When one of my childhood friends, Mitchell AKA @finaticalflyguy on Instagram, reached out and asked if I wanted to be a hunting guide for a wounded veteran event, I wasn’t sure what I was signing up for. I had never guided a hunt before, outside of sitting with friends to shoot deer or pigs on the ranch. I’d say I’m an above average hunter and outdoorsman, so those skills should qualify me as a guide. But as far as practical experience goes, I had little.
The event is called Terk Tribe and takes place over the first weekend of January each year. It features a new group of 5 post-9/11 veterans each year. These are Vets who were injured, ill, or wounded during their service, as well as a few alumni who get invited back.
It was an honor to get asked to join the group of guides, who have been involved in these events since the beginning. I’ve been following Terk Tribe’s growth since they started and always try to give back to our Veterans whenever I have the chance, so this seemed a good fit.
Terk Tribe is about a lot of things and isn’t just limited to hunting and fishing. Although that’s a big part of it. It’s about camaraderie and trust, making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, disconnecting from the day-to-day, recharging your “batteries” outdoors, and it’s about brotherhood. Over the weekend we hunted and fished together, cooked together, drank beer together, skinned and cleaned animals together, talked about things we don’t normally talk about, and helped each other unpack whatever metaphorical stuff we’d been carrying around.
Seeing some of the Vets relax and start to open up, over the course of the weekend, was a strong indicator of just how important the Terk Tribe event and family really is. The atmosphere that the entire team creates, from the founders, to the guides, to the cooks, is incredibly unique. It really allows the new and returning Veterans to spend a worry-free weekend relaxing outdoors.
There are a lot of people and organizations that deserve credit in making such a cool weekend possible. Most importantly the Terk family, Mitchell, McKenna, Morgan, and their mom, Kimberly, deserves gratitude for running an awesome foundation. They each donate so much of their time, effort, and money, as well as their family’s ranch and facilities to the Terk Tribe weekend.
The guides are a big part of making sure things go smoothly and they each deserve a big thanks for all their efforts and time, as well as for making me (the new guy) feel welcome. I’ve joked that it’s kind of like being a camp counselor for adults… With guns.
Additionally, there are a few businesses and organizations that contributed to the festivities. This includes the Val Verde County game wardens, Del Rio area Border Patrol agents and officials, Sight in Sea patch Hats, HEB grocery stores, State Farm Insurance in Beeville, and a few other who I’m sure I’m missing.
If you want to get involved, the Terk Foundation (501-C-3) has a donation page on their website. 100% of donations go toward their events and organization. If you have a business that would like to donate product/gifts for next year’s event, reach out to me directly (editor@westboundsoul.com) and I’ll get you in touch with the right folks to get the ball rolling.
