The communities of Cape Girardeau and Bloomsdale, along with a dedicated family of volunteers, showed up in force Oct. 11-13 — Missouri’s Early Antlerless Rifle Deer Season — to support the second annual "Southeast Mobility Impaired Hunter" and the inaugural "Marvin Drury Memorial Mobility Impaired and Youth Hunter" Antlerless Deer Hunts.
Missouri Disabled Sportsmen (MDS) hosted 29 hunters between the two camps, with many of them being first-time hunters.
MDS board member Jeff Roth said, “In addition to those two large group hunts, we also had volunteers assisting three new hunters at the Missouri Department of Conservation's 2024 Governor's Deer Hunt in Putnam County; two mobility-impaired hunters out in southwest Missouri; and one mobility impaired youth hunter out in north-central Missouri for a total of 36 hunters being mentored. The number of animals taken at our hunts is not and never will be a priority. However, the camaraderie, friendship fostering, learning, and family-friendly camp atmosphere are a priority and are what truly make these events so impactful for everyone who participates.
“The above-average temperatures on Friday and Saturday seemed to suppress the deer movement, but the hunters and mentors sure didn’t let that get in the way of having a great time regardless of pulling a trigger. Across all the camps, 10 antlerless deer tags were filled, with five of those being the first deer ever for those lucky hunters. We are truly blessed to provide the opportunities we’re able to across the state and are humbled by the generosity of our volunteers, landowners, and partners every time we ask for their assistance. They are the reason we are able to provide these experiences.”
Recalling the many positive experiences enjoyed by the hunters, Roth said,
“The mission of MDS is to provide mobility-impaired and terminally ill youth with outdoor opportunities in a safe and inclusive manner throughout Missouri, and that is exactly what our family of volunteers, network of private landowners, and partner organizations allowed us to facilitate all across the state during the early portion of Missouri’s antlerless deer season —provide opportunities!”
MDS thanks the hunts’ individuals and sponsors and appreciation for their support: Sara Bradshaw, Southeast Missouri hunt coordinator; Jeff Roth, Marvin Drury Memorial Hunt coordinator; Wayne & Cindy Drury; Donna and Vernon Schwent; Missouri Department of Conservation; NWTF-Missouri; The National Wild Turkey Federation; Missouri Disabled Sportsmen volunteers; the family of Marvin Drury; Dead End Game Calls; Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center (CTC); Biester’s Meats; Indian Creek Shooting Systems; Boulder Construction; Armstrong Outdoors, Sikeston; EquipmentShare; Southern Bank; Innovative Idea; E5 Sports Medicine; CE Contracting; Laborers' Local 829; and Microtel Inn & Suites, Ste. Genevieve.
For more information about Missouri Disabled Sportsmen, check out the organization’s Facebook page.
