Bootheel Boss Gobblers Help Open the Outdoors to Hunters of All Abilities
For many hunters, fall means early mornings, time in the woods and the anticipation of another hunting season. But for some, simply getting into the field can present challenges. In southeast Missouri, the National Wild Turkey Federation's Bootheel Boss Gobblers Chapter is easing those challenges and bringing the joys of hunting to many.
Through partnerships with the Missouri Department of Conservation and local supporters, the chapter continued creating hunting opportunities for individuals with mobility impairments this fall, including a September dove hunt and the fourth annual Southeast Mobility Impaired Hunter Deer Hunt in October.
The fall hunting opportunities kicked off Sept. 1 with a dove hunt at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area near East Prairie, Missouri. The event welcomed hunters with mobility impairments for an opening-day experience, with volunteers and MDC staff assisting participants in the field.
The NWTF partnered with MDC to support the hunt, providing lunch for participants following the morning's activities.
With unusually hot weather putting a damper on the day's hunting, participants harvested just three doves. Still, the event provided an opportunity for hunters to spend time afield and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with opening day.
Just over a month later, the chapter's support for accessible hunting continued with the fourth annual Southeast Mobility Impaired Hunter Deer Hunt, held Oct. 9-11.
The three-day event brought together more than 130 people, including 23 mobility-impaired hunters who headed into the woods in pursuit of whitetails. By the end of the weekend, participating hunters had harvested 17 deer.
But for longtime NWTF volunteer Sara Bradshaw, some of the most memorable moments couldn't be measured by harvest totals.
Several participants harvested their first deer during the weekend, while others harvested their first deer since becoming wheelchair users.
"Moments like those are hard to put into words and a reminder of just how much these hunts mean," Bradshaw said.
Behind those experiences was a community of landowners, guides, sponsors, family members and volunteers who helped make the weekend possible.
The Wake Foundation provided several rifles for participating hunters, while Biester's Meats processed all 17 harvested deer free of charge. The Whitewater Bluegrass Band, cooking crew, deer cleaning crew and numerous other supporters also contributed to the event.
For the Bootheel Boss Gobblers, supporting accessible hunting opportunities is nothing new. The chapter has been involved in the NWTF’s Wheelin' Sportsmen program for years, helping bring hunters together through events that emphasize participation, camaraderie and time outdoors.
The two fall hunts demonstrate how partnerships between local NWTF volunteers, conservation agencies, landowners and community supporters can create opportunities that might otherwise be difficult for some hunters to experience.
And while the weather didn't cooperate for September's dove hunt, October's deer hunt offered plenty to celebrate.
Together, the events were a reminder that a successful day afield isn't always measured by the number of birds or deer harvested, but by the memories made and the opportunities to experience the outdoors.