The weather has been a little tough on the Purple Heart Outdoor Tour hunters, but on the Banke Ranch action was pretty good with the hunters counting 79 deer during the day leading up to a small gathering for dinner with Kathy Banke providing some tasty BBQ tri-tips.
After dinner the hunting crew prepared for the evening hunt and I took a couple photos of Cal Deer’s jeep, specially designed to get handicapped hunters into the field. Although Joshua Olsen is quite mobile and capable, his handicap (lost his right leg at the hip to a RPG during his third tour in Iraq) qualifies him to hunt from a vehicle.
Josh was a good sport and even allowed Dave Scheivon to use the hydraulic ramp to lift him in and out of the jeep, while Tom Dermody observed.
Josh stands on the platform while Dave operates the hydraulic hoist.
Josh climbs in while Dave expounds on the mechanics of the jeep.
Joshua Olsen, Ken Galas, Paul Banke and David Scheivon before the evening hunt.
Everybody wondered if the evening hunt would produce a worthy buck. The hunting crew headed for the territory known to harbor a big buck.
Just after dark, the jeep showed up at the ranch house. A knock on the window was our first clue that they’d found success.
Paul, Josh, Derek Galas (Ken's son), Ken and Tom - very pleased to pose with Josh's nice 3 x 4 blacktail.
