Pinman
12-26-2008, 06:48 PM
A very rewarding experience to get a man or woman who serves our country out in the marsh. If any of you get the chance, whether at an STA or elsewhere, GO! TAKE THEM!!
Memorable time in a duck blind
Mobility impaired veterans get prime hunting location at STA 5
Steve Waters | Outdoors Writer
December 26, 2008
For David Lithgow and Ron Griffith, it was one of the best duck hunts they've ever been on. And neither man fired a shot.
Lithgow, of Port St. Lucie, and Griffith, of Jupiter, were observers this past Sunday so U.S. Army veterans Bob Dulling, Randy Bueno and Ben Baar could hunt in their place at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 in Hendry County.
The wounded veterans, who had never hunted ducks before, had a great time. Lithgow, Griffith and Griffith's 15-year-old son Casey had an even better time.
"It'll rank as one of the most memorable duck hunts of my life," Lithgow said.
The hunts came about thanks to the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Wounded Warriors program and United Waterfowlers Florida.
The district built a mobility-impaired blind at STA 5, which is one of the best duck hunting spots in the state. District governing board member Mike Collins got the project going after receiving an e-mail from a friend who is a disabled veteran who wanted to get his fellow veterans out of the hospital and into the outdoors.
Jerry Krenz, the district's Everglades recreational program manager, said everyone at the agency worked together to quickly get the state-of-the-art handicap-accessible blind built.
"It went from conception to completion in 90 days," said Krenz, who was at the hunt Sunday. "Everybody felt, 'Let's do this.'"
Wes Seitz, the public hunt areas biologist for the FWC's South region, who also was there Sunday, helped write an executive order that allows those who have STA 5 permits to take out up to two mobility-impaired hunters and let them hunt from the blind.
The president of United Waterfowlers, Lithgow camouflaged the blind with palmetto fronds and camo burlap donated by Avery Outdoors of Memphis, Tenn., which also gave the veterans hats, neck gaiters and NeoBottles.
Lithgow also put out the call for UWF members with STA 5 permits to take out mobility-impaired hunters. He contacted Baar of Wounded Warriors for two veterans to take out on his permit Sunday morning. Baar got Bueno and Dulling.
Dulling, 77, of Indiantown, was paralyzed during the Korean War. Although he has been in a wheelchair for 58 years, he's hunted deer, bear and wild hog.
He praised the construction of the blind, which he accessed via a wide ramp and which was built at the perfect height for someone in a wheelchair. (It's also ideal for birders, youngsters on field trips and anyone else who wants to see Everglades restoration at work.)
He got a number of shots at blue-winged teal as they streaked past the blind. Although he didn't connect, he was happy.
"I'm just glad to get out," Dulling said. "I know there's other guys around that would be interested in doing this."
Bueno, of Hialeah, who works with Baar at the VA Hospital in Miami, was injured by an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq in 2004. Sunday was his first hunt.
"It's good to be the one shooting," Bueno said when asked how he felt.
After the hunt, he said the experience was relaxing.
"It's a great mental break," Bueno said. "A lot of guys are going to look forward to this, especially the tranquillity out here compared to the city."
Casey Griffith, who had the STA 5 permit, invited Baar to hunt with him while his father took photos and retrieved ducks. Baar was wounded by an IED in Iraq, but was able to stand in the marsh alongside the Griffiths. He shot three ducks, including a wigeon, which thrilled the Griffiths.
Ron Griffith hopes his fellow UWF members with STA 5 permits experience that thrill for themselves.
"These guys give so much, going overseas and stuff," he said. "Giving up half a day of hunting is so little in return."
For information on taking a mobility-impaired hunter to STA 5 or being paired with a permit holder, call David Lithgow at 561-818-7539 or e-mail him at dlithgow@bellsouth.net.
Steve Waters can be reached at swaters@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4648.
Memorable time in a duck blind
Mobility impaired veterans get prime hunting location at STA 5
Steve Waters | Outdoors Writer
December 26, 2008
For David Lithgow and Ron Griffith, it was one of the best duck hunts they've ever been on. And neither man fired a shot.
Lithgow, of Port St. Lucie, and Griffith, of Jupiter, were observers this past Sunday so U.S. Army veterans Bob Dulling, Randy Bueno and Ben Baar could hunt in their place at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 in Hendry County.
The wounded veterans, who had never hunted ducks before, had a great time. Lithgow, Griffith and Griffith's 15-year-old son Casey had an even better time.
"It'll rank as one of the most memorable duck hunts of my life," Lithgow said.
The hunts came about thanks to the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Wounded Warriors program and United Waterfowlers Florida.
The district built a mobility-impaired blind at STA 5, which is one of the best duck hunting spots in the state. District governing board member Mike Collins got the project going after receiving an e-mail from a friend who is a disabled veteran who wanted to get his fellow veterans out of the hospital and into the outdoors.
Jerry Krenz, the district's Everglades recreational program manager, said everyone at the agency worked together to quickly get the state-of-the-art handicap-accessible blind built.
"It went from conception to completion in 90 days," said Krenz, who was at the hunt Sunday. "Everybody felt, 'Let's do this.'"
Wes Seitz, the public hunt areas biologist for the FWC's South region, who also was there Sunday, helped write an executive order that allows those who have STA 5 permits to take out up to two mobility-impaired hunters and let them hunt from the blind.
The president of United Waterfowlers, Lithgow camouflaged the blind with palmetto fronds and camo burlap donated by Avery Outdoors of Memphis, Tenn., which also gave the veterans hats, neck gaiters and NeoBottles.
Lithgow also put out the call for UWF members with STA 5 permits to take out mobility-impaired hunters. He contacted Baar of Wounded Warriors for two veterans to take out on his permit Sunday morning. Baar got Bueno and Dulling.
Dulling, 77, of Indiantown, was paralyzed during the Korean War. Although he has been in a wheelchair for 58 years, he's hunted deer, bear and wild hog.
He praised the construction of the blind, which he accessed via a wide ramp and which was built at the perfect height for someone in a wheelchair. (It's also ideal for birders, youngsters on field trips and anyone else who wants to see Everglades restoration at work.)
He got a number of shots at blue-winged teal as they streaked past the blind. Although he didn't connect, he was happy.
"I'm just glad to get out," Dulling said. "I know there's other guys around that would be interested in doing this."
Bueno, of Hialeah, who works with Baar at the VA Hospital in Miami, was injured by an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq in 2004. Sunday was his first hunt.
"It's good to be the one shooting," Bueno said when asked how he felt.
After the hunt, he said the experience was relaxing.
"It's a great mental break," Bueno said. "A lot of guys are going to look forward to this, especially the tranquillity out here compared to the city."
Casey Griffith, who had the STA 5 permit, invited Baar to hunt with him while his father took photos and retrieved ducks. Baar was wounded by an IED in Iraq, but was able to stand in the marsh alongside the Griffiths. He shot three ducks, including a wigeon, which thrilled the Griffiths.
Ron Griffith hopes his fellow UWF members with STA 5 permits experience that thrill for themselves.
"These guys give so much, going overseas and stuff," he said. "Giving up half a day of hunting is so little in return."
For information on taking a mobility-impaired hunter to STA 5 or being paired with a permit holder, call David Lithgow at 561-818-7539 or e-mail him at dlithgow@bellsouth.net.
Steve Waters can be reached at swaters@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4648.