Senator Nozzolio addresses members of the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation
Pictured left to right are: Pat Skelly, Director of the Wayne County Veterans Service Agency; David Dentico; Senator Mike Nozzolio; Mary Lou Reisdorf; and Christie Ingram.
Wounded Warriors In Action Bayfield Cast and Blast
Bottom Line News & Views
Patty Pajtash
The first annual Bayfield Cast and Blast weekend for Wounded Warriors In Action was a huge success thanks to the overwhelming generosity of an entire community and the vision of one person with a big heart. The project was started by Chris Diesing, a sportsman from Brookfield, WI with his heart in Delta, WI.
Wounded veterans find peace and healing through wood turning
Daily Herald Media
Keith Uhlig
Corey Richards was in the Michigan National Guard and serving in Afghanistan in 2009 when a blast from an improvised explosive device tore into his upper body.
“I really don’t remember what happened,” Richards said.
But Richards, now 24 and living in Wisconsin Rapids, lives every day with consequences of the blast and the injuries it caused. He suffers memory loss, both short- and long-term, and struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, he said. In addition, both of his shoulders were “messed up,” Richards said.
Contending with those wounds and illness is physically and emotionally draining in ways Richards cannot explain and few others understand. But on Thursday, Richards found peace and contentment as he stood behind a lathe and turned out such pieces as a wooden mushroom and the body of a pen. He was absorbed by the task in front of him.
“It just makes me really focused and not pay much attention to what’s around me,” Richards said. “It gets my mind off of other things that have happened in the past. … It gives me nice quiet time.”
On Thursday, Richards was participating in the third of a three-day wood-turning seminar made possible by two volunteer woodworkers, the financial support of a local business and foundation and a growing veterans organization called Wounded Warriors in Action.
Wounded Warriors in Action was founded in 2007 by John McDaniel, a retired Army colonel and graduate of Oshkosh High School. McDaniel, an avid hunter and angler who loves the outdoors, was looking for a mission to complete in retirement, and he blended his passions together to help veterans who needed support after being wounded. Wounded Warriors started by taking the vets, free of charge, on hunting and fishing trips.
Warriors in Action has expanded to other activities, including horseback riding and car racing. The wood-turning lessons grew out of some of the hunting and fishing trips led by Todd Bohm of Kronenwetter. Bohm is an assistant principal at D.C. Everest Senior High School, but he’s also a hunting and fishing guide who has volunteered with Wounded Warriors in Action for more than five years. Bohm’s father-in-law and neighbor, Tony Kopchinski, helped guide some of those trips. Kopchinski also is an avid wood-turner.
After meeting McDaniel, Kopchinski offered to play host to wood-turning seminars for the veterans, and this week’s event was the result. Kopchinski and another wood-turner, Bob Stavron of Weston, both members of the Wisconsin Valley Woodturners, volunteered their time to teach Richards, his fiancee and caregiver Jessica Lochli, 19, and another wounded vet, Daniel Hinze, 47, of Racine.
Hinze, who was an Army staff sergeant, was crushed by a helicopter in 2009 in Afghanistan. He suffers from physical injuries from head to toe and has PTSD. Hinze met Kopchinski while turkey hunting and fishing with Bohm in spring 2013.
Learning to turn wood is therapeutic and a “stress reliever,” Hinze said. “You don’t have to think about what’s going on back home. You don’t have to worry about daily things. It’s something my hands can do that my brain can’t think of. So it’s like my hands talking.”
The veterans were put up at the Grand Lodge Waterpark Resort in Rothschild, thanks to a donation from the Creske family, owners of Wausau Tile, and The Bar in Rothschild donated several meals, Kopchinski said.
Wood turning is about the “best therapy they could have,” Kopchinski said. “I’m very surprised at how quickly they are catching on. They’ve made some terrific articles of wood already.”
For him, it’s a chance to give back to the men and women who sacrificed themselves for everyone in America.
“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had,” Kopchinski said.
WWIA Thanks the Seniors
The WWIA organization, or Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation, has sent a thank you letter to the this year’s senior class. A donation of $4,000 was fundraised by the entire senior class during Homecoming week. Students bought “Charity Chains” that ran across the commons. WWIA received the money on Dec. 27.
The letter thanks the senior class for supporting “America’s combat wounded Purple Heart veterans.” It then said how impressed they were with our “Chain” project, commenting “What an incredibly creative idea!” It also mentioned that the senior class has “set a great example of patriotism and philanthropy to the underclassmen.”
WWIA is a non-profit organization that works toward helping wounded soldier that has received the Purple Heart award. As said on their website, the organization helps wounded soldiers by “providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage independence and connections with communities, and promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors.” Go to https://wwiaf.org/ if you want to learn more.
The letter mentioned Robert Shaffer, a Purple Heart recipient, who said, “The time spent in the stands reflecting on the beauty of life and nature could not be replaced. Without Wounded Warriors in Action, I would never have had the opportunity to hunt in this environment. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Senior Josiah Williams was one of the students who donated money. Although he only donated a sum of $5, it certainly did help. Williams mentioned how the charity chains truly showed that the senior class has “several, very ambitious people.” Williams is proud of his class for doing such a noble deed. Junior Luke Frisbee said the senior class “changed me for the better.” He also thinks they “definitely” have inspired the underclassmen.
Healing ‘the wounds the eye can’t see’
St. Joseph News-Press
Jessica Shumaker
Ronald Ryker may have ended a day of hunting Friday without killing a deer, but he didn’t come out of the trip empty-handed.
Instead, he found something more priceless: a chance to connect with fellow combat-wounded veterans from across the country.
The White City, Kan., man was one of eight veterans, all Purple Heart recipients, selected to take part in the fourth annual MO-KAN Ducks N’ Bucks chapter weekend, held by the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation, also known as WWIAF.
Each year the group brings veterans to Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri to take part in hunting whitetail deer and ducks over four days.
At the WWIAF’s annual fundraising dinner Friday night at the Clasbey Community Center, Mr. Ryker said he was overwhelmed by the generosity he saw in seeing the local community embracing the organization.
While it was a hard decision to come — his wife’s birthday landed over the weekend, but she supported his decision to participate — he said hunting was a therapeutic activity.
“That’s what I do to get away, I hunt and fish,” he said. “For me, that’s what I do to relax.”
Mr. Ryker served 12 years in the Army’s 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, based in Fort Riley, Kan. He was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade Nov. 2, 2003, in Iraq. He said beyond the physical act of hunting, being able to bond with others with similar experiences helps in the healing process.
“The physical wounds heal fast. The mental and emotional wounds, not so much,” he said.
Supporters at the fundraising dinner were packed in wall-to-wall to support the organization and the veterans taking part.
Dixon Gunther, chief operations officer of WWIAF, said funds raised at the event support the foundation and help it grow its events for veterans. Last year the group held 29 events for veterans, and this year they’ll hold 45.
Mr. Gunther said the event included veterans from Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont.
“Our tagline is ‘American Heroes, American Sportsmen.’ What we do is basically latch up those two communities and it helps these guys, it helps heal the wounds that the eye can’t see,” Mr. Gunther said. “For a lot of these guys, getting back to being in the outdoors with outdoorsmen … is a return to normalcy.”
Rodney Saunders of Savannah said he came along with a friend who had tickets. He thought the concept of the weekend was good for the vets.
“It’s giving them a great opportunity to enjoy the sport of hunting, and it’s great to see the people supporting them too, for their sacrifice,” he said. “I couldn’t believe the parking lot when I got in.”
In addition to coming to the dinner, Mr. Saunders’ friend, Jason Sarsany, also of Savannah, was hosting a veteran for the weekend. He’s taking one out hunting on Sunday. It’s his first year doing so, and he said he was excited.
“It’s neat,” he said. “My dad was a veteran. He served in Korea, and I was raised being respectful to veterans.”
Wounded Warriors Get Back in Action At Ducks N’ Bucks Event
StJoeChannel
Christina Watkins
A St. Joseph Veteran expressed his emotions after three special days of hunting.
“I was surprised especially being locally,” said Larry Sinker.
Larry Sinker was one of eight veterans selected for this year’s MO-KAN Ducks N’ Bucks event, hosted by Wounded Warriors in Action.
The organization gives Purple Heart recipients a chance to relax, and enjoy the outdoors.
“It could’ve been virtually any place, in this part of the state, so I was very infatuated,” said Sinker.
Sinker has lived in St. Joseph for 25 years.
He served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
Almost a year into his service, his life changed forever.
“A booby trap, which is an explosive device on the side of the road, went off right when I walked right by it, and it blew me into a ditch,” said Sinker.
That accident affected the entire left side of his body, and also his hearing.
Later, in 1996, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Sinker said opportunities like Ducks N’ Bucks give him the chance to forget about his disabilities.
“It is absolutely astounding what they’re doing for us,” said Sinker.
“When we’re out there hunting, everything else goes to the side. They just forget about the injuries, the problems, all the hassles of life in general,” said Steve Wolk.
Steve Wolk was Sinker’s guide on the trip.
This is his first time working with someone with Sinker’s disabilities, and with someone who fought in the Vietnam War.
“Pretty proud to be with him,” said Wolk.
He said he’s glad he can give back to people, like Sinker, who have given so much to the country.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it wasn’t for these guys doing what they did,” said Wolk.
Phillips Area Fishing Report
Most of the fishermen have winterized their boats and put them away for the year but there are still a few die hard fishermen out there on the water.
The fishermen that are still out there are mostly Walleye and Musky fishermen, The walleye are hitting very well, on deeper waters like the Phillips Chain look for them in 20 to 30 foot of water stacked up on the breaks. Other shallow lakes look for them at the bottom of the deepest drops in the lake. Larger Jigs tipped with Walleye Suckers or small Northern Suckers are taking some nice fish.
Musky are following the other fish to deeper water, This time of year I look for schools of bait fish with my electronics. When you find the food source the Musky will be close by. Casting large Jake style lures or Plastics like the Medusa are great for this time of year but the biggest producer by far is live bait. The feeding windows are short right now but when the fish snap you can catch 2 or 3 in a very short time and have a chance at a true trophy.
I really wanted this to be a story about the Wounded Warriors in Action Hero’s that I took out fishing on Sunday but the fish didn’t cooperate. We had one short northern in the boat and had a Musky hit a sucker but we missed it. The VETS I had in the boat were great sports and we had a lot of fun on the water even without getting a Musky in the net. Thank You to all the Veterans for your service so we can enjoy the things we do today.
Pictured is me with a fish that ate a live sucker the last few minutes of daylight Saturday.
Vermont Container raises $22,000 for Wounded Warriors Action group
BENNINGTON — When Mike Davenport and his staff decided to raise funds for Purple Heart recipients through the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation, as part of a company-wide charity project, he didn’t know the huge amount of support it would generate, or that they would ultimately be writing a check for $22,889.
“Most of the people who work for me hunt and fish and do all that,” said Davenport, plant manager at Vermont Container Corp., whose staff chose WWIA to benefit from their efforts in part because the national charity seeks to help veterans get back to doing what they enjoy – hunting and fishing in the great outdoors.
The idea to organize a charity project to give back to the community originally came from Hap Perkins, president of Unicorr Packaging Group, which is the parent company of Vermont Container Corp.
Perkins organized start-up funds for the Bennington manufacturer and each of her sister stores, with amounts given based on their sales dollars. As the smallest of five locations, Vermont Container received $2,000, far lower than the highest budget of $10,000.
“When we first sat down and talked about it, our goal was to raise $10,000,” said Davenport, who has worked for the company the past 27 years and held weekly staff meetings to plan their fundraising efforts. The support the project received quickly exceeded expectations.
Davenport felt so strongly about the challenge and the organization he and his staff had chosen that he took out a personal loan of $12,000, using the funds to purchase a camouflaged 2013 Kawasaki 750 Teryx as a raffle prize. He also purchased a trailer for the winner to tow the two person side-by-side ATV.
“Wounded Warriors in Action helps veterans who may have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It helps get them back into a more normal life, by doing what they used to love,” said Davenport, 44.
With more than 1,100 raffle tickets sold at $20 each, Davenport was able to pay off the loan and reach the original fundraising goal.
But the idea had already taken off, Davenport and his staff started receiving donations of money and other substantial gifts. They purchased more items and decided to organize a benefit dinner and silent auction, with use of the lodge donated by the Bennington Elks.
Tickets for the dinner sold at $25 per person, $40 per couple; and space nearly became standing room only.
When John McDaniel, the founder of WWIA, heard about their efforts he was so impressed by “the amazing turnout from a small community” he decided to attend the dinner, and flew in from Wisconsin to witness what had been nearly eight months in the making.
“When I heard about the amount of time and energy that was put into this for our heroes, I had to be here,” said McDaniel, a retired Army officer who started the foundation in 2007. “Nobody’s ever done anything on this scale before. What an honor.”
As of last week, everything that had been purchased for the dinner, raffle and auction had been paid for, even before the auction was held. “We’re already in the black. It’s going to be all profit from here on out,” said Davenport, whose employees cooked and served the prime rib and stuffed chicken dinner for 150 guests.
Prizes raffled off included a $5,000 credit with Tundratour, a package that allows the winner to choose a North American wilderness trip, such as to hunt sea ducks or go shark fishing; a $1,000 taxidermy gift certificate and an all expenses paid shopping trip to a retail outfitter in Maine, as well as six individually raffled guns. A donated hunt at Nictau Lodge in New Brunswick, Canada was one of the prizes included in the silent auction, which also included power tools, handmade furniture, spa treatments, framed artwork, wine and outdoor apparel.
“It was all worth it,” said Davenport. “When I sit down and look at where we are and where we started I can’t believe it.”
Donations came in from Mass. and Conn., but the most amazing part, according to Davenport, is that most of the support came from local people in Bennington. “We’re not really a wealthy community,” he said. “The response from this community has been tremendous.”
Arranged on the tables were custom made WWIA benefit dinner glassware and small gifts, as well as shirts and hats for sale, also to benefit the foundation.
Attending with his two young daughters, ages 6 and 2, Marine veteran Milo Surdam made it to the benefit Saturday night to support his brothers in the military.
“What they’re doing to help our soldiers really backs up the boys coming home,” said Surdam, 34, of Bennington.
“It’s a good support system,” Surdam said. “This is local hometown people, giving back to the souls who gave their courage and love to our country.”
Wounded Warriors in Action is a nationwide nonprofit foundation, based in Apollo Beach, Florida. The WWIA serves our nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients by providing world class outdoor sporting activities, according to their website.
For more information, visit www.wwiaf.org; email info@wwiaf.org, or call 888-308-9942.
Contact Khynna at kkuprian@benningtonbanner.com and follow her on Twitter @khynnakat.
The Steve Schneider Mamorial Musky Tournament Results, WWIA Fundraiser
Temps in the high 80’s welcomed fishermen to the 2013 Steve Schneider Memorial Musky Tournament Saturday August 24. But that did not stop 34 teams from spending the 10 hour day on the water to raise money for the Wounded Warrior In Action Foundation, A national organization with a camp just outside of Phillips WI that helps rehabilitate wounded combat Veterans using outdoor skills.
The field lined up at 6:30 am in front of the Harbor View Pub and Eatery on Long Lake and eased out one by one racing across the lake to their first spot in hopes of claiming the first fish bonus. The first team to score was the father and son team of John and Jeremy Sattler with a 34.25″ fish at 7:15 am on Long Lake. Shortly after at 7:38 the husband and wife team of Brandon and Nicole Dunbar scored as Nicole hooked a 34.5″ Fish on Lake Duroy. Nicole didn’t waste any time hooking another fish. Brandon netted his wife’s 38″ fish at 8:50 am also out of lake Duroy. There is a 2 fish limit so Brandon and Nicole Dunbar had to pull their boat from the water and wait until 4:30 to see how many other teams would double and if any of them would tally more total inches. The next fish was caught just 10 minutes later as John and Tom Tingo boated a 34 incher at 9:00 am. It was just over 2 hours before the next team would be on the boards as another husband and wife team Jason and Kylee Baratka would capture the big fish of the tournament a hefty 44.5 inch fish at 11:05 from the smallest lake on the chain, Elk Lake. Brandon and Nicole were still holding as the next fish came in at 1:34 with Jake Stiener and Steve Holzum hooking a 40.5 from the waters of Duroy. At 2:49 the team of Jamie Schneider and Jason Lazar boated a 39″ fish on Lake Duroy. Jaime is the Daughter of Steve Schneider who this tournament was named after and they were fishing out of his boat making this one of the most special fish of the tournament. The fish were not done for the day and Brandon and Nicole only had less then 15 minutes to wait when the team of Joel Walczak and Rick Godager put their name in the books with a 41″ Duroy fish at 4:17.
In the end Brandon and Nicole Dunbar held on to the lead all day and took the first place prize $4,015 and 2 limited WWIA knives donated buy the WWIA, Brandon’s Cousin Jason Baratka and his wife Kylee took the second place prize of $1,620, Rick Godager and Joel Walczak were 3rd and received $1,080. 4th place and $540 went to Jake Stiener and Steve Holzum. 5th to Jason Lazar and Jamie Schneider with a $465 prize. The first fish bonus of $320 went to Jeremy and John Sattler and the big fish bonus of $320 went to Jason and Kylee Baratka.
7 out of 34 teams caught 8 measurable fish and raised over $1,600 for the Wounded Warriors in Action.
Drawing winners:
Wisconsin River Trip Jesse Heinz & Peter Polacek
Spring Bay Resort John Carlson & Jason Johns
Special thanks Chuck Bolton and John Carlson each teamed up with a WWIA Purple Heart Veteran to fish the contest with.
Thanks to:
Ross’s Sport Shop Birch Island Resort Harbor View Pub & Eatery Spring Bay Resort Chuck Bolton St. Croix Rods The Potter Place Beach’s Roadside Phillips Lanes Dave’s Legacy Guide Service Linda Carlson (Ross’s Sport Shop) WWIA Purple Heart Veterans Brad Wirt Guide Service Bob Boltz John Carlson Duane / Bonny Grube Dan / Holly Virnig Linda Christman And of course, all the participants/fishermen
THANK YOU EVERYONE and anyone I missed.
Hope to see you next year – August 25, 2014
Brandon and Nicole Dunbar 38″ Fish
Brandon and Nicole Dunbar 34.5″ Jason and Kylee Baratka 44.5″
Rules Meeting
By:
John Carlson
Ross’s Sport Shop
715-339-3625
WOUNDED WARRIOR HUNTS
Eight soldiers from five states (Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) met near Nashville, Mo., for a special mission: four days of hard-earned outdoor recreation therapy at Peterson Outdoors Ministries’ 3rd annual Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt. They would spend opening weekend of the firearms deer season hunting private property, thanks to local landowners.
The participants spent the first day getting to know one another and firing and sighting in their guns. Soldiers were given backpacks full of gifts, mostly hunting items donated by sponsoring companies, and hunter orange vests that had been embroidered with their names.
It was a good first day for the soldiers, but not their first experience with the Peterson Ministries’ staff. The organization had begun contacting the families and preparing for their visit months prior. The organization’s goal is to minister to the needs of the soldiers and their families before, during, and after the event itself.
“It is great to get wounded warriors or individuals with disabilities into the outdoors, but if it stops there, then it falls far too short,” says Tron Peterson, founder of Peterson Outdoors Ministries, a nonprofit organization that offers outdoor recreational therapy to wounded warriors, as well as to children and adults with dis abilities or terminal illnesses, at no cost.
Programs are designed for the soldier’s whole family because spouses and children of wounded warriors also deserve support, healing opportunities and a fun adventure.
DAY 2: TEAM BUILDING
The season opened with a great first morning for the soldiers. Dustin Morrison, of New Market, Iowa, scored a great buck and several others also had deer down. Everyone was treated to a talk by Chuck McAlister, founder and host of the hunting program Adventure Bound Outdoors.
The hunting groups are an important factor in the organization’s process and success. “We team our hunters with a professional guide and videographer,” explains Tron. “These teams are picked not on their hunting ability or excellence in filming, but because of their character and willingness to make a difference, encourage each other, and help the soldier with his struggles.”
Participants are encouraged to use their time outdoors to reflect. “Each morning, before the hunt starts, we have a speaker share a message of hope and encouragement for the soldiers to reflect on while in the hunting blind,” says Tron. “Each evening, we have a speaker give a message to the entire group of soldiers, their families, and volunteers.”
DAY 3: HONORS AND SPECIAL GUESTS
Nick Jedlicka, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, had an opportunity to hunt a great property and took a handsome nine-point buck.
That evening the soldiers were encouraged to share a little about themselves and where they had served. Their humbleness was overwhelming. No matter how long they had served, how many tours they had done, or how severe their injuries, none of them considered themselves to be heroes. To them it was just part of the job.
DAY 4: BIG BUCKS, BIG FINISH
The soldiers greeted their last day with a morning hunt.
Conservation Department staff set up the evening’s event. They prepared a meal of venison kabobs, fried catfish, venison chili, and sides for about 250–275 people, including the soldiers, volunteers, and members of the community. Some of the funding for the event was provided by the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation. To learn more, visit missouriconservationheritagefoundation.org.
Alex Rutledge, host of the TV show Bloodline with Alex Rutledge, had hunted that morning with Robert Duke, of St. Robert, Mo., and he gave a talk to close the event. It was a night of good food, pride, and patriotism.
The hunters took a total of 11 deer. Most of the deer were donated by the hunters to the Share the Harvest program.
These events are always met with excitement and appreciation by the participants. However, it is their ability to help individuals and families heal that really make them special.
“We have seen more than 70 lives changed for the better at our events, families and marriages restored, hope and purpose restored in the life of the soldier and his family. This is what it is all about,” says Tron. “Also, several of our wounded warriors have returned to their home states and started programs to help other wounded warriors.”
BEHIND THE SCENES
It takes a great deal of funding, labor, material, and moral support to offer these programs. Planning begins months in advance. Luckily, community members, business leaders, and other organizations have been extremely generous and supportive of their returning heroes.
Many volunteers participated daily during the event as well as before and afterward. In addition, 50–60 volunteers worked at least 10 hours on three of the event’s four days.
“We receive support from both local and national companies, churches, and faith-based groups as well as the community,” says Tron. “We have over 150 volunteers who we train to help with these events. These volunteers and businesses recognize that we are free because of the sacrifices these service men and women have made and want to give back in this way.”
GET INVOLVED
If you are a wounded warrior, or if you have a disability or terminal illness, and you would like to be included in a hunt, contact Peterson Outdoors Ministries at petersonoutdoors.org, by email at tron@petersonoutdoors.org(link sends e-mail), or by phone at 417-529-0115. Volunteer opportunities are also available.
MISSOURI–KANSAS DUCKS N’BUCKS
In November 2012, the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation and the Conservation Department cosponsored the annual Missouri–Kansas Ducks N’ Bucks event held near St. Joseph, Mo.
Eight Purple Heart recipients traveled to northwest Missouri for a four-day guided hunt, multiple banquets, and an evening event including dinner and honors at the Conservation Department’s regional office in St. Joseph, made possible by funding through the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
Community involvement was remarkable. “We had a super group of volunteers that helped out during the event,” says Brian Roderick, Missouri-Kansas Ducks N’ Bucks chapter president. “Thirty-five wonderful volunteers had boots on the ground, helping transport, guide, cook and more.”
The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation is a national nonprofit organization. They are dedicated to serving our nation’s combat wounded by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage independence and connections with communities, and pro mote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors. You can learn more about them and how to get involved at wwiaf.org or by calling 1-888-308-9942.
“I see a crucial need for mental and spiritual healing in the combat-wounded veteran population, and I’ve seen how sporting activities in the great outdoors can meet this need,” says founder John McDaniel, who is also a veteran.
“In my career, this was one of the most humbling and gratifying events I have ever had an opportunity to be a part of,” says Roger Wolken, Conservation Department northwest regional protection supervisor. “I was touched by the gratitude each of the veterans expressed to us. We are so blessed to be U.S. citizens, to live and work in the profession we dearly love, to raise our children in a free country, all of which is due to the veterans of our armed forces and their personal dedication and sacrifices.”
PERMIT EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS
Any member of the U.S. military currently assigned as a patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit, or a military medical center may hunt (but not trap) wildlife—except deer and turkey—without a permit but must carry orders showing assignment to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit, or admissions verification to a military medical center. However, additional permits are required for migratory birds. Note: Nonresident veterans who meet these requirements also can purchase resident permits, for example, resident deer or turkey hunting permits.
Any honorably discharged resident or nonresident veteran having a service-related disability of 60 percent or greater, or who was a prisoner of war during military service, may hunt (but not trap) wildlife—except deer or turkey—without a permit but must carry a certified statement of eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
For more information on military permit exemptions, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/9202, review the Wildlife Code of Missouri: 3 CSR 10-5.205: Permits Required: Exceptions (available from permit vendors and online through the Secretary of State’s website at sos.mo.gov), or call our Department headquarters at 573-751-4115 and ask to speak with someone in our Permit Services office.