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2019 Waupaca Youth & Veteran Learn to Deer Hunt

By: Conservation Warden Jonathan Kaiser

We are happy to report another safe

and successful Learn to Hunt [LTH]

for deer program in Waupaca. Again

this year, Warden Supervisor Dremel,

 Warden Kernosky, and Warden Kaiser partnered with a local landowner who generously donated access to their property to make this hunt happen. Warden Kaiser also worked with Niemuth’s Steak and Chop Shop in Waupaca who kindly agreed to provide butchering services for the successful hunters along with Action Arts Taxidermy near Waupaca who donated a deer shoulder mount for Veteran Tom Walker’s buck as a “Thank You” for Walker’s military service.

Both were a great, safe hunts as well as an experience that all of us will remember! We especially want thank the generous landowner, Niemuth’s Steak & Chop Shop of Waupaca, Action Arts Taxidermy of Waupaca, the Chain O’ Lakes Conservation Club, and the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs for allowing us to continue the legacy of the Learn to Hunt program!

We would like to introduce Tom Walker, a residence at the local King [Waupaca] Veteran’s Home. Tom enjoys the opportunity to deer hunt as well as target shoot, but he has not been able to much in recent years! After working cooperatively with the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs [DVA] and the King Veteran’s Home Activity Coordinator Amy Formella, the hunt was planned for Tom to attend with Nurse Supervisor Brenda Wedemayer. 

On September 10, 2019, Tom was hunting with Brenda over a food plot and as shooting hours approached, the deer starting coming out of the woods. A short time later, Tom was successful in harvesting a buck deer after Brenda and he determined a safe shot was possible, steadied his aim, and took a shot with the deer being found a short distance away. We all were very excited to say the least and Tom was smiling from ear to ear! After harvesting the deer, Warden Supervisor Dremel and Warden Kernosky worked with Tom and Brenda to field dress the deer and take multiple pictures with the group. It was a great, safe hunt, and one that all of us will remember! 

In order to further celebrate the hunt with multiple other Veterans and DVA staff, Warden Supervisor Dremel, Warden Kernosky, and I had the honor of attending our first annual “Deer Camp” at the King Veteran’s home on November 25, 2019. In addition to stories shared and memories made, we were able to reunite with Tom and Brenda as well as meet many of the Veterans in attendance and talk with them about the Wisconsin DNR and their hunting memories! 

  I would also like to introduce Ethan Herman of Mosinee. Ethan is a young man who has become an avid outdoorsman and is also very active in the Empowered Dream Hunts organization whose founder, Joe Ramsey of Mosinee, worked closely with the WDNR to make the Learn to Hunt happen for him! After working with Joe, along with Ethan and his family, Ethan was able to join us for the Learn to Hunt along with his father, Ryan. 

After a range safety time at the local Chain O’ Lakes Conservation Club, both father and son joined me on October 27, 2019 to hunt over a food plot from an elevated tower stand. After having had “close calls” during a previous hunt after Ethan had made the safe decision to not harvest a deer during their hunt as a safe shot did not provide itself, the deer started moving out into the food plot with plenty of time to spare! A short time later, Ethan was able to safely and ethically harvest a buck, and after a short track, the deer was located and Ethan took the opportunity to learn how to field dress the deer with Ryan’s guidance. We then had the opportunity to take several pictures while Ethan posed with his harvest. Both Ethan and Ryan were very grateful to have been able to hunt on the amazing property and they were very excited to have venison for their family!

Neil Menke, a hunter from Oshkosh, harvested a deer from Wilderness Whitetails Ranch. Neil’s mom, Craig Kleinschmit, and Mike Beaman were also able to partake in the event.  Thank you to the staff from Wilderness Whitetails Ranch for providing a great experience through excellent hospitality.

Bob, a hunter from Spencer, harvested his first buck at age 49.  Whitetails Of  A Lifetime in Marathon County hosted his hunt.  Following his event, Bob and his family and friends enjoyed food and fellowship.  Thank you to Adam Bartz, for cooking a great meal at the cozy lodge.  Thank you to Leo Heath, a leader of Same Difference from the Loyal area, for helping Bob prepare for his hunt.  Thank you Jeff Specht, Wild Things Taxidermy for helping with skinning Bob’s deer and preparing for Bob’s mount. This event was a dream come true for both hunter and his dad.

Thank you to all that helped Empowered Dream Hunts Inc. make it possible to provide a Team Action Trackchair to Scott Hansen from the Southeastern area of Wisconsin.  Many friends, family and area businesses that know Scott provided funds for have a Team Action Trackchair purchased for him to use.   Scott is an active outdoors enthusiast and will get lots of use out of this piece of equipment.  Scott agreed that when the time comes that he is no longer able to use the Action Trackchair, it will be returned to Empowered Dream Hunts Inc. for others to use.

This Trackchair is amazing I was able to go with my family on a pheasant hunt in a marsh the snow was 4-8 inches and the grass was taller then the chair. I was able to go places that I have never gone.

William Bishop from Fremont would like to thank everyone from the Empowered Dream Hunt Inc. Organization for making my 2018 hunt a lot more possible. 

Thank you Empowered Dream Hunts for allowing me the use and to go places I have never gone before.

 What a fantastic organization. Thou I did not harvest a deer this year your track chair made my hunt much easier for me to get around our hunting property and enjoy another year of hunting with my family. It was wonderful knowing that there was 3 generations of Bishops out in the woods. Thank you to all who had made this possible.