Cory Foote | Hometown Hero Outdoors — Team Colorado
Five days of hunting. Twelve to fifteen inches of snow. Two veterans with their mule deer tags filled—and one finish that came down to a single minute.
Hometown Hero Outdoors’ Team Colorado brought two veterans, both with disability ratings of 50% or higher, on a first-season mule deer hunt near Ouray, Colorado. The trip gave us challenging weather, memorable wildlife sightings, and a first mule deer that none of us will soon forget.
Snow and Persistence in the Colorado Mountains
During the first two days, the mountains received 12–15 inches of snow. It was a demanding start, but our group kept at it, hunting hard throughout all five days.
While glassing the mountains for mule deer, we also spotted moose. Those encounters added another memorable experience to our time together in the Colorado outdoors.
On the evening of October 17, one veteran harvested a nice mule deer and filled his tag. With one tag still open, the hunt continued.
A First Mule Deer at 8:29 a.m.
Our second veteran had traveled all the way from Georgia for this opportunity. He was hoping to harvest his first mule deer, and his hunt came down to the final morning.
We needed to leave for the airport at 8:30 a.m. on October 18.
At 8:29 a.m., he harvested his first mule deer.
After five days of effort, he filled his tag with just one minute to spare before our planned departure. You couldn’t ask for a more memorable finish.
Bringing Veterans Together Through the Outdoors
Two filled tags were a great way to end the trip. Just as meaningful was the opportunity to spend five days together, share the challenges of the hunt, and build connections through a shared outdoor experience.
That opportunity is at the heart of Hometown Hero Outdoors: bringing veterans, military service members, and first responders together through time outdoors and connection with peers.
Thank you to both veterans for joining Team Colorado and to everyone who helps make these opportunities possible.
Support future Hometown Hero Outdoors adventures and help more heroes experience moments like these.
