HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes: Pheasant hunting adventures

Photos from the second day of this year's HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes annual deer hunt. 

What is HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes?  From The Truth About Guns:

“If it weren’t for this program I would be dead. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

— Staff Sgt. Matthew Taylor 

…the program offers therapeutic events in the great outdoors for soldiers recovering from injuries or illnesses.  It helps promote camaraderie and networking among the participants, as well as with people they meet while in the program.  It also gives these men a sense of hope and helps motivate them to live another day.

The Illinois HOOAH Deer Hunt For Heroes organization, a 501c3 charitable organization based in McLean County Illinois, hosts a number of these Ft. Campbell HOOAH! program soldiers.  The two founders, Tom Huffington and Matt Graden, launched the group after seeing a Sunday morning hunting show in 2011 that featured sportsmen taking wounded servicemen out hunting as part of the Army’s [editor:  now former] HOOAH! program.

On the first day, Tuesday, the servicemen were taken by motorcade to SCHEELS in Springfield, IL where the outdoor store outfitted them from head to toe at no charge. 

On Wednesday, the soldiers were invited to Dewey's Hunt Club for some high energy and exciting pheasant hunting.  Here are some photos from that adventure.  It proved a great time for all involved…  even the dogs.

Even the vets with series service-related injuries could participate thanks to Action Track chairs.

Hi there.

Here are a couple of series photos:

And another, starring the dog!