KUIU Inaugural Veteran & Gold Star Family Appreciation Hunt

KUIU partnered up with the Three Rangers Foundation and Whittaker Brother Hunting Company to provide a Veteran and Gold Star family members with an all-inclusive hunt to thank them for their service and sacrifice to this great nation.
The idea for the hunt came about simply as another way for KUIU to give back to our Veteran and Gold Star family community. Additionally, it would serve two-fold by also being a platform for KUIU to highlight and promote one of the many outstanding outfitters and non-profit organizations that we work with on a regular basis.
Once the initial concept was approved, the first phone call was to Jason, Josh and Eric, owners of Whitaker Brothers Hunting Company (WHBC). Before the question could even be finished, they said, “we're in”! WHBC stepped up huge by donating everything for the hunt including guides, landowner tags, lodging and meals. Their support and generosity speak volumes about the character of these three amazing men.
Next up, we reached out to Chris Vanek, a former Regimental Commander for the 75th Rangers, who’s now retired and volunteers his time as the Director of the Goldstar Program for the Three Rangers Foundation. The Three Rangers Foundation, or TRF, is an all-volunteer organization founded by three members of the elite 3rd Ranger Battalion, who in 1993 fought in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. TRF was established to fill gaps in the complex and often not synchronized governmental support by striving to serve transitioning Rangers, Ranger veterans, their family members and Goldstar families. Chris was excited about the opportunity and said that he would have a Goldstar family member selected to participate in the hunt.
Fast forward six months later and with all the pieces of the puzzle lined up and the players in place, it was now time to hunt. The event was held over 3 days in Trinidad, Colorado on one of the many properties that WHBC manages. The participants hunted antelope spot-and-stalk style personally guided by Jason, Josh, and Eric. Timing for the hunt couldn’t have gone any better as coincidentally it took place on the 28th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu in which the TRF organization was founded on.
The inaugural event was an overwhelming success that was a truly humbling experience for all the parties involved. We are already looking forward to and planning for next year’s hunt.

[@erickbauer8888]

My brother and I are both disabled hunters. We are in our late fifties. We don’t have access to good hunting we can hunt like we used to. We have always wanted to go out west and hunt but now it is out of our reach financially and limited in our mobility. It has always been a dream to do something like that forever. I know you just did it but maybe in time you would do it again. God bless you and thank you for thinking of the vets and first responders.

[@IHWKR]

Although I deployed to combat zones, I never seen combat. Nevertheless my body and mind have taken their tolls. I am taking up hunting in hopes it will help alieviate the physical and mental pain and the lack of spirituality I thats weighted on me.
By no means do I compare myself to those whove lost limbs and suffer far more trauma then myself. But we still suffer together.
Thank you for helping out those who have sacrificed everything and those who bear the burden of a lost family member. This is one of the many reasons why I'll stick with Kuiu.

[@kee7678]

Yeah! Well done Kuiu and thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice !!

[@Nunya_Binness]

God bless our troops!
🇺🇸🙏🏽🫡

[@bobwilliams3634]

Awesome video, thanks for supporting our troops!!!

[@haroldanderson2781]

Well done KUIU. Your production team puts together great videos.

[@sterlingwilkey2124]

Awesome video

[@jasonard7227]

awesome