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Kentucky Veterans Enjoy Elk Hunts of a Lifetime
1/15/08
Missoula, Montana—Five veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were recently welcomed home to Kentucky with news that they’d been selected for elk hunts of a lifetime, sponsored by grateful volunteers and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Kentucky servicemen receiving cow elk tags, fully guided hunts, tent camps, meals and more include:
1. Lt. Col. Gene Hughes of Union
2. Matthew Armstrong of London
3. Maj. Tim Culver of Cox’s Creek
4. Jeff Ford of Lexington
5. Lt. Col. Mike Farley of Corbin
Hughes’ hunt will be held later this month in New Mexico. The other four were held last month in Kentucky, with each hunter successfully taking elk.
In a letter to the Elk Foundation, Hughes wrote: “My father shared with me the sport of hunting…He taught me to respect the land, the landowner and the importance of fair chase…Since I was a young teen my dream has been to hunt elk…Your organization has tied two of my greatest passions together—my lifelong dream of hunting elk and my military career.”
The special hunts were made possible through a partnership between Elk Foundation volunteers and Kentucky’s Ataya Land Company, which receives elk tags from the state for herd management purposes. Normally sold at auction, this year’s Ataya cow tags were instead earmarked for Kentucky veterans. Elk Foundation members nominated servicemen and women, without distinctions of branch, grade or rank. Over 80 veterans were nominated. Hunters were selected through a random drawing with Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis presiding.
Following the drawing, Hughes was re-deployed and unable to attend the Kentucky hunt. The upcoming hunt in New Mexico was scheduled around his return to the U.S.
Dennis Edmondson of Dry Ridge, Ky., the Elk Foundation’s volunteer state chair, said the hunts were gratifying for the hosts as well as the hunters.
“This was a unique opportunity to show our appreciation for servicemen and women of post-911 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In camp, we had volunteers from four different Elk Foundation chapters across Kentucky. They did everything from guiding hunters to cooking to maintaining camp. It was so rewarding to see dreams come true for these veterans,” he said.
Edmondson expressed appreciation for strong support from Natural Resource Partners Inc., James River Coal Company, Taylor Orr and Green Hill Mining, and Frank and Anita Allen.
Sponsors also included the Elk Foundation, Ataya Land Company, Lancaster Outfitters and Outdoor Channel.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected or enhanced more than 5 million acres, a land area more than twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. Nearly 500,000 acres previously closed to public access are now open for hunting, fishing and other recreation. The Elk Foundation has more than 150,000 members, a staff of 140 and 10,000 active volunteers. To help protect wild elk country or learn more about the Elk Foundation, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 800-CALL-ELK.
Media Contact:
Steve Wagner, Blue Heron Communications, 800-654-3766 or steve@blueheroncomm.com
1/15/08
Missoula, Montana—Five veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were recently welcomed home to Kentucky with news that they’d been selected for elk hunts of a lifetime, sponsored by grateful volunteers and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Kentucky servicemen receiving cow elk tags, fully guided hunts, tent camps, meals and more include:
1. Lt. Col. Gene Hughes of Union
2. Matthew Armstrong of London
3. Maj. Tim Culver of Cox’s Creek
4. Jeff Ford of Lexington
5. Lt. Col. Mike Farley of Corbin
Hughes’ hunt will be held later this month in New Mexico. The other four were held last month in Kentucky, with each hunter successfully taking elk.
In a letter to the Elk Foundation, Hughes wrote: “My father shared with me the sport of hunting…He taught me to respect the land, the landowner and the importance of fair chase…Since I was a young teen my dream has been to hunt elk…Your organization has tied two of my greatest passions together—my lifelong dream of hunting elk and my military career.”
The special hunts were made possible through a partnership between Elk Foundation volunteers and Kentucky’s Ataya Land Company, which receives elk tags from the state for herd management purposes. Normally sold at auction, this year’s Ataya cow tags were instead earmarked for Kentucky veterans. Elk Foundation members nominated servicemen and women, without distinctions of branch, grade or rank. Over 80 veterans were nominated. Hunters were selected through a random drawing with Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis presiding.
Following the drawing, Hughes was re-deployed and unable to attend the Kentucky hunt. The upcoming hunt in New Mexico was scheduled around his return to the U.S.
Dennis Edmondson of Dry Ridge, Ky., the Elk Foundation’s volunteer state chair, said the hunts were gratifying for the hosts as well as the hunters.
“This was a unique opportunity to show our appreciation for servicemen and women of post-911 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In camp, we had volunteers from four different Elk Foundation chapters across Kentucky. They did everything from guiding hunters to cooking to maintaining camp. It was so rewarding to see dreams come true for these veterans,” he said.
Edmondson expressed appreciation for strong support from Natural Resource Partners Inc., James River Coal Company, Taylor Orr and Green Hill Mining, and Frank and Anita Allen.
Sponsors also included the Elk Foundation, Ataya Land Company, Lancaster Outfitters and Outdoor Channel.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected or enhanced more than 5 million acres, a land area more than twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. Nearly 500,000 acres previously closed to public access are now open for hunting, fishing and other recreation. The Elk Foundation has more than 150,000 members, a staff of 140 and 10,000 active volunteers. To help protect wild elk country or learn more about the Elk Foundation, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 800-CALL-ELK.
Media Contact:
Steve Wagner, Blue Heron Communications, 800-654-3766 or steve@blueheroncomm.com
