The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Recently Keith Hanson, co-owner of the "Journal," told me about a conversation he had with Josh Brown who lives in Havre. Josh is part of the American Legion Riders in Havre, a motorcycle club that does poker runs and other events to raise funds to support the work of Montana Wounded Warriors.

Keith said, "The Montana Wounded Warriors seem to be doing some great work. Would you talk to Josh Brown and write about how and why the Montana Wounded Warriors provides hunting and fishing outings to combat wounded vets?" Researching the story I learned about some very dedicated volunteers who help Montana's Iraq and Afghanistan era combat wounded veterans to connect with each through outdoor hunting and fishing trips. Here's some of what I learned.

The Montana Wounded Warriors (MTWWs) was organized in 2010

Readers may recall the Wounded Warriors Project, a national group based in Florida, had some very negative publicity in 2016 when a few of their top national staff were accused of lavish spending on trips and outings for themselves and only spending about half the funds the group raised to help vets. MTWW was already hard at work in Montana when that news broke about the national group-there is no connection and never was any between the two groups.

I spoke by phone with Neil Baumann, one of two original organizers of the MTWWs organization. As to the why of the group, Baumann said, "I was too young to serve in Vietnam but recalled as a teenager how vets returning from the war were not properly recognized for answering their call to duty. I and some other locals (Flathead Valley area) decided to do something to properly recognize the sacrifice of combat wounded warriors coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan."

Kristi Taylor, a CPA in the Valley, like most of the volunteer members of MTWWs' board of directors has served since the group started. Her mission, like Neil Baumann's and others, was to provide residents of Montana who were wounded as a result of combat service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, with high-quality hunting and fishing opportunities in the state of Montana.

Neil Baumann believes Montana vets are especially drawn to the outdoors, "It's our culture to enjoy hunting and fishing." He added that another motivation to starting the Montana-based group was that no national vet support groups were doing hunting trips and only a few offered fishing excursions. Combat wounded vets of the Iraq and Afghanistan era living in Montana, whether lifelong residents or newcomers, can participate in the MTWWs outings.

Kristi Taylor noted that in addition to the joy of being outdoors, "When together combat wounded veterans talk about what they went through on the field of combat, how they are coping with their wounds and how they are attempting to transition back in to civilian life." For many it's a part of a healing process and a rare opportunity to bond with others who "wore the same boots." Taylor and Baumann gave several examples of vets who met for the first time on a MTWWs trip and subsequently became friends because of their similar experiences as wounded warriors.

The number of trips and participating vets has steadily increased. In 2011, MTWWs' first year to offer trips, the group offered one trip each for hunters and fishermen. In 2021, they hosted 15 big game hunts and three to four fishing trips. Hunting trips continue to be the most popular among the eligible vets. Baumann added, "We're not a 'one and done' outfit. We maintain a list of 150-200 veterans' names who have made trips with us and if they desire, we can usually work them on to a trip about every two or three years." Interestingly, about half the current volunteer board members of MTWWs made their first contact with the group as participating hunters and fishermen and joined the volunteer board to make the experiences available to other veterans.

How the trips work

Combat wounded veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan can contact the Montana Wounded Warrior organization for trip information at the email listed at the end of this story. Each trip is accompanied by a MTWWs board member and is guided by a qualified leader, often a professional guide.

Hunts take place on private property made accessible by land owners or outfitters who have leased hunting land. Trips are purposefully kept to a few participants to assure a quality hunting or fishing trip. Baumann noted, "It is hunting but about 95% or our participants are successful."

All expenses are paid for trip participants, including travel, food and lodging during the trip, meat processing and taxidermy expenses. Costs are covered by fund raising. Kristi Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer of MTWWs, noted outfitters often give discounts to the group and land owners sometimes have bunk houses or other lodging they donate. Baumann added, "We can't ask outfitters, who make their living guiding trips, to donate their time but there are many who work with us to make the trips quality and affordable to the organization." He also mentioned taxidermists and meat processors who either donate their time or give discounts to the trip participants.

How the trips are supported financially

As to the costs for the trips each year, Taylor said, "We need about $150,000 per year to support our program." A major portion of the support is from landowners who give free access to their unpressured hunting lands and outfitters providing discounted trips. Baumann added, "That money all stays in Montana, we aren't sending our veterans on hunts to Alaska."

Baumann was enthusiastic describing the variety of ways funds are raised to support the trips. He explained, "We have certain groups, like the Trap Club in the Valley, who've organized events to support our hunting and fishing trips since MTWWs began. Their annual shooting event raises about $7,000 each year. The Flathead Valley Softball Tournament just wrote us a check for $10,000. There's every kind of fundraiser from car washes by school kids to poker runs by motorcycle clubs. A recent development is families of deceased veterans making gifts from estates, including some oil leases from the Williston area. And a lot of the funding comes directly from individuals and small business owners who see the benefit to the veterans.

Closer to home

Montana Wounded Warriors provides three to four fishing trips each year to Montana veterans who were injured in combat during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The trips are not only a chance for a quality hunt or fishing trip, they provide an opportunity for participants in the outings to bond with other veterans and share experiences related to their experiences in battle and healing processes.

I spoke with Brian Carpenter who lives in Havre and grew up in Chinook. He's the current president of the American Legion Riders, a Havre-based motorcycle club that does fundraising for the Montana Wounded Warriors. Citing a recent experience on the Iron Butt Run (a 1500 mile-trip around Montana in 36 hours on motorcycles) to raise money for the MTWWS, Brian told, "We stopped in West Glacier for a break and a guy approached us and said, "I'm going on one of those upcoming trips your raising money to support."" Carpenter, himself a combat wounded veteran, could take one of the trips, but added, "At this point I'm happy I can help support trips for other veterans. You reap what you sew."

For reasons of confidentiality I could not get names of any veterans from our area that might have participated in one of MTWWs' trips. Neil Baumann did say, "We have some ranchers in the Big Sandy area who allow us to hunt on their land. I'm not aware of any such arrangement in Blaine County but would welcome some inquiries from outfitters or landowners in north central Montana.

How to support the Montana Wounded Warrior organization's work

You can find more information about the Montana Wounded Warriors and see photos from fishing and hunting trips at their website: montanawoundedwarriors.org/ To make donations, learn if you or a veteran you know might qualify for a hunting or fishing trip or offer land access or other services (taxidermy, meat processing, outfitting, etc.) email Neil Baumann at: montanawoundedwarriors@gmail.com