Newmont Notes: Determined Hunters Not Hindered by Disabilities

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Our rural communities in northern Nevada are surrounded by an abundance of easily accessible outdoor-recreation opportunities that are scarce for those living in the “big cities.”  Whether we want to fish, hike, bike or hunt in truly unadulterated wilderness, the places to do it are often literally right off our doorstep.  And while some of us rural Nevadans might offer up convenient but weak excuses as to why we do not regularly take advantage of these opportunities, there are others who would but, due to physical disability, cannot enjoy the outdoors.

Avid hunter Rob McMillan, who lost the lower part of his right leg in a motorcycle accident, appreciated how being able to continue venturing outdoors contributed to his physical, emotional and spiritual healing.  During his recovery, McMillan realized how fortunate he was in comparison to others who are more-severely disabled.  From TV shows, he learned about programs that provide hunting excursions to such people.  He was disappointed to discover that no such program existed in Nevada, so in 2008 he started Nevada Outdoorsmen in Wheelchairs (NOW) to provide hunting and outdoor experiences to wheelchair-bound individuals.

In early spring 2011, Chad Bliss, board member of both NOW and Eureka County Wildlife Advisory Board, contacted Dan Gralian, manager of Newmont Mining Corporation’s TS Ranch, regarding antelope hunting tags that the ranch had received.  (Because so many antelope frequent the TS hay pivots in Boulder Valley, the ranch receives damage compensation tags from the state to make up for any crop loss inflicted by the antelope herds.)  Gralian happily donated the two antelope tags and access to TS Ranch property for a NOW-sponsored hunt.

In August, the TS Ranch crew was joined by McMillan, Bliss and several other NOW directors, as well as Ken Mayer (Nevada Department of Wildlife Director), Larry Johnson (Chairman of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited), Jay Presti (Blue Collar Adventures), Matt Murray (Newmont External Relations) and Jim Duncan (the very first hunter that NOW took afield).  The two recipients of the 2011 antelope tags were Reno/Sparks-area residents Josh Loftis and Bill Cotter.  Although born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair his entire life, Loftis has hunted before, but this was the first time in many years that he had been able to hunt.  For Cotter, a T-7 paraplegic who was paralyzed from the chest down in a traffic accident, this was his first time ever in the field.  On the day before the season opener, the two men were taken out to scout the area for a few choice antelope bucks.

On opening day, Jay Presti of Blue Collar Adventures joined the group at the ranch headquarters and presented each hunter with new camo and a Stetson hat.  Then, the hunters, their guests and hosts set out in two vehicles to scan the TS pivots for antelope.  After passing on one buck known as “King Arthur,” the group decided to stalk another bachelor group of bucks.  Confined to his wheelchair, Loftis was unable to see the bucks over the vegetation unless he was in the vehicle, so Larry Johnson drove him to within a comfortable shooting range.  Bliss, Presti and Murray stayed back and watched through spotting scopes as a shot rang out from Loftis’ gun.  The antelope started to run before being felled by Loftis’ second shot.  It was high fives all around!  The support group retrieved the antelope for Loftis so he could get a close look at it before it was field-dressed and packed in ice.  Awhile later, Cotter fired a shot that took down another trophy buck.  It was an exhilarating time for all present.

On the next day, Dan Gralian took the entire group on a complete tour of the ranch, explaining its unique relationship with Newmont’s surrounding mining operations.  Then, the group shuttled over to Newmont’s neighboring TS Power Plant for a lesson in power generation.

That weekend in August was a success on many levels.  Granted, the two hunters were able to harvest great bucks on the opening day; and a strong camaraderie was shared between many people from different walks of life.  But most importantly, for a brief while two men were almost as far away from their disabilities as someone not so challenged.  For them, a sense of normalcy was restored in that moment.  There were no excuses as to “why not,” but there were plenty of reasons as to “why.”