Six military veterans -- each with some level of disability -- had plenty for which to be thankful at the end of the day on Thursday, Nov. 16. The group had arrived early in the morning at the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility located in rural Stoddard County west of Bloomfield on County Road 426 for a guided deer hunt.
The veterans taking park in a Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt were Rick O'Mara, U.S. Army from Crocker, Mo., Vincent Lollar, U.S. Army from Ironton, Mo., Jedediah Vermillion, U.S. Marine Corps from Jackson, Mo., David Flynn, U.S. Marine Corps from Jackson, Mo., Danielle Goff, U.S. Army from Gordonville, and Daniel Riley, U.S Navy from Jackson, Mo. The successful hunt saw six deer harvested, with the lone female of the group, Goff, taking the first deer.
The facility, housed on 125 acres west of Bloomfield, is complete with an elevated handicap-equipped cabin and deer blinds, offering disabled veterans a safe haven to hunt or just simply enjoy the backdrop. In the fall, the colors abound, and so do the deer, turkey, quail, squirrel, rabbits and raccoons at what is also known as, "Gobbler Ridge Farms."
The facility first opened its doors to disabled veterans in the spring of 2012 after Tom Love and his son-in-law, Alan Hedrick -- both veterans themselves -- decided the family-owned farm would be the perfect backdrop to welcome other veterans. The emphasis was on welcoming veterans who are disabled, but the disability need not be service related.
Once the decision was made, Love entered into a lease agreement with American Legion Post 59, of which he is a longtime member. There was no money exchanged, but an agreement was made to accommodate any disabled veteran or group of veterans at the facility at no charge.
The facility runs on private donations. The American Legion and other service groups have been instrumental in helping to fund some needed improvements to the property and the cabin on the grounds to make it entirely handicap accessible.
An elevated deer blind on the property, which also serves as a perfect setting for taking wildlife photos or a perch from which to simply enjoy the view of fall colors or spring blooms, measures 8 x 12 feet and has a gradual incline ramp to accommodate any wheelchair. The blind is equipped with heat and sliding glass windows.
A pond near the cabin now has a spacious dock with built on benches, plenty of room for visitors and a fire pit.
Instrumental in the planning of the facility has been the Missouri Department of Conservation.
"We've worked under their advisement," Love explained, "to develop food plots that consist of clover, wheat, beans, corn, milo and chicory." The property is maintained consistent with MDC standards.
Dozens of disabled hunts have been held on the grounds since its opening. ATVs are available to transport the veterans across the grounds. The MDC supplies the necessary arms and ammunition for the hunts, and plenty of manpower.
Local service organizations often supply food for the noon meal.
When the hunters returned for their noon meal in the cabin during the recent Nov. 16 deer hunt, members of the Sikeston Rotary Club had prepared wild turkey enchiladas and a host of homemade desserts for all. Darlene Reed, representing the Rotary Club, then presented Love with a hefty donation of $571 to go toward the facility's continuing operation.
Tom Love prides himself on the fact that Gobbler Ridge is one of very few in the state that is operated privately without severe government restrictions.
"This facility has been established to show our appreciation to these veterans who have given so much. They deserve a place like this, and we're just so happy to be able to provide it without those restrictions," he said. "No one is happier at the end of a day like this than I am."