Map of Texas NWTF Wheelin Sportsmen The Red River Longbeards (Wichita Falls, Texas) and the Pease River (Crowell, Texas) chapters held their first Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Disabled American Veterans deer hunts last year. Area disabled veterans had the privilege of hunting the 12,000-acre Teacup Mountain Army Corp of Engineers property. The hunts took place on three separate weekends during November and December.

Hunters were matched with members of the Pease River Chapter, active duty military and retired veterans from the Red River Longbeards Chapter, which gave them an opportunity to share their experiences and what they struggle with each day after returning from war.

On the last night of each hunt, they held an appreciation dinner for the veterans and their families. Red River Longbeards Chapter President Gibby Gibson, a disabled veteran himself, thanked them for their service and for giving both chapters the opportunity to get to know them. They also were presented with an NWTF veterans pin.

DAV Commander Joel Jimenez, of the DAV local Chapter 41 of North Texas, helped locate disabled veterans to participate in the hunts. He also hunted himself.

Through local donations and fundraisers, the chapters were able to make these hunts free for the veterans.

Wheelin' Sportsmen Event Rifle Range
Air Force disabled veteran Lucy Carracedo spreads a flag over her buck. She’s pictured with members of the Red River Longbeards Chapter.

Illana Burkhart
Wheelin' Sportsmen Coordinator

Check out the new Outreach Event Manual at www.wheelinsportsmen.org.
Click on the Events link.

Be safe out there

If you’re like me, you are anxiously awaiting spring gobbler season. I’m looking forward to hunting as much as possible. Of course, there is never as much time for hunting as we would like, but the feel of the crisp spring air on your face and the sound of a far-off gobble makes any time, no matter how little, spent in the woods well worth it.

As my spring calendar quickly begins to fill with personal, professional and other obligations, I always pencil in some time to myself in the turkey woods. I also make sure to spend a few hours on the range getting reacquainted with my trusty ol’ 20 gauge. No matter how experienced a hunter you are, or how well you think you know your gun, it is always wise to make sure everything is sighted in perfectly before a hunt.

The same holds true at Wheelin’ Sportsmen events.

Every hunt we hold at the Wild Turkey Center includes time on the agenda for every participant — EVERY PARTICIPANT — to sight in their gun on the range. Even the hunters who come year after year are asked to check their guns to ensure everyone is as safe as possible.

We also bring the hunters and guides together and review the rules and general hunting safety tips before sending everyone out into the field.

Other ways to add to the safety of a Wheelin’ hunt include having reliable transportation to and from hunting locations, making sure blinds are secure and in good condition, and using special equipment if necessary to steady a shot.

You can find many more tips like these in our new Outreach Event Manual. It not only walks you through every step of starting a Wheelin’ Sportsmen event, it also offers proven suggestions for making your event the best it can be. Even if you’re just looking for ways to make the outdoors more accessible for a friend or loved one, there’s plenty of advice that can help.

Our goal is to help people with disabilities experience the joys of the outdoors, but we also have a responsibility to make sure every participant hunts safely and wisely. — Illana