Letter to the Editor: Veterans get chance for pheasant hunt

Dear Editor,

On the weekend of Nov. 1-2, former members of the Army stalked the fields of Nebraska. The quarry on this mission: pheasants!

Thanks to a small army of volunteers from the High Plains #278 Pheasants Forever chapter, four combat wounded Army veterans were able to enjoy an experience new to them – a wild pheasant hunt.

These brave American heroes had survived numerous combat related injuries. Chuck was an Abram’s tank commander and one of the first into Baghdad. He survived 18 IED explosions. James took shrapnel from the landmine that took his buddy’s leg. Greg took RPG shrapnel to the face and a bullet through his hip. All have PTSD and physical manifestations. They are some of the veterans that a Denver based 501(3)C organization, US Warriors Outdoors, takes outdoors for hunting, fishing and other activities.

This was the second year that the two groups have put on this hunt. All four of the vets experienced hunt training, ‘drop bird’ hunting at Prairie Springs, and private property wild bird hunting. All of the hunting and food expense was covered by the Sidney Pheasants Forever chapter, and they marshalled dozens of people to help. They gave up their time and energy to take these men hunting, brought their dogs, shared their knowledge and ran the weekend with humor and precision, and none of them hunted – that was exclusively for the vets.

As the USWO representative, I cannot say enough about this effort on behalf of our vets, USWO and myself. Brad Lines and his entire PF group of dog handlers and helpers and Bryan Reimers and his group at Prairie Springs, who provided bird hunting, food prep and a cabin for the vets, did a great job. Several landowners gave us access, including Mike Rowan, who also provided housing and a gathering place.

It was a great weekend and I was surrounded by great Americans the whole time. I hope Sidney will support this chapter of Pheasants Forever and help them continue their great community service. We hope to be back next year with double the wounded warriors. Let them know if you can help. 

Art Momper

U.S. Warriors Outdoors