Remember those who served
Moose hunt restores dignity through compassion
A successful hunt is a time for celebration, but in the case of Elliott Miller, a disabled veteran from California, and others like him, success means more than getting a moose or deer to put meat in the family’s freezer — it means recovery of one’s dignity and proves that a lost limb or other injury can be overcome.
“Elliott Miller is one of the wounded veterans that participated in the controlled moose hunt. He found success the morning of Sept. 17,” said Scott Cyr, a registered Maine guide who was one of the individuals assisting with Miller’s outing.
“Elliott is a former Marine and member of Seal Team 5 who was wounded in Iraq from a phosphorous-laced IED (improvised explosive device). I was able to spend time hunting with Elliott last year. When I heard he was going to come back, I could not wait to help him harvest a northern Maine moose,” said Cyr.
Miller’s adventure was part of the controlled moose season.
“The controlled moose season is a crop depredation hunt open in nine townships in northeastern Aroostook and is designed to alleviate crop damage and moose-car collisions in the area,” said Dave Hentosh, another Maine guide who assisted Miller.
According to Hentosh, the veterans’ hunt is “cooperatively run by Peter Ogden of Maine’s Veterans Affairs, myself and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.”
“Peter facilitates the distribution of tags to eligible Maine residents through a lottery. Any veteran with a disabled vet hunting license may apply. Those tags are issued through a lottery,” said Hentosh.
The non-resident tags are offered to veterans help organizations, said Hentosh, with the groups being asked to send a combat-wounded vet who would benefit from such an event.”
“I coordinate and run the hunt, which is hosted at our lodge — Smoldering Lake Outfitters. There are many special rules and regulations with this hunt and each of the veterans is paired with a qualified and approved guide,” Hentosh said.
He said the volunteer guide team includes members of the Maine Warden Service, State Police and Bangor Police Department, as well as any other caring professionals.
“These folks are all here to help others and simply want to do what is right. This is a very small thank you to those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country,” said Hentosh.
There were a total of 25 injured veterans who hunted here this season, noted Hentosh.
“Seventeen Maine residents and eight non-residents took part. As it is a crop-damage hunt, the tags are valid for any moose and the hunters are encouraged to take the first animal that presents a good opportunity. All 25 shot at moose and 24 went home with animals,” he said.
While moose hunting is the excuse to get these folks here, Hentosh said the real reason is the therapeutic benefit of getting these guys together with other vets who have endured similar experiences.
“This gives them the opportunity to discuss things they normally may not with others, participate in activities they may not otherwise be able to and, in the end, possibly take home a moose to feed their family — all this while helping the farming community,” said Hentosh.
Miller was sponsored and brought here by the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) out of San Antonio, Texas.
“They sponsored several of the non-resident veterans this season. Elliot is a Navy Seal. While on a mission he was hit with a grenade, then got into a Humvee. The Humvee subsequently hit a very large IED, killing the driver, with Miller sustaining severe trauma. He is wheelchair-bound as an amputee and is still re-learning to speak more than seven years after the accident,” Hentosh explained.
Hentosh said Miller is “quite a character and has an infectious personality.”
“This hunt is about adapting and overcoming hurdles, not just for the veterans but for us as well. We began his hunt with the use of a Track chair (an all-terrain wheelchair on tracks). In the end, this proved too noisy for stalking and we opted to use a side-by-side ATV and several of the guide team pushed the vehicle into position in order to keep the noise at a minimum. In attendance on Elliott’s hunt were myself, Scott Cyr, Jeremy Judd, Randal Simonse and John Faulkenberry. John is the field director for MWSF,” he said.
Miller got his moose in Presque Isle, while hunting on Smith’s Farm property, using a 7MM mag. Hentosh said he wasn’t certain exactly how much the moose weighed, since they quartered it.
“Elliott took about one-third of his moose home on the airplane. The rest is being shipped to his home,” he said, noting, “this is a volunteer effort and we try to raise money to cover expenses, such as food, fuel, etc.”
“As this has grown, the biggest need has come in fund-raising to cover those expenses. Anyone interested in helping that way can contact Peter Ogden at Maine’s Veterans Affairs. He is also the contact for any veteran who wishes to apply for the season,” said Hentosh.
Hentosh said he thought three of this year’s participants were from Aroostook and at least two came from Washington County.
Hentosh and his group have been involved with this program for over a decade.
“We have been taking veterans and terminally ill youth on hunts and other outdoor excursions here at Smoldering Lake for over 10 years and have been hosting the veterans’ moose hunt since its inception. Many of the guides work for us through the year but there are many others, such as Scott, who have their own businesses as well,” he said.
Hentosh said quite a few of the veterans who have participated as hunters come back to help as spotters, etc., during the season.
“We have heard many stories and the value of this experience — moose aside — is priceless,” he said. “You cannot possibly understand this until you have shaken the hand of a vet who has survived the ravages of war while he gets choked up and tells you that this is ‘the nicest thing anyone has done for him since he went away to Vietnam,’ or hear them say ‘thank you for helping me feel normal again.’ We’ve even had a couple tell us that this experience saved their life,” Hentosh said.
He said it’s mind boggling how simple it is to make a difference.
“It is the time around the dinner table, the joking and poking fun, listening to their stories that seem to flow while you are in the blind, and yes, finally the completion of an unreachable goal that makes this such an effective tool in the healing process,” said Hentosh.
Veterans from all branches of the military are welcome.
“Veterans from all branches of service and all eras back to the Korean War have participated in this hunt, to date. I can speak on behalf of all the guides and volunteers that it is a blessing and an honor to be a part of such an event,” said Hentosh.
Attempts to reach Miller in California for a comment were unsuccessful at presstime. An article online by Brent Gleeson entitled “Never Out of the Fight” notes Miller grew up in southern Illinois and served four years in the Marine Corps. Less than a year after being honorably discharged and enrolled at Southern Illinois University, 9-11 occurred. Miller felt the call to serve again, this time enlisting in the Navy — with the goal of becoming a Seal. He was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, and later was severely injured. He lost his left leg and sustained other injuries, including to his brain. While in therapy back in the U.S., he fell in love with his physical therapist, April. They married and now have two children.
“Elliott is the true meaning of ‘never give up.’ He’s such an inspiration and I feel so fortunate to have been able to help him and all the others that participated in the 2014 hunt,” said Cyr. “Many new friends and long-lasting memories were made.”
