Wounded warriors participate in feral hog helicopter hunt

Staff report
·1 min read

Big Country Veterans Weekend was a blast April 20-23 as 17 veterans were invited to participate in a helicopter hog hunt.

The wounded combat veterans enjoyed days of activities out at the Circle Bar Ranch in Truscott.

Becky Daniel, who serves on the Big Country Veterans Weekend Board, veteran Mark Little and race car driver Kurt Busch greet veterans at the Circle Bar Ranch this past weekend for the veterans’ helicopter hog hunt.
Becky Daniel, who serves on the Big Country Veterans Weekend Board, veteran Mark Little and race car driver Kurt Busch greet veterans at the Circle Bar Ranch this past weekend for the veterans’ helicopter hog hunt.

On Friday, the veterans arrived and were greeted by helicopters flying overhead and a crowd of volunteers, guests and ranch personnel. A fine day for flying, groups were soon up in the air looking for feral hogs that run wild and can tear up ranch land. That day, more than 1,000 hogs were killed. Friday evening, they enjoyed a meal of crawfish, sausage, okra and corn served by the Redneck Culinary Academy. After dinner, guests were addressed by Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. First Class Gary Littrell.

Sgt. First Class Gary Littrell, a Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, prepares to go hog hunting in a helicopter at the Circle Bar Ranch in Truscott.
Sgt. First Class Gary Littrell, a Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, prepares to go hog hunting in a helicopter at the Circle Bar Ranch in Truscott.
Cody Palmer of Fort Worth and Colton Daniel, one of the owners of the Circle Bar Ranch serve on the Big Country Veterans Weekend Board and helped plan a weekend full of activities for wounded combat veterans April 20-23 at the Circle Bar Ranch in Truscott.
Cody Palmer of Fort Worth and Colton Daniel, one of the owners of the Circle Bar Ranch serve on the Big Country Veterans Weekend Board and helped plan a weekend full of activities for wounded combat veterans April 20-23 at the Circle Bar Ranch in Truscott.

Unfortunately, weather took a turn Saturday and the wind and cold temperatures prevented helicopter flying for most of the day. Groups did manager to eliminate just over 300 hogs. Guests enjoyed a steak dinner that night provided by the ranch. After dinner, everyone went over to the lodge and veterans received awards for various accomplishments.

Max Wienke Sheppard Air Force Base volunteer loads up a plate with crawfish and sides at the Circle Bar Ranch Friday night during the helicopter hog hunt weekend.
Max Wienke Sheppard Air Force Base volunteer loads up a plate with crawfish and sides at the Circle Bar Ranch Friday night during the helicopter hog hunt weekend.

Sunday morning saw more rain and the veterans went home. Thanks go out to the planning board, volunteers and others who make this memorable weekend possible each year.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wounded warriors participate in feral hog helicopter hunt