By james art Five young hunters came home with plenty of venison after a successful weekend in the woods as part of the United Special Sportsman Alliance’s annual Dream Hunt.
Hunters ventured out on Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19 to participate in the volunteer-run program, which aims to offer a unique hunting experience to critically ill or disabled youth and veterans.
According to its website, USSA aims to help families escape the world of hospitals and high medical bills by giving them a place of peace to focus on quality of life, family connections and the wonders of the natural world.
Jack Juberian has welcomed young hunters and their families to his home in Leonard for the annual Dream Hunt for the past four years.
However, this year was particularly memorable because no one went home empty-handed.
Charlie Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer
As friends and family trickled in Friday night, they gathered in Juberian’s garage to mingle and tell stories about their hunt.
“There’s something about seeing young kids get excited about something they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to do,” he said. “Just look around, you could say the proof is in the smiles.”
Juberian said his family enjoys hosting the event each year, noting that hunting can quickly create strong bonds.
“I feel like my family and I get more out of it than the participants,” he said. “By the time the kids come back from hunting, they’re playing in the garage and yard like best friends.” That’s one of the coolest things about this hunt—the friendships.”
Charlie Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer
Although Juberian always looks forward to the annual program, the Dream Hunt is also a highly anticipated event for the participating children.
“It’s fun and I get to bring meat home,” said participant Caleb Lockman.
His mother, Amy, said Caleb couldn’t contain his excitement before Friday morning’s hunt.
“He was so excited that he got up at 5:30 this morning and wanted to go. . . so we arrived two hours early and couldn’t get into the hotel,” Amy said with a laugh. “We went to Itasca State Park and saw Paul Bunyan. . . as soon as i brought him here he took off. He was just so excited.
Charlie Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer
Volunteer Nolan Eck led Caleb onto the field, his excitement undiminished in the slightest.
“Caleb was a lot of fun, he was excited and very energetic,” Eck said. “He was really involved in the hunt. Sam looked around with the binoculars, looking for deer. He looked through the scope himself and found the deer. He was really good at finding the deer on his own and had no problems at all.
While this wasn’t Caleb’s first time hunting, it was his first buck.
“It was Caleb’s first buck and he was super pumped,” Eck said. “When I shot him, he yelled ‘I smoked him!’ and we waited in the stands to make sure he was dead.”
Caleb’s involvement in the experience didn’t stop there. He was engaged in the evisceration process and was curious as to where the two bullets were behind the shoulder.
“He was very involved in everything,” Eck said. “He helped me keep my legs back. . . he was interested in where the bullet went and where it hit him.
Charlie Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer
Andy Roggenbuck and his son Corbin participated in Dream Hunt for the second time this year.
The last time was Corbin’s first time hunting and now he has a lot more experience under his belt.
“Last year we got to Jack and then this fall he did a black bear hunt in Wisconsin,” Andy said. “He gets a better hunter every time we go.”
This year, Corbin had a keen eye and a good hunting instinct. He remembered the animals he saw before he took his money.
“I saw a turkey, five turkeys and then the buck came,” Corbin said. “I saw it and I used one shot.”
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For Corbin, using equipment designed for people with disabilities helps him find enjoyment in his hunting journey.
“He’s twelve and has Down syndrome, so he’s energetic and it can be difficult, but he’s doing well,” Andy said. “We use a range from Be Adaptive Equipment and they sell all sorts of special things for people with needs like amputees and paraplegics. . . they have everything.”
Juberian noted that the Dream Hunt can also serve as a fun day to escape from the daily grind that most kids have every day; Dream Hunt is about affordable hunting, but also a day of bonding and focusing on feeling like a kid.
“The bond that these kids create is a unique opportunity for the kids to escape the daily grind that is the reality for many of these kids with special needs or disabilities,” Juberian said. “In the past, we’ve had children who had a life-threatening illness think about their illness 364 days a year. . . but hopefully one day they won’t have to think about it.
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Juberian was the volunteer paired with contestant Chelsea Schrader on Friday. They came a short distance that night without even seeing a single deer.
As the other Dream Hunt participants shared their hunting stories Friday night, Juberian knew he had to give Schrader another chance to take her deer the next day.
“Even though she didn’t see any deer on our first day, her spirits remained high, she never once complained,” Juberian recalled. “In the last hour of our hunt, a large doe emerged from the timber. . . Chelsea made an excellent shot from 120 yards, dropping the deer in one shot.”
Juberian noted that her great attitude and excitement made the whole experience a blessing.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to share the hunt and the first deer harvest with such a kind and dignified young lady,” he said. “What a blessing.”
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Juberian expressed his passion for hosting the event and shared that most of the participants over the years still keep in touch with him.
“I’d say 90 percent of the participants I’m in contact with are about making those friendships,” he said. “It’s something we look forward to and when it’s Monday we’re already planning for next year.”
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Other volunteers are equally enthusiastic, noting that the Dream Hunt is the perfect start to the hunting season.
“I look forward to this every fall,” Eck said. “It’s a great way to start the deer season each year.”
Juberian emphasized that the Dream Hunt is made possible by local landowner sponsors: Rogstad Land Services, Johnson Farms, Lundmark Farms and Bob and Sandy Granley.
“It’s a way to bring everyone together,” Juberian paused. “The kids just love it.”
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Charlie Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer