2009 Bear Hunt taking Shape

USSA · 05-27-2009, 03:56 PM

With the air of an anti-hunting, anti-2nd Amendment administration and congress, the future of all shooting sports is put in harms way. “Chairman Barack’s” efforts have not yet negatively affected USSA, and 2009 may yet unseat 2007 as the worlds largest Bear hunt.

In 2007 United Special Sportsman Alliance had held what was the “World’s Largest Bear Hunt”. Twenty eight disabled and critically-ill youth from all over the country came to WI to harvested 23 bear.

After composing a letter which included USSA Kid’s testimonies from last year hunt, I decided to try something different. I had the women in my church handwrite all the envelopes (almost 1,500) hoping it would have a personal effect on the lucky men and women who drew a bear licenses.

It has been only a month or so, and we already have 26 bear licenses donated to USSA sportsmen. Bear hunters have until August to donate their bear tag and it will be interesting to see if we beat our 2007 world record, even with the specter of Chairman Barack and Screecher of the House Pelosi hanging over our industry!

God bless you all!

Brigid O'Donoghue

Hardpan · 05-28-2009, 01:29 AM

Best of luck to you, Brigid. I don't have a tag, but we are all proud of you and praying for you as well.
Hardpan

USSA · 08-31-2009, 04:55 PM

As of today we have 39 bear licenses donated to our charity. It has been really exciting watching this hunt come together and grow. Many caring people come forward to help bless the lives of these children and families. There will be a lifetime of memories for all involved. God bless you all!
Brigid O'Donoghue

This article was printed in Friday's WI Leader-Telegram Newspaper:

Program grants outdoor wishes of ill children

Jeff Betlach of rural New Auburn waited four years for a bear hunting permit. Then he gave it away to a 16-year old girl from Junction City he had never met.

Betlach, an advertising salesman for the Eau Claire Press Co., said he was looking forward to bear hunting but not all the effort that goes into establishing bait sites for bears. When a letter arrived asking him to donate his permit so a terminally ill youth could go bear hunting, he agreed.

As of last week, 37 Wisconsin hunters have donated their permits to seriously ill or severely disabled youths from around the country, out of about 1,400 permits issued by the state, said Brigid O'Donoghue, founder of United Special Sportsman Alliance.

That's particularly generous considering some hunters wait up to 10 years to get a permit, she noted.

O'Donoghue, who lives on a cranberry farm east of Black River Falls with her finance, Pete Normington, started the nonprofit organization in the fall of 2000.

A bear hunt is the most common request by the young hunters and also one of the most difficult to arrange because bear permits are hard to get, she said.

An elk hunt is the second most common request, followed by a hunt for white-tailed deer.

Two years ago O'Donoghue had the idea of buying the list of hunters receiving bear permits from the state Department of Natural Resources. Hunters applying for permits have the option of not having their names on the list.

This year she decided that letters to the hunters were more likely to be read if they were addressed by hand. She got help from members of her church, St. Joseph's in Black River Falls. Women in the congregation hand-addressed 1,400 letters.

"I thought if I ended up with 10 kids, I'd be happy. That would be 10 kids with big smiles on their faces. But it turned out to be huge," she said, adding that the hunters "gave with their hearts."

Some bear hunts are done with hounds and some by hunting over bait. In Unit C, the state's southernmost bear zone, hunting with dogs is not allowed and all hunting is over bait, she noted.

For every youth hunter, many volunteers are needed to make the hunt happen, but finding help has not been a problem, she said. "You'd think you'd have to work hard to get helpers, but every year the number grows," she said.

Taxidermists also volunteer to make a bear rug or head and shoulder mount of the animal if the hunter is successful, she said. "I know that it's giving up time in their busy schedules."

The program has grown, providing hunts for disabled and seriously ill children from 34 states, she said. It also works with seriously ill adults and disabled veterans.

O'Donoghue hopes to provide 1,000 hunts or fishing trips a year. "I think we're going to make it this year," she said.

United Special Sportsman Alliance has a good relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes of terminally ill children but stopped offering hunts in 1999 after animal rights groups and sponsors protested.

O'Donoghue didn't start United Special Sportsman Alliance because Make-A-Wish stopped offering hunts, however. Make-A-Wish refers youths who request a hunt as their wish.

"I respect (Make-A-Wish) for their beliefs, and they respect me for mine," she said.

O'Donoghue first arranged a hunt in 2000. It was in Wisconsin at a deer farm for a Texas hunter whose dying wish was to hunt for a big whitetail. That led her to organizing hunts for sick children.

At the time she had never hunted or fished. "I grew up in Milwaukee. I didn't have any interest in it," she said. "Nobody ever took me out there. I had no concept of what I was missing.

"As this charity started growing, all of a sudden the children started asking me questions that I couldn't answer," she said.

Board members of United Special Sportsman Alliance took her hunting for the first time at age 35.

"I've hunted and fished all over America now," she said.

She supported the recently passed hunter mentor bill that allows youths 10 years old to hunt, accompanied by an adult mentor, without having passed a hunter safety class.

O'Donoghue has hunted in other states with youths younger than 10, and they have been safe hunters. Unfortunately, many terminally ill youths don't make it to the age of 12, she said.

Knight can be reached at 830-5835 or joe.knight@ecpc.com.

USSA · 09-11-2009, 01:24 PM

Three days into the hunt and three bear down!! John Tyler, 10 years old from KY harvested 235# on Wed. Andrew, 16 years old from TN harvested a 192# yesterday. Little Tommy, 10 years old from IL harvested 300# bear early this morning. Thirty-six hunts to go; I will keep you updated and post pictures soon as I get them.

God bless you all!

Brigid O’Donoghue

Deerchaser · 09-11-2009, 06:14 PM

If you need free guides are skinners or anything else next year I will be glad to offer my time!

USSA · 09-13-2009, 11:38 AM

Hey Brett,

We will take you up on your kind offer! We hold a turkey hunt every March there in Alabama and would also like to get a group deer hunt going in 2010. We have a child from AL on this bear hunt, but no word yet. God bless you!

Brigid

USSA · 09-13-2009, 12:42 PM

Little Tommy, from IL had his bear tag handed down to him by Gregg Meddaugh. After Greg read the article printed above he called and donated his bear tag. Tommy’s bear weighed in around 300#.

Tommy attended the bear hunt with his family, and it was guided by Bill and Debbie Kochevar and their hunting group; Gregg and Sandy Meddaugh also attended. His bear will be mounted by an IL taxidermist.

Please keep Tommy in your prayers, he is expecting another surgery soon, and we are all thinking and praying for him. Congratulations Tommy!! God bless you darling!

Brigid O’Donoghue

USSA · 09-13-2009, 01:40 PM

Keegan’s (from WI) bear tag was handed down to him by Scott Schoenike of South Milwaukee, WI. Jack Neissen (USSA) and several of his friends took care of the baiting. Keegan attended the bear hunt with his dad (Ron).

Yesterday morning there was a message on my cell phone from Ron telling me Keegan’s bear hunt was a great success. He told me they were close to where I lived and were stopping by. I was just about to leave my house; I called them back and told them I would wait for them.

They say “the window to our soul is through our eyes” what I saw in Keegan’s eyes yesterday was priceless. As we stood there and talked about his hunt, Keegan’s mom called. You could tell by the look on his face, his Mom was really proud of her son.

Hunting has a lot more meaning to those who participate than non-hunters could ever imagine!

Congratulation Keegan I knew you could do it!! God bless you!

Brigid O'Donoghue

USSA · 09-13-2009, 02:21 PM

Five days into the hunt and three more bear down!! Joshua from MN harvested a bear around 250# this morning, Matthew from IL got his bear yesterday 214# and Keegan’s weighed in around 150#. Thirty-three hunts to go; I will keep you updated and post pictures soon as I get them. Please keep these families in your prayers.

Brigid O’Donoghue

Deerchaser · 09-13-2009, 04:07 PM

Brigid
I am serious and it would be an honor to help.

05-27-2009, 03:56 PM	#1
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	2009 Bear Hunt taking Shape With the air of an anti-hunting, anti-2nd Amendment administration and congress, the future of all shooting sports is put in harms way. “Chairman Barack’s” efforts have not yet negatively affected USSA, and 2009 may yet unseat 2007 as the worlds largest Bear hunt. In 2007 United Special Sportsman Alliance had held what was the “World’s Largest Bear Hunt”. Twenty eight disabled and critically-ill youth from all over the country came to WI to harvested 23 bear. After composing a letter which included USSA Kid’s testimonies from last year hunt, I decided to try something different. I had the women in my church handwrite all the envelopes (almost 1,500) hoping it would have a personal effect on the lucky men and women who drew a bear licenses. It has been only a month or so, and we already have 26 bear licenses donated to USSA sportsmen. Bear hunters have until August to donate their bear tag and it will be interesting to see if we beat our 2007 world record, even with the specter of Chairman Barack and Screecher of the House Pelosi hanging over our industry! God bless you all! Brigid O'Donoghue

05-28-2009, 01:29 AM	#2
Hardpan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 19	good luck! Best of luck to you, Brigid. I don't have a tag, but we are all proud of you and praying for you as well. Hardpan

08-31-2009, 04:55 PM	#3
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	As of today we have 39 bear licenses donated to our charity. It has been really exciting watching this hunt come together and grow. Many caring people come forward to help bless the lives of these children and families. There will be a lifetime of memories for all involved. God bless you all! Brigid O'Donoghue This article was printed in Friday's WI Leader-Telegram Newspaper: Program grants outdoor wishes of ill children Jeff Betlach of rural New Auburn waited four years for a bear hunting permit. Then he gave it away to a 16-year old girl from Junction City he had never met. Betlach, an advertising salesman for the Eau Claire Press Co., said he was looking forward to bear hunting but not all the effort that goes into establishing bait sites for bears. When a letter arrived asking him to donate his permit so a terminally ill youth could go bear hunting, he agreed. As of last week, 37 Wisconsin hunters have donated their permits to seriously ill or severely disabled youths from around the country, out of about 1,400 permits issued by the state, said Brigid O'Donoghue, founder of United Special Sportsman Alliance. That's particularly generous considering some hunters wait up to 10 years to get a permit, she noted. O'Donoghue, who lives on a cranberry farm east of Black River Falls with her finance, Pete Normington, started the nonprofit organization in the fall of 2000. A bear hunt is the most common request by the young hunters and also one of the most difficult to arrange because bear permits are hard to get, she said. An elk hunt is the second most common request, followed by a hunt for white-tailed deer. Two years ago O'Donoghue had the idea of buying the list of hunters receiving bear permits from the state Department of Natural Resources. Hunters applying for permits have the option of not having their names on the list. This year she decided that letters to the hunters were more likely to be read if they were addressed by hand. She got help from members of her church, St. Joseph's in Black River Falls. Women in the congregation hand-addressed 1,400 letters. "I thought if I ended up with 10 kids, I'd be happy. That would be 10 kids with big smiles on their faces. But it turned out to be huge," she said, adding that the hunters "gave with their hearts." Some bear hunts are done with hounds and some by hunting over bait. In Unit C, the state's southernmost bear zone, hunting with dogs is not allowed and all hunting is over bait, she noted. For every youth hunter, many volunteers are needed to make the hunt happen, but finding help has not been a problem, she said. "You'd think you'd have to work hard to get helpers, but every year the number grows," she said. Taxidermists also volunteer to make a bear rug or head and shoulder mount of the animal if the hunter is successful, she said. "I know that it's giving up time in their busy schedules." The program has grown, providing hunts for disabled and seriously ill children from 34 states, she said. It also works with seriously ill adults and disabled veterans. O'Donoghue hopes to provide 1,000 hunts or fishing trips a year. "I think we're going to make it this year," she said. United Special Sportsman Alliance has a good relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes of terminally ill children but stopped offering hunts in 1999 after animal rights groups and sponsors protested. O'Donoghue didn't start United Special Sportsman Alliance because Make-A-Wish stopped offering hunts, however. Make-A-Wish refers youths who request a hunt as their wish. "I respect (Make-A-Wish) for their beliefs, and they respect me for mine," she said. O'Donoghue first arranged a hunt in 2000. It was in Wisconsin at a deer farm for a Texas hunter whose dying wish was to hunt for a big whitetail. That led her to organizing hunts for sick children. At the time she had never hunted or fished. "I grew up in Milwaukee. I didn't have any interest in it," she said. "Nobody ever took me out there. I had no concept of what I was missing. "As this charity started growing, all of a sudden the children started asking me questions that I couldn't answer," she said. Board members of United Special Sportsman Alliance took her hunting for the first time at age 35. "I've hunted and fished all over America now," she said. She supported the recently passed hunter mentor bill that allows youths 10 years old to hunt, accompanied by an adult mentor, without having passed a hunter safety class. O'Donoghue has hunted in other states with youths younger than 10, and they have been safe hunters. Unfortunately, many terminally ill youths don't make it to the age of 12, she said. Knight can be reached at 830-5835 or joe.knight@ecpc.com. Attached Thumbnails

09-11-2009, 06:14 PM	#5
Deerchaser Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Deer Park, Alabama Posts: 343	If you need free guides are skinners or anything else next year I will be glad to offer my time! __________________ Brett Easterbrook Deer Park, Alabama 251-827-6496

09-13-2009, 12:42 PM	#7
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	Little Tommy, from IL had his bear tag handed down to him by Gregg Meddaugh. After Greg read the article printed above he called and donated his bear tag. Tommy’s bear weighed in around 300#. Tommy attended the bear hunt with his family, and it was guided by Bill and Debbie Kochevar and their hunting group; Gregg and Sandy Meddaugh also attended. His bear will be mounted by an IL taxidermist. Please keep Tommy in your prayers, he is expecting another surgery soon, and we are all thinking and praying for him. Congratulations Tommy!! God bless you darling! Brigid O’Donoghue Attached Thumbnails

09-11-2009, 01:24 PM	#4
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	Three days into the hunt and three bear down!! John Tyler, 10 years old from KY harvested 235# on Wed. Andrew, 16 years old from TN harvested a 192# yesterday. Little Tommy, 10 years old from IL harvested 300# bear early this morning. Thirty-six hunts to go; I will keep you updated and post pictures soon as I get them. God bless you all! Brigid O’Donoghue

09-13-2009, 11:38 AM	#6
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	Hey Brett, We will take you up on your kind offer! We hold a turkey hunt every March there in Alabama and would also like to get a group deer hunt going in 2010. We have a child from AL on this bear hunt, but no word yet. God bless you! Brigid

09-13-2009, 01:40 PM	#8
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	Keegan’s (from WI) bear tag was handed down to him by Scott Schoenike of South Milwaukee, WI. Jack Neissen (USSA) and several of his friends took care of the baiting. Keegan attended the bear hunt with his dad (Ron). Yesterday morning there was a message on my cell phone from Ron telling me Keegan’s bear hunt was a great success. He told me they were close to where I lived and were stopping by. I was just about to leave my house; I called them back and told them I would wait for them. They say “the window to our soul is through our eyes” what I saw in Keegan’s eyes yesterday was priceless. As we stood there and talked about his hunt, Keegan’s mom called. You could tell by the look on his face, his Mom was really proud of her son. Hunting has a lot more meaning to those who participate than non-hunters could ever imagine! Congratulation Keegan I knew you could do it!! God bless you! Brigid O'Donoghue Attached Thumbnails

09-13-2009, 02:21 PM	#9
USSA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WI Posts: 115	Five days into the hunt and three more bear down!! Joshua from MN harvested a bear around 250# this morning, Matthew from IL got his bear yesterday 214# and Keegan’s weighed in around 150#. Thirty-three hunts to go; I will keep you updated and post pictures soon as I get them. Please keep these families in your prayers. Brigid O’Donoghue

09-13-2009, 04:07 PM	#10
Deerchaser Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Deer Park, Alabama Posts: 343	Brigid I am serious and it would be an honor to help. __________________ Brett Easterbrook Deer Park, Alabama 251-827-6496