Darin Mansfield, who appreciates his health and being able to hunt for deer northeast of Fergus Falls, jumped at the opportunity to be a mentor during the second annual deer hunting for the disabled three-day hunt near Orwell Dam south of Fergus Falls. On Wednesday Mansfield mentored his father, Marvin of Fergus Falls.

“This is great for the guys taking part,” said Darin Mansfield. “Those who are here felt their hunting days were over.”

That same positive attitude was expressed by Louis Kamrowski, who hunts north of Pelican Rapids, and who also mentored Marvin Mansfield. Other mentors also provide hands-on assistance to disabled deer hunters.

“I’ve known Marv for many years, and I’m more than happy to be a mentor here today,” said Kamrowski near a deer blind just south of the Orwell Dam reservoir.

The elder Mansfield, along with five others, in wheelchairs or using walkers, hunted deer in a prime location with joint approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Natural Resources. The men are able to hunt, with special permission, in what’s known as the sanctuary near Orwell Dam — where a lot of deer congregate.

Coordinating the three-day deer hunt, just like he did in November 2007, was Ron Welle of Melrose, president of Midwest Outdoors Unlimited.

“Many of the disabled hunters who take part in this program in the Upper Midwest started deer hunting when they were youths,” Welle said. “Just being here and hunting today near Orwell Dam is something they never could have dreamed of happening.”

Welle worked in conjunction with Bob Schimming of the Army Corps of Engineers, Don Schultz, DNR wildlife manager, Fergus Falls, and others in making this fall’s deer hunting a reality.

“People who live with disabilities are often reminded of their limitations,” said Welle who coordinates the outdoors program in Minnesota, the two Dakotas and Wisconsin. “The deer hunting here at Orwell Dam shows that people with disabilities also can enjoy the great outdoors.”

Each of the six disabled hunters went to their deer hunting locations for a first-hand look late Monday afternoon. Then, early Tuesday morning, they gathered for the actual hunt with their mentors near Orwell Dam.

Since this is a three-day hunt, those who were unsuccessful Tuesday were ready and willing to try again on Wednesday morning.

Disabled hunters taking part in the program this year, in addition to Marvin Mansfield of Fergus Falls, included Craig Wold of Alexandria, Jim Johnson of Richmond, Dennis Olmscheid of Lake Henry, J.J. Anderson of Sauk Center, and Jim Sursely, of Orlando, Fla., who is past national commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Other mentors included Jim Schmiesing, John Kuhl, Joe Pelzer, Ron Johnson, Nick Samuelson, Jim Anderson, Leroy Wiener, E.L. Mrozek James Johansen.

Welle and Schimming said they appreciated the aforementioned mentors, and other volunteers, who are helping to make this second annual deer hunt a success near Orwell Dam.

(Article quoted with permission of the Fergus Falls Journal. Article by Tom Hintgen, published November 6, 2008)

Here it is the third week of April. The trees and bushes are starting to leaf out and the days are getting warm. I am out with my helper Gene looking over the area that we have been assigned to hunt. We see some big Turkey tracks and the first rush of adrenaline starts to set in. I forget the beautiful scenery as we assess the cover.

We talk over where the best place is to set up the blind to watch the most likely approaces that a Big Tom might use. We set up the decoys, two hens and a jake. Then I get in the blind to make sure my wheelchair will handle the rough ground. We look over the situation from the blind and reposition the decoys so I can get a good shot if one cooperates in the morning. The decoys we put in the blind until morning so we don't mess up having them discovered by accident before we are ready. Then it's one last look around, it looks good to us. It is getting dark and we need to leave before the turkeys go to roost so we don't scare them. We also look for a place to park in the morning.

O'dark thirty in the morning we meet at camp for breakfast with all the other hunters. It is dark and cold but a good breakfast and anticipation rising takes away the chill. We wonder if everything was placed correctly for this morning. Everyone wishes the others good luck as thirty hunters head out for their blinds. We find our parking spot, grab a shotgun, snacks, and last minute items. It is time to make the quarter mile hike to the blind and get set up. If we forgot something it is too late now.

The sun is coming up so it's getting light and few songbirds are starting to move. We are running late and worry we won't get there in time. There is our blind and Gene sets the decoys on their stakes; gets a thumbs up; and gets in the blind where we quickly load our gun. We are short of breath from the final rush to get set up when a Tom lets go a gobble as he wakes up. Any thoughts of being cold vanish with the first gobble as the adrenaline begins to rise. Gene takes the box call and makes a few gobbles and other sounds. There is an immediate reply from two different direction so it's one more call from us. Then a quiet wait.

A few whispers and then it's call and wait, call and wait, trying to talk one in. The Toms are quiet but you can hear some brush and leaves rustled by something. Boy the suspense really gets thick. Suddenly there's movement coming towards the decoys. A nice tom coming in right where we thought he would. About five yards to go for a perfect shot when he heads to one side and puts some brush between us to look things over. We give a small gobble and the other tom we forgot about cuts loose with a big gobble from behind us. That is all it takes for the tom in front to come running in to challenge the jake for the two hens. BOOM!! One shot and it's over. I have my Turkey and the adrenaline rush leaves. I set the gun down with shaking hands, take some deep breaths because somewhere I forgot to breathe in all the excitement.

Now it's time to get a close look at my trophy and joke about the way he came in. The sun is just over the horizon and shining through the trees. 6:15 a.m. and I can enjoy the beauty of the early morning. Once we leave we won't be allowed back out.

Thanks to Midwest Outdoors Unlimited I will be able to go again this year!

Once in a lifetime safari hunt for an American hero

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Many of us wonder how we could help a disabled veteran…. Well, here is a very unique opportunity to do just that! I had the honor to partner with the MN DAV organization, The Langenfeld Foundation to identify and select a MN disabled veteran to go on an African Safari. After considering several candidates, our “HOMETOWN HERO” … Sgt Mike Mills of Freeport was selected as the recipient of a once in a lifetime safari hunt in South Africa this coming August. An outfitter in South Africa has donated accommodations for the hunt to the Langenfeld Foundation. Mike was severely injured in Iraq while serving with the MN National Guard with severe burns as well as other injuries and has had 29 surgeries to date…. with just the latest 2 weeks ago.

We are looking for monetary donations from organizations, businesses, individuals or any other sources you may know of. These funds will be used to offset the cost of airline tickets- the stay –the license expense-trophy fees, filming the trip, etc. For those who know Mike Mills, I am sure you would agree with me that there is no one more deserving of this opportunity than Mike for what he has gone through since his injury…. and the challenges he continues to face. This will be just a small token of our appreciation for a veteran, a hometown hero, a patriot, and a fine gentleman… for what he has done for us!

You can contribute to this project and, if you would prefer, designate it for specific costs of the trip.. ie: airfare, trophy animal to shoot, trophy mounting, lodging enroute, or, again, unspecified.

All donations can be made out to either The Langenfeld Foundation (who is host/ leader of this safari and is a 501c3 tax deductible non-profit organization) or to Midwest Outdoors Unlimited (we are also a non-profit 501c3).

As many of you know, Midwest Outdoors Unlimited has a purpose/mission to give disabled people outdoor opportunities …. And truly, assisting in providing this outdoor opportunity in South Africa to Mike is one of the highlights of our programs to date. We look forward to making this happen, to film it, and to bring the whole experience back to our community, Mikes family and friends on film!!

 If you have any questions please call me or e-mail me. THANKS!

Ron Welle CEO Midwest Outdoors Unlimited

I am very fortunate to have been selected to have the opportunity to hunt wild turkeys during the disabled veterans wild turkey hunt with Midwest Outdoors Unlimited at the Sand Prairie State Wild Life Management Area in Sherburne County with my guide Jerry Curtis.

I am a Service Connected Disabled Army Veteran of 24 years of service and I am becoming more challenged each year to hunt because of my disabilities.  If it was not for the Minnesota Disabled Veterans Wild Turkey Hunt, Midwest Outdoors and Jerry Curtis my guide I would not have had the opportunity to have a successful Turkey Hunt.  What a great experience and a story of a life time. Please except my sincere “Thank You” for this opportunity!!
 
Matt Rausch
US Army Retired (MSG)
St. Michael, Minnesota