Volunteers support Wounded Warrior Hunt

Photo By Patrick Moes | Volunteers and veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project participated in the second deer hunt at the Eau Galle Recreation Area, near Spring Valley, Wis., Dec. 14.  

SPRING VALLEY, WI, UNITED STATES

12.14.2013

Story by Patrick Moes 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District

SPRING VALLEY, Wis. - District staff volunteered their time Dec. 14, 2013, to support the second Wounded Warrior Hunt at Eau Galle Recreation Area, near Spring Valley, Wis.

Volunteers with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a few outdoor enthusiasts also helped.

Jon Sobiech, planning, said the event was a great opportunity to support the veterans and get outdoors.

For many of the volunteers, the event began weeks earlier. Sobiech said the volunteers scouted several areas within the park to determine where tree stands and ground blinds could be positioned.

Despite these efforts to get the veterans an opportunity of harvesting their own deer, the cold weather forced the deer to hunker down during the hunt. At the end of the day, none of the veterans were able to harvest a deer.

The six veterans braved the cold and the lack of deer sightings didn't deter their spirits. Josh Walker, an Army veteran, said it was great to just get outdoors and be with other veterans and outdoors enthusiasts.

In addition to Walker, the other veterans included Travis Vliet, Dan Hinze, Shawn Plante, Matt Goetsch and Tom Drinken. They were assisted by Paul Sickman, Dave Hausman, Jim Devlin and Brad Peterson, all with the DNR, and Jon and Jeff Sobiech. Corps employees Bryanna Sauer, resource management; Steve Clark, planning; and Kelli Phillips, operations, provided food for the hunters.

• Date Taken: 12.14.2013
• Date Posted: 02.25.2014 14:46
• Story ID: 121130
• Location: SPRING VALLEY, WI, US