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MARTINO: A dream weekend for special needs children
Kids enjoyed camping, hunting in Cass County
For children with physical or emotional challenges the great outdoors might be nothing more than a patch of asphalt or slab of concrete. A true undisturbed natural setting may be out of their normal realm of enjoyment. But thanks to the fourth annual Freedom Hunt, 14 special needs children were afforded a weekend-long camping and deer-hunting adventure.
Taking advantage of Indiana’s youth deer hunting season and the tireless efforts of Steve Griffey and his army of volunteers, a rural Cass County farm situated along the beautiful banks of the Eel River was transformed into a site for this unique Indiana adventure. Unlike many sports where emphasis is placed on aggressiveness and competitiveness the objective for this activity was to have fun and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of what nature provides.
“I couldn’t wait to get here,” said 14-year-old Quinton Doty as he quickly made his way to the camp site.
“Believe it or not, hunting helps his ADHD,” said his father, Todd. “Being outdoors helps him concentrate.”
For 15-year-old Anthony Correia, the Freedom Hunt is a dream come true. Confined to a wheelchair, it is an opportunity for him to experience life made available only through the efforts of benevolent volunteers who make the hunt possible.
Take retired IDNR Conservation officer Tom Williams for example. After spending 32 years as a game warden you would think he has had his fill of time spent outdoors.
“As soon as I found out about this I called Griffey and asked if I could help,” Williams said, as he helped with some of the cooking chores. “This is one way I felt I could give something back. This is such an admirable event and I wanted to be a part of it.”
One of our area’s most successful deer hunters, Jeff Patchett, also attended this year’s Freedom Hunt with his nephew Chance Urbina.
“This is such a great thing and I wanted Chance to experience not only the hunting aspect, but also witness the caring volunteers who make it happen,” he said. “This is a true testament of great people doing great things.”
Later that evening the youth hunters and their parents met the men and woman who would serve as their personal guides. After everyone became situated and sleeping bags stowed the entire group was treated to venison stew cooked over a roaring campfire. Mitzi White and her crew did a magnificent job handling all the cooking chores. Outdoor activities generate hearty appetites and Mitzi made sure no one left hungry.
After a satisfying meal each of the children was presented with their own hunting equipment that would be theirs to keep. Every youngster took home an array of camouflaged clothing, hats, gloves and boots.
Sleeping quarters were provided by the Indiana National Guard where several days before they had set up five large army style canvas tents filled with dozens of cots.
Early the next morning white beams of light sliced the pre-dawn darkness as the kids carrying new flashlights made their way to the cook tent. They stood proud in their new hunting clothes.
“I could not sleep a wink,” said one youngster as he scarffed biscuits and gravy and sipped chocolate milk.
For the next two days trucks and ATVs shuttled in and out of the camp on their way to the 15 ground blinds strategically placed over 3,000 acres. Radios buzzed with accounts of deer seen and taken. Hunting stories flowed like water in the adjacent river.
By the end of the final day seven children collected their first deer for a 50 percent success rate. In hunting circles this is remarkable. It also shows the knowledge possessed by the guides and the amount of pre-season scouting that went into this youth event. On a special note, Zoe Miller was the first female hunter to collect a deer
Then, when you thought things couldn’t be more memorable, the unimaginable happened. Each year at the hunt’s conclusion a new Remington 870 is raffled off to the participating youth hunters. The children’s excitement reaches a fevered pitch as the lucky ticket is drawn.
When the number was read out loud it was Chance Urbina claiming the prize. After receiving the new gun he walked through the crowd that had gathered and placed the shotgun on Brian Foust’s wheelchair.
“I heard Brian say he always wanted a gun of his own so I want him to have it,” the young boy said — and it was at that moment tear drops streamed from the faces of everyone, young and old alike.
As the weekend long Freedom Hunt drew to a close, several of us talked about the positive merits of giving these special kids a chance to experience something they may not otherwise. But these same children taught us a valuable lesson in life. As able bodied adults we sometimes become caught up in the daily stress and pressures of our own lives and find it easy to complain. Yet these children have to deal with the utmost in challenges, ones they didn’t ask for or deserve, yet they remain positive, upbeat and look at the joy in each day. Yes, these kids taught us something as well.
Even though this year’s Freedom Hunt may be over until next year, there is no doubt the 14 kids who took part left with memories and knowledge they will carry for a lifetime. But then again — so did we!
Youth Deer Hunting
Last weekend Indiana offered a special youth deer hunting season, open to all youngsters age 17 and younger, accompanied by an adult. Children had an opportunity to pursue our nation’s most popular big game animal prior to the opening of the early archery season which began last Thursday.
Congratulations are in order for every child who took part in the youth hunt, regardless of whether or not a deer was collected. Time spent in the woods with an adult mentor is time well spent and moments never forgotten. Congratulations are also in order for these caring adults who made the time to accompany these children.
Here are the names of local youngsters who were fortunate in collecting antlerless deer during last weekend’s special hunt. This information was obtained from our area’s state approved check-in stations which include Bryant’s Outdoor Store, Burlington Meats, Innovative Archery and Simpson’s Deer Processing.
This list includes field-dressed weights along with county of harvest.
Carroll County: Jared Miller — 95-pound doe; Adam Shepherd — 60-pound button buck.
Cass County: James Evans — 105-pound doe; Tyler Carden — 110-pound doe; Zoe Miller — 60-pound button buck; Chance Urbina — 60-pound button buck; Cody Cornell — 60-pound doe; Jared Louthain — 60-pound doe; Thomas Ratcliff — 60-pound doe; Mason Piel — 90-pound doe; Kyle Peters — 80-pound doe; Allen Cooper — 86-pound doe.
Clinton County: Katelynn Pickell — 90-pound doe.
Fulton County: Jim Ulrich — 100-pound doe; Brandon Arnett — 55-pound button buck; Mike Pearson Jr. — 62-pound button buck.
Howard County: Quinton Young — 120-pound doe; Katherine Weaver — 115-pound doe; Cody Beach — 60-pound button buck; Chris Bitterman — 105-pound doe; Jose Cobian Jr. — 75-pound button buck; Will Harris — 115-pound doe; Devon Fetters — 120-pound doe; Brandon Bogard — 125-pound doe.
Marshall County: Adam Thatcher — 100-pound doe.
Miami County: Brittany Blackwood — 60-pound doe; Collan West — 110-pound doe.
Tippecanoe County: Cody Duncan — 105-pound doe.
Wabash County: Caleb Slaughter — 60-pound doe.
White County: Kyle Brothers — 100-pound doe.
Tournament Results
Roger Lytle swept the Delphi-Delco team bass tourney taking first place and “big fish” honors with three largemouth bass totaling 5 pounds, 1 ounce. His largest topped out at 1 pound, 15 ounces.
In spite of low water conditions, Phil Reel and Greg Rude came away with a win at last Wednesday’s Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney with five largemouth weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Dennis McKee grabbed second place and the weekly event’s “big fish” award with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces. His biggest tipped the scales at 4 pounds, 2 ounces.
• John Martino is the Tribune’s outdoors columnist. He may be reached by e-mail at jmartinooutdoors@att.net.
