Hunter Calvin Pope displays his 8-point buck. Chris McLeland (background) of the Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office assisted with the special hunt held at the Mark Twain Reservoir in northeast Missouri. Photo by Clayton Ridenour, 11/22/2008, Mark Twain Reservoir.

Fisheries folks stepped beyond the gunwales of their boats to assist persons with disabilities during a special hunt at Mark Twain Reservoir in northeast Missouri.  Applications to participate in the hunt were submitted by hunters with disabilities to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Project Office at Mark Twain Reservoir during the 2008 summer.  Thirty-eight hunters traveled from all parts of Missouri and several States to take part in this 20^th annual two-day hunt.  The hunt is an important land management tool used by Corps Park Ranger Shelly Howald to reduce damage to forest lands caused by an overly abundant deer population at Mark Twain.

Columbia NFWCO’s Clayton Ridenour, Chris McLeland, Wyatt Doyle and Aaron Walker started the hunt at 4:30 A.M. by guiding hunters to pre-set wheelchair-accessible hunting blinds deep in the forest.  Each hunter used cellular phones to maintain contact with a base camp for regular safety check-ins and support.  Support included requests for hot coffee, fresh pancakes and sausage, moral support, and more deer.  Columbia NFWCO helped hunters move among blinds, tracked deer that had been shot, and accommodated support to hunters as best possible.  There were 29 deer harvested from the 3,200 acre special hunt area.  Among the highlights was a trophy 8-point buck harvested by Calvin Pope, age 51, of Palmyra, MO, during the first morning of the hunt.  The buck’s gross score was 144 5/8 inches with an almost perfectly symmetrical 8-point frame and very few deductions.  Calvin’s harvest points to the important role of hunters as contributors to healthy deer and land management practices, and illustrates the potential for trophy deer at Mark Twain Reservoir.

The Service worked alongside over 100 other volunteers to help make this event a success.  From transporting hunters and processing deer to preparing fantastic home cooked meals for all, everyone put there best foot forward to ensure hunters had a terrific experience.  Among those were volunteers representing the Paris Lion’s Club from Paris, MO, and sportsmen clubs from Missouri and Illinois.  Equipment to transport hunters was donated by local businesses, and abundant food, including an excellent homemade thanksgiving dinner, was prepared and donated to the camp by several families and clubs.  Many volunteers make this event a regular part of their deer seasons and have been assisting with the event for each of the last 20 years.  The dedication of all involved to assist persons with disabilities in an opportunity to hunt and enjoy the outdoors is a tremendous testament to their character.  Volunteer efforts did not go unrecognized by the hunters who continually expressed their appreciation.

This unique outreach opportunity to persons with disabilities illustrates the Service’s Mission to work with others and our commitment to the continuing benefit of the American people.  This activity supports the “Partnerships and Accountability” priority of the Service's Fisheries Program Vision for the Future and provided a direct connection between the Service and the public we serve.