2020 Annual Banquet

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This hunt was the hunt of a lifetime! We arrived at the lodge early and you could feel the excitement building as everyone admired the mounts throughout. It was late afternoon when we gathered our things and headed to the stand. I greatly appreciate all the help from the group getting me into the stand and settled. After roughly 45 minutes a large buck wandered in from behind us and we were able to observe him for some time. He finally wandered into range at about 135 yards and I was able to line up a clear shot. I took the shot and he ran about 100 yards before dropping. The guide was able to take the ATV and retrieve the buck from the brush. After many pictures and loading the deer into the truck we returned to the lodge. The evening was spent socializing with family, friends and the staff. I would like to thank Empowered Hunt for this amazing opportunity.

Doug Mielke

Will the van and gun be ready to go for Barry Gruen’s Dream Hunt?

Thanks to my good friend brother Joe Stolarecyk who nominated me through the Empowered Dream Hunts Inc. 

The pre hunt, the hunt, “Wow”! I was so excited I missed my 18 pointer the first time; he came back again, and paid the price. 

We needed the trackchair to pull my monster buck out. 

The after hunt, my new friends Dale and Dave Matis, the owners of Whitetails Of A Lifetime, and Joe Ramsey who coordinated the hunt from start to finish. A class act organization.

“My Dream Came True”

Barry Gruen
 

This hunt has been an adventure of a life time. It began with running out of gas on the way up to hunt on day one. Then spending the first two days getting snorted away by nosy does and winds changing on us right during prime time . This led us to a third day of hunting.  It didn't bother me one bit for I was with a great long time friend Eric Marone and now new friends Joe Ramsey, David Matis and his dad, jaw jacking about some of our greatest hunting and fishing stories to date. Some in which were so funny that had us gasping for air from laughing so hard. Then the moment came, the big buck we were after showed up and presented me with a perfect 35yd broadside shot.   

The fun didn't stop there, after we recovered my deer conversations continued back at the house. As family arrived, I took them for a ride down memory lane sharing the story of how I got the big buck. I can't thank empowered dream hunts and all people involved, for giving me such a lifetime experience that I'll never forget and new friendships that will last a lifetime. This organization made all of this possible for me and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue doing what I love.    

 Veterans Action Trackchair getting ready:"MAKING TRACKS"Allowing local veterans to Cope in the great outdoors...Luke Anderson and Scott Johnson team up with Joe Ramsey. Let us know if you know a veteran near central Wisconsin that could benefit from this.
If you want to have your logo on the trailer our deadline is October 18th, and it is a $200 or more donation.
Thank you! 

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My name is Gabe Palmer. 

I was an E-4 in the US Army stationed in Fort Lewis
Washington from 1986 to 1988. I was a Sr. Gunner on the Vulcan, a 20mm Air Defense cannon. I now work at Marshfield Clinic as a Medical Lab Technician.
Sunday I got the opportunity to spend a couple hours with a couple veteran friends of mine as well as a couple boy scouts out at Council Grounds State Park. One of my veteran friends, Pat Meyers, has very limited mobility. However, thanks to a gentleman named Joe Ramsey, who was able to provide us with a tracked wheel chair through his service, Empowered Dream Hunts. Pat, along with his wife, Gloria, and the rest of us were able to take a few trails throughout the park and enjoy each others company. We all had a few stories to share with each other. It was really great to enjoy each others company while taking a trip
through the beautiful Council Grounds park!!!

I am Corey Dornbrack, 

I was an E-7 in the Wisconsin National Guard, where I had severed 30 years between the National Guard and the Army as a mechanic. I did three tours to Iraq, and have been medically retired from the military. 

On Sunday, I arranged with Joe Ramsey, to have him bring a tracked wheel chair, through Empowered Dream Hunts, to Merrill at Council Ground National Park. He did this, so that Pat Meyers could spend some time out in the woods, like he had in years past where he would walk his dogs. I have known Pat all my life, being as he lived two houses down from my grandmother, where I had spent much of my time, and then became active with him in AMVETS. I asked Joe for the use of the tracked wheelchair because Pat had lost his legs from the knee down due to diabetes. This past year Pat had spent a lot of time in the hospital due to medical issues. I felt that being able to get him out in the woods like he had in the past would help raise his spirt.

We met out the with a fellow veteran and two Boy Scouts. His wife and her daughter met us out there, without his knowledge of what was going to happen. We spent time with him being able to go through the woods, which he has not been able to do for years. We spent the afternoon telling stories and enjoying the wilderness and each other’s company. After he figured out the controls, he was off remembering the days he had spent with his dogs and also when he had been a tank driver and commander. You could see his spirits and energy level rise throughout the day. I am glad the I was able to help a fellow veteran and friend, to find a lost joy back to his life. 

Corey Dornbrack