Annual “Sportmen Handicap Hunt” held at Blue Rock State Park

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- For years one organization has honored the disabled in a fun and rather unique way.

Saturday, The Y- Bridge Longbeards held their twelfth annual “Wheelin Sportmen Handicap Hunt” where twenty plus hunters indulges in a day of hunting wild turkeys at Blue Rock State Park.

“We had our 12th annual disabled turkey hunt. We had nineteen hunters out this morning and harvested six birds. It was a really nice day out. We had a lot of people show up and everyone I think had a great time,” said Pat Burkhart, President. 

Although the hunt itself isn’t an all day process, Burkhart said on hunting days they begin quite early.

“We actually get here somewhere between four and five in the morning. Everyone kind of checks in, then at that point they get a permit for the hunters and they go out to their areas that were chosen and hunt the birds and they can hunt from daylight until noon and then we come back here and have a meal for them and some prizes and different gifts,” said Burkhart.

To conclude the event, an auction was held, a meal was served and all of the participants were gifted with new hunting sweatshirts.