SAL successfully hosts 1st disabled veterans turkey hunt

By Deb Williamson
Front from left are Steve Bilderback, Matt Berens, Bernie Vail and Ted Berg. In back are Dave Vulcan, Glen Neville, Dave Bilderback, Laura Blue, Chuck Stone and Adam Felton. The three hunters at the first Disabled Veterans Turkey Hunt are Berens, Vail and Berg.
Matt Berens sits with his tom. Steve Bilderback, kneeling, was his guide.

LEGIONVILLE — The first three disabled veterans to participate in the first SAL Detachment of Minnesota Disabled Veterans Turkey Hunt at Legionville were Bernard Vail of Waconia Post 150, Matt Berens of Hopkins Post 320 and Ted Berg of Springfield Post 257.

“All three got toms. Bernard got the biggest one,” said Chuck Stone of Owatonna Squadron 77. Stone is one of the organizers.

The Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Minnesota is known for its annual disabled veterans deer hunt. It has been holding the John Zgoda Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt at Legionville since 2007.

The deer hunt was Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2. The turkey hunt was Oct. 3 and 4. The deer hunt had six hunters and six guides, and the turkey hunt had three hunters and three guides.

“I think it was very successful,” said Steve Bilderback of Waite Park Squadron 428. “I was the guide for Matt. We saw all the birds walking around. They would go where we weren’t, but we ended up catching them.”

Army veteran Ted Berg kneels beside a tom he shot.

Bilderback said the order birds bagged was Berens, Berg, then Vail. The weather was unseasonable warm, too.

Stone spoke highly of the campfire time at the deer and turkey hunts.

“We had one of the stronger campfires I’ve ever experienced because the guys opened up with each other and shared their stories. There was a lot of camaraderie,” Stone said.

Some veterans become disabled and are no longer able to hunt. Others haven’t touched a firearm since exiting the military.

Vail served in Vietnam and grew up hunting. His wife suggested he apply for the turkey hunt as a means to engage with fellow veterans and share his past.

“She was right,” he said.

Guides volunteer to help typically because they enjoy seeing the joy return to the eyes of the disabled veterans when they bag their prey.

The deer hunt had a department chaplain participate for the first time. Chaplain Jim Mead of Bloomington Post 550 shot a doe and went home with packaged venison meat. He later shared it with the only hunter who didn’t shoot a deer.

“We look forward to next year,” Bilderback said.

Department Chaplain Jim Mead of Bloomington Post 550 shot a doe at the SAL’s John Zgoda Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt.