Several dozen volunteers, a few hunting dogs and a lot of good will were working to get the good shots for a handful of disabled hunters on Saturday, November 1st, as members of the Rames-Bender Post 152 American Legion in Menno offered their time for scaring up pheasants. Even though they only had a handful of participants, there were plenty of pheasants to show off after volunteers scared up birds and the hunters used their aim to bring down the colorful trophies. The group gathered at the Dan Auch residence early that morning and hunted his property. After a lunch break, the group headed north of Menno to Ambush Acres, a pheasant hunting outfitter, for an afternoon of hunting. At Ambush Acres the group spent several hours walking in the tall grass, swapping hunting stories and enjoying the pheasant weather, a perfect low 70’s. The volunteers guided the hunters and a few youth hunters, who were using the event as a learning experience, over the rough terrain to block and prepare for the flushed birds. A majority of the volunteers would form a line and flush the birds towards the hunters. When the system was successful, pheasants would spring from the cover near the hunters who offered up their best shot. More often than not, the pheasants didn’t stand much of a chance. When occasionally there were no pheasants to be found, the hunters reassessed their tactics and tried again. The hunters would then again move and the pushers gathered their dogs to move through the underbrush. With plenty of birds to take home, a total of 17 birds downed over the course of the day, the group began to call it a day. The guns were stowed, pictures were taken and the party headed back toward Menno and the Legion Hall, where a meal of goose, pheasant and other treats awaited the group.

On Saturday, October 25th a group of ten hunters were joined with a large group of volunteers at the Tad Jacobs farm, located just North of Flandreau, is also known as Sioux River Wildlife. Jacobs, along with Roger Jensen who publishes the Outdoorsmen Magazine, hosted a free pheasant hunt for veterans and other individuals with disabilities. This hunt was a full day of hunting, eating, and the making of new friendships. This hunt is now slated to become an annual event.

The 2nd Annual Birds Bucks & Berries was held on Oct. 22nd at The BBB Lodge in Parker, SD.

A pheasant hunt was held at the Top Gun Pheasant Ranch, Howard, SD, on September 8, 2008 following the North Central Chapter PVA Trapshoot. There were 15 wheelchair shooters from across the United States that attended the excellent hunt.

The North Central Chapter PVA Trapshoot was held Sept. 5 –7, 2008 at the Crooks Gun Club, Sioux Falls. There were 59 registered shooters that participated in the event. Team Winners were: SEPVA #1 1302 Cal-Diego 1284 Colonial 1247 Wisconsin #1 1232 VAUGHN 1 1134 North Central 1083 Wisconsin #2 1063 For a total listing of individual scores, please go to www.pva.org Thank you everyone for another great year!