ZALESKI, Ohio — Sixteen military veterans harvested 11 deer during a guided archery hunt this month at Zaleski State Forest, part of an annual event the Ohio Department of Natural Resources runs for veterans with disabilities.
The hunt ran free of charge for participants from Oct. 10 to Oct. 11 and was organized by ODNR’s divisions of Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks and Watercraft alongside the Buckeye Hero Hunt Committee, a group that provides hunting opportunities for veterans with disabilities, according to the agency. Volunteers helped the committee support the veterans by providing meals, lodging and equipment during the event, ODNR said.
“It’s an honor to welcome Ohio’s veterans to Zaleski State Forest for this annual event,” ODNR Division of Forestry Chief Dan Balser said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to give back to those who have served our country and to recognize their service through a shared appreciation for the outdoors.”
Zaleski State Forest Manager Courtney Cawood credited the committee and its volunteers for keeping the tradition going each year.
“This event wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of the Buckeye Hero Hunt Committee and the many volunteers who make it happen,” Cawood said in a statement. “We’re grateful for their continued partnership and look forward to welcoming this group of veterans to Zaleski State Forest each year.”
The hunt also serves a forest management purpose, according to ODNR. White-tailed deer can damage forest health and regeneration by browsing on tree seedlings and other plants, and the agency said hunting remains the most effective way to control deer populations in the targeted area of the state forest.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
