Hunting with Heroes in Hot Springs County

by Nelda Currah,

Hunting with Heroes Wyoming

The generous community of Thermopolis shared their beautiful hometown with some of our nation's finest this past weekend. Hunting with Heroes Wyoming hosted 11 disabled veterans here in Thermopolis for the 2022 Jeff Strong Memorial Antelope Hunt. All 11 veterans tagged out the first day and headed home on Monday with their own personal trophies, new friends, a new support group, and amazing memories!

Hunting with Heroes is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. They have hosted 2,500 big game hunts throughout the years supporting veterans from all conflicts and all 50 states.

This year Heroes joined our Thermopolis hunt from across the USA. We hosted Jace Badia, Army Veteran from Devil's Tower, WY; Joey Epperson, Navy Veteran from Ellensburg, VA; Angela Hallenbeck, Air Force Veteran from Sacramento, CA; David Haumschilt, Navy Veteran from Jackson, WY; Danny Holbrook, Marine Corps Veteran from Roscommon, MI; Ryan Hulce, Army National Guard Veteran from Vulcan, MI; Frank Irons, Army Veteran from Merritt, MI; James Renfrow, Army Veteran from Clarksville, TN; Joshua Ryan, Army Veteran from Glendale, AZ; Joseph Stewart, Army Veteran from Rawlins, WY; and Larry Stewart, Army Veteran from Columbus, GA.

Many thanks to our leaders in Thermopolis including Jim and Cindy Collins, Joe and Sady Mounts, and the entire crew at Thermopolis VFW Post 2281 for making this weekend special for all. From the bottom of our hearts thanks to our landowners, tag donors and guides – we wouldn't have a hunt without you. And always special thanks to our forever teammate, Jeff Strong, and the entire Strong family for helping us throughout the years, and for being there when this idea to honor disabled veterans for a weekend of big game hunting in Thermopolis became a reality and a healthy dose of healing for many.

For more information about Hunting with Heroes Wyoming, please contact nelda@huntingwithheroes.org.