Special hunt helps disabled sportsmen

Mike Koll (right) helps Don Harmon leave the woods after a deer-hunting session ends. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

Mike Koll, president of the Fort McCoy Rod & Gun Club, said club members and volunteers worked hard to organize the Oct. 7-8 event to help disabled hunters enjoy a hunt and the outdoors.

"Many of the Rod & Gun members work at Fort McCoy and are out on the ranges so we know where the deer are running," Koll said. "This worked out real well, and we hope to do it again next year."

A total of 13 hunters participated in the hunt and harvested seven deer. The hunt covered about 20,000 acres on North Post.

Don Harmon of Tomah, who was one of the disabled hunters, appreciated the assistance of the volunteers. Volunteers were assigned to assist each hunter.

"We all had a fun time," Harmon said. "The volunteers helped me get into the stand and carried my supplies to the stand. I can't thank the volunteers enough for having the patience to help me enjoy the hunt."

Keith Organ of Tomah, who bagged the first deer, a spike buck, said he was sitting in his stand when the buck went past.

Vern Sanderson (left), a volunteer assistant, and Keith Organ display the first deer taken during a special Fort McCoy hunt. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

His volunteer, Vern Sanderson of Sparta, helped him track the deer and bring it back to the main headquarters site.

"The volunteers were great," Organ said. "They did prior scouting and recommended places to hunt."

Larry Smith of Sparta, who like many of the others has participated in regular hunts, said he liked the disabled hunt because there was less competition and volunteers were available to assist the hunters.

Maj. Carol James of the 114th Combat Support Hospital said her unit provided standby medical support for the hunters.

"Our commander is really supportive of this idea," James said. "I think it's a wonderful idea."

The hunters had to have all of the state tags, licenses and installation permits to participate in the hunt.

A hunting trip in 1950 by the Hines (Ill.) Veterans Administration Hospital veterans was one of the first hunts held at McCoy that was open strictly to disabled hunters. (Fort McCoy History Center photo)

John Polk, a member of the Fort McCoy Rod & Club who helped organize the hunt, said the Rod & Gun Club and volunteers coordinated the hunt with the installation's Biological and Cultural Resources Management Team.

Dave Beckmann, an installation wildlife biologist, said the issue was brought to a Conservation Beautification Committee (CBC) meeting for discussion.

Frank Johnson, a former game warden, informed the committee that other installations have conducted these types of hunts.

"This was a good opportunity for disabled hunters to participate in a hunt at Fort McCoy," Beckmann said.

A CBC subcommittee was established to develop a plan for the hunt. Fort McCoy's hunt, which was held Oct. 7-8, coincided with the statewide disabled hunt for deer from Oct. 7-15, Beckmann said.

"All of the hunters seemed to have a great time and enjoyed themselves outdoors," Polk said. "We had about 40 volunteers who helped the hunters get back in the woods again or helped them move through the woods easier than they would during a regular hunt."

The hunters enjoyed a relatively mild weekend, and the weather made it easier for the hunters and assistants to move around in the woods.

A number of commercial organizations also supported the hunt with food, etc., Polk said.