After meeting at the Horse Barn and Hunt Club near Lakefield for breakfast on Saturday, October 19, 16 warriors were able to take advantage of a special two-day pheasant hunting opportunity.
The Warriors Never Give Up (WNGU) adventure included Veterans from Tennessee, Florida, California and more. They joined together for a pheasant hunting experience sponsored by the Round Lake Sportsman’s Club and the Nobles and Jackson County Pheasants Forever chapters.
‘Healing heroes through outdoor adventures’ is the theme of WNGU. “It’s an opportunity for mental, physical and spiritual healing,” explained co-founder Brett Bastian. “For people with like-minded experiences to share with others who have similar experiences and let them know they are not alone.”
Veterans from four different theaters of war took part in the hunt and came from various branches of the service including members of the Special Forces and Green Berets. Veterans who served in Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom took part in the adventure.
WNGU is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and holds eight to ten hunting and fishing events each year, bringing together over 100 Veterans. They partner with individuals, groups and businesses to bring these opportunities to “combat, deployed and service-connected Veterans.”
“God inspired me to give back to my fellow Veterans while I was sitting in a tree stand,” Bastain explained of how the organization began. He shared that thought with a friend, and in 2013, the organization began.
Groups of three Veterans were accompanied by local guides as they hunted for pheasants. “We had more volunteers than participants,” explained Nobles County Pheasants Forever chapter president Scott Rall. Working with the Jackson County chapter and the Round Lake Sportsman’s Club, the event was planned and volunteers sought.
Saturday’s hunting began at the Horse Barn and Hunt Club. During the afternoon, they were able to continue to hunt on donated private lands throughout Jackson and Nobles Counties. The guests and their guides enjoyed a rib dinner on Saturday evening. Sunday’s hunting was also on donated private lands. Some chose to stay on and planned to continue hunting on Monday. The adventure began on Friday evening with a Meet and Greet event at the hotel in Worthington.
Saturday breakfast was served at the Horse Barn and Hunt Club, owned by Brent Rossow. The pheasant hunting preserve, sporting clays range and steak house also offers catering, and they catered the supper served Saturday evening for the hunters and their guides. Box lunches were also provided for the participants, courtesy of the Horse Barn and Hunt Club.
Rall expressed his appreciation for the business community and sponsors that aided in the pheasant hunt. “Many are great supporters of conservation, and they really step up for anything that honors Veterans,” he added.
“There are over 22 million Veterans in the United States and we can’t do it alone,” Bastain added. “We need an army of volunteers to help.” He expressed his hope to inspire others to give back to their communities.
This is the second year that the area Pheasants Forever chapters and the Round Lake Sportsman’s Club have teamed with WNGU to offer the hunting experience. Last year’s event gave eleven Veterans the opportunity for the adventure.
Bastain indicated that most of their events through WNGU have been fishing trips and pheasant hunts. “We hope to add turkey hunting in the future,” he added.
Over 400 Veterans have taken part in events through WNGU since it began in 2013. Over thirty events have been held, mainly in South Dakota, but also in Kansas, Missouri and Minnesota.
“I have pages of testimonials that say there is power and healing in the outdoors,” Bastain said. “It’s fun to see the smiles, connections, friendships and — the healing.”
Anyone interested in aiding or assisting with future hunts are encouraged to contact the area organizations that were involved. For more information about WNGU, please see warriorsnevergiveup.org.
