same way.”

Derick became an integral partner as Jeremy formally launched Hero Expeditions in 2015. “HEX renewed our love of hunting together but with a new purpose. This gave Derek purpose,” says Jeremy. From its inception HEX has grown tremendously. 2020 saw approximately 80 Heroes experiencing thrilling hunts, with nonCOVID years averaging 100 hunters per year. “We coordinate with generous landowners such as Rodney Seaman with Eastern Colorado Outfitters ,who provided this hunt, for opportunities at turkey, elk, deer, antelope and waterfowl.” With more than 150 on the waiting list, the need is great.

Though the hunting experience itself is important, even more critical are the conversations amongst the hunters around the fire.

HEX’s mission statement is to help create meaningful relationships and improve morale. “These guys have been through hell,” said Jeremy. “Many of them have deep physical and emotional wounds. PTSD. Severe depression. We want them to know they’re not alone and the friendships resulting from these hunts provide a critical support network only fellow soldiers/first responders can really understand.”

One of the guides on this hunt was a veteran nicknamed “Dirty” who received the Purple Heart for gunshot wounds sustained in combat. As we sat in a frigid outbuilding the first night, what started out as a group of hunters swapping stories turned into something akin to a support group. “One veteran on a past hunt had been contemplating suicide,” said Dirty. “One night he sat on the edge of his bed holding a pistol. Shortly after he found out he was going on a HEX goose hunt occurring six months in the future. The soldier later told me the thought of going on the goose hunt was what kept him going for those six months.”

That night I witnessed the therapeutic aspect of HEX. One hunter was a veteran who’d been medically retired from the Army for injuries sustained in combat. “For years my identity had been as a soldier,” he said. “I can’t work now. I stay at home all day. I don’t know who I am anymore.” Though not licensed counselors, HEX personnel are able to help these heroes because many of them have been wounded in combat themselves. “The guys trust us,” said Doug, a former Fire Chief now serving on the HEX Board of Directors. “They trust us because they know we understand what they’ve gone through in ways most counselors just can’t because we’ve been in their boots.” Strangers at the beginning of the hunt, participants often leave with supportive friendships. “When we meet on the first day, everyone shakes hands,” laughs Jeremy, clearly the driving force behind HEX. “When we say goodbye on the final day, everyone gives man hugs.”

“…I’m trying to hit a target the size of a baseball at 50 yards moving very fast. This is way harder than

knocking down an elk.” Time stood still as I focused on the bead, took a deep breath, and squeezed the trigger…

KAHWOOM! The lead bird didn’t even flinch at the shot but put his foot on the gas even more. With him rocketing out of range I swung to the trail bird. “Stay calm and focus.” Leading this bird even more, I touched off a second shot. KAWHOOM!

Suddenly it was over. I’d harvested my first tom. And yet I realized it wasn’t over. The men I’d met on this

trip, strangers at the start, were now brothers. For what we shared was far beyond the excitement of the hunt. I now had a network of brothers I could reach out to if needed, brothers who understood the dangers of war, fire, and police work.

“This is why we do what we do at Hero Expeditions,” said Jeremy. “To build bonds which support those who have given so much to all of us.”

What started out as jokes, laughter and stories turned serious. “You have to find something to fill the time,” If you or your organization would like to support Hero Expeditions through either financial or equipment contributions, please visit www.heroexpeditions.org