Operation Open Season

High school students learn valuable skills building hunting blinds, landowners get a free hunting blind, and local wounded veterans enjoy hunting on private land.

Operation Open Season evolved from an idea a group of Northwest Arkansas builders had to help ensure there would continue to be skilled laborers for their industry. High School building programs needed support, materials and items to build.

Builders supported the Black Hills High School Builda-Thon which is a contest to build the best handicapaccessible hunting blind. A success, newly-constructed blinds needed to be put to use. Together, the builders group created a plan to identify property owners who would be willing to open their land and host a veteran hunter one day a year in exchange for a free blind (valued at $1,500). Finding local, wounded veterans who wanted the opportunity to hunt on private land completed the circle, and Operation Open Season was established.

The non-profit organization is run entirely by volunteers, with no administrative overhead. 100% of donations go to support hunting-blind construction at high schools and fund free hunts for veterans and youth. The program now includes 60,000 acres of hunting land and 74 veterans enjoyed hunts in the past year.

“This was a grassroots effort by building and construction industry folks,” explains John Rowland with Black Hills Corporation. John has been a key volunteer for the program since 2014. He coordinates donations, publicizes the program to area schools and FFA chapters, recruits wounded veteran participants and actively solicits property owner participation.

The program is an easy sell, he says. It ticks all the boxes. It supports high school and FFA chapter building programs, land owners get a free hunting blind, wounded veterans get to enjoy hunting and, most importantly, he’s seen friendships grow between veterans and hunting property owners. While the program asks land owners to agree to a minimum of one day of hunting per year, John says many host veteran hunters, and youth, more often.

Lindsey Holtzclaw |Farm Credit of Western Arkansas

“We’ve learned that wounded veterans connect with hunting,” John explains. “The camaraderie of deer camp is similar to what they experienced in the military. They’ve told me they connect with things as simple as smelling gunpowder and wearing camouflage again. It’s familiar.”

“Holding a weapon again and using shooting skills I learned in the military are range-therapy for me,” confirms Iraq War veteran and Operation Open Season participant Scott West.

“I have military skills that I don’t use in civilian life. The chance to turkey or deer hunt taps into some of those skills,” Scott continues.

The events of September 11, 2001 motivated Scott to enlist in the Army at the age of 17. He felt compelled to serve his country and served in the 5/7 Calvary unit as a 19 Delta Recon Scout. He served in Iraq, north of Baghdad, and was three days from completing his tour and returning to the states when the truck he was driving was hit by an IED. He turned the vehicle into the IED to protect fellow passengers and sustained critical injuries. Scott became the fastest person evacuated from Iraq to Germany to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., a statistic that he attributes to saving his life. He spent the next 13 months recuperating in the hospital. He had 38 surgeries in the first 30 days and became a double-amputee at the age of 20.

Lindsey Holtzclaw |Farm Credit of Western Arkansas

Scott was determined to walk again and jokes that the first time he tried on his prosthetic legs he ran for two miles, simply from the joy of being able to run again.

“When I finally returned to my hometown of Branson, MO, I no longer had a support network or the brotherhood of the Army,” Scott continues.

“It was difficult to adjust. I had a lot of trouble. But in 2015 I came to the realization that I wanted to give back to other wounded veterans.”

Scott took a position with Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (headquartered in Rogers, AR) as an Outdoor Adventure Coordinator. He helps veterans connect with outdoor adventures, physical challenges and the camaraderie that veterans often seek.

John and Scott met at an event and became friends. Scott was invited to try his hand at turkey hunting and returned the favor by helping John connect with wounded veterans he’d met through his work with Sheep Dog Impact Assistance. The two share a passion for hunting and for helping other wounded veterans enjoy hunting with Operation Open Season.

Lindsey Holtzclaw |Farm Credit of Western Arkansas

How Farm Credit is supporting Operation Open Season

Farm Credit of Western Arkansas has made a $6,000 donation to sponsor hunting-blind building programs at Ozark, Clarksville, Harrison, Green Forest, Greenwood and Mountain Home High Schools.

Each school sponsorship requires $1,200. Schools receive $800 for building materials and build a blind with an estimated value of $1,500. The remaining $400 is used to ensure veteran hunters have hunting gear and supplies, and are reimbursed for travel to hunts and special speaking engagements to increase awareness of the program. 100% of donations go directly to program costs.

Would you like to participate?

If you have hunting property and would like to open your land for a one-day-per-year hunt in exchange for a free hunting blind, contact John Rowland at 479-301-6669 or find details at operationopenseason.com.

• All hunters are accompanied by a qualified hunting guide.

• Participating automatically enrolls you in their Ultimate Sportsman Giveaway (a package designed to improve your land for hunting).

• No obligation to participate beyond the initial agreed-upon date.

• In Arkansas, hunts are by invitation only which eliviates all liability issues. (Consult the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website for details.)