First Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors Independence Hunt Event a success

Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 28, 2014

Contact: Tom Jones, 734-612-6677


First annual Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors
Independence Hunt Event a success

Hunters with health challenges from all corners of Michigan joined Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors Oct. 16-19 for the first-ever Independence Hunt Event at Sharonville State Game Area in Jackson County. This firearm deer hunt was for wounded veterans and others with disabilities.

Two of the 15 hunters participating in the event successfully harvested deer. Many others saw deer but chose not to take a shot. All hunters reported beautiful conditions, great camaraderie and new friendships.

Brian Wilkinson, a spinal cord injury survivor who participated in the hunt, said, “The nice thing about this hunt is that they have Action Track chairs, which allows me to get out of my manual chair into an automatic, battery-operated chair that can really navigate anywhere in the forest. I really like to be in the woods as a part of nature, and these track chairs actually let you do that.” 

Hunters participating in this event had access to assistive resources, secured by the Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors partners, to help facilitate the hunt. These included hunting guides who assisted hunters throughout their hunts, tracked wheelchairs, pop-up blinds, permanent blinds, access to approximately 9 miles of mowed trails and transportation assistance. 

Casey Leonard, the hunting guide assisting Wilkinson with the Independence Hunt, said “The experience with Brian was awesome. There’s a lot of therapeutic value that goes into hunting and being in nature. It’s not all about the harvest of animals. I think it’s a lot about the camaraderie that you get in hunting. There’s more to hunting than the harvest. I think that gets overlooked a lot.” 

Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors would like to thank the following organizations for their assistance with the Independence Hunt Event:

• The Livonia Costco (store #390) at I-96 and Middlebelt and the East Michigan Avenue Meijer in Jackson (store #56) for their donations of breakfast and lunch to the participants, guides and visitors through all four days of the hunt.
•  The Chelsea Comfort Inn for providing free lodging for some of the out-of-town hunters.
•  Jerome Country Market for providing discounted deer processing to successful hunters.
•  Dunham’s in Adrian for providing discounted supplies used in the assisted hunts.
•  Camp Liberty, for providing an additional hunting location for one of the participants.

Those who have health challenges that prevent them from participating in outdoor activities and who would like some help getting back outdoors are welcome to contact Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors program coordinator Tom Jones at 734-612-6677 or tjones@zero-day.us. He can get people connected with helpful resources and recreational opportunities on an individual basis.

Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors is a cooperative partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Camp Liberty, Zero-Day, Eisenhower Center, Brain Injury Association of Michigan, Passing Along the Heritage Foundation, Safari Club International Foundation, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Disabled American Veterans and more. Its mission is to provide improved outdoor recreation opportunities for wounded veterans and individuals with health challenges and to coordinate a support network that facilitates their recovery through connecting with nature.

  

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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

/Editors, please note: An accompanying photo is available below for download. 

Caption: Casey Leonard (left) and Brian Wilkinson with a tracked wheelchair that allowed Wilkinson to navigate easily around the Sharonville State Game Area during the Oct. 16-19 Independence Hunt event./

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