By Michael L. Ritchie
ROSCOMMON – Angel Valley is your typical teen-age girl in many ways. She likes to talk to friends and family on her cell phone, and hang out with them. She loves to sing in the choir and, unlike many, she enjoys shooting archery, and fishing with her grandpa Paul Valley. She was interested in shooting a big whitetail buck.
Angel has some challenges too. She has had medical issues which prevented her from that deer hunt goal.
Quest Ministries is an organization headed by Skipper and Colby Betis from Big Rapids, and its mission is to make dreams come true for youth and disabled veterans every year at their high fence hunting preserve. This year, because of generous donors and through fundraisers, they were able to host six youth and six veterans and give them a five-star experience with a chance to shoot what most of us would consider a “trophy buck”.
Last year I applied for Angel to experience the fine hunting at Two Hats Ranch where the hunts take place. Unfortunately, she was in a difficult phase in her condition that required surgery and that hunt had to be delayed.
This year we reapplied, and the hunt was scheduled with certain criteria: 1. Angel cannot tolerate loud noises associated with rifles. 2. Angel is legally blind, and she cannot see well enough to shoot a deer more than five yards. 3. Bow hunting is not practical due to the limited success rate on the three-day hunt window. This 1400-acre ranch has deer that are difficult to harvest and even using a rifle is a challenge.
Speaking to Angel’s guide and friend of mine, Dean Hulce, “we will find a way for her to get a chance at a deer.”
The weekend of the hunt came, and Angel and Grandpa Paul drove down to the ranch. Little did they know that this hunt would be a four-star experience which included private rooms, ScentBlocker clothing, Leopold binoculars, meals, skinning and quartering of game and a free shoulder mount by Naber’s Taxidermy of Grand Rapids.
Sighting the rifle was an ordeal because Angel couldn’t handle the noise or recoil, so a firearm with a sound suppressor and a remote-controlled rifle rest called, Be Adaptive shooting assist. A camera system brings the view through the scope and projects it on a small screen in front of Angle and guide. The hunter would use a joystick to move the rifle to line up the cross hairs and inhale through a straw to fire the rifle.
Friday was warm and that appeared to limit deer movement, but just at sunset a shooter buck walked into view and worked its way into a place for an ethical shot. No one is saying whose fault it was, but when Angel was ready to take the shot, the gun didn’t fire.
Scrambling, Dean reset the rifle, Angel made a perfect shot, and the deer quickly fell after running forty yards. Success! Pictures were taken and there were smiles and tears. Not only had Angel shot a nice velvet 8-point, but she was successful by overcoming odds that would cause others to never try.
The next two days included fishing, inspiring speakers, and getting acquainted with the guides, other hunters, and the staff at the wonderful place.
Sitting with Paul at lunch I told him, “You know that this hunt is as much for you as Angel. You and your wife raising your grandchildren after the loss of your daughter is a very honorable and loving pursuit.”
He shrugged it off and tears came to his eyes, and he said, “It is our blessing to be able to raise them, and not have to have them go into foster care.”
God has more angels than the devil ever could, and if you look for them, they will change your life.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
To learn more about Two Hats Ranch go to: facebook.com/thetwohatsranch.
Dean Hulce is an outdoor writer, guide and speaker and you can access his info by going to: his Facebook page or his website highimpactoutdoors.org
Thanks to all the other angels and sponsors who made this event possible.
