The HHAUSA Podcast: Recent Episodes

Chris Hamm

Passionate about the sport of archery and supporting our military, the works of the Wisconsin based 501c3 nonprofit organization, HHAUSA, takes to the airwaves with The HHAUSA Podcast. Join us each week as we share the mic with guests from across the country, celebrating our Veterans and connecting them to the outdoors.

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

Hot Shot 15% Off Code: HHAPartner24
Rugid Gear 10% Off Code: HHAUSA10
StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

Growing up with a father who was a firefighter, young Mike Fox had no idea that he would one day be serving the very men that he looked up to as a child. After a few stops and starts in his teens, the Missouri native received some direction from the elder Fox when he mentioned going into ministry. Having never thought about it up to that point, his destiny was confirmed at a lunch with his own pastor to discuss his future.

Sadly, Mike's father would tragically pass away before he had the chance to see his son on the pulpit at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Weston Wisconsin. But it was in his dad's hospital room during his final days that Mike was given a very clear direction as to who he would be serving.

Archery became a passion for Mike as well and was the common thread that brought us together. A chance encounter with one of his coworkers at a showing of The Chosen in February of 2024 would lead me to my new friend and brother in Christ. Mike and I instantly hit it off and as is so often the case, it felt like we knew each other for decades.

He instantly became part of the HHAUSA community, rooming with former fire chief Bob Barteck and Mike Dragich and Rick Hall of Project Savior Outdoors at Mission 28 in April. Mike was able to see the impact of our program and will be a bigger part of it moving forward.

This was another great conversation of a man ordained by God to serve a community in need. You can find Mike on Facebook and Instagram or email him at pastormike@mtoliveweston.org

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

Hot Shot 15% Off Code: HHAPartner24
Rugid Gear 10% Off Code: HHAUSA10
StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

It's been a while since I hopped on here to chat with my good friend and podcast editor Logan Chartrand. With plenty to discuss since Mission 28 kicked off our event season back in April, this was another great conversation.

Logan brought his family up for their annual HHAUSA outing in June to Blackhawk Archers and Mission 30 and had another great experience. It's hard to believe that as I write this, the calendar has turned to August and we only have one event left in the 2024 season. So much has happened and the doors that keep opening for us have been nothing short of amazing. We are truly blessed to do this work.

Our weekends and our guests on the podcast continue to have a positive impact on the lives of our service members and all of us that have become a part of the HHAUSA family. With big things in store for 2025, we cannot thank you all enough for the support and will be sharing more of next year's plans as we get into the fall.

Thanks again HHAUSA Nation, we couldn't do this without you!

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

Hot Shot 15% Off Code: HHAPartner24
Rugid Gear 10% Off Code: HHAUSA10
StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

Now in its third year as a nonprofit organization, the A3G Grant Initiative has skyrocketed from an idea in Aaron Ritter's mind to a life changing gift to amputees across the United States.

We pick up just weeks after 2024 recipient Dustin Pruett took ownership of his first compound bow setup and a great assortment of other archery and outdoor gear to get him off and running. A double lower limb amputee, the aspiring firefighter was apprehensive about shooting a vertical bow for the first time since grade school. But Ritter and his team's mantra of "overcoming obstacles through archery" gave him enough confidence to trust the process and give a stick and string another try.

From the first arrow sent downrange at the GAS Bowstrings headquarters in Kentucky last month, Pruett's life and those in attendance changed forever. It wasn't simply the fact that the world of archery added another member to its ranks that day. Lifelong friends were made, tears were cried, bread was broken, and everyone left the week with a tank that was fuller than when they pulled in.

That is the power of community and selfless people, serving one another, and looking for nothing in return. Funny thing is, and I say this from my own personal experience, is that we receive far more from serving than we could ever dream or imagine.

We are honored to be a small part of the success that has become the A3G Grant Initiative. Like HHAUSA, their mission is to change lives, one arrow at a time, and we are excited to see what the future holds for this great program.

To learn more, visit www.limbitlessoutdoors.com/a3g-initiative and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Applications for 2025 will open in January so stay tuned to their social media and ours for more details.

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

Hot Shot 15% Off Code: HHAPartner24
Rugid Gear 10% Off Code: HHAUSA10
StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

We can only be so successful in our own power and are own strength. For nearly 30 years of his adult life, Aaron Ritter tried life his way and it wasn't working. Failed marriages, financial hardship, and hard living should have put him six feet under a long time ago. But God had other plans.

After meeting Aaron virtually through close friend Al Quackenbush in late 2021, something special started between the two of us. Over time, more and more men of faith were placed in Ritter's life. Little by little, the walls that he had built over three decades began to come down, culminating in a return to his faith in January of 2024.

Whether those of you reading this or listening to this podcast are Christians or not, you cannot deny the divine nature of what transpired in Aaron's life or his ministry in the past 24 months. There is simply no other explanation for his transformation than of a power higher and greater than anything here on planet earth.

Having witnessed the beautiful journey my friend has been on has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and hope that you will too.

The first of two back to back episodes with Aaron, you can learn more about LIMB-Itless Outdoors at www.limbitlessoutdoors.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

Hot Shot 15% Off Code: HHAPartner24
Rugid Gear 10% Off Code: HHAUSA10
StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

Social media can be both a blessing and a curse and today's conversation may not have happened without it. After seeing a post on Instagram from these guys, I reached out both of the groups responsible for providing Veteran and new archer Andrew Denny with his first bow setup.

Jason McCoy, cofounder of ENDEX Archery had long been using archery as a means to combat his PTSD and wanted to bless other service members with that same gift. A phone call to fellow Marine Ray Vickers and the ENDEX story began to unfold.

Growing up in the south with hunting and the outdoors a part of his DNA, McCoy found himself missing the stick and sting while on Active Duty and something had to change. After losing six of his team members to an IED in 2015, he tried to cope with the trauma by isolating himself and turning to alcohol. Realizing that it wasn't a healthy route, he picked up his bow again and instantly found healing and therapy there.

Fast forward to 2024 and ENDEX is on mission to change lives one arrow at a time, just as we are here at HHAUSA. We are excited to partner with them and look forward to seeing more success stories come from the work they are doing. If the smile on the face of Andrew Denny on the 3D range is any indication, they are just getting started.

To learn more about how you can support ENDEX archery, visit www.endexarchery.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

Joining the Marines after dropping out of college, Tyler Stallings was the old man in the group of recruits that he enlisted with. That wasn't a bad thing though as the Texas native admitted that he had some growing up to do and was forced to do it quickly. It turned into one of the best experiences of his life and helped mold him into the man he is today.

One of the things that he missed the most while in the service was the sport of archery and being in the outdoors. It was there that the idea behind StealthRig was born and the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward to the 2024 Archery Trade Association Show in St. Louis this past January and Stallings found himself onstage accepting The Impact Award for Best New Product. Beating out over 150 other items launched at the show, the modular bino harness system is unique it that it features a steel plate on the back, allowing you to attach your bow to it and navigate hands free in any environment.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Tyler on the show floor as well as seeing him at Mission 28 here in Wisconsin in April. He and his brother in law attended our private event at Vortex Optics and made the trip up to the HHA factory for a tour later that week. With a product ideal for the Western hunter, he will be seeing a lot of The Badger State in 2024, attending all of the Beast Mode Archery Challenge events.

A strong man of faith, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Tyler and am excited to see his brand grow as the years go by. His humble nature, servant's heart and passion for the outdoors will no doubt allow him to thrive in a competitive industry.

You can follow StealthRig on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as well as visit their website at https://www.stealthrigllc.com

Use code Stealth15 to receive 15% off all orders.

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA Partner Discount Codes

StealthRig 15% Off Code: Stealth15

We are back after a three month sabbatical from the podcast with now three-time guest Joe Rhodes of The Kniestedt Foundation. The bond that Joe and I have has only grown stronger in the now six or seven years we've known each other and this was a great conversation to dust off the mic with!

Partnering for a second year in a row with the Oregon Sportsman's Club, Joe and eight Veteran alumni from the foundation made the trek to Wisconsin in late April and put on a sporting clays fundraiser event. Thanks to our friends at Vortex Optics, Brew Pub Pizza and the musical talents of Chris Kroeze, our guests were greeted with three days of camaraderie, plenty of laughs, a few tears, and full hearts. We wrapped things up with a 3D archery shoot on Sunday and plans are already in motion to make the 2025 weekend our biggest and best one yet.

A teacher outside of St. Louis, when Joe isn't instructing the younger generation or spending time with his wife and two children of his own, he's the driving force behind what makes The Kniestedt Foundation tic. With a huge heart for the Military, Veteran and Service Member community, Rhodes finds these weekends as beneficial to his own soul and mental health as the participants do. I share that same feeling and seeing the smiles on the faces of our attendees, knowing that our organizations are providing healing through the outdoors is what fuels us from one event to the next. It's that shared passion and our faith that has brought Joe and I so close and we are both excited about what the future holds for our partnership and the positive life change it will bring to those who need it most.

To learn more about The Kniestedt Foundation, visit https://kniestedt.org/ and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information about HHAUSA, learn how you can support our mission, or attend an event, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, tees and hoodies, visit www.hhasports.com

As we head into our 5th year as HHAUSA, big things are on the horizon and 2024 is shaping up to be one for the ages. That said, we have reached a point in our history where we need more assistance with the day to day operations, partner relationships, event planning, social media management and general promotion of the work that we do here.

After considerable time in prayer and conversation, I am excited to announce that Chad Stillman has been appointed as the Executive Director for HHAUSA. This move will allow us to further our work in the Veteran and First Responder communities, having an even greater impact on people's lives through archery and the outdoors.

Chad's background, his story and his passion for the cause will be a tremendous asset to our organization. He will also be jumping on here as my cohost and I look forward to sharing the mic with him. As someone who lives with post traumatic stress, his perspective will take these episodes to a level I was unable to myself and more lives will be changed on a weekly basis.

Stillman will be more present at our events across Wisconsin this year, starting with our debut at The Open Season Expo March 22nd, 23rd and 24th in Wisconsin Dells. Knowing how much his friendship and support have meant to me the past five years, I am eager to get into this next chapter and see the fruits of his work.

You can connect with Chad on Facebook and Instagram and will be seeing much more of him going forward. Please join me in officially welcoming him to the team!

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

We have been blessed with some great sponsors in our five year history. Last January at The Archery Trade Association Show, good friend Aaron Ritter came running into our booth, eager to introduce us to the crew at Dead End Game Calls. While owner Mitchell Johnston wasn't able to make it to Indianapolis, we met the rest of his team and became fast friends.

Recently retiring after more than two decades in the firefighting profession, the world champion caller can now focus all of his time of his business and ministry. In what was another fantastic episode that at times felt more like a Sunday morning church service, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the story behind DHGC and hearing Mitchell's heart for serving a higher purpose.

Without folks like Johnston and Dead End, HHAUSA isn't able to do the work we do. Not only the tangible items that they send to our events, these sponsors spread the word about our mission and many times, start one of their own if they don't already have one. It's companies like these that I want to support as a consumer and also lock arms with in an effort to make our world a better place by bringing positive change in the lives of those who cross our path.

And if the opportunity to share The Gospel presents itself, both Mitchell and I are always obedient to that call. I was honored to share a message on The Wednesday Word, a video devotional that Dead End puts out on their social media each week, and plan to make a return to it in the near future.

Thank you for your service brother! You are a light in the darkness and while you may have hung up your helmet, the fire is still burning.

You can follow find both Mitchell and Dead End Game Calls on Facebook and Instagram and check out all their offerings at www.deadendgamecalls.com

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I am a firm believer in divine appointments and six or seven years after our meeting, Seth Baranowski is too. From the first conversation I had with Seth at a fundraising shoot for the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in Weston Wisconsin, I knew that I had a new friend. Now one of the men in my inner circle, thankful is an understatement in describing how I feel about God bringing him and his family into my life. He has been a blessing to me, to the archery community and to HHAUSA in so many ways.

Fresh off his second trip to the ATA Show, we chat about our week in St. Louis, the Target The Heart Prayer Breakfast, his involvement with HHAUSA and his heart for serving others.

The entire Baranowski family, Emmy, Landon, Melissa and Seth, all enjoy archery and the outdoors and it's not uncommon to see all four of them at our events during the summer. They've also added another member to their crew in a young man who lost his father. Seth's servant heart wanted to step up and after asking the boy's mother, he put a bow in his hand.

Stories like these are what make our HHAUSA family so special. We all have busy lives but make the time to impact the lives of others. Seth has aspirations to one day start his own nonprofit to come alongside children who have lost a parent and to introduce them to the outdoors. When he does go down that road, I know that he will be successful and lives will be changed in the same way that my good friend has changed mine.

His passion for the outdoors, involvement with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, S3DA, HHAUSA and others make it pretty clear that he's not just here as a spectator. With an infectious smile, talk to anyone demeanor and a heart of gold, every organization needs a Seth Baranowski on their team and we are thankful to have him in ours.

You can find Seth on Facebook and Instagram and more than likely at most, if not all, of our 2024 HHAUSA events here in Wisconsin.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Approaching my brother over a decade about about getting a couple of our youth sights for his kids, who knew how close Nathan Mathwig and I would be today? No, that's not a rhetorical question. God did.

Now one of the core volunteers of our growing nonprofit, Mathwig has become much more than a friend to me, he's a brother. Seeing each other a half dozen times a year at our events across the state of Wisconsin, we have spent plenty of time with one another to form a bond that will last beyond this lifetime.

Rooming with him five years ago at DeerFest in August of 2019, that weekend was the beginning of something so much bigger than archery. A shared love of the Veteran community, the outdoors, and eventually our faith in God, I look forward to any opportunity I can get to spend time with my friend.

Such an opportunity presented itself a few weeks back as he made the trip with me and our close friend Seth Baranowski to the 2024 Archery Trade Association Show in St. Louis. To say that it was a life changing weekend for all of us would not do it justice. God showed up in a big way and lives were changed as the three of us sat back and marveled at how awesome our Creator is and that He enlisted three sinners like us to do His work together.

This was a great podcast and editor Logan Chartrand remarked to me when he sent the episode over how passionate and spirited the conversation was. I've said it before and I'll say it again, HHAUSA would not be in existence today if it were not for men like Nathan Mathwig answering the call to serve those who serve our country. It is a blessing to be in the trenches with him each weekend and seeing lives transformed through the sport of archery. Thank you for all that you do my friend, you are a blessing to me and so many others!

You can find Nathan on Facebook and Instagram and track him down at one of our 3D shoots here in The Badger State in 2024.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It was a pleasure to have HHAUSA Podcast Alumni Amanda Hoenes back on the show this week. After meeting her at our Vortex Event last April, I had an instant friend and ally for the work that we do here.

Reading her book "Digging Deeper" about her solo paddling journey down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, my level of respect for the GWOT Marine Veteran spiked even higher than the first impression I got from her in Wisconsin.

Solidifying her place in the HHAUSA family and feeling inspired, Hoenes left The Badger State and headed back to Missouri to press into her own nonprofit, True Path Adventures. Designed to get teens and now adults off their devices and into the outdoors, Amanda is impacting others by sharing her passion for the outdoors.

We surprised Amanda this fall through our partnerships with Bernatello Foods, Outdoor Bound TV and Vortex Optics. Hoenes headed to Saskatchewan on a dream mule deer hunt and harvested a great buck. Thanks to Kurt Walbeck and his crew, Gerhard Potgieter and Canada Outdoor Adventures, the Missouri native experienced some great comradery and was blessed to have another Marine Veteran in camp with her who quickly became a new friend.

This was an amazing episode and I strongly encourage you to get a copy of Amanda's book, check out True Path Adventures, contact her for a speaking engagement, do anything to get her involved with your mission if it aligns with hers. She may have taken off the uniform a few years ago but this woman will be serving others until the Lord calls her home and we will be right there in the trenches with her!

You can find Amanda Hoenes on Facebook and Instagram and visit her website at https://www.truepathadventures.com/

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Thanks to the powers of modern technology, we are able to connect with anyone, anywhere, without leaving our house. Little did I know that a blog review of an archery sight 15 years ago would lead me to one of my best friends on the planet. Al Quackenbush and I communicate every day, through the You Version Bible App and our daily devotionals. We text frequently, hop on Zoom calls when we can work it into our schedules and see each other once a year in person. While I wish that we lived closer to have more face time, our friendship runs deep and I am eternally grateful that God brought us together.

2023 was a big year for Al and his family. After many conversations with his wife and daughter and a lot of prayer, they relocated from Southern California to Nashville in June. It was a major move for the family but one that they have all embraced and they are loving life in The Volunteer State.

With a network of friends already in place, Al has access to some private land which has made deer hunting opportunities a little easier than being on the west coast. He also headed back to New York to hunt with his family and it's been a successful fall even though he has yet to punch his tag.

The move also brought about a rebranding for The SoCal Bowhunter. Wanting to share his faith more and appeal to a broader audience, Faithful Sportsman will be his new moniker, thanks to his wife Kymberli.

Starting off 2024 at the ATA Show in St. Louis and SHOT in Vegas, there's no grass growing under Al's feet. At the same time, he and I both plan to try and eliminate the word busy from our schedule in the new year and be more intentional about keeping the first things first. I am excited about what the future holds for my dear friend and look forward to walking with him into this new season.

You can follow Al on Facebook and Instagram, visit his web page at https://socalbowhunter.com/homepage and tune into the Sprocket and Chubbs Podcast, cohosted by Al and Navy Veteran Aaron Ritter.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I want to thank Adam Miller of Bowhunter Chronicles Podcast for the introduction to our guest on this week's episode. Shortly after meeting Marine Veteran Andrew Comtois, Miller thought he should connect him with me and the work that HHAUSA is doing. While we have yet to meet in person, a handful of conversations later and we have become fast friends.

Coming from a long line of service in his family, the Michigan native joined the Marines in 2005. Seven deployments and a traumatic brain injury later found him honorably discharged and at rock bottom in 2018. It was there that he would find a road to recovery through archery and the outdoors after picking up a bow for the first time in years.

Words simply do not do this podcast justice and I guarantee that this conversation will save at least one life. Starting Outdoor Driven in January of 2023, Comtois is now using his experiences and passion for the outdoors to bring healing to others in need. His life took a a more substantial and eternal turn in July when he and his wife recommitted their lives to Christ in Alaska at a marriage retreat through Operation Heal Our Patriots, furthering his desire to put others first and make a difference in the world.

I am excited to see what the future holds for Andrew and his organization and look forwward to sharing the range with him in April. God continues to bless me personally and the mission of HHAUSA by bringing amazing, like minded people like Andrew into my path. We are all in this together and will continue to change lives until the good Lord calls us home.

You can find Andrew and Outdoor Driven on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website at https://outdoordriven.org/

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

While I don't like to disappoint our listeners who have been waiting for us to travel outside of Wisconsin, we will be staying home once again in 2024. That said, we have seven 3D shoots on the schedule for archers across the country to attend and help support the cause that is HHAUSA.

You really need to listen to this episode to get the full impact of how special the upcoming year is setting up to be. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones as we continue to change lives one arrow at a time in the Veteran, First Responder and Law Enforcement communities.

So start making plans to get to one or more of our events in 2024. April will be here before you know it!

Wisconsin Open Season Expo Wisconsin Dells March 22-24

Oregon Sportsman’s Club Weekend (Mission 28) Oregon April 20-21

Waushara Archers (Mission 29) Wautoma May 18-19

Blackhawk Archers (Mission 30) Custer June 1-2

Racine Instinctive Bowmen (Mission 31) Sturtevant June 22-23

Tomah Warrens Sportsman’s (Mission 32) Warrens July 13-14

Rib Mountain Bowmen (Mission 33) Brokaw July 27-28

De Pere Sportsmen’s Club (Mission 34) De Pere August 17-18

Our website should be updated by the 1st of the year at which point registration will be open for all 2024 shoots. Visit hhausa.org for more details.

You can also follow HHAUSA on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's crazy how quickly time passes by the older we get. Closer to 50 than 40, I'm making more of an effort to cherish every conversation, every trip to the field and every sunset as we never know when it will be our last.

Speaking of time flying, it's been nearly two years since I was introduced to Aaron Ritter of Limb-Itless Outdoors but the depth of our friendship makes it feel like twenty. A fellow nonprofit leader, Ritter has successfully navigated year two of his A3G Grant Initiative and what a year it was!

If you've listened to the previous couple of episodes, you're already familiar with 2023 grant recipient Chris Norton as well as Christopher Dunlap and the role that he played in making the fall one to remember for these three amigos.

It's been fun from my chair to see how the grant program has grown in a short time but I have a hard time taking the credit Ritter wants to give me for inspiring him to start it after our first conversation. Regardless, he is doing great things for the Veteran, archery, and amputee communities and I'm honored to be a small part of that.

Aaron and I discuss all the happenings of 2023, including the emotional trip to Texas with Chris and Christopher, his fall hunting season, what the future of the grant holds, and so much more on the episode.

There's not many Aaron Ritter's in this world but it's a better place because of him and the work he's doing. I'm inspired each time we talk or have the luxury of seeing each other in person. Aaron is a breath of fresh air and as I referred to him on here, an energy drink that leaves me feeling refreshed each time we converse.

He's also one of my dearest friends and has been a blessing in my life in more ways than one. Thank you for everything that you do Aaron, and keep burnin' those ships!

You can follow Aaron on Facebook and Instagram. You can also learn more about Limb-Itless Outdoors and the A3G Grant Initiative at:

https://www.limbitlessoutdoors.com

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

People with a heart to serve never lose it, even when they hang up the uniform. Chris Dunlap is yet another example of a service member that continues to give back to the Veteran community through archery and the outdoors.

The Virginia native grew up hunting and fishing so it's a big part of who he is. Also in his DNA, serving our country runs deep in Chris's family, going all the way back to the Civil War. Finding himself at Fort Benning Georgia three days after graduating high school for basic training, Dunlap served in the Army for sixteen years before medically retiring in 2012 and moving to Texas.

Chris is always on the go as a husband, father, archer, and serving others any way that he can to make a difference. In addition to helping with his wife's ministry on their ranch, he's also a guide on several properties in The Lone Star State and reached out to Aaron Ritter over social media on New Year's Eve a couple years back to invite him down on a whitetail hunt. An instant friendship was born and Ritter returned in September with Chris Norton, his 2023 A3G Grant Recipient. If you listened to Norton's podcast, you know the end of the story but we now get to hear it from Dunlap's perspective.

The bond these three men formed over a few short days is something that will last a lifetime. Finding the level of comradery that they experienced in the military is hard to replicate but they found it in the outdoors, just as other Veterans have. HHAUSA is honored to be a small part of connections like this and we look forward to more success stories that put the healing power of archery on full display.

Thank you for your service Chris, and thank you for your heart for putting others above yourself.

You can find Christopher Dunlap on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA continues to be blessed with some amazing additions to our family and this guy fit right in from day one. US Army Veteran Chris Norton was selected as the 2023 A3G Initiative Grant Winner in a story that could only have been written by our Creator.

When Aaron Ritter of Limb-Itless Outdoors enthusiastically told me about Norton, it confirmed once again why we do what we do at HHAUSA to impact the lives of others. Losing his lower leg in a motorcycle accident, Chris's life would be changed forever being an amputee and some dark days lay head for the Freehold New Jersey native.

In those pivotal moments of our story, they can go one of two ways. Thankfully, Norton pulled himself out of the darkness, going onto become a firefighter and is now just months away from being an EMT as well. He’s also found healing, community and new life in archery.

During his time recovering, he purchased an entry level compound bow, knowing that he could use a new hobby to get his mind off his injury and get him outdoors. While he had hunted as a kid, archery was new to him and he was hooked. After a discussion with Ritter about saddle hunting, Chris applied for the grant and was unanimously selected by Aaron and his board, all picking Norton without discussing the candidates with each other.

After an emotional and overwhelming presentation of the nearly $15,000 in gear at his fire station by Ritter, Chris now had his sights set on a Texas whitetail hunt in late September.

I'll let him tell the rest of the story but suffice it to say, we will be seeing a lot more of Chris Norton in the years ahead and I look forward to meeting him face to face and sharing the 3D range with him soon.

You can find Chris on Facebook and Instagram and learn more about the A3G Initiative at https://www.limbitlessoutdoors.com/a3g-initiative

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's safe to say that nearly twenty years ago when Mark and Jane Neumann founded the Hunt4Life Foundation, they had little idea of the impact their Wisconsin based ministry would have.

Now working with Operation Heal Our Patriots and seeing marriages resurrected and people making life altering decisions about their faith, Mark and Jane truly are doing the Lord's work. Coupled with serving young boys who have lost their fathers in the line of duty or to suicide, LifeCamp USA has grown astronomically in less than three years and will no doubt see its benefits felt for generations to come.

I can't say enough good things about this ministry and it's one that we will continue to support as long as we are around. This was a great conversation and I look forward to hearing many more of the success stories from the Neumanns for years to come as they continue to transform the Military, First Responder and Law Enforcement Community.

To learn more, visit hunt4lifefoundation.org and follow Hunt4Life and LifeCamp USA on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

After founding HHAUSA in 2019 our first big fundraising goal was to raise enough money to sponsor an entire Honor Flight to Washington DC for our Veterans here in Central Wisconsin. Thousands of arrows, dozens of archery shoots and $70,000 later, that dream became a reality on October 16th of this year.

One of the perks of sponsoring a flight was getting to choose two guardians to fly and accompany Veterans on this day to remember. Mari Austin, an employee at HHA Sports, was one of those guardians. Her parents both served in World War II, were married for 68 years, and passed away within three days of one another.

Sadly, neither was able to go on their Honor Flight. However, Mari was able to honor them both in a very special ceremony at the World War II Memorial in October. She shares that experience, more about her trip and the life of her parents on this very special episode.

On this Veteran's Day weekend, we want to thank all those who have served our country and continue to make it the land of the free, because of the brave. Let us never forget all those who have served to protect our freedoms. We cannot ever take that for granted.

For more information about The Honor Flight Network, visit honorflight.org

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA is not alone in what we are doing to help combat post traumatic stress in the Veteran and First Responder communities. There are many organizations across the country doing great work in this field, including others in the archery space. The Michigan based Shoot For Life is definitely one of them.

I was blessed to meet Tom Spisz through the outdoor industry a few years back and we instantly struck up a friendship. Also a man of faith, the avid archer felt led towards a greater purpose as a 23 year old college student back in 2013 in what would lay the groundwork for Shoot For Life. A nonprofit organization promoting the physical and mental health benefits of the sport of archery, they are transforming lives one event, one arrow at a time.

Running similar archery shoots as we do here at HHAUSA, Spisz and his dedicated team of volunteers have built an ever growing community of support, comradery and lifelong friendships around the bow and arrow.

Having endured some of the same struggles in his personal life as I did a decade ago, Tom and I both can attest to how truly life changing archery can be, even for someone who may not suffer from PTSD. Together, our respective organizations are making a difference in spite both of us having busy schedules with our day jobs.

Also donating full archery setups to Veterans with their Bows For Vets Program, Shoot For Life is doing God's work in The Great Lakes State and we are excited to collaborate more with them in the near future. Thank you for your service Tom, and may God bless you and your team!

To learn more, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website at www.shootforlife.org

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

2023 has been a big growth year at HHAUSA and we have been blessed to continue crossing paths with some amazing individuals. I met Rick Young at the Archery Trade Association Show in Indianapolis back in January and we instantly hit if off. We would see each other again a month later in Florida at what will now be the venue for our first ever, out of state, HHAUSA shoot in 2024. Travelling for Centershot Blue, an archery ministry that is introducing the sport in cities across the country through the world of law enforcement, Young and I became fast friends. We connected for a third time at our Vortex event in April and it's safe to say the Wisconsin native is officially part of the HHAUSA family.

Growing up in The Badger State, Rick picked up a love for the outdoors well before he could drive a car and loves spending time hunting and fishing with friends and family. Firefighting and EMS work ran in his family and so it was a natural career path for Young when he finished school. One of those early jobs also required a law enforcement background and Rick soon found himself wearing all three of those hats and serving his community.

A near fatal accident where he was sideswiped in his squad by an 18-wheeler and a bout with cancer just months later would help to bring Rick out of a dark place and closer to his faith.

With a clean bill of health and new outlook on life, Young now wants to help others by sharing his story and love of the outdoors with the help of the Centershot Blue program. We are excited to partner with them in 2024 and meet more folks like Rick who have overcome adversity thanks to a bow and arrow.

Stay tuned as well for an upcoming film early next year with Young, HHAUSA Podcast alumni Aaron Scheer and Chad Stillman and others as we chronicle their September 2023 Colorado elk hunt.

To learn more about Centershot Blue, visit their website at www.centershotblue.org

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's hard to believe that we are at the end of our 2023 HHAUSA season already but it's a reality and I continue to be humbled at the ever growing support that our mission is receiving. While I will miss seeing the HHAUSA family for a few months, I am excited for some time off to reflect, recharge and prep for what is lining up to be the biggest year in our history in 2024.

With return trips to Tomah Warrens Sportsman's Alliance and Antler Archers and a maiden voyage to Racine Instinctive Bowmen, we were blessed with three amazing weekends of archery.

A lot of familiar faces hit the 3D ranges here in Wisconsin and we met a bunch of new friends as well that are now part of our band of brothers and sisters. Young and old, beginners to seasoned archers, I can't say enough about the depth of community that has developed in just four short years.

The 2nd Annual HHAUSA Banquet with Whitetails Unlimited was also a hit on Friday, August 18th, as our attendees were treated to the next HHAUSA film featuring our good friend Kyle Mindiola and his Veterans organization Archery Origins.

The behind the scenes work has been underway for months to make 2024 our most ambitious and impactful year yet and we cannot wait to start sharing more details as we head into the fall.

We want to thank everyone that makes HHAUSA a success. To our listeners, clubs, shoot attendees, volunteers, and sponsors, we say thank you. Without you, we could not serve those who have and continue to serve us.

For all the outdoorsman, we pray for a safe and successful hunting season and look forward to seeing everyone again next year. May God bless you and God bless America!

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Little did I know that volunteering for the Never Forgotten Honor Flight seven years ago would lead me to starting HHAUSA. Such are the plans of God that are so much higher than anything we could ever dream up on our own.

For those not familiar with the Honor Flight, it is a nonprofit organization that sends World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans on an all expense paid trip to Washington DC to visit the memorials erected in their honor. Having been on the flight six times as a guardian, I can say that it is one of the best days of my life and I cannot imagine the emotions felt by our Veterans.

I am blessed and honored to have Earl Morse, Veteran and Physician Assistant and Co-Founder of the Honor Flight Network joining me on this very special 100th episode of The HHAUSA Podcast.

Starting to see an influx of World War II Veterans during his practice in the early to mid 2000's, Morse would ask all of them if they had plans to visit the newly constructed World War II Memorial in Washington DC that was built in their honor. Getting far more nos than yeses, Earl felt compelled to take matters into his own hands and the rest, as they say, is history.

I'd like the conversation to speak for itself so won't dive much further into the details of a podcast I have looked forward to for the better part of two years. Suffice it to say, with over 130 chapters across the United States and now in access of 250,000 Veterans flown to our nation's capital to see the memorials, the Honor Flight Network has changed countless lives and will continue to do so for decades to come.

Earl, thank you for your service and for being a light to so many. I look forward to the day that we can break bread together, swap stories and give thanks for the many blessings that we have been given by the God we serve.

To learn more about the Honor Flight, visit www.honorflight.org

You can also find Earl Morse on Facebook or email him at founder@honorflight.org

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

My connection with the Tennessee based outdoor apparel company BowAdx dates back to 2017. Meeting one of their staffers, Rick Devericks, at the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago has been life changing. A Veteran and avid archer, Rick should be familiar with fans of The HHAUSA Podcast, having been on twice and as recently as last month.

This week's guest and I have been playing a game of cat and mouse for the better part of a year and finally aligned schedules to record an episode. A busy family man, archer, corrections officer and staff manager for BowAdx, Tracy Rogers knows a thing or two about being busy.

A recent surgery had him laid up long enough to slow down for an hour and I wish we used video on here. The pink backdrop of his daughter's bedroom was a sight to see but you'll have to take my word for it. Sorry Tracy!

Growing up in Arkansas, he started hunting at a young age and like many of us in our late 40's, engineered a thing or two from what was around the house to try and get a leg up on the game. I won't spoil the story but let's just say that I will never look at a swing set again without thinking of Mr. Rogers!

On a serious note, the Razorback has spent more than two decades inside the walls of a prison and has stared evil straight in the face on more than one occasion. Crediting his strong faith for keeping him going, Tracy has also had the chance to share that faith through his work and have a positive impact in a place that needs it the most.

Good friends and hunting partners with BowAdx owner Chad Davis, I look forward to one day sharing the 3D range, deer camp or dinner with Tracy and we thank him for his service.

On a personal note, I get a handful of uplifting messages from Rogers each week on Instagram and can't tell you how many times they arrive just when I need them. God has a way of placing people in our lives and I am thankful that He put Tracy in mine.

You can add Tracy on Facebook or follow him on Instagram at t.rogers35

Last but not least, don't forget to checkout BowAdx on social media or visit their website at www.bowadx.com

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Anyone that knows me is aware of the fact that I am a big NASCAR fan. I've been blessed to have crossed paths with a few folks in the garage area from drivers to crewmen to the pastors from Motor Racing Outreach. A few years back I was introduced to Wisconsin native and car chief for Kevin Harvick, Robert "Cheddar" Smith. With a shared love of racing and the outdoors, we hit it off instantly and became fast friends.

Our faith and support of the military also in common, Cheddar and I are in the planning stages of an HHAUSA event with NASCAR that we are excited about it. Until then, we catch up a few times a year over the phone or at the track and finally sat down to have him on the podcast.

Growing up in southeastern Wisconsin, he started working on cars and the idea of moving to Charlotte and a possible career in racing was born. With a few hundred dollars in his pocket, Smith set out for North Carolina and the rest, as they say, is history. Nearly a decade into his tenure at the famed Stewart Haas Racing, Cheddar won a Cup Series title with Harvick in 2014 and a whole lotta races.

About as down to earth as you are going to get, Robert is passionate about spending time in the outdoors fishing, hunting and enjoying God's creation in his downtime with his girlfriend. After a divorce and a difficult season of life, Smith was reintroduced to his faith by Cliff Daniels from Hendrick Motorsports, giving him a new lease on life.

There are certain people in life that you just feel better after spending time with and Cheddar is definitely one of those people in mine. Enjoy the podcast and make sure to give him and his Stewart Haas Racing teammates a follow on the socials!

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I first crossed paths with my close friend Bob Barteck over a quarter century ago. My earliest memories of Bob were of a man who always had a smile on his face, an encouraging word to offer and a heart for serving others.

Those trademark characteristics are alive and well today but nearly came to an abrupt end last summer on a mountaintop out West. Suffering a massive heart attack while on vacation with his wife Kris, the Wisconsin native details the harrowing story of how he had to put years of training as a firefighter/paramedic to use to keep he and his wife calm and get him safely to a hospital from the remote location.

A man of strong faith, Barteck credits the Lord with saving his life that day and putting complete strangers in his path to make that happen. It was a life changing event that caused him to rethink his priorities, so much so that he has turned in his retirement papers early and will be stepping down as the Fire Chief in Wausau by the end of 2023.

With his first grandchild on the way, Bob is excited to start a new season of life, enjoy his family and friends more, build a new home with Kris and continue to serve wherever God calls him to. I am not alone in sharing in the excitement of this next chapter for Bob and am anxious to see it unfold.

A passionate outdoorsman, I have no doubt in my mind that we will be seeing more of him on the HHAUSA circuit, using his gifts, talents and life experiences to come alongside others in need of assistance. While the uniform may be coming off for good this year, Bob Barteck will continue to live his life doing what he does best: serving others with a contagious joy that this world needs more of.

I've been blessed with some amazing friends in my forty eight years and Bob is surely one of them. A wealth of knowledge and always eager to pay it forward, share his story, or a hunting story or two, you can connect with him on Instagram and Facebook.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Tyler Geiger is a warrior and was put on this earth to make a difference. For the past half decade, he was doing just that on the streets of Nashville and Billings, doing the hard and often underappreciated work of a law enforcement officer. As the job continued to take it's toll on the passionate outdoorsman and ultrarunner, he and his wife Morgan had the "what if" conversation one night this past April. Less than 24 hours later, Geiger stood in the ER, watching his colleague get his guts checked for bullet fragments after a shooting. It was in that moment that the 30 year old knew it was time for a career change.

In one of the most open and raw conversations ever on this podcast, Tyler pulls no punches, telling it like it is and goes in depth on his exit from the world of police work. I have a ton of respect for my friend and anyone that puts on the badge day after day to keep us safe. Fortunately, he made it home that night and it's safe to say that the self-improvement guru has a bright future in front of him. Combining his love of fitness and the outdoors, we'll be seeing plenty of Geiger in the months and years to come and I am excited to see him succeed in this new season.

God spared Tyler for a reason and he will continue impacting people through his work, his story and making a difference in a world that needs a whole lot more folks like him.

You can keep up with Tyler on Instagram and check out his Nock Performance podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nock-performance/id1589739377

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I met Rick Devericks at the Department of Defense Warriors Games in Chicago in the summer of 2017. We became fast friends and share our love of country, our Veterans and the Lord. His friendship has been one of many that I am so thankful for and I look forward to sharing some time on the archery range with him some day soon.

Until them, we will have to catch up over the phone and on this podcast. His second time joining us, Devericks recently returned from the DOD Warrior Games in his role as the archery coach for Team SOCOM. I won't spoil the party but let's just say that his prowess with the bow and arrow has spread quickly to those he's been instructing and good things have followed.

Archery is a life long passion for the Rick and he gets range time whenever he can to battle his own PTSD and knows firsthand the value of giving that same gift to others who are struggling. His youngest son has also picked up the bow and time with him is far and away the joy of Deverick's life.

Residing in North Carolina, we hope to some day have an event closer to his home turf that will allow us to see each other in person more often. While plans are still in the works, when that day does come, I know that Rick will be there in the trenches with us doing what he does best, continuing to serve his community through his love of archery and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your service Rick! Keep shining that light brother!

You can find Rick on Instagram and Facebook and learn more about the DOD Warrior Games at https://dodwarriorgames.com/

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Navy Veteran Jeff Bruss wasn't brought up in a hunting family in spite of being born and raised in The Northwoods of Wisconsin. That didn't stop him from getting into archery and taking a spike buck with a bow and arrow in 1997 which lit a fire in Bruss that hasn't gone out since.

After graduating college shortly before Y2K, Jeff landed a job in Three Lakes working for a publishing company on websites and databases. Continuing to chase whitetails would eventually lead to an elk hunt out West, where dust covered equipment inspired Bruss to develop a waterproof bow case. Soon after, Rugid Gear was born.

Thankful that he didn't have any traumatic experiences during his time in the military, Jeff did see the impact of PTSD on some of those he served with and he wanted to find a way to give back. I received an email from him in mid-April, offering his support to HHAUSA in the form of product donations that we rely on for our fundraising efforts. I cannot overstate how important relationships like the ones we have with Bruss and Rugid are to the success of our mission. Like those who carry supplies to the front line soldiers in combat, we couldn't do our job without the like of Jeff and countless other manufacturers that make up the HHAUSA family.

A great conversation that I look forward to having again, I anticipate the day that I can share the 3D range with Jeff and learn more about the fellow Wisconsinite that I now call a friend.

To learn more about Rugid Gear, check out their products at www.rugidgear.com and follow them on Instagram and YouTube.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Regardless of what line of work we are in, we all need rest. In a world that tells us to "keep on grinding" to get ahead, it's no wonder that mental health is at the forefront of so many conversations these days. Burning it at both ends will lead to burn out, every single time.

In an effort to spin all the plates that I have going at any moment in time, I felt a short break was in order from recording this podcast. I didn't know how long that break would be but knew that God would call me back to the mic on His watch, not mine. He did just that when I saw a post from friend and pastor Stacy Hensley of 3B (Bible, Believer, Black Lab) Ministries last week. The father of six is all too familiar with packed calendars and felt the need to take a sabbatical from social media and I had to reach out to him. I knew there was a reason for both of us withdrawing in this season and wanted to find out more and share it with our listeners. Hensley gladly accepted the invitation and I couldn't have chosen a more appropriate guest for my return.

Having a grandfather who stormed Omaha Beach in World War II and other relation that wore the uniform, Stacy is a patriot through and through and has a passion for serving the military in his ministry. An upbringing in the outdoors has also made Stacy popular with the hunting crowd and a frequent speaker at wild game dinners across the country. A hospice chaplain, the Georgia native has been privy to some amazing conversations with men and women who have fought for our country and shared their stories with him before they passed on.

This is a conversation that has to be heard to truly appreciate the kind of impact that Hensley is having on those God is putting in his path. So sit back for the next sixty minutes and enjoy one of my favorite podcasts to date with a man that I know we will be seeing more of here at HHAUSA.

Stacy will be returning to social media (Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok) and when he does, I look forward to tuning into his messages again. They have spoken to me more than once when I needed it and there is a good chance that one of those future messages could be meant for you.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

If you are fortunate, you've had the opportunity to know or meet a World War II Veteran. With those still living well into their 90's, these national treasures are few and far between and as part of The Greatest Generation, helped change the fate of the world nearly 80 years ago.

Dave Morse was blessed to spend many days of his childhood with his grandfather, who served in World War II. With his father being a Vietnam Veteran, service was something instilled in the young boy at an early age and he knew that he too wanted to serve his country when he grew up.

Being from the Midwest, it was only natural that the two elder Morses took young David to the blind and he was bitten by the waterfowl bug not long after he learned to ride a bike. A man of integrity and strong faith, Dave credits his late grandfather for the man he has become as he continues to serve in the Minnesota National Guard.

An unexpected deployment to Iraq shortly after his college career began, the then 19 year old grew up in a hurry and is thankful for his time in the desert. Unfortunately, like so many who fought the Global War on Terrorism, too many of his fellow soldiers were lost to suicide after returning home and Morse was led to do something about it.

In 2008, Dave began getting some of his friends struggling with PTSD into hunting and fishing and instantly saw the life changing benefits of those experiences. Starting the Wounded Warriors Guide Service in 2009, his passion for the outdoors would lead to an opportunity to start American Heroes Outdoors TV a few short years later.

Working as a manager at Grand Forks Scheels, the dots connected quickly and the show continues to impact the lives of the Military, Law Enforcement and First Responder communities today.

In the summer of 2022, emails led to phone calls which culminated in an invitation to HHAUSA Mission 24 last month outside of Madison to Dave and three other Minnesota National Guardsmen. The quartet competed and won the team event at The Beastmode Archery Endurance Race. They thoroughly enjoyed their weekend and plan to return in 2024 as their mission grows.

I am blessed to now call Dave Morse a friend, a brother in Christ, and look forward to continue working together to make a difference. It sounds redundant but I feel like our respective organizations are just getting started and the sky is truly the limit to what we can do together.

To learn more about American Heroes Outdoors TV, visit their website at
https://www.americanheroesoutdoors.com and check them out on Bally Sports North, Midco Sports, Waypoint TV, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

One of the upsides to social media is that it makes it much easier to meet people that just a couple decades ago we may have never crossed paths with. Amanda Hoenes is one of those individuals and I am so thankful for that introduction for many reasons.

Not only is she a GWOT Veteran who proudly served her country in the Marines for six years, The Show Me State native is also an avid outdoorsman with a passion for sharing that love with others. It was that passion and her sense of adventure that allowed her to accept my invitation to Mission 24 here in Wisconsin last month and our new friendship officially kicked off.

Ever the thrill seeker and not one to stay in one place too long, Hoenes has lived a lot of life in her 40 plus years on this earth and in a few different locales. But she still has some ground (and water) to cover. Sensing the urge to disconnect from a society thrown into chaos during the pandemic in 2020, Amanda sold her house and set out to solo paddle the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in a 17 foot canoe. With her new four legged friend in tow, the 6-month, 3,300 mile journey is captured in her new book "Digging Deeper". All I can say is that it is a must read and one that you can't put down.

Managing the family farm in Missouri and getting kids off their devices into the outdoors through her latest venture, True Path Adventures, Hoenes is using her experiences to impact and empower others to live life to the fullest. Also promoting the book through speaking engagements, there is no grass growing under her feet as she continues to fulfill God's purpose for her life.

I look forward to continuing to work with Amanda as she lives out that purpose. You can learn more about her and True Path Adventures, grab a copy of Digging Deeper, and follow her on Instagram at the links below.

https://www.amandahoenes.com/

https://www.truepathadventures.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Digging-Deeper-Veteran-Missouri-Mississippi-ebook/dp/B0BNXSR5S3

https://www.instagram.com/amandahoenes/?hl=en

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's a miracle that Mike Dragich is even here. Shot at point blank range in a gang related incident at 19 years old, he should have bled out from his injury had a close friend not tracked him nearly a mile into a backyard where he lay going in and out of consciousness. A major wake up call that he needed to change his ways, the Ohio native joined the Marines and God began to soften the heart of the hard nosed fighter.

Shortly after leaving the hospital, Mike rededicated his life to Christ and asked to be used for His purposes. Running the martial arts program while in the Marines, four years in the military was all that God had planned for Dragich as he and his wife started their family.

Now a successful businessman, MMA fighter, and nuisance alligator trapper in Florida, Mike launched Project Savior Outdoors in January of 2023 in an effort to fight Veteran suicide and PTSD. Having lost 15 men that he served with to suicide since 2015, Dragich and his team are coming alongside those struggling, empowering them through the outdoors and sharing the love of Christ.

We are excited to be a part of PSO and had the pleasure of spending a few days with Mike and his crew at Mission 24 last month in Southern Wisconsin. They will be launching their own podcast soon to continue spreading the message and impact even more lives in the years ahead.

God has Mike and Project Savior Outdoors on the fast track to do great things in the Veteran space and share his love along the way. To learn more, you can follow them here:

https://www.instagram.com/bluecollar_brawler/

https://www.instagram.com/projectsavioroutdoors/

https://www.projectsavioroutdoors.org/

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I love to talk. I love to write. But sometimes less is more. Starting with today's episode, I am going to shorten these descriptions up and allow the content of the podcasts speak to for themselves.

Nearly two years in the making, Mission 24 did not disappoint and the impact will be felt for years, even lifetimes for those in attendance. A bold statement I know but lives were changed forever outside of Madison Wisconsin last weekend as nearly 150 Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, First Responders, Law Enforcement Officers, and civilians came together around archery and the outdoors.

From the private tour of the Vortex facility to the 3D archery shoot at Blackhawk Bowhunters to the sporting clays shoot at Oregon Sportsman's Club to the Beast Mode Archery Endurance Run and Chris Kroeze concert at Tyrol Basin, it was a weekend for the ages.

So many friends, so many supporters and so many sponsors (thank you Vortex Optics, Mission BBQ, Lottza Mottza Brew Pub Pizza, 1st Phorm Outdoors and The Kniestedt Foundation) made this event possible. Keep late April of 2024 open as we are already planning for next year.

If you have never been to an HHAUSA weekend before, this podcast will have you hooked and punching your ticket for Wisconsin faster than you can say cheese curds. So sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation as editor Logan Chartand and I talk about the biggest gathering in our history.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

While we try to bring new guests on as much as we can, I do enjoy having "old' friends back on the podcast to catch up and see what's new from our last discussion. I met Collin Cottrell back in his early days in the archery and outdoor industry and don't know where those 15+ years have gone. We have both matured a ton since that first encounter and God has blessed us both with amazing lives and ministries. Both civilians but with a heart for those who serve our country and communities, I like to think that we are leveraging our connections in our respective circles to make the lives of others better.

Long embedded in the world of marketing and owner of C3 Media, Cottrell founded High Caliber Hunts in 2021, bringing men together around a shared interest in hunting several weekends a year in Texas. Trying to live out Proverbs 27:17, these "iron sharpens iron" gatherings are about much more than hunting. Like minded men are seeing life change through open and honest conversations around the fire, diving into topics ranging from business to marriage to faith and everything in between. Surely not the first to conduct retreats of this kind, I have to applaud my friend for his passion and commitment to investing in the lives of others from a place of seeking nothing in return. A recent offline chat with him revealed just how rewarding making these connections is for the soul as I experience very similar feelings at our HHAUSA events. It's impossible to put a price on connecting good people and I look forward to the day when HHAUSA and High Caliber Hunts can pull off a joint trip together. Stay tuned!

Not one to let the grass grow beneath his feet, the Minnesota native has jumped into the world of personal training and is steadily building a list of clients in that arena. Using his own weight loss journey of dropping 100 pounds in just two years, Cottrell is quickly finding success and again helping others become the best version of themselves. He also talks at length about a 100-mile ultra run that he completed in March and how impactful it was for him on many levels.

While I could definitely get myself in better shape with his program, it was his upcoming Mastermind Group in late summer 2023 that really grabbed my attention. Partaking in my first series of sessions of this nature during COVID in 2020, I realized the benefits of getting vulnerable with a handful of likeminded individuals seeking self-improvement. I look forward to being part of his inaugural group and guarantee that it will be lifechanging for everyone involved.

I could go on and on about what this guy means to me and how our friendship has grown since the 1st of the year as we have reconnected and realized just how much the Lord had blessed us with this reunion. We never know the impact that we will have on other people's lives in the moment and where it may lead. I am thankful for men like Collin Cottrell, who like myself, has left behind his old self to become a servant for a world that is desperate for Godly men to step up and not be afraid to share their faith. As human beings, we will always be limited in what we can accomplish but with God, all things are possible. Collin and I will continue our conversations in the weeks and months ahead and I’m excited for where those will lead.

Interested in a High Caliber weekend? Visit www.highcaliberhunts.com or reach out to Collin on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Many of us who are passionate archers and outdoorsmen can credit our fathers for getting us into the sport. You can add New Yorker Jeremy Cavaretta to that list. Hunting at a young age and perhaps "too young" according to the law back in the late 80's (you'll need to listen to the episode for the full story!), "Jay Alpha" kept his nose clean throughout high school because he didn't want to miss an opportunity to take to the woods with his dad. A star athlete, we was home before the parties got started thanks to the deep bond he was building with the elder Cavaretta who served in Vietnam.

Feeling called to serve his country , Jeremy joined the Navy in early 2001, prior to 9/11, and much to his families surprise. Excelling during his time in the service, he spent his last few years in Guantanamo Bay, guarding some of the same high profile prisoners that he had a hand in sending there. Working with the FBI and CIA and conducting interrogations, it was only natural that the Master-at arms would move into the world of Law Enforcement after getting out. Having already taken civil service tests for State Trooper and Department of Corrections while home on leave, Cavaretta was poised to transition to a new career stateside postmilitary. A hiring freeze put that on hold for a short time until he got the call from the DOC and was off and running in his next season of life.

The family man continued his obsession with archery and the outdoors, staying fit with jiu-jitsu and boxing. But his life took a near fatal turn in December of 2017 after he felt a heart flutter while in the tree stand. After getting an EKG at an appointment that his wife had scheduled, he was shipped to a cardiologist who could only discover a murmur. After requesting a stress test once he revealed his line of work to the doctors, the ultrasound revealed a dangerous aneurysm and he was rushed into a life saving surgery.

Recovering quickly and back to work in 90 days, he would compete and take two 2nd places in a big jiu-jitsu tournament just a year later while continuing to fill his trophy room each fall with some impressive headgear. He and his wife both work out with their family and want to set an example for their children that they can take care of themselves and have fun while doing it.

Sadly, his world was shattered in February of 2021 when he lost his father, his lifelong mentor and hunting partner. Just twelve months later, his brother passed away, leaving him without his two best friends and family members that he had made so many memories with in the field.

Having started to film his hunts to preserve them forever for his kids and future generations to see, Cavaretta continues to take to the woods to feel closer to his late father and brother but also to clear his head from years in the service. Like so many that suffer with PTSD, he finds a peace and solitude that is difficult to locate elsewhere and wants to help others who struggle discover that same healing.

I loved this podcast and hearing from a man who could have easily given up on life many times in his 46 years. But a strong love for his country, his family and the outdoors combined with the true heart of a servant continues to get him up off the mat to fight another day. It's men like Jeremy that make me proud to be an American and to push forward on our mission here at HHAUSA to change and save lives through the sport of archery. We are excited to see what the future holds for him and are thankful that he's on our side. God bless you brother, and thank you for your service!

You can follow Jeremy on Instagram and Facebook.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Growing up on a farm, Jake Arvold was exposed to animals and hunting at an early age and a lifelong passion was born. Guiding elk in Idaho by the time he was 18, the homeschooled Wisconsin native bought and flipped his first house at 19 and started his own CrossFit gym "The Machine Shed" while in college. Ambitious for someone further along in years, much less a kid barely out of high school. Such is the life of those that are born to succeed and blessed to do what they are passionate about for a living.

Jake continued on that steep trajectory towards his destiny of working in an industry he loved and where he could have impact on the lives of others. A chance encounter at a bodybuilding show would put him on a crash course with the founder of the now globally recognized nutrition brand, 1st Phorm. In what sounded like something out of a perfectly written movie script, Arvold is now two years into his role as the Director of 1st Phorm Outdoors, bringing the clean, active lifestyle giant together the archery and outdoor community.

Closer to 50 now than 40, I'd be lying if I said that I was a little bit inspired after speaking with Jake to dust off the Bow Flex in my basement and start taking better care of myself. Representative of everything I have come to learn about 1st Phorm since being introduced by friend, former MLB pitcher and President of Premier Pitching Brett Graves, the Missouri based company has products that work and sell themselves. The culture and way they do business is very similar to what we have built on the for profit side at HHA Sports. Great people, making great products and operating from a place of integrity. Apologies if it comes across as bragging and not at all my intention, but I have seen first hand over the past 40 years what it looks like to do things the right way and the rewards that come of it. 1st Phorm is doing just that and I love supporting brands that do business the hold character as high as they do product quality. Unfortunately, that is becoming a thing of the past but not with these guys and if Arvold has anything to say about it.

A great conversation that I look forward to continuing in person later this month when Jake and his team journey to the Badger State for Mission 24, I want our listeners to dive into this one for themselves and find their own takeaways. We appreciate them coming on board as a sponsor for HHAUSA and I know their products will be a big hit with our shoot attendees. On a person level, I think the Hamm house will be seeing more 1st Phorm products on the doorstep in the near future on our way to being better, healthier versions of ourselves.

You can connect with Jake, 1st Phorm and 1st Phorm Outdoors on all the social platforms and check out his "Experience More" podcast. To learn more about 1st Phorm Outdoors and to check out their products, visit www.1stphormoutdoors.com

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Picking up a guitar before he ever hopped on a school bus, Chris Kroeze knew from a young age what he wanted to do when he grew up. Becoming so attached to it as a six year old, there's a picture in the family photo album of the little boy falling asleep with one tucked under his arm. Twenty five years later, not much has changed.

Married and a father of two, Kroeze still lives in Barron, population 3,659, a small town in Northwestern Wisconsin. Having long been a household name across The Badger State and with a runner up finish on NBC's The Voice a few seasons ago, success hasn't changed Barron's favorite son one bit. Humble, soft spoken and easy to talk to, Chris has all the characteristics of the Mr. Nice Guy that holds the door for you at the neighborhood Kwik Trip but can rock the house at a moments notice. Once he takes the stage, two decades of picking a guitar quickly grab your attention along with a voice that doesn't come around too often.

Writing songs that vividly capture life here in the Midwest and bring the listener into the story, you can quickly pick up his musical roots that range from classic country to southern rock. My wife and I watched Kroeze and his band in Wisconsin Rapids last Friday night as they entertained the nearly sold out crowd for close to two hours. With a mix of covers and original music, I saw a man that loved what he did for a living and did it well. Human, a song penned for his finale on The Voice, was my favorite of the evening and I look forward to hearing him play it again in April in an acoustic setting for our HHAUSA weekend outside of Madison.

Thanks to longtime friend and HHA supporter Kurt Walbeck of Outdoor Bound TV, we got connected to Kroeze through Brew Pub Lotzza Mottza Pizza. Having travelled abroad many times to entertain the military, he was a natural fit for the crowd at our biggest event to date. I also have to thank Matt "Mottza Matt" Selvig and his team, for putting this show together.

An avid outdoorsman, I look forward to getting to know Chris better on a personal level and collaborate more in the future to support our service men and women. Gifted with the God given talent to pick and sing, I appreciate his heart for the Veteran community and encourage anyone that appreciates good music and good people to take in a Chris Kroeze show the next time he's in your area. Here at HHAUSA, we like to support and promote the good guys, and Chris most definitely fits the bill.

You can follow Chris on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and check out his website at www.chriskroezemusic.com

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Anyone that knows me or follows me on social media is aware of the fact that I'm a big NASCAR fan with my primary team being Hendrick Motorsports. I was very excited at the beginning of 2022 when my friend Jeff Cordero texted me that he had just landed a new gig on as a tire changer for William Byron's #24 Chevy Camaro for HMS. Cordero made his way to Wisconsin for NASCAR's Road America weekend but took a detour to grab lunch and a tour at HHA Sports headquarters before getting to work in the pits. A passionate archer and supporter of our brand, he was stoked to get a behind the scenes look at our operation and we even got to fling a few arrows on the practice range together.

Strictly a hunter until 2022, his competitive nature sparked an interest in target archery. A couple text messages later and he was connected with a reputable coach through a close friend of mine and he was off and running. Competing at both the Lancaster Archery Classic and the Vegas Shoot in early 2023, he realized that he had some work ahead of him but the atmosphere was electric for a guy used to doing sub 10 second pit stops. Applying a lot of the same tools that have made him so successful in racing's top series, I have no doubt that Jeff will excel in this new arena and I am excited to follow his journey.

One of the hottest teams in the garage a handful of races into the young season, Jeff and the #24 team have made two trips to Victory Lane already and more wins are likely to come. Having won a Cup title future Hall of Famer Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing a few years ago, Cordero says this team has a similar vibe to it and I will be cheering on my friend to make the Championship Four in Phoenix this November.

Moving in 2022 to house with a bit of acreage, he will now have an easy spot to hunt during racing season right out the back door and is also putting the finishing touches on a man garage to house his toys and trophies, much to the satisfaction of his bride.

So where does the military tie into all of this you ask? For those that didn't catch him way back on Episode 6 in July of 2021, his dad was in the service and Jeff has been a big supporter of the work we do here at HHAUSA. As we continue to plan a larger partnership with NASCAR and HHAUSA, Cordero will be leading the charge in the garage to make it as successful as his Sunday afternoons at the track. Thanks buddy, we appreciate it. And let's go HMS!

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

My friendship with Robin Parks started at The Archery Trade Association Show several years ago thanks to mutual friend and editor of The HHAUSA Podcast, Logan Chartrand. Wanting to learn more about the history of HHA Sports, what was new for the year and my involvement in the military community, the three of us hopped on a podcast after the show closed and something very special occurred. Several times throughout the 90 minute discussion, the conversation came to a halt as we were all impacted by the power of what was being said. To this day, I struggle to put it into words but suffice it to say that a very special bond was formed that I never see going away. I also credit that evening and those two friends with inspiring me to dive into the world of podcasting.

Both with hectic schedules, I am embarrassed to say that it has taken 83 episodes to get Robin on as a guest but can guarantee that we will do it again before the next 83 fly by. I'd also like to send a prayer request over the airwaves as he recovers from shoulder replacement surgery: something that an avid archer with a September elk tag didn't anticipate six months ago. Lord willing, Robin will be texting me before the leaves turn with a thumbs up grip and grin and that episode will take place before the end of 2023. Get well soon my friend.

Wearing a handful of hats including staff coordinator and social media manager for longtime archery staple Hot Shot Archery, Parks truly is a jack of all trades and is known throughout the industry as one of "good guys". Juggling his responsibilities at Hot Shot around a day job for a few more years, Robin found the time to get away last summer on the hunt of a lifetime with his girlfriend and a handful of other close friends. Popping the question half way around the world in South Africa, it was an event filled trip that he definitely will do again with his new bride.

A supporter from our beginnings here at HHAUSA, Robin and Hot Shot have been great partners and continue to fly the flag for our mission. Veteran owned, Hot Shot is a trusted, American made brand in the archery space that we are proud to partner with and call our friends. I can't thank both Parks and Hot Shot enough for their support and belief in the mission of HHAUSA. Without individuals and companies like these championing our cause, we wouldn't be here. Thank you!

You can find Robin on Facebook and Instagram and follow Hot Shot on both platforms as well as follow their new YouTube channel. Robin is also the host of The Hot Shot Archery Podcast which will be returning to the airwaves very soon, possibly with yours truly as a guest. Last but not least, you can also visit their website at www.hotshotarchery.com.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

When my good friend Aaron Scheer of Centershot Ministries mentioned that their organization had started a new program called Centershot Blue, I was all ears. Falling perfectly inline with our expanded mission at HHAUSA to reach the Law Enforcement community with our message, I was onboard before another word was spoken. To say the work that they are doing is changing lives is an incredible understatement. Still in its infancy, Centershot Blue is going to have an impact in police departments and communities from coast to coast for years to come.

Growing up the son on an elk guide, Scheer lives and breathes the outdoors. An aspiring tournament bass fishermen, he relocated with his wife to the south and began to chase his dream. But God had other plans. A chance encounter, or as we like to call them around here, a divine appointment, with a fellow angler would change the trajectory of his life forever. The man's influence on Aaron would eventually lead to a a renewed relationship with Christ, work as a pastor and being called back to Green Bay Wisconsin.

Passionate about archery and thanks to connections with Matt McPherson, owner of the world renowned Mathews Archery, Scheer would land a new position as the president of Centershot Ministries. Right in his wheelhouse, it's been a whirlwind and the faith based organization has truly taken flight. Their plunge into the world of Law Enforcement has been met with open arms from a profession that suffers from the effects of PTSD alongside the Veteran and First Responder communities and the sky is truly the limit for where that partnership can go.

HHAUSA and HHA Sports are honored to be joining forces with Centershot and Centershot Blue, thanks to great meetings at the 2023 ATA Show in January and a warm weather get together (more of those to come...) outside Orlando a few weeks ago.

An absolutely phenomenal conversation, I am excited beyond words to continue working with my close friend and brother in Christ to bring positive change to a world that so desperately needs it. Stay tuned for more announcements in 2023 for what that will look like going forward. Until then, you can find Aaron Scheer, Centershot and Centershot Blue on Facebook and Instagram and visit their websites and www.centershot.org and www.centershotblue.org

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Anyone that knows me or follows me on social media is aware that I am a huge NASCAR fan. So when an opportunity came up to attend the season opening Daytona 500 in Florida, I jumped at the chance and headed south for a week of racing in The Sunshine State with my good friend Jesse Urban.

Jesse and his wife Lindsay reside here in Central Wisconsin and run Be Still Retreats, a pastors retreat founded to prevent clergy burnout. Having introduced Jesse to a friend in the NASCAR world back in 2016, he was the perfect travel companion for this ministry trip. That belief was confirmed early on in our adventure and affirmed countless times as the week progressed.

Aaron Scheer and some of his team from Centershot Ministries happened to be in Florida at the same time doing training for the Centershot Blue program designed to bring archery to the Law Enforcement world. Our meeting with their crew was just the beginning of a weekend of divine appointments, open doors and a sign of great things to come for all of us in the year ahead. Gathered in an airplane hanger on the grounds of the hallowed Kirchman Ranch east of Orlando, the foundation was laid for what should be our first out of state archery event in 2024 during Speed Week.

Having gained some great friends in the NASCAR garage over the past decade, our next stop would be 1801 W. International Boulevard in Daytona Beach, home of the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway. It didn't take long and we were connecting with crew members, officials, and a handful of drivers from the top racing series in North America. On the biggest weekend of the season, these guys took the time out of their day to have meaningful conversations about life, hunting and most importantly how we could work together to help our Veterans and First Responders. As much as I love professional stock car racing, I walked away from my week in Daytona with an even greater appreciation for the heart of the people that make up the NASCAR community. It is a tight knit family whose purpose is much bigger than running cars around a track 10 months out of the year. Most of these men are passionate about serving others and are using their careers in racing as a means to spread that message.

We also had the opportunity to meet three of the pastors for Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and can’t help but feel the Lord bringing us together again soon.

Such is the path that I have personally taken as a business owner, founder of a nonprofit and a born again Christian. I love racing, love archery and love our Military and First Responders. God sees that and has blessed me to do what I enjoy, impacting people along the way through connections in those three communities. When we live our lives with open hands and for agendas pointed towards others and not ourselves, He will orchestrate things that only He can and we get to be a part of that work. That happened every day in Daytona and I am excited to continue these partnerships into the future and change lives. Fast cars, bows and arrows, all for the red, white and blue. Boogity boogity boogity, let's go racin' boys!

You can connect with Be Still Retreats on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website at www.https://bestillretreats.org

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

As far back as he can remember, Jeremy Walker has been passionate about the outdoors. When he wasn't playing sports, you could find him in the woods or on a lake or stream somewhere. Walker also has a special bond with his grandfather who shares a similar love for family and hunting.

In spite of the hectic schedule that comes with being on Active Duty and moving around the country, Jeremy carved out some time as he does each fall to head to his native Pennsylvania to hunt with "Paps". As the executive producer for Backcountry Traditions, he was able to witness a great moment with his grandad and capture it all on film for his production called "Home". Debuting at The Badlands Film Festival at the 2023 ATA Show in Indianapolis, I was moved by Jeremy's work as it brought back memories of hunts from my youth and time spent with family and friends in the outdoors. I've never met "Paps" but couldn't help but feel the excitement they experienced in the blind that day on a hunt they will both remember forever.

The career Marine has always enjoyed filming his outdoor adventures and telling a story from behind the lens. "Home" is a heartwarming look at the bond between a grandfather and his grandson and proof that our best days spent in the field don't have to end with a trip to the taxidermist.

HHA Sports is proud to sponsor Jeremy and Backcountry Traditions as they produce quality content that delivers far more than just glimpses of the latest gadgets and grip and grins. We all have stories to tell from our years spent with family and friends in the outdoors and I look forward to seeing more of Walker's on the big screen.

We want to thank Jeremy for his service but also for sharing these real, candid moments that will continue to resonate with viewers with each new film. You can follow Backcountry Traditions on YouTube and follow them and Jeremy on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

People have two choices when faced with setbacks. We can either cave under the pressure of the hand we were dealt or we can embrace our new life with a renewed passion and purpose. Five minutes into my conversation with Jason Tabansky and it was clear that he was firmly planted in the latter group.

Experiencing a freak, six foot fall but landing on his feet while covering up a wet helicopter in Europe, the US Army Veteran thought nothing at the time of what would quickly become a life changing event. The days, weeks and months that followed were nothing short of terrifying as he would lose all feeling from the neck down, unsure of what the future held. But one thing was certain and that was who held him. A strong Christian, Jason credits his faith with guiding him through the darkest and most difficult season of his life.

The detail with which he shares the story brings back the chills from when I heard it for the first time and I could almost feel the fear that he must have experienced in those moments of uncertainty. I cannot thank Jason enough for sharing his story and like so many other Veterans and First Responders who have suffered injuries and trauma, Jason knows that his vulnerability and transparency will speak to someone else going through a similar situation.

Gaining feeling back and full use of his arms, Jason would be confined to a wheel chair but don't let that fool you. Outside of his faith and family, archery has been a life saver for Tabansky and something that he continues to excel at after taking it up at a young age. Working at a local archery shop and traveling the US and internationally to compete, the fanatical Green Bay Packers fan is inspiring countless people by living a purpose filled life. From chasing elk and mule deer out West to hunting anything in season in his home state of Texas, Jason knows no limits. Recently named the World Archery America W1 Athlete of The Year, he is showing no signs of slowing down in 2023 and I look forward to the day that I can share the archery range, or even a game at historic Lambeau Field with my new friend and brother in Christ.

You can follow Jason on Facebook and Instagram

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

A bear hunt with a handful of disabled Veterans in camp changed the trajectory of Otto Reetz's life forever. Not a Veteran himself, Reetz sat around a fire with a group of men several years ago and left that week knowing that he wanted to make a difference in the lives of those who serve and have served our country. As a result of that trip, Wounded Warriors United was founded and now puts on similar experiences around the country for Veterans and Active Duty Service Members from our home state of Wisconsin.

Retiring after years in the construction business, Otto and his wife moved to Gleason in northern Wisconsin to a farm on a dead end country road. Now utilizing that farm as a retreat for those they serve, the Reetzs continue to expand their mission by partnering with passionate groups and individuals in The Badger State. I was introduced to Otto from mutual friend and Wisconsin National Guardsman Peter Thies. Both Thies and his brother have been active supporters of Wounded Warriors United for years, putting on various fundraisers to help fund hunting and fishing excursions for their brothers and sisters in arms.

A lifelong outdoorsman, Reetz has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and just how meaningful these trips are to those who need them the most. We talked about a few special hunts that have created memories for not only the Veterans and their families but for Otto as well. Seeing the impact of his work has only fueled his passion and the future is bright for WWU with some exciting things on the horizon in 2023 and beyond.

As with any nonprofit organization, Wounded Warriors United is always looking for new partnerships with the betterment of those they serve as the foundation for that connection. If you would like to join Otto and Vickie on their mission, or participate in one of their trips, visit www.woundedwarriorsunitedwi.org

You can also follow them on Facebook.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Any pizza fans in the house? Unless you are lactose intolerant, I don't know many people who don't like pizza. And if you are from the Midwest, Brew Pub Lottza Mottza has probably crossed your palate at some point in your life. If not, you are missing out! Being a pizza lover, our freezer always has a few of these cheese infused delicacies poised to hop on the oven.

This week, we have the marketing and promotions man, "Mottza" Matt Selvig joining us on the podcast. I've been waiting for this one for a while for a multitude of reasons and it did not disappoint. Just a few months out from partnering with Matt and his team on our largest event to date, I was eager to learn more about what led the Wisconsin native to his position with such a respected brand.

Not wanting to share too much, one of my favorite parts of the show was his story as an aspiring play by play announcer in junior high and being able to hop in the booth with a nationally renowned broadcaster as part of a school project. Taking to the air waves himself years later, Selvig would be a morning host for a Christian radio station before landing a gig in the food industry and one step closer to his current job with Brew Pub.

Learning the value of giving back at an early age and now working for a family owned company that holds that at the top of their list of core values, Matt gets to do what he loves each day and bless others by paying it forward. Thanks to mutual friend Kurt Walbeck of Outdoor Bound TV, HHAUSA and Brew Pub will be joining forces outside of Madison Wisconsin the weekend of April 29th and 30th to positively impact the lives of Veterans, First Responders and Law Enforcement Officers.

We pray that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship and can't wait for the snow to melt, the arrows to start flying and for the pizza truck to roll into our state capitol. Matt, you still have a few months to sharpen up those archery skills and if you need a bow sight, I know a guy!

To learn more about Mission 24 and our other HHAUSA events in 2023, visit www.hhausa.org

Follow Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and visit their website at www.bernatellos.com

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

To be in the same room with four of my closest friends is rare in and of itself. Being able to record a podcast on one of my most memorable days ever at the ATA Show while it was still fresh with these guys was a blessing and a night I will never forget.

All prior guests on the podcast, the idea hit me a week prior to the show for Aaron Ritter, Al Quackenbush, Chad Stillman, Logan Chartrand and myself to jump on here and give a first hand account of our Thursday in real time. Sleep deprived from a very long day that began with the Target The Heart Prayer Breakfast and concluded with the Badlands Film Festival, the conversation got deep at times and also went off the rails with a shoutout to internet legend LeRoy Jenkins.

This is by far one of the rawest, in the moment conversations we have ever captured on a podcast and words do little to describe how truly special it was. While we all came to Indianapolis with an agenda related to our own professions and place within the archery industry, the conversations about life, faith and battling through day to day struggles were what drew us closer as a group. That transparency also allowed each of us to impact others throughout the week and continue to grow the tightknit circle that is HHAUSA.

Five different men, five different walks of life with five different stories. All tied together by a common thread to be better men than we were the day before and bring about positive change to others in our own unique way. Great stuff and worthy of a sequel in the months ahead. We promise to be well rested for Part 2. Stay tuned!

You can connect with Aaron, Al, Chad and Logan on Facebook and Instagram

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

What happens when two college kids with a shared passion for filming your hunts cross paths? In rare instances it produces a top tier streaming show and content creation company. Such is the case with Brennen Nading, The Breaking Point TV and Black Stamp Media. Mike Mancl was the other have of that duo in what has now turned into one of the most respected brands in the outdoor space.

We are fortunate enough to work with these guys on both the for profit and nonprofit side of things and the relationship has been a win win for everyone. Now ten seasons into The Breaking Point, Brennan, Mike and crew had a fall for the ages knocking down 25 bucks on camera across the Midwest. Hunting both private and public lands, these boys know how to get it done when it comes to chasing whitetails and an occasional muley. They don't get much downtime before their outdoor show tour begins in February where they'll meet fans, old and new, and then its on to spring turkey season.

Brennen handles the majority of the partner relationships and the social media side of things while Mike is the mastermind when it comes to editing. Together, along with the rest of The BHP Team, they continue to churn out some of the best footage in the outdoor space. But that alone wouldn't pay the bills and the content creation side of things allows them to put their talents to use promoting some great brands across a variety of markets. While they're know to grab the cameras and head to the closest chapel to document your wedding day, I'd tell you to shy away from calling them when the deer are on the move.

Brennen's biggest influence on his life and his road to the outdoors was through his late father, whom he lost last year. Still feeling his presence when he hits the woods, Brennen is passionate about the work we are doing with HHAUSA as the elder Nading was a Veteran who served our country. Having been to his share of our 3D shoots over the past few summers, he has seen firsthand the impact that we are having in the Veteran and First Responder community.

Mark your calendars for July 8th and 9th as we head to Warrens for Mission 25 at the Tomah Warrens Sportsman's Alliance. Brennen and his team will be there, facing off in a weekend of friendly competition with our other close friend and his posse, Sam Ubl from Chase Nation. It's an event that you will not want to miss and we are excited to bring these two great groups together to rally around the cause that is HHAUSA.

While there's no grass growing beneath Brennen Nading's feet, they do have some availability should you need any film, photography or social media work done. To get in touch with Brennen, you can track him down on Instagram and Facebook and find The Breaking Point TV there as well and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Our podcast producer and Little Debbie connoisseur Logan Chartrand is back this week to talk more in depth about Mission 24, the first HHAUSA event of 2023 coming up April 28th, 29th and 30th. In what will be the largest weekend in our history, Mission 24 is jammed packed with a two day 3D archery shoot, a sporting clays shoot with partners The Kniestedt Foundation, a Saturday night concert with Chris Kroeze sponsored by Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza and more. Beastmode Archery Challenge will be holding an Endurance Race on Saturday at Tyrol Basin and 222 Veterans, First Responders and Law Enforcement Officers will get the VIP treatment courtesy of Vortex Optics Friday afternoon to kick things off!

Logan and I also chat about the honor of having another film selected to the Badlands Film Festival in Indianapolis at the 2023 ATA Show. Chad Stillman, a previous guest on the podcast, told his story in Blue 22, produced by Sam Ubl and the team over at Chase Nation. We are beyond excited to have Chad on hand that evening and in town to speak at the Target The Heart Prayer Breakfast at the ATA. Good friend Al Quackenbush will be sharing his testimony as well and be joined by Aaron Ritter of Limb-Itless Outdoors. The five of us will be getting together for dinner during our time in Indy in what could turn into a future podcast episode all its own.

Speaking of Ritter, he announced his 2nd Annual A3G Initiative Grant January 1st. Started to introduce an amputee into the sport of archery and bowhunting and improve mental health, physical fitness and quality of life, applications are due April 15th. The winner will be receiving their package in Wisconsin at Mission 24 during intermission of the Chris Kroeze show.

As we kick off the New Year, I just wanted to thank Logan for his efforts, all of our sponsors, our host clubs, shoot attendees, and all of you that tune in each week to the podcast. 2023 is promising to be our biggest and best year yet and we look forward to sharing all that is happening in our world with you in yours.

To get more information or to apply for Aaron Ritter's A3G Initiative Grant, please visit the following link:

https://www.limbitlessoutdoors.com/a3g-initiative

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's no secret that we aren't believers in coincidence at HHAUSA and meeting this week's guest was anything but last summer in Appleton Wisconsin. In town for Mission 20, three close friends and previous guests on the podcast, Aaron Ritter, Al Quackenbush, Jeff Litteral and myself were out for dinner. Passing a Crumble Cookie earlier, it sounded like a great idea for dessert so the four of us piled into my truck and were soon wide eyed at the kiosk placing our order. The couple in front of us were waiting for their sugar filled delicacies when the husband turned around hearing our conversation. Much to my surprise, Jonathan McGlin was sporting a BowAdx hat. While I am a huge fan of the company and owner Chad Davis, I don't see much of their apparel in my travels so it was a pleasant surprise for us all. The grin on McGlin's face grew wider when he noticed me and Jeff sporting BowAdx gear as well. The six of us would adjourn to my tailgate in the parking lot, broke out the cookies and spent the next half hour talking hunting, faith, HHAUSA and how thankful we were for divine appointments and new friends.

Jonathan had previously been on the Elk Shape Podcast, discussing his goal of going on his first elk hunt in 2024. Wanting to shed some weight and improve his physical conditioning and overall health, his podcast was familiar to both Aaron and Al...another "coincidence". McGlin would stop out that Saturday, tagging along for a few targets at our fundraiser and getting to know his new friends a bit better. Unable to stay for the entire day and shoot, he did join me and my group later in the summer in Wisconsin Rapids at Mission 23. Able to meet other members of the HHAUSA family including Veteran Brad Rothermel, it was safe to say that he was hooked. I have no doubt that we will be seeing more of him at our events in 2023.

Growing up hunting with his father, Jonathan's relationship with his dad was tested in his early teens. Active in the Wisconsin National Guard, the elder McGlin was home on weekends but spent a lot of time across the state at Fort McCoy during the week, missing out on a few things as his boy became a man. But they could always count on spending opening weekend of deer season together, a tradition that Jonathan credits for his deep love for the outdoors. Having long ago mended fences, the two enjoy hunting together now and time has given Jonathan a much deeper appreciation for the sacrifices that his father made for his family and his country.

A season ticket holder at Lambeau Field, McGlin texted me a few weeks ago about the Monday night Packers Rams game. He was interested in bringing a Veteran to the historic venue and through yet another divine appointment, we were able to connect Rothermel with Jonathan to experience his first trip to the Frozen Tundra. I had introduced the two when we shot together in Rapids and a great time was had by all, thanks to McGlin's generosity and God doing what only He can do.

Both men of faith, passionate about the outdoors and helping others, Jonathan and I instantly hit it off and have stayed in touch frequently in the six months since our predestined meeting in July. There are so many little things that go on behind the scenes of what we do at HHAUSA that the public never sees or hears about and this story had to be shared. Friendships like these are a part of that and blessings that I didn't even consider when we started our organization. I am so thankful for men like Jonathan in my life and for his support for those who serve and have served our country.

You can find Jonathan on Facebook and Instagram @jmcglin_obtopo

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

No offense to any of our previous guests but I have to say that Danny Bolton provided one of the most unique and inspiring conversations that I have had in close to two years of podcasting.

Born and raised in Hawaii, he's experienced so much in his life right out his back door. Spear fishing, hunting, diving, skateboarding, surfing, dirt biking, off road driving and more, this guy has done it all. An active lifestyle that has included jobs in the family construction business as well as working at a coffee shop, Danny can work just about anywhere, doing anything as long as it's with people that he loves.

Don't write him off as an irresponsible drifter, floating from town to town and indulging his hobbies each day. The husband and father has been fortunate to make a living to support his family doing things that he is passionate about. Always a kid at heart, he feels blessed to do what he does even though it's a life very different from how the rest of the world may live.

Making me hungry as we discussed all the great "surf and turf" he brings home for his family, Bolton has hunted here in the lower 48 as well, bitten by the elk hunting bug a few years ago. Able to harvest a nice bull in honor of his late friend that had invite him on the hunt, Danny gives a few tips on how to effectively carrying on an entire elk, rack included, onto a commercial flight.

His time in off road driving as a teen has led to training Special Forces units in the military, a part of our chat that I really enjoyed. While not a service member himself, Bolton has a deep appreciation for those who serve and loves sharing his expertise with them. Those trainings have also given him ample opportunity to hear about the struggles that some of them face because of that service, inspiring him even further to introduce them to archery and the outdoors.

He has also popped up on the popular show, MeatEater, the past couple seasons and enjoyed his time with their crew. A humble man not seeking the spotlight, he had some very kind words about his time on the show and how down to earth Steven Rinella and Co. are.

I look forward to one day meeting Danny Bolton in person. Until then, you can follow my new friend and all of his adventures on Instagram at dannybolton

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

My close friend Al Quackenbush, The SoCal Bowhunter, returns to the podcast to finish the conversation that Aaron Ritter and I started last week. Having formed quite the bond over the last year, I was excited to get Al’s take on all the happenings of a busy and fruitful 2022.

Quackenbush returned to Wisconsin for HHAUSA Mission 20 in Appleton July 9th and 10th in what turned out to be an impactful weekend for so many. Connecting with Ritter in Chicago and making the short drive to Appleton to meet up with myself and Jeff Litteral, Al elaborates on just how special that weekend was for the Fab Four. The few short days we spent together went by too fast but the fellowship and memories made quickly became the highlight of the year for each of us. Good food, great conversation, plenty of archery (thanks Old 45 Archery and Twin City Rod and Gun Club) and a few pair of Hey Dudes made it hard to say goodbye on Sunday.

Two months later, Al and I would connect again, this time in Nashville for an archery shoot on 9/11. An invitation from Logan White, co-owner of The Archery Den in Franklin Tennessee, led to another weekend that will live forever in my mind and the fortunate few that we spent time with. Chad Stillman, Josh Vegors, and Ira Dean joined us for a dinner and an evening for the ages. It was one of the most profound conversations that I have ever been a part of. Five guys from different walks of life sat around a table, shared their stories and lives were changed. Self-subscribed talkers, Al and I did a lot of listening that night, something that we both have wanted to get better at over the past year. We laughed, we cried and a handful of hours later, left better men than when we came.

With limited hunting opportunities in Southern California, Al returned to his home state of New York in early October for a week of whitetail hunting with his family. Trying out his Latitude Outdoors Tree Saddle for the first time, he learned a few things and put two does in the freezer to boot. His brother was able to harvest a buck Al had been targeting and it was a great week of hunting that put his archery and saddle skills to the test.

Early November would reunite Santa and The Pirate once again, this time in Nebraska for a deer hunt as the rut was kicking in. While Al wasn’t able to close the deal, Aaron took his best buck to date and the two friends were able to enjoy that special moment in the Navy Veteran’s hunting career together.

With the calendar ready to flip to 2023, our talk turned to early January and another reunion for the three amigos in Indianapolis at the Archery Trade Association Show. It will be the first time attending for Quackenbush and Aaron’s second ATA. I very much look forward to seeing my friends again, knowing great memories will be made and more importantly, that God will be on the move, providing us more opportunities to touch lives through the sport of archery. I’d say that’s a great way to kick off the New Year!

To connect with Al Quackenbush, you can find him on Facebook and Instagram and visit his page at https://socalbowhunter.com/

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

There are certain people in this life that leave a lasting, positive impression on us. You meet them for the first time, feel like you’ve known each other for 20 years and can’t wait to see them again. For me, Aaron Ritter is most definitely one of those people.

Introduced through mutual friend Al Quackenbush, Aaron and I first talked last winter and instantly hit it off. Soon after that initial conversation, Aaron formed the A3G Initiative, a grant program designed to get an amputee into the sport of archery. Wildly successful in its first year, Aaron will be kicking off the 2023 program in January and hand delivering the package to the winner at Mission 24 here in Wisconsin at the end of April.

We talk about how quickly the 2022 grant program came together and how emotional and rewarding it was for Aaron to present that first package this past July. He also shares of how meaningful attending his first HHAUSA event was, spending it with like-minded people, and gathered around the sport of archery.

Ritter had an eventful fall, embarking on three bowhunting adventures across the country. Without giving too much away, he headed West for a very challenging and rewarding elk hunt in Idaho in September with another Veteran. Some close calls got his heart rate up but coming home empty handed has him already planning a return trip for 2023.

His next stop was in Texas on a saddle hunt for whitetails. Plenty of encounters, great conversation and new friendships were formed that will see the Navy Veteran heading back to the Lone Star State next fall, this time with his grant winner as a guest at the 4J Ranch. So inspired by Aaron’s drive and heart for helping others, the owners wanted to give back and become part of his mission.

Early November saw him reuniting with Quackenbush in Nebraska for a whitetail hunt in the peak of the rut that did not disappoint. I want to allow you to experience the thrill of Aaron’s hunt firsthand when you listen to the podcast but the third time was the charm, complete with grip and grins, back straps, and a trip to the taxidermist. I could not have been happier for my friend when I got the text the day of the hunt and I guarantee you will share in my excitement when you hear how the hunt unfolded for Aaron.

Some late season hunting still to go on the East Coast, Ritter is prepping for a busy 2023 and his first stop at the ATA Show in Indianapolis January 11th, 12th, and 13th. I look forward to connecting with him and Al there around their other commitments to Badlands and Latitude Outdoors.

When it started HHAUSA, I never dreamed of the impact that some of the people I’ve met would have on my life and Aaron ranks right at the top of that list. A gruesome injury that resulted in the loss of his lower leg, post-traumatic stress and other setbacks have not kept Ritter down and if anything, turned him into the man he is today. A man on a mission to create positive change in the lives of others, drawing on his own experiences and living a limb-itless lifestyle. A man that I am both humbled and honored to call a brother and a friend.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

We are blessed here at HHAUSA to have some amazing partners, one of those being the Texas based Kniestedt Foundation. Started by James Kniestedt, a veteran of United States Army Special Forces, they work with both Veterans and those currently serving to get them in to the outdoors. The missions of our two organizations are the same and the time has finally come to take things to the next level in the new year.

Project Manager Joe Rhodes has organized a highly successful sporting clays fundraiser for several years in the St. Louis area. On April 29th, 2023, the Oregon Sportsman’s Club in Oregon Wisconsin will host a similar shoot with all proceeds going back to the Kniestedt Foundation. Historically holding only archery events, it made sense to team up with Rhodes and his expertise to bring further awareness to both of our programs and bring a new crowd to the HHAUSA family.

Joe also talks about the continued success of the hunting trips they put on each fall as well as an upcoming bison hunt in the state of Wyoming. Gifted a coveted tag from a longtime donor, female Veteran Channing Spradling hopes to harvest a buffalo in January and we are eager to hear all about that hunt.

Rhodes, a full-time teacher by day, discusses the grueling MR340, a cross state endurance race on the Missouri River spanning 340 miles. Completing the journey for a third straight year and raising funds for the foundation, Joe is still waiting for a partner to volunteer to make the trek with him again next summer.

One of the best parts of our conversation was when Joe talked at length about his nights on the water, giving him the ability to unpack his thoughts his thoughts in the dark solitude. Coming back a changed and better man each time, I almost felt like I was with Joe as he shared what a meaningful experience it is along with his ever growing gratitude for all those who serve.

We wrap up chatting about how rewarding it is as civilians to work with the Veteran and First Responder community. I feel like I don’t say it enough but it is truly a blessing to serve those who serve our country, protect our streets and keep our families safe. We owe a great debt to these men and women and are thankful for likeminded groups like the Kniestedt Foundation wanting to give back and make a difference.

For more information, visit www.kniestedt.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.org

To purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

The outdoors and military service are two things with a long, rich tradition in the life of Peter Thies. From his grandfather serving during World War 1 to he and his brother currently on active duty in the Wisconsin National Guard, the call to duty runs deep in their family.

The same can be said for a shared loved of hunting and fishing. Seen more as a necessity to put food on the table for a large family growing up, the Thies clan continues to spend quality time in the woods and on the water. Peter was able to take a great whitetail buck with his bow recently and his wife harvested her first deer last fall. While we have yet to join up on a 3D course at one of our HHAUSA events, I hope to help Thies, and his brother, cross that off of their bucket list in 2023.

When he's not busy with his family and Guard obligations as a recruiter and drill sergeant, Peter loves helping out another Wisconsin based nonprofit that supports the military, Wounded Warriors United. Founded by Otto Reetz, WWU focuses on providing hunting and fishing trips to Wisconsin Veterans. Peter and his brother volunteer and assist Reetz in his fundraising efforts across the state and enjoy giving back to their fellow service members. Personally, I look forward to connecting with Otto and having him on the podcast in the near future as well to share his heart for the Veteran community and his work with them in the outdoors.

We never know the impact that we will have on the lives of others and how something as simple as an email can trigger a new friendship. That was exactly how Peter Thies and I became acquainted last winter when he contacted our company regarding a Military Discount on an archery sight. After meeting in person at the Open Season Expo in Wisconsin Dells this past March, a new friendship began and I knew that Peter and I would one day be doing great things together to make a difference. I look forward to seeing what that will look like down the road and want to thank Peter for his service and his willingness to serve.

To learn more about the Wisconsin National Guard, visit ng.wi.gov

It's hard talk to my good friend and our podcast editor Logan Chartrand, especially as we draw closer to Christmas, without the conversation turning to Little Debbie. After taking care of that important piece of business, we also discuss the recent success that his son and father had in the woods during the Missouri gun opener. I love hearing those stories of hunters across multiple generations enjoying the outdoors together each fall. Here's to the Chartrands and countless other families like theirs that are keeping the sacred traditions of hunting alive.

Chit chat aside, we dive into what you have all hopefully been waiting for: the unveiling of the 2023 HHAUSA 3D Shoot Schedule. Carefully thought out over the past six months (and with a considerable amount of prayer), we had to make some difficult decisions going into next year. That included saying goodbye to four great archery clubs in The Badger State. Rib Mountain Bowmen, Waushara Archers, Twin City Rod and Gun Club and Blackhawk Archers of Stevens Point will not be on the calendar for 2023. While we have made some great friends at those ranges and events over the years and appreciate all of their support, it was time for us to expand our footprint a bit.

Dropping down from six to four shoots, we kick off the season in the Madison area with a two day 3D event at Blackhawk Archers in Verona April 29th and 30th. But that's not all. Joe Rhodes from The Kneistedt Foundation will be joining us to host a sporting clays shoot at the Oregon Sportsman's Club and Brian Austin and The Beastmode Archery Challenge will be putting on an endurance event at Tyrol Basin, both on Saturday the 29th. That evening, we will also be hosting a Meet and Greet at Tyrol with a few surprises for all in attendance.

After a two month break, we head back to the Tomah Warrens Sportsman's Alliance for a two day shoot July 8th and 9th. In what is sure to be a fun weekend, the guys from Chase Nation and The Breaking Point will be on hand for some friendly competition with a twist. We look forward to making this our biggest and best event yet with TWSA in the heart of Cranberry Country.

Four weeks later on August 5th and 6th we head to the Racine Instinctive Bowmen just south of Milwaukee. Don't be fooled by the name, these guys are serious about compounds and have an amazing range across nearly 200 acres. Partnering with Bowhunting.com and the Bowhunt or Die crew and can't wait to make this a regular stop on the tour. For those of you willing to fly in from around the country, this will be your best bet as the Milwaukee airport is a short drive with Chicago less than an hour away as well.

The HHAUSA Banquet will return to Wisconsin Rapids on Friday, August 18th, hosted once again by Whitetails Unlimited. To make the weekend even more special and worth the trip, our fourth shoot of 2023 is just a 5 minute drive up the road at Antler Archers the 19th and 20th. Our hometown archery club, this shoot just keeps getting better each year. With a couple other things in the works for the weekend, you don't want to miss it.

While the plan was to expand beyond state lines in 2023 with an event or two, that is still to be determined. We are still in talks to pull something together and if that happens, we will share it here first.

Beyond excited about what the future holds for HHAUSA, we cannot thank you all enough for the continued support. Whether it's been attending a shoot, buying our HHAUSA apparel, making a donation to the cause or listening in each week, you are helping to make a difference in the lives of our Veterans, First Responders and Law Enforcement Officers. I may sound like a broken record but we are just getting started and I look forward to seeing you all soon on the range. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!

For more information, visit www.hhausa.org

Travis Reigstad was a charter member of the original HHA Sports Pro Staff, going back to the late 2000's. A Wisconsin native and longtime supporter of the brand, he helped us out at a few trade shows and sang our praises to all of his hunting friends. Little did I know that a decade later, we would become close friends with a shared heart for helping others and have the special bond of being born again Christians.

On top of a career in EMS, Travis is a bit of an entrepreneur as well, starting a small business after a conversation and napkin art session with a friend at Applebee's one afternoon. Sitting on an idea for a cell phone tether for several years, the extra push from that get together brought about The Dangler Case. A simple yet ingenious design, it fits any cell phone, installs in seconds and clips to you, your pack or anywhere else that you want it. Great for outdoorsman, runners, bikers, hikers, EMS workers, you name it, The Dangler is must have for anyone that doesn't want to drop their phone.

His job has put Travis in countless situations seeing people on their worst days but he wouldn't trade it for the world and a passion for serving runs back generations in his family. His brother Brandon is a GWOT Veteran who battles PTSD so the Reigstad's are all too familiar with the impact it has on those who serve. Sadly, twice in the last twelve months Travis has lost close friends to suicide. Colt Treasure and Nate Walker both took their own lives, leaving families and friends behind to pick up the pieces. After Nate's passing, Travis created Shooting Out The Stigma of PTSD In Vets, Police, EMS and Fire on Facebook to raise more awareness of the issue. He also intends to utilize his love of archery to rally people around the cause and we will be there to support him any way that we can.

Reigstad also goes into great detail for the very first time of a traumatic incident on the job that is never far from his mind. I have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve our country and protect our streets, keeping our families safe. The things they have to witness will never go away completely and helping that community deal with those traumas in a positive way through archery and the outdoors is a big part of our mission here at HHAUSA.

I have been blessed with so many amazing friendships over the years and Travis Reigstad is one of those people. In spite of the hectic schedules that we both keep, we find time to check in with each other several times throughout the year and when the stars align, share the archery range together for an afternoon. Always eager to make a difference in the world, I am honored to have a man like Travis in my circle of friends and as a staunch supporter of HHAUSA.

You can find Travis and The Dangler Case on Facebook and Instagram and at www.danglercase.com

Let me make a couple things clear from the start. I am not a fitness guy and have never hunted the Western states where being in tip to shape is a requirement to stack the odds in your favor. Blessed to own 160 acres here in central Wisconsin, a quarter mile walk on flat ground to an elevated box blind is my preferred method of hunting and, good or bad, I seldom break a sweat unless I overdress .

My friend Brian Austin would be the polar opposite of that. A saddle hunter and two legged mountain goat residing in southern Wisconsin, his Instagram page is a bit more entertaining to the hunting public than mine each fall. That said, I have a great deal of respect for Brian, owner of GFB (Get Fit w/Brian) Outdoors, and appreciate anyone who shares their passions to bring newcomers into the sport. Austin is doing just that and more with his Beast Mode Archery Challenges and has built a big following in a short amount of time. Hosting both indoor and outdoor events, the worlds of cross fit and archery collide several times a year across The Badger State thanks to the personal fitness trainer and his growing team of volunteers.

He and I have talked for awhile about collaborating on an event together and that will finally become a reality next spring. We don't let the entire cat out of the bag on the episode but give our listeners enough to peak their interest with full details coming in December. Mission 24 of The HHAUSA Archery Shoot Series will be held April 29th and 30th south of Madison Wisconsin and is going to be the biggest event in our history. A two day archery shoot, one day sporting clay shoot and an all-new endurance event from Beast Mode will provide a little something for everyone. Vortex Optics will also be hosting a private event for 222 Veterans and First Responders. We are beyond excited to bring to launch what will hopefully be an annual get together and offer and unforgettable experience for everyone who participates.

We can't thank Brian enough for the support he has shown us here at HHAUSA and look forward to sharing more about the weekend in the days and months ahead. It's friends like Brian and partnerships like these that bring likeminded people together, changing lives along the way through the sport we are all so passionate about.

You can find Brian Austin, GFB Outdoors and Beast Mode Archery Challenge on Facebook and Instagram, visit their website at www.gfboutdoors.com, follow their YouTube channel or email Brian at beastmodearchery@gmail.com

Growing up in Arizona, Caleb Brewer joined the military in 2005. After reading a book about the Special Forces, he found his true calling of becoming a Green Beret.

While conducting combat operations in the treacherous Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2015, his life changed forever when he was critically injured by an IED. Losing both of his legs, Brewer began the long road to recovery. It was during that process that he would discover the sport of archery.

It didn't take long and he was working on his own bows, started bowhunting and quickly experienced the benefits, both mental and physical, that his new passion had to offer. In 2020, working with Operation Enduring Warrior, Caleb started an archery program for the 501c3 to offer the same healing he had found to others.

Purchasing an archery shop in his hometown of Tucson in November of 2021, Brewer is now pouring into the lives of people from around the country, using archery and his inspirational story to make a difference.

We talk a bit of hunting as well including another near death experience this fall where he was swept up in a raging river. He would survive and weeks later, take an awesome bull elk in a story that truly inspired me and I am sure will leave you feeling the same.

A humble man not wanting to be in the limelight, Caleb Brewer provided a great service to our country and paid the price. He hasn't allowed that slow him down and is doing great things for the Veteran and archery community. We are thankful to have him as part of the HHAUSA family and hope to collaborate in the future to positively impact even more lives. To connect with him, you can follow Caleb Brewer on Instagram as well as Stick Sniper Archery or visit www.sticksniper.com

One of my greatest shortcomings is that I seldom take time to rest. Between being a business owner, running a nonprofit, having a weekly podcast, and trying to be a good husband, family man and friend, it doesn't leave me with a ton of free time. Having danced too close to the edge at least once or twice a year for the past decade, I have to consciously tell myself to slow down, usually with a reminder from my wife and a few close friends. If I don't, I start juggling too many things and run the risk of being less effective in all areas of my life. Since rediscovering my faith in 2016, God has shown me what true rest really looks like. While still a work in progress, I feel that I'm doing a better job of self care and as a result, operating in a more positive headspace on a regular basis.

I decided in early September to take a few weeks off from the podcast to rest, reflect on the successes of the 2022 HHAUSA event season and begin working on next year. Missions 21 and 23 rounded out the shoot schedule and we hosted our first ever HHAUSA Banquet in partnership with our good friends at Whitetails Unlimited. The third film in the HHAUSA Film Series from Sam Ubl and Chase Nation debuted that evening, featuring my trip to Washington DC in July on the Old Glory Honor Flight. It also included the presentation of a $70,000 check to Never Forgotten Honor Flight out of Mosinee. The culmination of a three year goal to fund a full flight out of central Wisconsin, it was there where that I really developed my love for our Veterans and where many of the ideas for HHAUSA originated.

Successes aside, it was also a bittersweet summer as we moved throughout Wisconsin. knowing that the time was coming to move on to other cities and regions that will allow us to grow the organization and impact more lives in the Veteran and First Responder communities. That said, we will not be returning to Waushara Archers in Wautoma, Rib Mountain Bowmen in Wausau, Twin City Rod & Gun Club in Neenah or Blackhawk Archers of Stevens Point in 2023. We want to thank these clubs for opening their doors and ranges to us over the last few years and taking us to the next level. They will continue to receive our support on the for profit side for their club functions and we strongly encourage you to check out their shoot schedules in 2023 and beyond.

Tomah Warrens Sportsman's Alliance in Warrens and Antler Archers in Wisconsin Rapids will once again be hosting events for HHAUSA in 2023. We have two other cities confirmed and waiting on a third with the complete lineup for next year due out in late November.

A quick weekend trip to Nashville for a 3D shoot on 9/11 also planted seeds in The Volunteer State for what will hopefully be a great fundraising opportunity for HHAUSA next summer. Thank you to my good friends Al Quackenbush, Chad Stillman, Josh Vegors and Ira Dean for one of the greatest evenings of my life and a powerful conversation that I will never forget.

Last but not least, another three year journey came to an epic conclusion on the evening of September 28th. I was blessed to harvest "Houdini", a mature Wisconsin whitetail that I had been chasing on my home farm since first spotting him on trail cameras in 2018. Tipping the scales at 200 pounds and green scoring 169" and change, he's by far the largest buck I have put on the wall in 35 years as an outdoorsman and I could not be more thankful.

Overall, 2022 was a great year and I cannot thank you, our listeners, enough for the continued support of all things HHAUSA. We have some exciting things in store for 2023 and beyond and I can't wait to share those with you in the weeks and months ahead. Until then, have a safe and blessed hunt, God bless our Veterans and First Responders and God bless America!

Started in 2017, Patriot K9s of Wisconsin has been working hard to combat PTSD in the Veteran community by getting service dogs into the hands of those who need them. While I have several friends with service dogs, this was the first deep dive I had ever taken behind the scenes of an organization responsible for providing these life changing, and in many cases, life saving animals to their owners. I was able to meet with our guest and tour their facility last week and see first hand the impact of the work they are doing.

A Veteran himself impacted by post traumatic stress and Veteran suicide, Lani Rethaber volunteered for Patriot K9s in 2018. A lifelong dog lover and wanting to help his fellow Veterans, Lani walked away from a very good job as a logistics manager with a trucking company to follow his passion and now serves as the Executive Director for the Wausau Wisconsin based nonprofit. With a long waiting list and beginning to outgrow their building, Patriot K9s, like many organizations of its type, is always in need of additional volunteers and other resources.

Growing pains aside, strong local support for their cause has allowed them to accomplish a lot in a few short years. Higher vet bills, extensive training and the long hours required by multiple parties have pushed the price tag north of $20,000 to deliver a dog to its new owner. In spite of the increased cost, Patriot K9s has placed over 60 dogs with Veterans in need since 2017 and is changing lives but there is more work to be done. If you would like to volunteer, donate or support Patriot K9s of Wisconsin, visit their website at patriotk9s.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Here at HHAUSA, we appreciate the work than Lani and his dedicated team are doing across the state. Part of our mission is to help fight the battle against PTSD and the 22 Veterans a day that take their lives. As we continue to grow, we are excited to grow our relationship with them and look forward to expanding our partnership in 2023 and beyond.

Connected through a mutual friend several years ago, my first real interaction with Jeff Vance was being part of one of his podcasts back in July of 2020. A master communicator and someone you could talk with for hours (which many have including myself), Jeff has been a blessing to my life, the archery community and the mission of HHAUSA.

In spite of some hard times in the late 2000's that left Vance homeless and wandering the western part of the United States, he found himself and came out the other side of it a new man with a different perspective on life. Now happily married, highly successful in his 9-5 and with a rapidly growing fanbase and the Bucks of America Podcast, Jeff is living his best life.

Like so many people that we have met through HHAUSA, Vance has a huge heart for the cause, helping others and sharing his passion of archery and the outdoors. He's also an accomplished chef and, speaking from personal experience, knows how to entertain a crowd with his culinary skills. Always tweaking and improving his recipes, just typing this takes me back to the two get togethers we had at his house and the assortment of meats coming off of his smoker. Jeff, when's the next dinner?

Regular attendees at HHAUSA shoots around Wisconsin, Jeff and his wife Elysia love our sport, our Veterans and First Responders and making new friends. Always quick to great you with a huge smile and a bear hug, you'll be hard pressed to find a more genuine, likeable human being than Jeff. He's a man that enjoys the simple things in life, fully understands and appreciates his blessings and pays it forward with little to no fanfare. This world could use a lot more people like Jeff Vance!

I enjoyed our conversation but as it always does, it went by too quickly. There's no doubt that we will be return guests on each others podcasts, continue sharing the range and meals together and build on the wonderful friendship that we have started. I look forward to those times together with my friend and brother in Christ.

If you want to follow Jeff and Bucks of America Podcast, you can find them on Facebook and Instagram and wherever you download your podcasts.

Meeting just before his days with Buck Bomb began, Mike Homan and I had some good times together on the trade show circuit. But those good times took a toll and by the grace of God, we are both still here and better men on the other side of the darkness we once shared.

Long before leaving the Air Force, Homan's battle with alcohol had started and would plaque him for nearly 30 years. Through two stints in the Air Force and careers in the private sector, Mike was a functioning alcoholic. In 2007, he was pro staffing for a broadhead company in the archery industry and it was there that we first crossed paths.

After going back to Iraq as a contractor in 2012, the opportunity arose to work with the up and coming scent company Buck Bomb. Having become friends with the owners travelling the road together, they brought Mike on to run their newly developed fishing brand. Sadly, a series of unfortunate events would eventually lead to the sale of Buck Bomb to private equity in 2015. Less than a year later, Mike found himself retired at 45 years old and his downward spiral picked up speed to the point of nearly drinking himself to death.

Drowning in selfishness and self pity, he had started to neglect his family and felt like he had no purpose. Now drinking every day to the point of blacking out, it would take not one but two, near fatal car accidents, for Homan to finally realize that he needed to seek help. Passing out at the wheel after seeing the shattered windshield during his second wreck, the fractured glass was a stark reminder of what his life had become.

Mike knew that God was telling him it was time to change his ways and he voluntarily entered rehab for 35 days. Having recently celebrating one year of sobriety In August, he is a new man with a new life. Starting Buy Veteran Owned USA in the summer of 2022, Mike is promoting Veteran owned businesses using his years of experience in the outdoor world and making a difference and living with purpose serving others again.

While I did not serve, Mike and I share a similar path to where we are today. We both overcame life threatening battles with alcohol thanks to the love of our wives and the grace of God, strengthening our faith in the process. I'm excited about what the future holds for my friend and look forward to seeing him live out his purpose, changing the lives of others along the way.

You can follow BVO USA on Facebook and Instagram, visit their website at www.buyveteranownedusa.com or contact Mike at contact@bvousa.com.

Serving is something that runs in Chris Berkers' family. His father was in during the Bay of Pigs in the late 1950's, Chris himself served in the Navy from 1997 to 2002 and his daughter is currently in the National Guard.

Starting as a guardian for a World War II Veteran in the early days of Old Glory, Berkers was hooked and it wasn't long before he began taking on a more active roll that culminated into his current position as President. A dentist living in Appleton Wisconsin, Chris and I talk about how little it takes to say thank you and just how special the mission of Honor Flight is to our Veterans. With several groundbreaking trips, Old Glory has set itself apart from other branches across the country. Their Return To Pearl trip in 2011 (taking 19 WWII Veterans back to Pearl Harbor) and Return To Nam (taking 52 Vietnam Veterans back to Vietnam) in 2019 are among Berkers' favorites.

OGHF covers Northeastern Wisconsin and has always done things a little differently than other Honor Flights and I was able to experience flying with them out of Oshkosh and the EAA AirVenture in July. Travelling with 99 Vietnam Veterans as part of a Yellow Ribbon Flight, it was an unforgettable day for everyone fortunate enough to be a part of it. Recognizing the need to come along our GWOT (Global War On Terrorism) Veterans, plans are in the works for an event with them in the near future as well.

Like everyone that I have worked with in the Honor Flight family the past seven years, Chris Berkers has a contagious energy about him and lives and breathes all things Honor Flight. It's that passion that enables this amazing organization to deliver an experience of a lifetime to our Veterans and their families, showing them the recognition and gratitude that they so deserve.

Personally, I am excited to be a small part of the Old Glory Honor Flight family, to call Chris a friend and to see what the future holds for this amazing organization. You can find Chris on Facebook, follow Old Glory there and on Instagram or visit www.oldgloryhonorflight.org

God has a way of bringing people into our lives for a much greater purpose than it may appear at the time. Luke McFarland is one of those people in my life. Meeting over a decade ago through HHA Sports and his desire to use our products, it was only in the last couple years that Luke and I started to connect on a much deeper level. While I knew that he was a Veteran back when we met, I had no idea all that he had been through and am thankful for both our friendship and willingness to share his story.

After stints in the Air Force and Army left him with three separate traumatic brain injuries, Luke had to learn to speak all over again and his life would never be the same. Discovering a new normal and continuing to battle the TBIs, PTSD and other injuries from his service, he returned to the best therapy that he knew of: his love of archery and the outdoors. Able to disconnect from the chaos of the world each time he stepped into the woods, there was something about being in God's creation that brought him a healing like no other.

In August of 2021, just a day before getting engaged, Luke gave his life to Christ and was baptized. Realizing now that God was in control of everything over the past 20 years, things all started to make sense and he discovered a purpose in his pain. He had a renewed drive to help others suffering from TBIs and other service related injuries.

That drive recently led the Iowa native to became an advocate for the Stronghold Freedom Foundation. This group is fighting for the nearly 16,000 Veterans who served at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base during Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2005. Exposed to hundreds of toxic chemicals and radiation at the base, 75% of these Veterans will develop illnesses because of the exposure, Luke being one of them.

I've seen it countless times in the Veteran and First Responder community but the passion to serve is something that in simply in the DNA of these individuals. Luke McFarland is a special man and a man on a mission to help those in need. I am honored to be in his circle of friends and look forward to working together more to make a difference.

If you'd like to get in contact with him, you can find him on Facebook and Instagram or email Luke at lukemcfarland31@gmail.com

Thanks to a glitch in technology, we had to record this episode twice (thus the Take 2 title) and that was just fine with both me and my guest as we always love catching up.

Nearly a decade ago, I received an email from a Veteran in the market for a new HHA sight inquiring about our Military Discount. Fast forward to July of 2022 and I was finally able to meet the man responsible for sending that email in person. Though our friendship had graduated to text messages and phone calls, getting to spend a weekend with Jeff Litteral and a close knit group of friends from across the country was hands down the highlight of the HHAUSA season for me.

A Kentucky native, Litteral knew at a young age that he wanted to see the world and not follow in the footsteps of his father and others in his hometown of working the coal mines. Twenty plus years of serving our country blessed Jeff with some great memories and a beautiful bride but also an ongoing battle with PTSD. I appreciate Jeff's willingness to share not only his story but his struggles as well. He fully understands the value in doing so and wants to help others overcome by not being afraid to show weakness and ask for help.

Unsuccessfully trying to fight PTSD early on with pills and alcohol, Jeff's wife gave him an ultimatum that things would have to change if he wanted her and their young daughter to be a part of his life. Taking those words to heart, he began counseling and soon found one that spoke his language, giving him the necessary tools to combat his situation in much healthier ways. He would also get reintroduced to hunting and specifically archery, something that he credits with playing a major role in his routine to keep the demons at bay.

Meeting Jeff in Appleton in July, I'd felt like I had known him forever. Seeing him interact with the rest of our group, whether it was at dinner, on the archery range or at Scheels shopping for a new pair of Hey Dudes, it became apparent just how therapeutic the weekend was for everyone and will be a lasting memory for me. There was a bond formed between Jeff, Al Quackenbush, Aaron Ritter and myself that is hard to put into words. It felt like a reunion of lifelong friends and made it difficult to say goodbye when Sunday rolled around. But don't worry, Lord willing we will be together again next year.

Jeff's heart for serving, for archery and for our program has landed him as the point man for a potential HHAUSA event in the northeast in 2023 and we can't wait to announce it. While we are still busy finalizing the details, look forward to him returning for Take 3 just as soon as those plans are complete.

Last, but certainly not least, let's all give the social media newcomer a follow on Instagram at 1sglitt

I've been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people over the past decade as my involvement has increased within the military and first responder communities. Not playing favorites in any way but one that sticks out is my good friend Ross Witucki. The combination of his story, his humility and his heart to serve struck a chord in me from early on in our friendship and I have a great deal of respect for the man he is and how he carries himself. Simply put, this world needs more people like Ross.

Listening to him share his beginnings in archery and bowhunting took me back to my roots in the sport that is so central to our mission here at HHAUSA. Little did I know that over 40 years after I first picked up a bow, we would be promoting it as a therapeutic, and in some cases, life saving tool for those suffering with PTSD. Outside of quality time spent with his wife and two young children, Witucki credits archery and the outdoors as his saving grace to combat the struggles he has endured in his career as a firefighter and EMT.

Called to service for the Wisconsin National Guard after witnessing the 9/11 attacks on TV in high school, Ross enjoyed an uneventful career in the military for the most part. It wasn't until he began serving in the firefighter and paramedic world that he started to experience the traumas that come from seeing people on their worst days. Not picking up on it right away but with the love and support of his wife Erin, the Wituckis have been able to find tools to live with the effects of PTSD.

He also speaks openly about the positive impact that archery and the HHAUSA events have had on him. From the mental therapy that archery provides to the sense of community and belonging that is often lost when people leave the military, he has found a new family here at HHAUSA and we are so thankful that he did.

A self taught archer and a very good one at that, I am honored to call Ross my friend and appreciate the strength and courage that it took for him to share his story. While this was his first ever podcast, it surely won't be his last as we both know the power of sharing our struggles in hope of helping others. PTSD is all too common in his line of work and we want to be a part of a solution by exposing others to the sport we love so much.

We also look forward to debuting Ross's story in 2023 as part of our ongoing HHAUSA Film Series with Sam Ubl and Chase Nation. While still in the beginning stages, it promises to offer hope for those dealing with post traumatic stress and we appreciate Ross and his family in advance for changing lives.

You can follow Ross on Facebook and Instagram.

If we allow it to, life will pass us by if we don't intentionally take a moment now and then to slow down, reflect and celebrate our victories, both big and small. Personally, I'm guilty at times of focusing on bottom lines, followers and dollars and cents, momentarily distracting me from our core mission: to change lives of Veterans and First Responders through the sport of archery.

Logan Chartrand joins me again this week to chat about our last two events and the impact felt by those in attendance. Without giving too much away, we were able to be a part of Aaron Ritter's E3G Amputee Grant presentation from Limb-Itless Outdoors outside of Appleton in early July. First year recipient Andrew Macek was left speechless when he was given a truckload of gear to help successfully launch him into the sport that brings us all together. Aaron did not disappoint in delivering a heartfelt message to the crowd of how much the journey has meant to him and we look forward to coming alongside him once again in 2023 as he continues to touch lives through his passion of the outdoors.

It was also great to finally shake hands and break bread with Veteran, longtime HHA supporter (and new Instagram influencer) Jeff Litteral. Getting to spend three days with Jeff, share the course and hear about his heart and willingness to step up has us hopeful for a trip out east to his home turf for an HHAUSA event in 2023.

My very close friend Al Quackenbush also joined us from Southern California at Mission 20. It was Al who first introduced me and the HHAUSA family to Aaron. It was our first time all being together and made for an amazing weekend, the only downside being that it went by way too quickly. I can speak on behalf of all of us though in saying that it was one that will not soon be forgotten and helped us both individually and collectively define our purpose. Even though Al nor myself have never served our country, a special bond has formed between the four of us and I am so thankful for the connection that we share.

As we head into our last two shoots of 2022, the future is looking very bright for HHAUSA and I am excited to unveil our plans for 2023 in the coming months. None of this would be possible without the Aarons, the Als, the Jeffs, the Andrews and countless others that have come into my life and who support this cause. Thank you all for your selflessness and stepping up to serve those who allow us to do what we do.

Technology is wonderful...when it works. Unfortunately, on occasion the recording platform for The HHAUSA Podcast will hang up, leaving our guest trapped in a virtual green room. Such was the case with my new friend Dave Garrett in bringing you his story. Thankfully the incident was short lived, made for a good laugh or two and helped give birth to the title of this week's episode. Mission accomplished!

The former 1st Sergeant from the 1st Cav Division of the United States Army, Garrett received an invitation earlier this spring from his cousin and fellow Veteran Jeremiah Young, to join him at an HHAUSA archery event this summer. Happily accepting but without a bow, I connected the two with good friend Tyson Trunkhill of Sticks and Stones Archery and The Dust-Off Project. Plans were set in motion to present Dave with his new bow at Mission 18 in Wautoma Wisconsin the first weekend in June.

It all came together on Saturday, June 4th as Garrett anxiously received his new set up. A few last minute adjustments from Trunkhill and Dave was ready to hit the course for a round of 3D. Only nine targets into his day, the unthinkable happened when the self-subscribed chatter box forgot to load an arrow and dried fired his less than hour old gift! The embarrassing setback was only temporary though when Cousin Jeremiah pulled out his backup bow and Dave was quickly back in business, a bit more cautious from the mishap.

Word travelled quickly around the small, central Wisconsin club about "the guy that blew up his bow" and I was fortune enough to draw the Chris Farley fan as my scramble partner for the evening. A conversation began that hasn't stopped and we became fast friends. We laughed about the events of the day and even managed a podium finish which awarded us some hard earned cash that was donated back to the cause that evening.

The conversation took on a more serious tone Sunday morning as I hit the course with the cousins and a local first responder. Talk quickly turned to their time of service, PTSD and how beneficial archery and the outdoors has been for all three men to deal with their struggles in a positive manner. It was one of those special moments that you'll never forget and I knew the that the dialogue from those three hours would resonate long after we parted ways Sunday night.

It took Garrett less than a week to text me, already making plans to return to The Badger State for another HHAUSA event, this time with his entire family in tow. I had the pleasure of meeting the Garretts in Neenah at Mission 20 a few weeks ago and Dave and I again spent a day on the archery range together. This time, other friends of HHAUSA, Al Quackenbush, Aaron Ritter, Brian Turner, Jeff Litteral and Chase Nation stars Sam Ubl, Steve Jeffrey and Brad Werwinski joined in the fun. It was a great afternoon and by far one of the highlights of my 2022 season thus far.

I could go on for hours about the camaraderie, bonds and friendships that are formed at these events but my words can simply not do it justice. You will have to eventually experience it for yourself firsthand. That's about to get a lot easier as plans are in motion to take HHAUSA outside the state of Wisconsin for multiple stops in 2023. More on that in a future episode this fall...

As for Dave, his childhood dream of taking to the airwaves are drawing closer by the day as he plans to start a podcast, sharing his own struggles with the hopes of helping others. He has the personality and voice for the venture and personally, I can't wait to tune in. Like so many others that we have met in our now 20 missions and counting, Garrett is a selfless soul with a story to tell and knows how to hold an audience with a perfect balance of humor, heart and sincerity.

Thanks for making the trips this summer Dave, it's changed my life and I know it's going to change others as well. Welcome to the HHAUSA family!<

Raised in a household where serving was a way of life, Jeremy Fisher learned early on that the only road to success was one paved by hard work. Fulfilling a dream from high school, he entered into law enforcement at 21 years young. While his police career was short lived, Jeremy will always have a high regard for those who put on the uniform, including his late father who served in Vietnam Veteran.

His best friend in high school was an avid outdoorsman and introduced Fisher to archery. A lifelong passion was born that would culminate in the opening of Badger State Adventure two decades later. With his "eager to serve" mentality and likeable personality, the Nebraska native continues to build a steady clientele in northwestern Wisconsin.

Meeting Jeremy last summer at an HHAUSA event and sharing a day on the range with him, it was easy to see how driven he was to not only be successful but to learn from others in the world of archery. He's the kind of person that you felt like you've known for years after only a short conversation and has a contagious enthusiasm that can't help but rub off on anyone within earshot.

That willingness to share and help others led Fisher to create The Toxon App. While still in its infant stages, this app has all the makings to be an archers dream when it comes to locating 3D shoots and archery shops from coast to coast. Opening the app, I was immediately alerted to two venues within 50 miles of my house without any further exploration. Jumping to the events tab, little archery icons populated the state of Wisconsin, giving me the opportunity to search out clubs and events that I may want to attend this summer.

Jeremy was also excited to announce that push notifications will soon be added to the app, making it even easier to stay connected to all the latest archery happenings in your area. This will now give anyone who is on the app to send those notifications to archers who subscribe to them on Toxon. The app is free for clubs and pro shops to have your venue and events listed and is only going to continue to grow with each passing season. Download it today in your app store.

We can't thank Jeremy enough for his passion for archery, support of our cause and his heart for serving. You can find Toxon and Badger State Adventures on Facebook and Instagram and online at www.toxonapp.com and www.badgerstateadventures.com

We focus heavily on PTSD and how it has impacted the lives of Veterans, First Responders and Law Enforcement. While not clinically diagnosed with post traumatic stress, there are countless others who's lives have been forever changed due to unthinkable tragedies and traumas. With talks about mental health at an all-time high, we wanted to address those who may fall into this category and offer a heartbreaking but powerful story of one man's journey through that darkness,

Josh Vegors is an avid outdoorsman, a content creator, a father and a husband. In 2011, he and his wife were expecting twins that would add two more boys to their growing family. Sadly, young Jonah would enter this world without his baby brother Preston and a long grieving process was about to begin.

Vegors knew that he had a family to support and wanted to be the father and husband his family needed. The mistake that he made was not confronting the immense grief of losing a child but his wife knew what Josh needed to help begin the healing process. Sending him off a night on the deer stand, it was there that he found a place to unpack the wounds he'd been hiding. It forever changed his life and an idea was born.

The hunt inspired a project that will share not only his story but the stories of others that have found peace, solace and healing in the outdoors. Already having some short films under his belt (check out Local Permission "Honor" and Knee Deep) on YouTube, he is now embarking on a multiyear journey of a much larger project. Seeking Solitude will be a series of films build around the idea of men escaping to the outdoors to find the peace that is so hard to come by and how it is transforming their lives and those around them. HHA Sports is proud to partner with Josh on this venture and we can't wait to see his story hit the screen in 2023.

Vegors also has ties to the military and will be documenting his good friend Joe Higginbotham's journey in a future film. Joe is the founder and director of ROVER, a Veterans nonprofit designed to improve the lives of those who have served and their families. Look for Joe on a future episode of The HHAUSA Podcast as he shares his story and the work he and Josh are doing together.

You can connect with Josh Vegors on Facebook and Instagram and also support the Seeking Solitude project here: https://fundly.com/seeking-solitude?fbclid=IwAR1BJxIJpWgRHDgeVRkFncHiHOGmlCCXZJiXCEWpO3_ym9OSlOil_BOZpOQ

Growing up where waterfowl hunting was prevalent, JP France hasn't been bowhunting all that long but it's safe to say that he's hooked! Pitching at the Triple A level for the Houston Astros with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, France doesn't get nearly enough time to enjoy his newfound passion but makes the best of it. Connected with Brett Graves and his group of big leaguers from Full Count Full Draw, JP is sure to add to his growing resume of success this fall when the leaves begin to change. A new fan on the HHA Sports train, he shared his dream hunt of harvesting a mature bull elk some day and we hope that becomes a reality for the budding star.

Not growing up in a military family but experiencing that firsthand on his wife's side, France has a tremendous respect for those who serve our country. In an interesting but welcome turn, when asked about the National Anthem and pregame ceremonies, he was quick to speak about a far less frequent staple at the ballpark, God Bless America. I couldn't have agreed more and while I will always love the Anthem, like JP I wish that more sporting events would add the lesser played song to their rotations as a reminder of the great country that we are blessed to live in.

Married to a former reality TV star and world class chef, France shared some exciting news and will soon add the title of father to his growing list of duties in early 2023. Needless to say, he and his wife will continue their busy lifestyle as he chases his dream of making it to the big leagues. All of us here at HHAUSA and HHA Sports will be cheering him on every step of the way and we hope that you enjoy the conversation!

An avid bowhunter, Will Jimeno almost called in sick on September 11th, 2001. Little did he know what that day would have in store for him but looking back 20 years later, he wouldn't change a thing. Trapped beneath the Twin Towers for 13 hours, Will's journey was just beginning when he was pulled from rubble that night.

Born in Columbia but immigrating to the United States at a young age, it was instilled in him that he and his family would learn to speak English, fly the American flag and support the country that provided them so many opportunities. That spirit of serving would lead Will to join the Navy and then the Port Authority as a Police Officer in New York and New Jersey.

We all know what happened on the morning of 9/11 and Jimeno was right in the middle of it. Heading into the Twin Towers with countless other law enforcement and first responders, the buildings would collapse on Will and his team. Sadly, he and his Sergeant John McLoughlin would be the only two from his group to make it out alive. My words cannot do justice to describe how those hours were spent and I strongly suggest you obtain a copy of Sunrise Through The Darkness to read it for yourself. Their story was also captured on film by Oliver Stone with the 2006 release of World Trade Center.

His time in law enforcement now over, Jimeno would see several counselors before finally meeting Debbie Mandell. She was able to help Will in ways that the others could not and also requested to include his wife Allison in some of the sessions. It was the breakthrough that they had been looking for and while not a cure for his post traumatic stress, he was now given the tools that he needed to manage it more effectively.

One of his primary means to escape leading back to his pre 9/11 days was hunting and the outdoors, specifically bowhunting. Even something as simple as heading to the range to shoot a few arrows allowed Will to keep his emotions in check when the PTSD would trigger his anger. To this day, the friendships that he has made in the archery community continue to aid him in his recovery. Describing nature as an outlet, Jimeno finds peace and solitude in the outdoors and it's a reminder of how truly blessed he is to live another day and for all the good things he has in his life.

Now an accomplished public speaker, Will is changing lives through sharing his story across the country each year and continuing to serve others. From the first voicemail I received from him back in February, I knew there was something special about Will Jimeno. Our conversation, reading his book and this podcast left me with a feeling that for as lost and broken as this world seems at times, there is still so much good in it. I cannot imagine what it was like to be trapped in that building on that September day but as Will explained, we all have our own 9/11. Whether it be time in combat, serving as a first responder, death of a loved one, an addiction, a divorce, whatever it may be. We will all experience a significant trauma in our lives at some point that will plunge us into darkness. But through faith, hope and love, we can find the light again.

Thank you for being the light for so many Will.

Less than a dozen pages into Combat to Conservation, I felt like I had known Francis "Fitz" Fitzgerald my entire life. His writing style and way with words draped a familiar calmness over me that I experienced growing up in the Midwest as a kid of the 80s. Fitz is a quarter century older than I am but he embodies the same qualities of "the good neighbors" of my youth and I knew I had made a new friend before ever speaking to him.

Born in Rochester Minnesota on January 13th, 1951, Fitzgerald grew up in the country and as a teen, became enamored with nature and the outdoors. At 15, he harvested his first whitetail deer with an Indian recurve bow. The eloquence and respect that he displayed telling that short story from a chapter appropriately titled "The Hunt" instantly brought to mind memories of my first bow kill and I couldn't put the book down.

A short read of just over 150 pages, Combat to Conversation doesn't take long to pick up steam as Fitz enlists in the Marines and is off to the jungles and rice patties of Vietnam. In "The Hunt II", the 19 year old marine comes face to face with the darkest parts of war when he must choose between his own life and that of a young Viet Kong soldier. Again, the delicacy of his words to describe a situation that most of us will never have to go through are hard to describe unless you read them for yourself.

His military career would essentially come to an end just a few short months later just west of Da Nang. Like the scene we have all seen play out in the movies, the worst case unfolded as his company was ambushed on a bridge under the cover of darkness. The blast lit up the evening sky as Fitz lay on his back with enemy fire closing in on his dazed and injured body. Thankfully able to radio for backup, his platoon escaped without casualties but Fitzgerald would begin the road to recovery that is some ways still continues to this day.

Honorably discharged in June of 1971, he was off to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to pursue his passion of working in conservation. He was standing on the brink of securing his dream job in the fall of 1975 when life threw him another curve ball, one he literally couldn't see coming. The blast on the bridge had cost him his sight in one eye, yet he had passed all the necessary tests to that point and was soon to be hired as full-time game warden for the state of Minnesota. Mentioning the injury in casual conversation with his potential supervisor, he knew he'd lost the opportunity of a lifetime and would be disqualified from the position.

Having to take a different job outside his field, it would be close to two decades before he would finally reconnect with his love of the outdoors. While successful, the toll that career had taken on Fitz and his family led to a divorce in the mid-80s and he knew it was time for a change. That change came in Ely Minnesota, just miles from the Canadian border. The call of the wild was drawing him there for a new start, purchasing a resort and finding love again, but also finding healing from what is now commonly known as PTSD through time spent in the outdoors.

I could go on for hours about this book, this podcast and the remarkable story and man responsible for them. But I want to leave that discovery to you, our listeners and also invite you to purchase his book, Combat to Conservation, A Marine's Journey through Darkness into Nature's Light on Amazon. You will not regret either one and I cannot thank Fitz enough for his humility, honesty and vulnerability in sharing his story. There isn't a doubt in my mind that it will change lives. It already changed mine.

This week, we have HHAUSA Podcast Producer Logan Chartrand of WhizBang Media joining us once again. Last month, he loaded up his family, left their home state of Missouri and made the 9 hour trek to Wisconsin to partake in his first HHAUSA event. An accomplished 3D and tournament archer, Logan was in for a much different experience than his days on the competition trail.

Meeting several of the guests from the podcast who were in Warrens at Mission 17, Chartrand and his family had a great time, able to absorb just how special and lifechanging these shoots are for those who attend.

We also discuss the most recent HHAUSA shoot that took place at Waushara Archers in Wautoma, June 4th and 5th. Truly one of the hidden gems here in Wisconsin in the realm of archery ranges, they rolled out the red carpet for us and our guests once again . John Mulligan, AKA Johnny Utah, was up from Iowa and shot the course with us on Saturday with the Chase Nation film crew not far behind. Fellow Hawkeye and HHAUSA regular Tyson Trunkhill presented a bow through his Dust Off Project to Veteran David Garrett who I had the pleasure of shooting the scramble with Saturday night. A wonderful personality with a story to tell, look for David on an upcoming episode soon.

Speaking of the next episode, we will be taking a short "summer break" and will not drop a podcast on Friday, June 17th. Look for us to return on the 24th, recharged and ready to continue bringing you some amazing guests over the course of the summer as we see old friends and meet new ones as the 2022 HHAUSA Veterans Archery Shoot Tour picks up steam.

If you'd like to make the trip to Wisconsin and join us, we still have four events left between now and the end of August. Visit the website here for more information at https://www.hhausa.org/events/

Picking up a bow for the first time at 14 years old, Ben Klusmann was hooked on the sport of archery and his world hasn't been the same since.

While he and his father did their fair share of gun hunting, it wasn't until the South Dakotan watched Michael Waddell harvest a turkey with a bow on TV that he knew there was more to the outdoors he needed to explore. He told his dad he wanted to start shooting a bow and they were off to the basement to dust off an old Bear recurve. Setting up a few hay bales and with a handful of paper plates in tow, Ben began to learn to shoot like so many of us have over the years. Once he became proficient enough with the primitive, hand me down gift, it was off to the archery shop and the big leagues of a compound bow. His first archery harvest soon followed and gun hunting quickly became a thing of the past.

After a call from a recruiter in high school, Klusmann's path to the military included a tech college stop, a criminal justice degree and a job at the state penitentiary. It was there that he met several former Veterans who stoked his fire to serve. Still undecided and lacking a clear direction, Ben was drifting away from his faith and headed down a path he knew he shouldn't be on.

Sitting on his bed one evening, his Bible opened to Joshua 1:9 which reads: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Just days letter, he was off to sign up for the Army. Sworn in on September 11th, 2013, orders for Afghanistan fell through and Ben was shipped off to Egypt instead. Never able to engage in the true combat missions he signed on for, the infantryman missed his family and knew that the military lifestyle was not for him. He felt that God had other plans and five years his contract was up, he was back in his home state managing a Hi-Vee grocery store.

In a dark place personally, Ben starting drinking heavily and was living in a way that didn't honor the God he had served on and off for the better part of a decade. Thankfully, he met his wife during this difficult time and things started to turn around. She helped open his eyes to a better, sober lifestyle and they were married less than a year later. Now with two young children and a third arriving in December, the family man is following the Lord once again and took a job for the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation as a Veteran Employment Specialist.

While he put the bow down during his time in the Army, he has picked it back up with an even greater purpose. In 2018, Klusmann redirected that passion into the formation of SoDak Horizon Outdoors, a YouTube channel and social media platform for all things archery. From beginners to lifelong bowhunters, viewers can follow Ben's adventures that range from backyard practice to time in the stand to his recent trip to Wisconsin and the most recent HHAUSA 3D shoot.

Like so many of the Veterans that I have been blessed to meet over the past decade, Ben is using the sport of archery to not only keep his own mental health in check but is sharing that with his growing audience and the platform God has given him. A man after my own heart, we are excited to see what the future holds and can't wait to collaborate with him in the near future.

Our good friend and Law Enforcement Officer Tyler Geiger joins us once again on The HHAUSA Podcast. A passionate archer and ultra runner, he rallied his followers last year to raise money for us by completing the David Goggins inspired 4x4x48 Challenge, running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.

A few things have changed since we last spoke to Tyler. Having moved from the outskirts of Nashville in 2021, he and his new bride are living in the great state of Montana where he's been bitten by the elk hunting bug. When not protecting the streets, you'll find him on a long run or in the mountains prepping for hunting season.

On June 18th, Geiger returns to his old stomping grounds to participate in the Mid State Mile, a grueling, last man standing event won the last two years by former Navy Seal Chadd Wright. The name speaks for itself and the rules are simple, the last man or woman standing at the end of the race is the winner. Tyler once again is raising money for HHAUSA and we cannot thank him enough for his heart for our cause.

In the little spare time that he has, he and a fellow officer launched The Montana Nocks Podcast to give them an opportunity to share their love of all things archery with their growing audience. You can find it on most podcast platforms, follow it on Instagram at @montananockspodcast and Tyler at @_geig_

It takes a special human being to put their life at risk each day to keep us safe here in America. PTSD is as real in the Law Enforcement and First Responder communities as it is with our Veterans, something that Geiger is acutely aware of. It's that awareness and his desire to help others that fuels him to lace up his shoes and make a difference, one mile at a time.

Tyler...thank you for your service.

There is nothing I love more than partnering with likeminded individuals that have a heart for serving others. Collin Cottrell with High Caliber Hunts absolutely fits that mold and we are excited to come alongside him and see his new venture grow in the great state of Texas.

A fellow Midwesterner born in Minnesota, Cottrell picked up hunting at a young age and once he grabbed a bow, a lifelong passion was born. Growing up in the hunting camps that rifle seasons bring in the Northwoods, it was there that he would experience the comradery and fellowship that he wants to take to another level with High Caliber Hunts.

Choosing to stay close to home and attend a tech college so that he could continue that passion of hunting, it become clear that a marketing career in the outdoor space was in his future. A chance encounter with Wilderness Athlete and Cam Hanes would get him kickstarted in the archery world and eventually led to he and I connecting over a decade ago at the ATA Show. Starting a marketing firm on the front end of the newest technologies and platforms of the times, Collin is regarded as one of the early pioneers of the digital media era in archery and the outdoors.

While not a Veteran himself, Cottrell has many close friends in the community and has seen firsthand the challenges they face and the healing power of the outdoors working in their lives. It's his deep faith in Christ and his servant's heart that is fueling his latest adventure with HCH and the impact is already being felt by attendees. More than your typical hunting camp, Collin's vision is to have authentic, meaningful, conversations with men willing to go there in an effort to be the best versions of themselves.

It's hard to put into words how excited I am to see what the future holds for Cottrell and High Caliber. They are a perfect fit for our mission here at HHAUSA and our prayer is that lives will be changed through this new partnership. To connect with Collin and HCH, follow him at @collin_cottrell and @highcaliberhunts on Instagram and visit their website at www.highcaliberhunts.com.

Growing up in a family of hunters, it wasn't until Michelle Sanchez returned from Iraq in 2005 that her father presented her with a .25-06 Smith and Wesson and invited her to join him on the ranch. A cousin then persuaded her into buying a bow which led to a first place finish in a local bowfishing tournament. Things snowballed from there and before long, Sanchez found herself shooting competitively across The Lone Star State and she quickly discovered the therapeutic benefits of archery. Within a year, she would become a state champion, a feat that she would accomplish three times, now completely hooked on the sport.

A decade later, an opportunity presented itself to qualify for The Department of Defense Warriors Games in Chicago. An adaptive Olympics designed to rehabilitate wounded Veterans and active members of the Armed Forces, Melissa would participate in several sports. It was there that I had the privilege to meet her and see her compete in person, being the only woman to finish in the top 8 of the archery division.

The Army Veteran took that accomplishment one step further and to another continent in 2022, representing the United States at The Invictus Games in The Netherlands. Able to reunite with some of her former teammates and make new friends from around the world, Sanchez again came home with metals, memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Not only a competition shooter but a bowhunter as well, she is passionate about mentoring the next generation in her home state and hopes one day to do that full time. Having overcome significant hurdles and the darkness of her past , Sanchez has an infectious positivity to her. While still prone to bad days now and again, she has found an escape behind a stick and string and is an inspiration to anyone looking for a healthy outlet to combat their own personal struggles. Her story is an inspiring one and we are honored to have her as part of the HHA family!

It's impossible to put into words, either on paper or in a two hour podcast, how life changing a trip on the Honor Flight is. Less than 12 hours removed from what would be my third flight in the past four years, I will attempt to do just that and bring you, our listeners, along on this truly remarkable day.

For those not familiar with the organization, The Honor Flight Network consists of 128 chapters across the United States that flies Veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam to the memorials erected in their honor to our nation's capital. Founded in 2005 by Earl Morse, an Air Force Physician's Assistant, the Honor Flight has now flown over 250,000 Veterans to DC, completely free of charge.

Beginning with the preflight dinner and culminating in a triumphant welcome home at the local airport, this whirlwind 48 hours will mark some of the best moments in the lives of those fortunate enough to make the journey. A civilian myself, having never served our country, I can tell you that there are few experiences on this earth that will ever approach going on an Honor Flight.

From seeing 100+ Veterans assembled on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a man crying at the Vietnam Wall, mourning the loss of a brother still in his teens, to witnessing dozens of young children on school trips thanking these men and women for their service, the day is filled with emotion and healing.

I could go on for hours with the stories but will leave you to enjoy what has been our longest podcast to date. Listen for yourself and find out why the Honor Flight is so near and dear to my heart and was the catalyst for starting HHAUSA.

If you would like to volunteer, attend a trip as a guardian or sign up a friend or loved one who would qualify for the Honor Flight, please visit www.honorflight.org to find your local chapter and get involved today with this amazing organization.

There are a lot of gifted people in this world and the outdoor industry is home to a bunch of them. But I'm not sure that I know of anyone with a resume quite like my close friend Chad Davis. Whether he's putting in reps at the gym with his wife, chasing trophy whitetails, cranking out photo and video content or designing a new t-shirt, Chad is one of those guys that excels at everything that he lays his hands to.

Still working in clinical diagnostic sales by day, a passion for archery led to him to start BowAdx back in 2013. An outdoor lifestyle apparel brand, I personally don't think that he gets the credit he deserves for the work he's doing in a crowded space. A man of faith, Davis typically launches four new tees each year, two mainstream designs and two more that blend his beliefs as a Christian with his love of archery. Many of the profits from BowAdx are donated to ministries around the world to help children and others in need. He has also partnered with us the past two years, launching a "Back The Blue" tee to support Law Enforcement Officers on April 27th that is available on the BowAdx website with all proceeds going to HHAUSA.

Also passionate about fitness and helping others be the best versions of themselves, he recently debuted "Train For The Hunt", a e-book that shares his three plus decades of knowledge and experience in that arena. Having won multiple body building championships and working with music stars, pro athletes and high level CEOs, Chad's program is sure to have you in tip top shape for your next adventure.

An accomplished whitetail hunter, you will find Davis in the fall somewhere in Kentucky, Tennessee or venturing to Iowa or Kansas for another catalog cover buck. Speaking of catalog covers, his natural talent with a camera has helped connect him with some of the top brands in the outdoor world as his work is second to none. We've been blessed to work with him the past couple years and he never ceases to amaze us. As you can see, I'm a BIG fan and you won't find a more humble, down to earth southern gentleman than Mr. Chad Davis.

I don't know how he gets it all done but for someone that wears a lot of hats, he wears them all well and I am honored to call him a business partner, friend and brother in Christ. We hope you enjoy the episode and encourage you to head over to his website at www.bowadx.com.

I probably sound like a broken record but I have been so fortunate to have crossed paths with some amazing people through the sport of archery over the years. Carl Drake is no doubt one of those individuals.

A man of strong faith, Drake credits his blessings in life to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and begins our episode this week by sharing his testimony. He also details a near fatal accident this past winter in which he and his wife were ejected from a swamp buggy that could have had a tragic ending to it. Clearly, God still has plans for Carl and his role as an ambassador in the outdoor world and a firefighter and paramedic when you can't find him in the woods.

Carl is an industry veteran and longtime staff member for Realtree, Hunter Specialties, HHA Sports and other notable brands. He is also a staple on the hit show The Break, a series on Waypoint and YouTube about regular guys and their hunting exploits away from their 9-5's. It was there that he connected us with the Kniestedt Foundation, now one of HHAUSA's partners getting service men and women into the outdoors to combat PTSD.

A world-class turkey caller, Drake has hunted across the globe and loves to visit Africa as often as he can. The plan is to send a Veteran or First Responder along with Carl on one of these hunts in the near future and we are excited to be a part of that.

This is truly an episode that you don't want to miss and I guarantee that you will walk away from this conversation wanting to sit down and have a chat with Carl yourself. He is definitely one of the good guys!

Christian, father, husband, US Army Veteran, archer, outdoorsman, whitewater rafter, chaplain...Carter Check wears a lot of hats! The Wisconsin native now living in the land of the Sooners, Check was an absolute joy to talk to on this special Good Friday edition of The HHAUSA Podcast.

From his time serving our country as a Cav Scout to successfully navigating clients through deadly whitewater rapids, this man knows a thing or to about danger and taking care of people. It's that heart for helping others that has led him to ministry, coming alongside Veterans and First Responders struggling with PTSD. Drawing from his own life experiences, his faith and just being available to listen, Carter is saving lives through his work.

Experiencing the physical and mental benefits of archery has given birth to HunTherapy, a program Check is currently writing that will further assist those in need of a healthy outlet and assist in suicide prevention. Getting outside and focusing on a new mission, archery, rafting, hiking, anything to get you moving, has proven to be life changing for those he serves.

Not wanting to spoil too many of the details of this great conversation, Carter and I seemed to always circle back to our faith and how it is at the center of the work that we do each day. Clocking in as one of the longer episodes in our short history, we hope that our listeners will be as captivated by the chat as we were and look forward to hearing more from our new resident chaplain down the road!

Good friend of HHAUSA and Air Force Veteran Kyle Mindiola joins us on this week's episode. Meeting Kyle in Warrens at one of our shoots two years ago, who knew that we would become such close friends?

A shared passion for the outdoors has led him and a group of likeminded archers to form a new nonprofit organization, Archery Origins. Focusing on personalized instruction, Mindiola and his team are sharing their love of the sport with beginners interested in making archery a way of life. While the program features six weeks of "classroom" time, it can be done at the participants own pace with the end goal of adding new, lifetime archers to our ranks.

From target shooting to heading to the field to harvest game, Archery Origins is a grassroots organization that at its heart, is looking to better the lives of their members. As it grows, they plan to have "alumni" return each year to share their experiences as well as become mentors for incoming students. We are excited to see Kyle, his team and class at our events this summer across Wisconsin and look forward to the impact that they will have in the years to come.

We also discuss Mindiola's role in the third film of the HHAUSA film series that will debut in July at Mission 20 in Appleton. Struggling with PTSD from his time as a fire fighter and then in the Air Force, he's part of a new wave of Veterans and First Responders wanting to share their stories. This selflessness, as painful as it may be at times, has helped bring healing to those both hearing and sharing the stories. I can't say enough about the courage of men like David Wootten, Chad Stillman, Kyle Mindiola, Ryan Lonergan, Tyson Trunkhill and others to follow that are baring their souls for the world to see in hopes of saving lives. They all continue to serve long after they too off their uniform for the last time and we are honored to be serving alongside them now on the HHAUSA mission.

You can find Kyle on Instagram at k_mindiola, follow Archery Origins at archery_origins and visit the website at www.archeryorigins.org

Fighting PTSD through archery and the outdoors is at the heart of the HHAUSA mission. When I sat down to write the intro for this episode, I didn’t want to take away from the message that our guest spelled out so clearly in the About section on her website. The wife of a Combat Veteran who suffers from PTSD, I'm going to let Lauren Rich tell you what drives her work in her own words:

If you're like most vets, you've made your rounds through several therapists. They've either dismissed the challenges you're facing altogether, or convinced you to cover up your trauma with pills. Nothing has worked...

While working as a Combat Trauma/PTSD Psychotherapist with the VA for 7 years I sadly observed first-hand that most vets were not receiving the help they actually needed.

Frustrated with the bureaucracy, I started my own practice to help vets overcome combat trauma.

I'm not here to be your cheerleader - to pat you on the head and make you feel better about your day. I'm going to be your battle buddy - someone who guides you through the process of resolving trauma.

I learned so much in this episode and the science behind why shooting a bow and arrow has had such positive results on those with PTSD. I was excited when Lauren agreed to join us again as a regular guest to share how she is using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapywith the Veteran and First Responder community.

If you don't live in Arkansas or Oklahoma and would like to connect with a counselor like Lauren, please visit: www.emdria.org. There you can find a complete directory to locate a therapist in your area specializing in combat trauma and PTSD using EMDR. You can also follow Lauren on Facebook, follow her YouTube channel, The Mental 9 Line or check out her website at www.laurenrich.net.

Fully aware of the fact that it is difficult sometimes to start therapy, Lauren threw out the idea of taking random questions before our next episode and she would be happy to respond to those. We look forward to having her join us again in 2022 and cannot thank her enough for the work she is doing to serve the Veteran and First Responder community.

Seventeen years in, one man's passion for hunting, helping others and a heart for the Lord has culminated into an amazing body of work coming out of southeastern Wisconsin. Little did Mark Neumann know that a love of the outdoors and his HUNT4LIFE license plate would become the catalyst for a ministry raising over a half a million dollars a year.

A one day shooting extravaganza held each October at Milford Hills in Johnson Creek, the annual Hunt 4 Life Foundation brought in over $600,000 in 2021 with the ultimate goal to surpass the $1,000,000 threshold for this amazing event.

They are mobilizing those funds by partnering with two live changing ministries: Operation Heal Our Patriots and Life Camp USA. The first is an Alaskan retreat for Military and First Responder couples struggling in their marriages put on my Samaritan's Purse. The latter is coming alongside 7th and 8th grade boys who have lost their fathers in the line of service by hosting a one week camp. Teaching them life skills with one on one mentoring from "uncles", Life Camp USA will host three events in 2022, one in Wisconsin, one in Colorado and one in South Carolina.

Trevor Fabian also joins us and discusses his new role as the Special Ops Director for Hunt 4 Life and Life Camp USA. A Veteran of the United States Air Force, Trevor brings his first hand experiences from his time in the service and dealing with the aftermath these families face after such a significant loss.

It goes without saying that the work that Hunt 4 Life and Life Camp USA are doing is transforming lives. They are filling a gap that our government and few others across the country are addressing. The exciting part is that there is so much room for growth in this space and the idea is being floated around of franchise opportunities expand this ministry to other states. If this is something that moves you and you feel led to learn more, please reach out to Mark through their websites at: www.hunt4lifefoundation.org and www.lifecampusa.org

HHAUSA only recently partnered with these wonderful organizations and we look forward to growing that in the days, months and years ahead. They are truly living out The Great Commission set forth by Christ over 2,000 years ago and we are thankful to have crossed paths with the, ready to roll up our sleeves and do God's work, continuing to serve in any way that we can. Will you join us?

We conclude our conversation this week with good friend and Army Veteran Tyson Trunkhill of Sticks & Stones Archery and The Dust Off Project. While a bit lighter episode than part one, the Iowa native dives a little deeper into his diagnosis of PTSD and tries to break down the stigma in the Veteran and First Responder community of sharing those struggles publicly.

After years of putting on a tough guy persona, Trunkhill's depression, drinking and increasing dislike for public interactions finally came to a head, allowing him to confide in a friend and fellow Veteran that he needed help. While not a quick fix, counseling, lifestyle changes and removing himself from toxic situations and relationships have him in a much better place today.

He talks extensively about working with Retrieving Freedom, a nonprofit that gets service dogs to those in need. Starting first as a foster, Tyson soon realized the benefits he was receiving from spending time with a service dog. Sadie now travels with him nearly everywhere he goes and has truly been life changing in his fight against PTSD.

The chat, as it so often does, turns back to archery and how therapeutic it has been for the him. He discusses how time in the outdoors has brought him closer to God and knows that there is a higher power guiding his life and mission. What is sure to be a lifelong passion, the work that he is doing with The Dust Off Project is changing lives, one bow at a time.

We are honored to be working with Tyson and excited to see what the future holds and the lives that will be changed because one man reached out for help. That has allowed him to be a blessing and an inspiration to others from coast to coast.

One of the more difficult podcasts that I have done thus far, I want to thank our guest for his transparency, honesty and willingness to share his story about PTSD. Our mission here at HHAUSA is to change and save lives and conversations like these need to happen in order to reach those it is intended for. Not for the faint of heart, it is dark and graphic at times so please listen with discretion.

In the first of a two part episode, Tyson Trunkhill returns to The HHAUSA Podcast, this time to share the series of events that brought on his PTSD. Working security detail on a transport route in Al Asad, Iraq in 2006, his unit came under fire frequently but one specific incident stands out from the others. Stopped at a roadside checkpoint, their convoy was hit by an IED, resulting in serious injury to the driver. Exiting his armored vehicle along with a medic, Tyson would witness a soldier being blow apart less than 40 meters from where he stood. The only thing saving Tyson's life and others was the fact that the device was partially buried when it detonated and the soldier took the brunt of the impact. The Iowa native would move on from the incident without a scratch but the mental scars would follow him the rest of his life.

Later in his decorated career, Trunkhill would be responsible for notifying family members that their loved ones were injured or killed in action, a job that also took a heavy toll on him. As his PTSD began to worsen, he found himself not wanting to leave his house and began to drink more heavily to cope with all that he had witnessed during his time of service.

But the story doesn't end there. Now retired, Tyson is four years sober and doing amazing things in the Veteran community, having learned to cope with his PTSD and driven to help others with their struggles through the sport of archery. Join us on Episode 36 as we discuss what that journey has looked like and how he believes sharing his story can help others.

From the first moment that I met Adam LaRoche, I could sense that he was different than anyone that I had ever met before. In spite of being a Major League Baseball star and a central figure on The Buck Commander, there was something about the way he carried himself that I had never experienced. Over a decade since that initial meeting, it was his faith in Christ that set him apart and would ultimately form the basis of our friendship.

Now six years removed from a successful career in the big leagues, Adam spends his time fighting the global war on sex trafficking as well as hosting Veterans on his Kansas property. One of the most humble human beings I have ever met, he has a servant's heart and HHAUSA is honored to be a partner of his E3 Ranch Foundation.

In this episode, Adam shares a funny story about his initial meeting with the Robertson family as a rookie with the Atlanta Braves. I return the favor and share a story of my own of how I missed out on a piece of baseball history, thanks in part to an ill-timed trip to the concession stand at one of his games back in 2010. The conversation then takes a serious turn as we discuss his departure from baseball as well as his work to combat sex trafficking. He also talks at length about how he became involved with our Service Members and how special it is to work with the Veteran community.

Our world is filled with athletes who's egos are only slightly smaller than their paychecks. This statement has and never will apply to Adam LaRoche. He continues to pay it forward every day by being a blessing to others and shining a light into a dark world. Thank you Adam. Your work, God's work, is not going unnoticed.

This week we are joined by HHA Sports Sales and Marketing Manager Jake Mancl. We talk about his lifelong love of the outdoors, how he came to land his dream job in the archery industry and what’s in store for 2022.

We then take a deep dive into our shoot schedule for the 3D season at HHAUSA. With six events over the course of the summer, we discuss each club at length and what sets them apart from one another.

I’d like to personally thank Jake for his heart for our Veterans and First Responders. His passion for archery and commitment to serving others has made him a valuable member of our volunteer team from the beginning and we appreciate his hard work and dedication to the HHAUSA mission.

2022 HHAUSA Archery Shoot Tour

May 14th and 15th Warrens, WI
June 4th and 5th Wautoma, WI
June 25th and 26th Brokaw, WI
July 9th and 10th Neenah, WI
August 6th and 7th Wisconsin Rapids, WI
August 27th and 28th Custer, WI

For more information on the shoots as well as how to support HHAUSA, visit our website at www.hhausa.org

David Wootten is our first return guest on this week’s episode of The HHAUSA Podcast. We discuss his recent deer hunt to Arizona where he was blessed to harvest his largest buck to date. Listen in as David puts an epic stalk on a great muley. Taking his boots off to close the distance, his Mathews bow and HHA sight sealed the deal at 84 yards and brought tears of joy to the Army Veteran and those along on the hunt.

We also talk about the release of the first installment of films by HHAUSA documenting the healing power of archery to the Veteran and First Responder community. Wootten himself credits a bow and arrow with saving his life back in 2011 and is now passionate about changing the lives of others with a stick and string. He also details his work with Trinity Oaks, a San Antonio based nonprofit, providing dream hunts to Purple Heart Veterans, Gold Star and terminally ill children.

God, country and family are the very fabric of who David Wooten is and the friendship that he and I have developed in the last year is difficult to put into words. Like so many of the Veterans that I have grown close to in the last handful of years, I am honored and humbled to serve alongside him to help those who need it most. We look forward to seeing each other once again at Mission 17 when our 2022 HHAUSA Archery Shoot Tour kicks off in Warrens, Wisconsin. If you’re free May 14th and 15th, stop in, thank him for his service, and see what makes this man such a force in the Veteran and archery community.

We resume our chat with Navy Veteran and Founder of Limb-itless Outdoors Aaron Ritter on this episode of The HHAUSA Podcast. Taking a ten year break from active service in the 90's, Aaron began pursuing a career as a fireman in his home state of Washington. His very first call involved a young girl who was run over multiple times by a vehicle and the traumas often associated with Veterans instantly became real within his new profession.

A difficult but necessary conversation, Ritter goes to a place he doesn't often care to and discusses the thoughts and images that drew him into the darkness that nearly took his life, Suffering from PTSD, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression following the motorcycle accident that took his lower leg, Aaron started the counseling process but saw minimal results. Financial problems, struggles with alcohol and relationships ensued and he had hit rock bottom.

Thanks to a tightknit family, several close friends and the addition of a service dog, he began to claw his way out of the hole he had been living in. Never completely free of struggles but now a beacon of positivity with his wife by his side, a relentless drive to be active in the outdoors has Aaron in a far better place. Combined with a new love of writing, the Washington State native formed Limb-itless Outdoors, a blog designed to share his passions with the world and reach people in need.

We also revisit the A3G Grant Program, created to provide a complete archery setup to one amputee a year in the United States and introduce them to archery. From the early returns and support, I know that this initiative will grow much quicker and larger than either of us expected and we are excited to be with him on the journey.

I cannot thank Aaron enough for his willingness to share his story, as hard as it may be, with the end goal of helping others in the midst of turmoil. This once again confirms to me that the men and women of our country will continue to serve long after their uniforms come off and in doing so, will change and save lives. When you talk with him or listen to him speak, you walk away feeling energized, ready to take on the world and whatever challenges life throws your way. It has surely thrown its fair share at Aaron but in spite of it all, he is motivated more than ever to live his best life. By sharing our experiences with others, we can make a difference in people’s lives and in his own words, "BE LIMITLESS"!

Aaron Ritter has lived a lot of life in his 49 years and by all accounts, probably shouldn't be here. A Navy Veteran and lifetime outdoor enthusiast, he could have left this world much sooner but God had other plans. Surviving a near fatal motorcycle accident that resulted in the loss of his lower leg, Aaron's life was forever changed on the night of February 12th, 2011. On leave and unable to travel home for his parents 40th wedding anniversary, he was thrown from his Harley and found himself lying in a field staring up at the stars, unsure if he would make it. Never losing consciousness and with his friend applying a tourniquet to his leg, Aaron called his father to tell him about the situation and that he loved him. Nothing short of a miracle and after extensive rehabilitation, he resumed serving our country, ran marathons and returned to the outdoors. But the battle was far from over.

Suffering from PTSD, struggling with alcohol and moving from one relationship to the next, Aaron contemplated ending it all but was saved by his new four legged companion, a chocolate lab named Sig. Now remarried and in a much better place, Ritter has finally found his purpose. Using his amputation as a platform along with his talent for writing and passion for hunting, he started Limb-itless Outdoors as a means to encourage others like him to find new life.

His latest project, the Limb-itless Outdoors Annual Amputee Archery Grant Program (A3G) was designed to get an amputee into a full archery set-up, free of charge. Aaron will personally meet the recipient at an archery shop in their area and present the bow to the winner. Applications are open to anyone who has lost a limb with an interest in getting into archery. To apply, visit his website at www.limbitlessoutdoors.com for more details.

Honest, well spoken and driven, Aaron Ritter is on a mission to change people's lives one word, one arrow and one step at a time. Here at HHAUSA, we are blessed to be a part of his mission and are excited to see what the future holds for this amazing man and his worthy cause.

3D archers, have we got an episode for you! This week, Brad and Brittany Rinehart of the Rinehart R-100 join us to talk about their 2022 schedule and so much more. Kicking off in sunny Florida on February 11th, the couple will put on thousands of miles, traveling to 17 venues across the USA this year, wrapping things up in September in West Virginia.

What makes the R-100 so unique is its menagerie of one-of-a-kind targets, including a giant elephant, a towering giraffe and my personal favorite, the menacing 16-foot tyrannosaurus rex! Broken into two 50-target courses, the North American half features deer, bear, turkey, elk, moose and an assortment of other animals familiar to most archers. The African half of the course includes everything exotica and the above mentioned custom targets only found at these family friendly, 3-day events. Speaking of family, they also have a great range for kids and a steel target course not for the faint of heart, known for eating arrows that are off the mark.

Brad and Brittany were also kind enough to add a 10-target specialty shoot of deer targets in 2021 appropriately named Whitetails For Warriors. 100% of the $10 entry fees from this event are donated back to HHAUSA. Both having family and close friends who have served our country, the Rineharts have a big heart for our service members and we cannot thank them enough for their generous support.

This special couple is passionate about our sport and putting on a first class event every time their RV rolls into town. If you’re looking for a weekend of fun, food, family and archery, the Rinehart R-100 is for you. To learn more, follow them on Facebook and Instagram and check out their website and full 2022 schedule at www.r100.org

The Honor Flight Network will always be credited as a catalyst for the beginnings of HHAUSA. Serving as a ground volunteer in central Wisconsin, I was instantly drawn into the organization and how everyone involved worked together to put on a first class experience to honor our Veterans. Flying to Washington DC as a guardian on two separate trips only furthered my love for something that is nearly impossible to put into words.

That same love captured the hearts of Drew and Diane MacDonald in Appleton back in 2009 and the Old Glory Honor Flight was born. Over 50 flights later, lives are being changed by the work that Diane and her passionate group of volunteers continue to do in Northeastern Wisconsin. From hosting flights at EEA AirVenture in Oshkosh and providing a "welcome home" to tens of thousands of adoring fans to a once in a lifetime trip back to Vietnam for 52 Veterans, Old Glory is doing some amazing work, changing countless lives along the way.

HHAUSA is fortunate enough to partner with the MacDonald's and Old Glory Honor Flight and several other chapters across The Badger State. We encourage anyone that knows a World War II, Korea or Vietnam Veteran to get them on the waiting list for your local chapter and give them the opportunity to experience some "Honor Flight Magic" as Diane likes to call it. The impact that a single flight can have on the lives of so many will last a lifetime, something all of our Veterans deserve to feel for their service and sacrifice to our country. To Drew and Diane and to all those who make the Honor Flight what it is, thank you for your service. You are truly a blessing to these heroes and their families and your work has not gone unnoticed.

I’m a firm believer in divine appointments and that there’s no such thing as coincidences. This week’s guest would certainly agree and the path life has taken him on is living proof that a higher power not only exists but has a plan for every part of our lives, even the tragedies.

Shortly after losing his three dogs to a house fire that left him with little more than the shirt on his back, Brian Calvert’s life once again to a dramatic turn and could have easily ended in October of 2013. While out prepping a tree stand for the upcoming archery season, the truck driver plummeted 18 feet when a branch gave out under his feet. He lay motionless on the forest floor, far from any help or civilization. Waking up to excruciating pain in his left side and a burning in his chest, by the grace of God, he was able to crawl back to his ATV, make his way to the road and flag down a passerby. Two ambulance rides later and he was in the ICU with a long road ahead of him, a changed man from a second near death experience.

A slow but steady recovery followed thanks to family and friends and soon, a new puppy arrived. At the suggestion of a neighbor, Brian began taking Dixie to Honor Flights in Indianapolis and the Veterans couldn’t get enough of her. Dixie The Praying Dog would change his life forever and the two began an adventure in the hunting industry, serving the Military and First Responders, making it to Hollywood and ultimately taking them across the globe on the Amazon Prime show, The Pack.

This once in a lifetime story is sure to steal your heart and inspire you to live a life of purpose. Brian Calvert will tell you that he is a blessed man and knows that God had a plan for him. He’s now using his life experiences to give others hope and along with his four legged friend, bringing smiles to faces around the world.

Retiring in 2007 as a Lieutenant Coronel after 20 years in the United States Army, Oshkosh Wisconsin native John McDaniel's time of service was just beginning. Seeing first hand the trauma that the war had inflicted on so many, the avid outdoorsman began sharing his love of hunting and fishing with those in need.

In 2009, Wounded Warriors In Action was formed to expand his mission. The 501c3 now serves over 200 Purple Heart Veterans across the country each year, offering connection and healing through the outdoors. Thanks to countless volunteers, hosts and donors from coast to coast, WWIA puts on events in 35 states, giving back to the men and women who have served our country.

HHAUSA is proud to be a link in the chain of Wounded Warriors In Action and there are several ways to get involved with this great organization. Whether you have property that could host an event, can contribute financially to help fund an experience or simply wish to volunteer your time, we can all serve in some way, honoring those who protect our freedoms.

For more information, follow WWIA on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website at www.wwiaf.org

What better way to end the season than with a year in review of all the great things that happened at HHAUSA over the past 12 months? Our producer and good friend Logan Chartrand joins us to talk about everything that made 2021 so successful as well as a sneak peak into 2022.

On behalf of everyone that is part of the HHAUSA family, thank you for listening in and sharing these podcasts and the powerful stories of our guests and for your continued support of the mission. 2022 promises to be our biggest year yet as we expand our impact on the Veteran and First Responder communities through archery and the outdoors.

GOD BLESS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Those who selflessly served our country during World War II will forever be remembered as part of The Greatest Generation. Without their service and sacrifice, our country and our world would look much different today. Living in an age of entitlement, the stories shared through our guest and photographer Zach Coco should serve as a reminder of just how good we have it here in the USA and inspire us to keep these stories alive, sharing them with future generations.

I couldn't have been more excited to have this conversation with Zach and to learn more about his motivation and heart behind Picture For Heroes, a must-read book that documents the stories of 100 World War II Veterans. A breathtaking coffee table masterpiece, Pictures For Heroes should, in my humble opinion, be required reading for anyone to get a high school diploma and is impossible to put down once you dive into it. Having personally read it cover to cover in a few short weeks in the winter of 2021, I can attest to the power of this book and how it deepened my appreciation even more for those who served in World War II.

Zach shares his heart behind the project and how it all came together over a five year span, travelling thousands of miles on over two dozen Honor Flights, connecting with the men and women of The Greatest Generation that forever shaped the world we live in.

To learn more about this great book and the individuals that are included in it, visit www.picturesforheroes.org. and use promo code HHAUSA to receive 10% off your copy. We would also like to thank Zach for donating 10% of his profits back to HHAUSA for anyone using this code.

Fifteen years ago, Thomas Mlsna knew that he had to change up his strategy if he wanted to start taking world class whitetails. Shooting a 140" deer every fall meant that the chances of having a 160" or 170" around next year were slim to none. While success didn't happen overnight, Thomas would soon begin to realize the fruits of his labor, consistently placing his tag on "once in a lifetime" deer season after season.

Fast forward to 2020 and the birth of The Untamed Ambition. While Mlsna was thankful and humbled by his success, he had a greater desire to pass that formula on to others. In this episode, he breaks down some of the tactics that he's used over the years and how it's not beyond anyone's reach to grow and harvest trophy deer, even on small tracts of highly pressured ground.

Thomas also talks about his brother, who served our country and has used archery and the outdoors to deal with some of the things he'd seen while at war.

While I try not to play favorites with my guests, Mlsna is truly one of the most humble and genuine human beings that I have ever met. He has the heart of a servant and I am honored to call him a friend and blessed to have him as part of the HHAUSA family.

Sam Ubl of Chase Nation joins us on a very special episode of The HHAUSA Podcast to discuss what he says is the most meaningful work of his career.

Twenty two Veterans a day take their lives in America. Before I started HHAUSA I was aware of this fact and it weighed heavily on my heart. It was decided early on that we would donate our first 22% each year to other organizations to help combat PTSD. But I wanted to do more.

After meeting retired 82nd Airborne Paratrooper David Wootten and hearing his struggles and how he overcame them through the sport of archery, an idea was born. David’s willingness to share his story led him to Warrens Wisconsin in May of 2021 for Mission 9 of the HHAUSA Veterans Archery Shoot Tour. Sam and his talented team were there to document the shoot but more importantly, David’s story. We all walked away from that weekend forever changed by the power of his testimony and knowing that the film we were about to produce was not only going to change but save lives.

Mission 22 is being created to raise awareness for the 22 men and women we lose each day to suicide and to let Veterans and First Responders know that they are not alone. There is a network of like minded people around the country who care about them and want to offer help through archery and the outdoors. The first of an ongoing series, Mission 22 features David Wootten and myself, your host and founder of HHAUSA, Chris Hamm, sharing our stories and heart for this mission. The film will debut on February 2nd, 2022 (02/02/2022).

I’d like to thank David for his friendship in the short time we have known each other, for the man that he is and the lasting impact he has had on my life. I’d also like to thank Sam for his heart for this project and using his God given talents to shine a light in the darkness and offer hope to those who need it most.

You meet certain people in this life that change it forever. For me, Tyson Trunkhill is one of those people. Rewind to Thanksgiving 2019 and a post I saw on Facebook of Tyson presenting a refurbished compound bow to a Veteran at his archery shop in Denver Iowa. The smile on that man's face instantly made me want to be a part of what this Army Veteran was doing and a new friendship was formed. While I was familiar with the Armed Forces using archery as a means of rehab for those wounded in combat, my new partnership with Tyson and his program would open my eyes even further.

Fast forward to the fall of 2021 and The Dust-Off Project has now delivered close to 70 complete bow setups to deserving men and women who have served our country. It's a story that warms my heart and fits perfectly into the larger mission here at HHAUSA. Long suffering from PTSD himself, Trunkhill is now introducing a sport he loves dearly and one that has provided solace to him time and time again to his fellow soldiers.

As patriots and archers, we owe it to all who have served to help in any way that we can. There is a huge opportunity for us to change the conversation surrounding post traumatic stress and the 22 a day that take their lives. If anyone has gently used archery equipment, bows, arrows, sights, arrows, cases, camouflage clothes, you name it, please...consider passing them along to this great organization. The difference that it makes in someone's life is hard to put into words and in some cases, can even be life saving.

From its inception, I’ve said that HHAUSA is a mission that God put on my heart to honor our Veterans through the sport of archery. While in no need of validation that a higher power is behind our cause, my connection to David Marks of The Veteran Archery Project can only be described as nothing less than a divine appointment.

New to the nonprofit world, David's organization is already transforming lives with bows and arrows and they are just getting started. After 20 years of serving our country, like many Veterans he was feeling a lack of purpose but couldn't escape the idea that God had a larger plan for his life. Marks found out quickly that encounters like the one he and I experienced were part of a much bigger picture and anything but a coincidence.

Using archery and the outdoors as a means of connecting Veterans and those still on Active Duty, The Veteran Archery Project has a simple yet profound objective: shoot bows, build community, change lives. They are doing just that and HHAUSA couldn't be more excited to join forces with this inspiring, like minded ministry, working together to make a difference.

Farmer, NARC, race car driver and business owner, this week's man of the hour has a done a little bit of everything on his way to the pages of Instagram. Join Sitka and HHA Sports Ambassador John Mulligan as he shares his journey from growing up hunting in Kentucky to life as a personality and content creator in the outdoors. A self proclaimed workaholic, John's short film "Work More Hours" was inspired by something his later father impressed upon him to get the most out of each and every day and the rewards will follow. Nearly giving up on hunting all together at one point, Mulligan was gifted a bow by a close friend who knew that it would spark Johnny Utah to reconsider. And reconsider he did, becoming part owner of Wicked Tree Gear, starting to film his hunts and ultimately working up to a career revolving around his love of archery and working with some of the most popular brands in the industry.

It wasn't an easy road though as John discusses his time in law enforcement, specifically in the dangerous world of a narcotics agent. We talk about PTSD at this point in the episode as he reflects on some of the things he and his colleagues saw that they would much rather forget. Escaping from the "concrete jungle" to the peace and serenity of the outdoors was a saving grace for our guest and he drives home just how important it is to unplug and recharge when life gets too heavy.

We also dive into naming those elusive target bucks and how much satisfaction a hunter feels tagging out after a three or four year chase as well as the origin behind his 90's themed nickname.

Clocking in at an hour and half, I feel that he and I could have talked for hours. With an enthusiastic yet laid back demeanor, John made this a very easy conversation and one that we will certainly do again in the not so distant future.

Podcasts like these are exactly why we started HHAUSA. To hear how the sport of archery has turned one Veteran's life around warms the soul and is a stark reminder that there are others across the country in need of this same kind of healing.

I haven't met Kyle Wickert face to face...yet. Back in June, through business partner and friend Sam Ubl of Chase Nation, I came to know Kyle in an instant, confronted head on by the reality of the PTSD that plaques the Veteran community. Weeks earlier, Sam began work on an upcoming film project for HHAUSA documenting some of those battles and he quickly developed a much deeper appreciation for the men and women who serve our country hearing their stories first hand. He was shocked to see Kyle out his issues with PTSD on social media and immediately called David Wootten, a combat Veteran with his own story of post traumatic stress to see if he could help. The next call he made was a bit of a surprise as my phone rang, with Sam asking if I could lend some assistance as well. Having never been in the service, I was unsure of my role until Sam told me of his friend's ongoing battle with alcohol. Overcoming that in my own life a half dozen years ago through a rekindled faith, I was more than willing to share my story with Kyle if it could help in any way. After two brief phone conversations with complete strangers on that June morning, new friendships were born. Something overwhelmingly positive was growing inside a broken man so desperate for change. Hope had arrived.

Several months earlier, Brian Bitter, reached out to Kyle with a once in a lifetime opportunity for a coveted Unit 9 elk tag in Arizona. He jumped at the chance to spend 10 days in September chasing a bowhunter's dream with an old friend from his military days and Kyle had a new mission. Acquitting his father's used Mathews bow, decking it out with new accessories and getting it fit to his specifications, a familiar fire was starting to burn. That fire and a renewed faith in himself and his Creator, started to melt away some of the demons of his past. What happened next is nothing short of a miracle and will leave you wanting to share Kyle's uplifting journey with anyone willing to lend an ear.

So sit back for the next hour as Kyle draws you into his story. A story of new life and one that will give you chills, bring you to tears, have you pumping your fist in the air and hopefully, motivated more than ever to join us on our mission of exposing more Veterans to archery and the outdoors.

Kyle, thank you for the inspiration and thank you for your service!

We talk a little hunting on this episode of The HHAUSA Podcast with Derek Dirnberger of The Break. Now in its eighth season on Pursuit Channel, The Break consists of a group of close to 30 staff members from across the country with a passion for hunting and the outdoors. From Midwest whitetails to elk in Colorado to exotics in Africa, there's little ground these guys haven't covered.

Early on in their journey, they participated in a Veteran hunt that would lead to a longstanding relationship with the Kniestedt Foundation, a nonprofit geared towards getting service men and women into the outdoors. After joining forces with Derek and his crew a few years back, it wasn't long before they introduced us to Joe Rhodes and the folks at Kniestedt and a budding partnership was formed, with HHAUSA now being an annual supporter of their great mission.

If you are looking for a solid group with a heart for the outdoors and our Veterans, you are going to love The Break!

Born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin, Chad Stillman was introduced to sports and the outdoors at a young age. Growing up, if you couldn't find him on the soccer or football field, chances are he was in the woods or on the water. Those two passions would lead to a stint as a semi-pro kicker for the Racine Raiders and a cameraman for Bowhunting.com. By 23 years old, he was fresh out a college, a homeowner and embarking on his lifelong dream of working in law enforcement. Quickly moving up in the ranks, he received a promotion to the SWAT Team and ultimately settled in as an FBI Task Force Investigator.

To warn our audience, this isn't an easy conversation to listen to as Chad takes us on the emotional journey of his story. Struggling at times to share it here, he details the events of January 17, 2018, a day that changed his life and the lives of others forever. Three and half years later and battling with PTSD from the events of that evening, he gives credit to time in the outdoors, the support of friends and family, but most notably his faith, for sustaining him when the pressures of life are too much.

I want to thank Chad for his willingness to come on our podcast and share this story. My prayer is that it will resonate with one person who may be going through a similar experience and offer them a bit of hope. While our work is primarily centered around Veterans and the Military at HHAUSA, the First Responder community faces many of the same challenges as those who serve our country. We want our love of archery and the outdoors to be an outlet for them as well and encourage you to share this with anyone who may benefit from its message. After all, each and every one of us has a purpose in this life and we should all do our best to "make it count".

Longtime fan and new HHA Sports partner Gregg Ritz joins The HHAUSA Podcast this week. We discuss a wide range of topics beginning with the excitement and anticipation that comes with another hunting season. Gregg talks about getting the next generation into the sport and the blessing it is for him to take to the field each fall with his daughters. We also touch on the importance of practicing year round with your equipment and the positive mental benefits that come with shooting a bow and arrow.

He shares about the impact that archery and the outdoors has had on a close friend of his who served our country and suffers from PTSD. Gregg also details what it was like growing up as the son of an Army Ranger as well as having a grandfather who fought on the front lines in World War 1.

We close out the conversation focusing on how to best use the platforms that we have in the outdoor industry, not only being advocates for the sport but also giving back towards a greater cause, serving those who have served us: our Veterans.

Bob Barteck has made a career of public service as a firefighter, EMT, Disaster Medical Assistance Team Leader and in 2021, embracing a new role as Fire Chief in Wausau Wisconsin. Having known him since the mid 90's, I can say firsthand that he has a servant's heart and would give the shirt off his back for anyone in need.

We discuss 9/11 and the impact it had on the country, specifically the firefighting and emergency response communities. He also talks at length about the time he spent working with DMAT on deployments to Houston and Puerto Pico and the lifelong friendships that were formed in those times of crisis.

As most conversations do on the HHAUSA Podcast, we focus on Bob's love of archery and the outdoors and how it has helped him disconnect while working in a profession not immune to battles with PTSD.

While the majority of our time is spent around Veterans and Active Duty Military, we want to take a moment to thank all the men and women across America who selflessly put on a uniform each day as First Responders, racing into harm's way to protect their communities. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Back in the summer of 2017, I had the pleasure of meeting Rick Devericks at the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago. Watching him compete for Team SOCOM, I witnessed firsthand how beneficial archery was for Rick and others wounded in combat. That trip helped to further my mission for connecting Veterans to the sport and Rick and I became fast friends.

During our discussion, we talk about our faith, which Rick credits to his returning home safely from ten deployments, including five to Afghanistan. He also touches on how archery has helped him in his post-service life and how he's sharing that love with other Veterans through continued work with the Warrior Games and organizations like Challenge Aspen and the Kniestedt Foundation.

Rick selflessly served our country for 20 years and we thank him for his service. We are honored to be working with Veterans like Rick from coast to coast to help bring peace and healing to them through archery and the outdoors. If you want to join us on that mission, reach out to us on social media or through our website today.

This week we sit down with Air Force Veteran Kyle Mindiola and have a conversation about the impact that archery has had on his life and how he's using it to pay it forward. A Wisconsin native, Kyle resides just across the river from the Twin Cities and is doing some amazing work getting Veterans and Active Duty Service Members into the sport through the Minnesota based nonprofit, Ardent Archers. We discuss his path to the military, how it helped develop him into the man that he is today and what is means to live a life of higher purpose in serving others. Humble and quick to acknowledge those who have helped him on the journey, Kyle also talks about his growing list of connections in the archery community, from HHA Sports to A-1 Archery and his latest ally, South Forty Archers.

It goes without saying that the work that HHAUSA is doing is just one of thousands of groups across the country supporting our Veterans and we are not in this alone. The partnership that we have formed with Kyle and the Ardent Archers has truly been a blessing and we are thankful to be aligned with them as they continue to change and transform lives, one arrow at a time.

We take a break from our regular guest appearances and catch up with owner of Whiz Bang Media and HHAUSA Podcast producer Logan Chartrand. With 6 of our 8 archery events complete for 2021, Chris gives a state of the union on how those shoots are going and the impact that they are having on the Veteran community in Wisconsin and across the country. We also discuss our shared passion for serving others and what it looks like when like minded people band together around a common cause.

The conversation turns briefly to the forthcoming Episode 22 that will drop in early November. It will carry special significance as we announce a multi year project that we will be working on to raise awareness for the 22 Veterans a day that take their lives and how our listeners can be a part of that movement. Another small teaser is shared as well about the large event scheduled for the spring of 2022 with two of our great partners here in Wisconsin. Finally, we wrap things up by touching on the current situation in The Middle East and how it has impacted our friends who served the past 20 years. We stress how we must open the doors for our Veterans now more than ever to join us on the range and in the field and offer support and connection through the archery and outdoor community.

Founded by US Special Forces Veteran Jim Kniestedt, The Kniestedt Foundation was created to provide outdoor experiences and improve quality of life for our service men and women. Joe Rhodes is the event planner for this great organization but is also a key piece to the ongoing relationships that come out of the trips they put on each year. In this episode, he dives into the history of the foundation as well as sharing the impact and success stories that he is blessed to witness each season. Joe also talks about his recent trip down the Missouri River to raise money for Veterans on the MR340, a 340 mile endurance raise that was truly life changing for him and those he travelled with. We also talk of our shared passion for working with those who serve and have served our country and what others can do to get involved with our cause.

A big supporter of HHAUSA from Day 1, the team at Danner La Crosse make top notch products, love our Veterans and have a heart for supporting great causes. Don Nelson heads up their Military Division and is a key player in that effort for the highly respected footwear brand. An Air Force Veteran, Don shares his passion for the outdoors, his love for serving the Military and First Responder community and what it looks like work for a company that focuses on giving back.

He also discusses the devastating loss of his Tennessee home to a housefire back in 2018 and how his boss, coworkers and the outdoor industry as a whole rallied around him and his family during a difficult season.

At HHAUSA, we love working with likeminded people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. Don Nelson and Danner La Crosse exemplify what it looks like to live that out and we are truly blessed by the friendship and partnership that we share with them. Enjoy the episode!

On this episode of The HHAUSA Podcast, we wrap up the second part of the discussion with our good friend Al Quackenbush, The SoCal Bowhunter. After surviving the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, Al details how he's using that experience to benefit others, primarily through archery. He also talks of his growing desire to give back and introduce a new audience to the sport.

The guys also chat about getting other like minded individuals and organizations involved in the mission of HHAUSA and the impact that can be made at a national level. Finally, they take a deeper dive into exactly what shooting a bow does for their psyche, allowing them to unplug from the chaos of the world and focus on nothing more than putting an arrow into the target, if only for a few minutes a day.

Pro Staffer and longtime friend of HHA Sports Al Quackenbush, AKA The SoCal Bowhunter, had never met company co-owner Chris Hamm until recently. Making the trip from California to Wisconsin for Mission 13 of the 2021 HHAUSA Veterans Archery Shoot Tour, Al got to experience his first ever 3D event. He wasn't disappointed and shared a memorable weekend with Chris, members of the Team 22 squad and 5-Time UFC Champion Tim Sylvia. Quackenbush talks at length about the impact of the weekend and what is was like to spend a day on the range with an amazing group of Veterans who served our country. He also tells us about the origin of The SoCal Bowhunter and his lifelong passion for the outdoors.

While not a Veteran or First Responder, Quackenbush delves into his own personal struggles with PTSD as an attendee at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting in October of 2017. In what quickly became the first of a two part podcast, Al details how things unfolded for he and his wife Kymberli that evening and how God's hand was on him and the group that he helped lead to safety. We also begin the conversation of Al's desire to use that life changing night and his love of archery to introduce others to the sport as a means of therapy to combat trauma.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Cordero a couple years back at the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend. As a crew member for the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota piloted by the one and only Kyle Busch, Jeff knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful. When he's not at the race track, he takes that same winning attitude to the sport of archery, recently launching his own YouTube channel and preparing to attend the Total Archery Challenge during his off week at the end of July.

With a father and a grandfather who served our country, he also has a deep appreciation for Veterans and discusses the emotions of being on pit road for prerace ceremonies before they fire the engines. In spite of a 200 mile an hour lifestyle, he loves relaxing in the outdoors during his downtime and I know that you are going to enjoy his story as much as I did. So sit back, pull those belts tight and enjoy this FAST edition of The HHAUSA Podcast!

There are certain people you meet in this life that within minutes, you know that you'll be lifelong friends. Ryan Lonergan is one of those people.

Growing up fatherless in southeastern Wisconsin, Ryan credits his mother for his upbringing and calls her his rock. After finishing his time in the military, life became more challenging as broken relationships, a battle with alcohol and PTSD would begin to take their toll. He considered ending his life, broken and briefly homeless on the streets of Green Bay on Christmas Eve of 2012 if not for a close friend who answered his call of desperation that night. He would still battle his demons for several years before finally finding his true purpose in life. Seeing other Veterans struggle as he once did made him realize that he could use those painful life experiences to help others.

Now a dedicated advocate for those who served throughout The Badger State, the birth of his daughter and a newfound passion for bows and arrows has the host of The Fragout Podcast impacting the lives of countless men and women across Wisconsin. With a trademark smile and contagious positivity, Ryan Lonergan is a Veteran that is changing lives each and every day and I am blessed and honored to call him my friend.

At just 23 years old, Jimmy Giarraputo has already accomplished more than most people twice his age. Well spoken, humble, and wise beyond his years, The Empire State native has a clear vision of where he's going and where he came from. Fresh off of a four year stint in the United States Coast Guard that further transformed him into the man he is today, Giarraputo is bringing that same work ethic into the world of content creation and offering it to brands in the outdoor space. If you are anything like me, I think you will agree by the end of this episode that the world needs a few more Jimmy Gs!

Retired US Army Sergeant Scotty Hastings survived a near fatal shooting on patrol in Afghanistan in 2011 but the battle was just beginning. The long road to recovery led him to an introduction to archery, participating and ultimately coaching at the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Finding peace and healing as an archer, he is passionate about helping children and Veterans with disabilities by putting a bow and arrow in their hand. Scotty has now taken to the streets of Nashville, embarking on a career in the music industry, using his talents of singing and songwriting to share his story with a new audience.

People outside of Wisconsin are always asking how they can help support the cause of HHAUSA even though they live in another state. How about organizing an online fundraiser based around a passion for fitness and a heart for the Veteran and First Responder community? That's exactly what Tyler Geiger decided to do and the results were nothing short of amazing. Listen to his story as he discusses his love of archery and the outdoors and how it helps him unwind from his career in law enforcement.

After tragically losing his father as a child, David Wootten lived a lost and reckless life of rebellion as a teen and young adult that ultimately led to joining the Army. A career ending injury in Iraq coupled with struggles with PTSD, alcohol and drugs left him on the verge of losing his family and even his life. It wasn't until a pastor introduced David to the sport of archery and to a God he thought had abandoned him that he finally found the love, peace and purpose he had been searching for.

Logan Chartrand, owner of WhizBang Media and producer of the HHAUSA Podcast takes over the hosting duties from founder Chris Hamm, diving into the origin story behind his nonprofit dedicated to giving back to Veterans and active duty service members through the sport of archery. Chris discusses what led him to become involved with the Honor Flight Network, partnerships with other nonprofits to help combat PTSD, the 2021 HHAUSA Veterans Archery Shoot Tour in Wisconsin and what the future holds for the organization and the podcast.