Veterans Hunt Sets Sights on Healing and Growth

Hunters from across the United States set their sights on Horicon for the 17th annual Horicon Marsh Veterans Hunt on Oct. 24-26.
The outing offers military veterans from all walks of life a chance to gather, reflect, and, if necessary, heal. Vets from as far as Texas, Florida, and even Alaska are enduring the trek to the dairy state for the gathering.
“When the event first started, we took out seven veterans,” said event Vice President Andy Johnson. “The next year it grew to around 11, then it really started to take off.”
Around 90 guests are attending this year’s hunt, with the online registry to participate filling up within six minutes of going live last March. Guests and volunteers team up and accomplish missions while out on the hunt, patrolling the marsh with driven intent.
For some, it’s simply a nice outing with their peers to find a sense of community. But Johnson sees it as much more than just a hunt in the marsh.

“I was speaking with a guest, and I was kind of shocked,” Johnson said. “He said, ‘Veterans can heal themselves, if they are given the opportunity to be with other veterans in the right setting, and that’s what you are providing us.’ It was at that time that we came up with the motto: It’s all about the vets.”
Johnson, along with friends Chuck Dodge and the late Ryan Voy founded the group that spearheads the annual hunt, later turning it into an official non-profit to accept some donations. The small group took a grassroots approach, shying away from large corporate sponsors to
keep the intent of the event as pure as possible.
“We have no major sponsors or advertisements; it makes people feel like it is truly for them,” Johnson explained.
The event does take private donations to help maintain the event and other charitable activities. Event staff noted that around 70% are repeat veteran guests, showing new faces the ropes. Many veterans will come for two to three years before handing their seat over to a new veteran to
experience the camaraderie.
“They help us keep a revolving door of new faces coming,” Johnson said.
To sign up a veteran for next year’s event or donate to the group’s cause, visit horiconmarshveterans.com.