Hunting with Heroes Saturday

This weekend, 10 disabled veterans from across the United States will come to Thermopolis VFW Post 2281 to do some antelope hunting, through the Hunting with Heroes program. Though the hunt doesn't begin until Saturday, the veterans should begin arriving Friday afternoon.

Saturday evening, the public is invited to a meet and greet at the VFW for the veterans, beginning at 7 p.m.

Hunting with Heroes is a non-profit organization based in Wyoming that takes veterans who are 50 percent or more disabled on hunting trips. Partnering with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and using their big game donated license program, Hunting with Heroes matches veterans with licenses, provides guide services, rifles and gear, game processing and, if required, room and board.

Hunting with Heroes works with state agencies, landowners and volunteers to offer custom programs designed for the needs of each veteran. Hundreds of veterans participate, hunting antelope, deer and elk in Wyoming; disabled veterans from across the country include some from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington. More than half of the veterans are from Wyoming.

People can also help out the program through donating big game tags, allowing access for disabled veterans to hunt on their lands or hosting disabled veteran antelope, deer or elk hunts. There are also opportunities to donate financially or with volunteered time.

For more information on the program, go online to huntingwithheroes.org