I was honored to be part of the Wounded Warrior turkey hunt in Bland County last week. Eight wounded warriors were treated to a two and half day hunt with their own guides and callers. Lodging, food, drinks, money, hats and shirts were donated by various people and companies around south west Virginia for this event.
Conservation Police Officer Shupe and his family busted their rear ends on their own time to put this hunt on. By the end of the weekend we had four gobblers down and a lifetime of memories made. One wounded warrior shot his first & second ever turkeys this weekend and they were both 3 year old birds.
I guided on three hunts and was able to get a bird to the gun for one hunter. On Friday evening in the middle of a thunder storm we had two gobblers and a hen feeding in a field that we were set up on. After 3 1/2 hours of watching this group and them paying no attention to anything I had to offer a two year old gobbler sneaked in behind us. My wounded warrior was busy watching the two gobblers to our front and I had to move his attention to the gobbler at 24 yards instead of the ones at 150 yards. Mr. Hamm made a perfect shot with my T/C Encore shooting a 3" Hevi-shot magnum blend. The bird dropped in his tracks.
Anyone interested in reading Mr. Hamm's story that he travels America telling can read it here, it's worth your time.... http://richardhammvietnam.com/My_Story.html
The news station WVVA stopped by and interviewed one of the wounded warriors and Officer Shupe, http://www.wvva.com/story/22220446/2013 ... Id=8866327
I was very honored to have taken part in this hunt. I was also very proud of my home county as people donated over 6,000 acres for these men to hunt on. Some lands have not been turkey hunted on in recent memory. We also had other people stopping by the lodge we were allowed to use on this hunt and volunteering their land for us to hunt on, once the word had gotten out.
A Wounded Warrior from last years hunt who was presented his mounted turkey this year
One of the warriors I guided on an afternoon fishing trip at the lodge's pond
A group photo before the hunting begins
