The Detroit Chapter of Safari Club International and Pieter Stofberg of Nimrod Safaris teamed up for the third year in a row to provide an African hunting experience for one of our Vets that paid a big price for the rest of us. The recipient this year was Dave Peck of Marshall, Michigan. From November 1-5 Dave and his son Jason joined Pieter on his hunting property two hours northwest of Windhoek.


(Dave Peck, 1968)

On Jan 16, 1969, while serving with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, Dave was seriously wounded and has been confined in a wheelchair every since. But he has lived a full life and enjoys hunting.


(Pieter Stofberg and Dave Peck in bush blind)

Making a wheelchair hunt happen in remote Namibia is not easy, but Pieter Stofberg makes it happen. Pieter has a beautiful lodge that is handicap accessible.

(Dave Peck enjoys success)

Dave used a 202 Sauer in 300 Win Mag and 180 grain factory loads. He took other trophies and his son Jason got to do some hunting as well.


(Dave enjoying an African sunset)

I had the pleasure of assisting on this trip, taking some video and helping getting Dave around. My son, a currently serving U.S. Soldier with a Purple Heart of his own, also participated in this hunt. I was also impressed with the effort that Pieter Stofberg gives. He served with the South African Army and was wounded in action in Angola. Pieter does this from deep down in his heart.

We all get a lot out of hunting, we should all try to put something back in. Please support doing something like this for fellow hunters that don't have it as easy as the rest of us.

Matt Norman:

Is a fund set up for contributing to this type of hunt? Please advise. I would be more than happy to contribute to something like this to help out a vet who has sacrificed for our country.

Regards,

Rick L. Webb

Yes, the Detroit Chapter SCI has a specific fund set up and every nickel in that account goes for this project. I will PM you with details. Hopefully more chapters of SCI will start doing the same thing and helping out their local disabled and paralyzed Vets with hunting opportunities. The Paralyzed Veterans of America ("PVA") is also very active in providing such hunting/shooting opportunities. One of our A-R people, Doug Warren, works for PVA and puts about 80 hours a week into making such things happen. Another one of the good guys is Col. Lew Deal of PVA, who since retirement from the USMC has worked for PVA and is committed to taking care of Vets.

I urge people to get involved with these kinds of projects, with their time and/or checkbooks.

Looks like a great hunt for Mr. Peck.

Matt,

Will Pieter be coming to SCI Detroit in January?

Ann - Yes, Pieter will be making the SCI Banquet Tour in January-March. Not sure when and where he will be attending.

Got an email from Lew Deal, and he asked that this link be posted....

www.pvaheritagefund.org

It's a good means to help out.

Im sure Pieter will be at Detroit at least. Ann, are you coming? Craig Boddington will be there this year. I would also like to thank Pieter for making this hunt possible again. It comes straight from the heart. Col Lew Deal and our own Doug Warren also deserve a round of thanks for all that they do. They put in many hours on various projects for disabled veterans. This is the 3rd year SCI Detroit has done this hunt and it has been an overwhelming success. Anyone who would like to contribute to this project is welcome. Better yet, start your own projects in your local areas. Last but certainly not least, I would like to say thanks to my friend Matt Norman who has put in endless time and effort to make these things happen. Matt is much too modest to put himself in the limelight but he is a major reason it takes place.

I am planning on being there. Hopefully I will be bringing one of my Australian friends who is a PH for Hunt Australia. Provided I can coordinate things with Rick Cassidy!

I am a lifeline for the Disabled Hunters of North America. www.DHNA.org

I love these kind of stories . I really do. Currently all of our hunts are stateside. But we've had some good ones.

Thanks to everyone for all the encouraging posts. and a special thanks to Matt Norman for spearheading that project with Detroit SCI, I know David had the time of his life. Matt was correct about my hours, it takes some work to keep these guys in line .

While I am thanking folks right now I want to throw in a big thanks to my friend and fellow AR poster Craig Boddington, Craig has helped us tremendously with his time, resources and friendship.

Everyones help is truly appreciated, our biggest struggle as you might imagine is getting some of these folks out of the house. If you know someone wheelchair bound I encourage you to reach out your hand and offer to take them to the woods or the lake, you may make a great new friend and a possible new hunting buddy.

I am always looking for places to host a hunt for the guys (Roughly 40k PVA members), it is not an easy or safe task for them to get out on their own so I try and arrange hunts with able-bodied volunteers to assist with the entire hunt.

Hint- Doe cull hunts are our specialty.

Thanks again,

Doug