I have a problem, and I am trying to figure out how to handle it.

As most of my readers know, I arranged for several handicapped hunters through several different groups to come and hunt at Cubbedge Hill over the last few years. And now, through Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge as well as through our QDMA Salkehatchie Branch, I have even more opportunities to make these special hunts happen… Which is definitely a great thing and something that I always wanted to be a part of.

Now I have been contacted again by one of the groups that I assisted in the past inquiring “when” I could arrange something for one (or more) of their hunters. And that is where the problem lies. Because I was not impressed with how the group managed their last hunt with us, nor another hunt with a friend of mine.

Don’t misunderstand, the hunter that they sent me was definitely deserving and was truly a pleasure to assist. However one of the group’s coordinators decided to accompany our hunter at the last minute, which would have been fine except for two things. One, I had already told the group that I could only take the hunter and their chaperon due to space limitations. And two, the coordinator, who gets to go on many of these special-needs hunts, caused their hunter to be late getting to the woods by needing so much assistance himself while getting ready.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t begrudge the coordinator for trying to take advantage of every hunting opportunity that their group gets. But when you have been notified that not only is there no room, but that you are not needed (my dad was completely paralyzed, so I am VERY familiar with assisting the disabled), then that is that. And certainly do not compromise the hunt of the person you are supposedly trying to help.

The same coordinator also arranged for several special-needs hunters to stay and hunt on a great piece of property just down the road from us. Everything was provided including lodging, special meals, a cook out, guiding and some EXCELLENT hunting. Just what any hunter would want, especially the four that were to given the opportunity to attend. However, only two showed up. Once again, do not get me wrong. If those two missing hunters had some medical emergency, then I understand. But since neither one called (ever), we have no idea what the problem was… Just two empty spots that could have been filled with other deserving hunters!

And while I am at this, I might as well go ahead and get everything off of my chest… I also have a problem with some of the hunters that I have been sent as well as their chaperons. And this complaint is not limited to the group that I have been talking about. This complaint goes to many of the groups that I have helped and know that others have helped as well. They either send the same hunters every year on these special hunts or send one that may not need the hunt as much as someone else.

And by that I mean, I think that these special hunts should be given to new hunters so that they can be introduced to the outdoors or to less fortunate hunters that would never get the opportunity to hunt any place else but their home turf. To illustrate this point, let me give you an example – I accepted a special-needs hunter for a two day turkey hunt. The young man and his father (a doctor) came and hunted just one of the two days because the dad had to leave to make his flight to turkey hunt in Texas – without his son.

Another example would be a young man that I took on a deer hunt. He had already been on several special hunts and had already killed a 140 class buck when he got to us. And I know for a fact that he has been on more since then. Again, I am not begrudging the young man for going on these hunts if no one else wants to take the spot. But I can’t believe that there are not plenty of special-needs hunters or those who are interested in becoming hunters that would like to go on one of these hunts.

And I don’t want to make it seem like these groups that assist in the coordination of special-needs hunters with unique hunts are not great organizations. They are… And they have set the bar very high for others that are looking to help. However after seeing some of the problems that are associated with them, it leads me to think that it may be better to find the hunters yourself as well as coordinate the whole thing. And the point of this post is not to deter anyone from providing a hunt for a special-needs individual, but to encourage them to research exactly who is coming and why. Otherwise the hunt provider may be disillusioned after wards and not do it again. That is what I definitely don’t want, and why I have written this. What do you think?

Jeff

PS I am going on a dove shoot this afternoon, so check back tomorrow for a recap of how badly I shot!

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