The 8th annual PDR Disabled Youth Hunt takes place in Clark this weekend. Disabled youth from several states are taking part in an all-expenses paid hunting journey that offers them the opportunity to get out in the wild with experienced guides. As SDPB’s Jim Kent reports, they’ll be using state-of-the-art equipment – some specifically designed for their needs.
“Rollin’, rollin’ rollin’” is the theme of the 2015 PDR Disabled Youth Hunt as young marksmen – and women - spread out into the woods surrounding Clark in brand new trailer-mounted, handicapped accessible deer stands.
Dean Rasmussen founded the hunt after an eye-opening experience he and his son had with a young disabled hunter who’d never shot a deer.
”And we took him up here and…unbelievable,” recalls Rasmussen. “My son actually guided him that day. And the young man killed a deer. And from the look and the expression on his face…and the joy that we saw…we knew that we had to do something to try to bring that to other children that had disabilities.”
Dean named the hunt in memory of his grandson, Payton Dean Rasmussen, who died of spinal meningitis. It took Rasmussen a few years to streamline his plans for the hunt and get the backing he’d need to pull it off. What started out as a small gathering for 3 disabled youth has grown into a community-wide effort involving the residents of Clark and the surrounding area.
“The people of Clark, South Dakota rally around us,” Rasmussen observes. “Farmers…people all the time stop and say ‘Why don’t you bring one of those kids out to my place?’”
As for the impact the event has on the youth involved, Rasmussen notes one boy who wanted to stay in Clark because “the people there don’t look at me like I’m different and they give me hugs”.
Thirteen-year old Mason took part in the hunt last year and is back again.
“It was pretty fun,” says Mason. “On the third day of hunting we shot a deer. I shot it in the head 223 yards away.”
Like many of the youth taking part, Mason is a pretty low-key guy. But like all of those kids who take part, says Dean Rasmussen, Mason left the hunt with a lot more confidence than he arrived with.
Mikala Jones spent years watching her father go out hunting, but hadn’t had the chance to do it herself – until she met Dean Rasmussen.
Although she didn’t shoot a whitetail during her hunt with the group, Mikala did leave with a greater sense of self-esteem. So much so, that she returned the following year as a volunteer.
“I had gone back and seeing the…the expression on the boys’ faces…kind of made me open my eyes to see…okay…I can be able to help these boys.” Mikala comments. “And even, you know, young ladies that come in…besides me…through this hunt and they can actually do something for themselves.”
And Mikala is still offering her help. Now a young woman, she works as a playground supervisor for her local elementary school. Taking part in the PDF Disabled Youth Hunt was an experience, says Mikala, that not only helped her to have confidence in herself but taught her how to instill confidence in others.
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