18 June 2014, 20:46
chilcotin hillbillyWounded Warrior in Action Hunt
As many of you know each spring I provide a black bear hunt for a purple heart medal recipient (which means you have to be wounded in combat to receive one)This year I had two hero's in camp thanks to Jeff Janosky a hunter of mine who sponsored a second soldier to come hunting.
The two guys where both outstanding young men, Justin served 5 years as an MP and spent the most of that deployed in Iraq x 2, Afganistan, Bosnia and Somolia. He has 2 purple hearts and only one leg.
Chad, is still active duty infantry and suffered head and back injuries in an IED explosion while deployed in Afganistan.
Chad found out he was chosen for this hunt 3 weeks prior to coming. In order to make it he and his wife scheduled a c-section 10 days early and postponed a scheduled surgery he was to have. Chad also heads out to Germany with his family next week for a three year deployment. Talk about wanting to come!!!
The trip started out poorly with storms in the mid west made both men miss their flights, Justin in fact came in one day late.
The first night 4 hours after Justin's arrival the dogs struck and off we went, fighting our way through swamps and blow downs we reached the tree where Justin saw his first bear ever. It just so happened that his first bear was to be a giant.A good clean kill , a few hugs and high 5's and Justin had his hands on his trophy.
Next it was Chad's turn. We started the next morning hitting the road with the dogs, although we were catching bears and having fun all were sows and young boars.The third day ended with Chad and I pulling the dogs off a big boar bayed up in a spruce swamp at 2:00am. Chad was wondering if he would ever get on a good boar to pull the trigger on. Seven bears caught before Chad had his chance. Chad's bear turned out to be a mean one with a number of dogs getting beat up and the bear getting shot from about 12 feet. Chad really had a story to go home with, a mean bear and a quick well placed shot with new friends there to witness his first bear kill.
the week was a great success but the dogs need a rest, Oscar took advantage of the bears rear end and used it as a pillow.
Tired dogs.
This picture sums up Justin's attitude he loves his country and has no regrets.
This whole hunt was filmed for Flatliners TV and will be aired next year on Pursuit Channel,
Thanks to Scott Stirling and Dan Forty who have the same wish to support all our troops they will be back to film each of the WWIAF hunts here in the future.
Thanks to John McDaniel and www.wwiaf.org for sending such deserving heroe's.
