Highlighted Hunts
The impact of our work is best told by the people who have lived it. Hear from our volunteers, partners, and the families we serve.
Dustin was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2020. He came out with dream Makers later on in the year to hunt with us.
"Being able to come on this hunt rejuvenated me. Gave me like a second wind and I was able to start preparing and it kind of took my mind off of all the cancer stuff all the appointments, all the pills, you know it kind of just put it in the back of my mind." "So as for as the whole hunt and the whole trip for me it was amazing. I mean the hunt itself was amazing. Being able to wake up enjoy the day hunting looking at stuff. We're down in the valley where there's mountains on both sides of us, it's beautiful." "I'd like to give thank you to the Rocky Mountain youth project and the Outdoor adventure foundation they have made this hunt what it is, and it has been a blast, and I can tell you right now this experience I will never forget."
Dustin Vanwagoner
Hunter from 2020
Click the Youtube button below to watch his full Hunt!
On Feb 8 2023, I had an absolutely amazing life experience with RMYP. As a veteran opportunities like this seem to be unreal! As a fellow brother and I hop in the truck to make the journey to the valley long discussion of time spent overseas and how much the outdoors has impacted my recovery back to society. The drive seemed rather quick! We arrived right before sunrise to RMYP to meet Mr Jerry Berry. Now normally you would expect to meet someone this early in the am grumpy and not too enthusiastic at the time, but he was full of enthusiasm and energy. As we prepped for the experience of a life time, a certain song came my head by Brad Paisley waiting on a woman! As we got things settled and he gave me a run down on how things were gonna go, his daughter Nicole showed up! Father daughter duo! I’m here to tell ya now it’s rarely a dull moment between these two! It wasn’t long and jokes were cracking and reminding me of the good ole days! As the sun started to shine we hopped in the truck we got set up at a location and such an amazing herd grazing in one of the fields. Watching herd movements and the amazing athletes these creatures are ! From boxing each other to the shear power and strength of jumping the fences at just a stand still, no shot opportunity at location one, yet the impressive size of such a healthy herd amazing me. At no one point in time did I ever recall the severity of my anxiety, depression, and other side effects from Iraq. We took a break and went back out to a different location and we walked in. Now normally I wouldn’t ever expect for this to happen but Jerry had us walk in a straight line right for the herd. In the back of my head I’m seriously doubtful as I’m so use to Nebraska and Kansas whitetail hunting. If they even think they see something they are GONE! Not sure how long we waited and watched as the herd just strolled closer and closer and the hair stood up on the back of my neck when I felt the wind change. The herd caught our wind and it was crunch time. I got set up Jerry got the yardage called the hold waited for the rest of the herd to clear. POW!Â
Done deal! This was definitely an experience of a lifetime and I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation to both of these folks! Very last and absolutely not least I want to express how grateful and thankful I am for the rest of the folks that come out of the woodworks after the animal is harvested! The folks at RMYP are absolutely amazing! After the harvest a group of folks seem to appear out of nowhere! From field dressing, loading, hanging, skinning, and processing, the RMYP Crew is absolutely amazing! There isn’t a day I don’t think about this experience. I personally can’t thank each and every one of the members at RMYP enough!
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THANK YOU!
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Luke Hauf
USN SEABEESÂ
“ CAN DO “
Hunter from 2023