HEROES HEAD OUT HUNTING

Thanks to two outdoor organizations, dozens of vets had a chance to chase deer, elk and more this fall, and here are a few of their success stories.

STORY BY KELLI SCHUELER PHOTOS BY OUTDOORS FOR OUR HEROES

Outdoors For Our Heroes is an all-volunteer, donorfunded organization that provides countless service members with burdenfree outdoor experiences that support healing and improve quality of life. In April 2021, OFOH joined forces with Got Your 6 Fishing. Together, they serve veterans through fishing excursions and support military heroes through hunting and outdoor adventures, all at no cost to participants. ey exist to show gratitude for sacrifices made by veterans and first responders.

“As separate groups, we have been serving the veteran community in western Washington for a combined total of 15 years,” said Jason Brown, president and founder of OFOH. “We

Danielle, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was honorably discharged after a serious injury, was among the more than 115 veterans who benefitted this year from two organizations that provide vets with outdoors-related experiences – in Dani’s case, a successful Montana bison hunt.

Purple Heart recipient Brian Sharp of Montana bagged this beautiful sixpoint bull while out with Outdoors For Our Heroes in northeast Oregon’s Blue Mountains.

“I came home with new motivation and focus to better myself physically and mentally, and I am excited to continue to use the outdoors for self-reflection and healing,” said Allen Acosta after a Montana mule deer and cow elk hunt that also featured some fishing on the upper Missouri River. always shared information, our veteran base and advice. Working with the same goals and mission to serve our heroes by offering no-cost outdoor experiences, we decided to merge so we could share our many resources that directly live up to our mission of ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall.’” e team takes the time to get to know the applicants of the program and works diligently to accommodate the individual’s needs. ey work with all physical limitations and make a point to focus on engaging with the individual to make a positive impact on their mental health as well. OFOH’s strategy works to match the person with their interests and abilities up front to ensure an enjoyable experience.

Both programs proved successful in 2022, with 51 hunting and fishing experiences, 10 rod-building classes and over 115 veterans were supported. ese outdoor adventures took the organization’s most deserving service members throughout different areas of Washington and across several other states, including Alaska, Kentucky, Oregon and Montana. ere were so many impactful moments and stories from this year’s successes, it was difficult to narrow it down to only a few to share. Mike Arns, longtime OFOH volunteer, led two Purple Heart veterans on an Eastern Oregon elk hunt, utilizing two Governor’s Elk Tags. Ryan Caldwell, founder of GY6F and vice president of fishing, took two Army veterans to Montana to hunt elk and deer and go fishing on the Missouri River. Raleigh Evans, volunteer and former OFOH board member, accompanied two disabled veterans to Montana for an unforgettable bison hunt.

IN SEPTEMBER, OFOH had the privilege of taking two Purple Heart recipients into the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon on two Governor’s tags. e Purple Heart medal is presented to service members who have greatly sacrificed themselves, or paid the ultimate price, while in the line of duty and is the oldest military award still presented to American service members. Justin Menchaca from San Antonio, Texas, and Brian Sharp from Libby, Montana,

Hunting with Ryan Caldwell of Got Your 6 Fishing, Army vet Beau Froelich bagged this nice Treasure State muley.

joined the OFOH team, making for a hunting party of 12 at the 5,000-foothigh camp. Coordinating a hunt of this nature and size takes multiple volunteers, financial resources and hours of planning and coordination. Uncontrollable challenges like high temperatures and wildfire dangers make finding a suitable location for camp and hunting very difficult on the scouting teams. Elk hunting is always an adventure, and the outcomes are never guaranteed. e teams often face physical, mental and logistical challenges, but the experience is always rewarding whether an animal is harvested or not. ere were several highs and lows throughout the trip. e entire team maintained great attitudes and optimistic outlooks while pushing through difficult terrain and long hikes. On the fifth day of the trip, Brian was able to fill his tag with a large six-point elk. “Each hunter pays tribute to an animal’s life that was sacrificed in honor of the hunt in their own way and time,” said Arns. “To witness the respect and tremendous appreciation Brian and his hunting companion, Chris, had for this animal warmed my heart and I thank God for the experience.” e camaraderie and friendships built on these hunts are often more important and rewarding than harvesting the animal itself. e time at camp offers great food; endless stories of hunting, service and life experiences; and a lot of jokes and laughter. Although Justin was not able to fill his elk tag, the memories made and the experience of the weeklong hunt were a success and so impactful. “Everyone gets to decide how to measure success. In my opinion, any time you get to go elk hunting, you are successful,” said Arns.

IN OCTOBER, GY6F'S Caldwell and two Army veterans, Allen Acosta and Beau Froelich, traveled to the mountains of Montana for a week of outdoor adventures. e first day of trip was spent at the range sighting in scopes and getting ready for the next day’s mule deer hunt. On day two, the team headed to the KG Ranch, located southwest of ree Forks along the Jefferson River. e day was a huge success; both hunters were able to harvest a mule deer. Acosta was able to take home a nice fourby-three, and Froelich took home a beautiful buck.

“Ryan’s support when the opportunity to take a shot at an animal presented itself was invaluable,” said Acosta. “He was able to help me refocus after a missed shot and reminded me to work on my breathing. is guidance helped me be successful with harvesting my deer.”

A few days of the trip included a visit to Yellowstone National Park and a trip to Helena with Army veteran Rob Conrad to catch trout and walleye on the Missouri River. Lastly, they ended the trip at the Mountain View Ranch in Paradise Valley in Emigrant, Montana, with a very successful day. Each veteran was able to take home an elk. “I am very humbled to know the amount of time and resources that went into making

this experience happen for Beau and me,” said Acosta. “We received the red-carpet treatment the whole trip, I am so grateful to the OFOH and GY6F volunteers, being able to connect with this amazing group and the camaraderie, made this an unforgettable trip. I came home with new motivation and focus to better myself physically and mentally, and I am excited to continue to use the outdoors for selfreflection and healing.”

ANOTHER GREAT HUNT in October took two disabled veterans to Montana for an opportunity to hunt bison. Danielle, or Dani, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, suffered a serious injury in a vehicle accident while serving in 1993. Due to the very physical demands of the Marine Corps, doctors told Dani that her injuries may never fully heal, and she had to make the difficult choice to take an honorable discharge with medical disability to give her the chance of making a full recovery. e second hunter was Rodney, who is a 100 percent disabled U.S. Army veteran who sustained injuries while serving during the Global War on Terror. is was Dani’s first time hunting, and she took several trips to the range to prepare for the trip. e 6.5 Creedmoor rifle she used was a firearm she won at the 2021 OFOH Banquet and Auction. After three unsuccessful stalks, Dani was able to get into position and focus to make a perfect 100-yard shot on a large bison cow for a successful harvest. “ e smile and tears from Dani and the crazy dance and tears from her husband and companion hunter, Neil, told the story of what this opportunity meant to both of them,” said Raleigh Evans. Rodney was also successful in harvesting a beautiful bison and was so thankful for the experience to provide for his wife and five children.

IN ADDITION TO outdoor adventures and fishing excursions, GY6F offers custom fishing rod-building classes in partnership with instructor Neil Foster. Foster donates his time, supplies and expertise to offer these classes without any cost to participating veterans. Each participant leaves with their own custom-built rod and the knowledge and skills to continue on their own. “I recently put together a little rodbuilding station in the living room and have been working on a Puget Sound jigging rod using a Rainshadow SW967 blank. anks, Neil Foster and Got Your 6 Fishing, for the rod-building classes, I’ll be putting those skills to use for years to come,” said Jeremy Koch, a class participant.

“We know that nature and the abundant activities and quiet it provides can be a healing force in a person’s life, particularly in the lives of those who have sacrificed serving our country and put their lives on the line to serve and protect their communities,” said Caldwell of GY6F. ese experiences and classes are making meaningful impacts in the lives of our most deserving heroes and would not be possible without the support of OFOH’s countless volunteers and donors. 

Rodney, an Army vet who was injured during the Global War on Terror, “was so thankful for the experience to provide for his wife and five children” with this Montana bison. For more information about getting involved, donating to the cause or applying to participate in an outdoor experience, please visit OFOH’s website, outdoorsforourheroes.org.