The Veteran Hunters

by **Spider** Thu 25 Feb 2021, 9:56 am

Navy veteran helping others cope
with post-traumatic stress disorder

Feb. 25, 2021

It’s been just over a year since Royal Canadian Navy veteran Rich Pearce became a hunter host with The Veteran Hunters. In that time, he’s provided life-changing mentorship to many veterans on Vancouver Island.

Originally founded in Alberta by Tod Hisey, The Veteran Hunters is a peer support network for veterans and first responders struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The organization focuses on bringing people together through outdoor adventures.

Pearce heard about the program through his wife, who is also an ex-military member. He reached out to Tod, and was cleared to start up his own branch. Since then, he’s led a number of expeditions on Vancouver Island and seen a marked improvement in fellow veterans who were struggling to adjust to the civilian world.

“These guys went from being distracted and stressed, to more focused, more calm, having better situations with family, better situations at work, dealing with other people,” said Pearce.

Many of the members are united by a shared love of hunting, but as Pearce tells it, that’s the least important aspect of the trips. The real healing comes from spending time with people who can understand your experiences, in a setting that forces you to remain present. That can be a real challenge for veterans who are struggling with conditions like PTSD and other kinds of operational stress injury (OSI), which can keep you reliving traumatic incidents from the past.

“Hunting is something that makes you stay in the moment. You have to very much be focused on what you’re doing … you can’t be thinking about five years ago, or 20 years ago when you were in Afghanistan. You have to stay in the moment,” said Pearce.

Pearce served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 23 years. He was able to make a relatively smooth transition back into civilian life by working with the Department of National Defence.

Not all of his friends were so lucky. Watching his friends disperse throughout Canada after their release, and struggle with limited support networks was a big reason he took up the volunteer role.

“When you leave (the military) sometimes, there’s sort of a void that you need to fill somehow. You lose that sense of belonging. It allows them to build that sense of belonging,” said Pearce.

The volunteer work also helps him with his own work-life balance.

“For me, getting out and helping guys do this, is a way of helping me manage my stress and issues,” he said.

“To be able to be in a place where I can help other people deal with that, is something I find gives me a lot of satisfaction, and allows me to feel like I’m giving back.”

Part of Pearce’s work is also raising awareness so that other people understand the realities of living with PTSD.

Adjusting to the civilian workforce can be a challenge for people with PTSD, especially when employers and co-workers don’t understand what a veteran is going through. He stresses that it’s not just veterans – police, first responders, paramedics, firefighters, and even forestry and fisheries workers deal with PTSD.

“If someone has PTSD or OSI, they’re just as injured as someone with a physical injury,” said Pearce. “It’s OK to say I have a problem, it’s OK to ask help.”

He hopes to continue building and supporting the community of his brothers and sisters in arms, and to champion other veterans groups across B.C. and the country.

Rich Pearce is the 2021 Unsung Hero of the Year.

https://www.vicnews.com/community/navy-veteran-helping-others-cope-with-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/

by **Spider** Thu 23 Dec 2021, 11:33 am

Veteran Hunters TV series premieres Dec. 27

Written by Noel Edey Thursday, Dec 23 2021

After two years of filming, the Veteran Hunters television series will premiere on the Sportsman Channel in both Canada and the United States on Dec. 27.

A total of six episodes will be broadcast until March. The first is entitled "Anxious for Antelope" and features a hunt of Veteran Hunters founder Todd Hisey and Paul Wagman, president of the Wayfinders Wellness Retreat.

Hisey says the entire topography of Alberta, from the wide-open plains to the Rocky Mountains, will be featured on hunts for antelopes, mule deer. elk, bighorn sheep, and wild turkey.

Each episode is 22 minutes in length (30 minutes with commercials in) and provides exposure to an organization that is unique in North America.

"We're veterans and first responders leading other veterans and first responders," explains Hisey. "We've all gone through Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment, we've walked a mile in the other guy's shoes, and that's completely different from anything else across North America. There's a peer leading peer aspect to Veteran Hunters."

Hisey says completing the episodes was similar to what's involved in a hunt. Harvesting an animal is the easy part, the hard work comes afterward.

"The TV show production has been about the same. It's been over two years of filming hunts and working with a good editor and videographer to improve the quality of our content and then get it ready to air in both Canada and the US."

He says lots of footage was left on the cutting room floor to produce a show that will captivate audiences with some stellar National Geographic-type footage.

"You want to have something worth watching, and having more people view it helps us get the word out across North America about the Veteran Hunters, what we're doing, and how unique it is."

Having it aired in the States heavily increases their exposure. He says the Sportsman Channel in the US has about 34 million subscribers.

Hisey has been in discussions with Weatherby, an American gun manufacturer headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming, about a potential future partnership.

Preparing the episodes takes time and money, and has been made possible by some generous sponsors. Hisey says they welcome more sponsors to assist with the production of future episodes and support the organization.

There's also a full line of apparel available for purchase that helps support the organization.

You can find more details here.

https://cochranenow.com/articles/veteran-hunters-tv-series-premieres-dec-27

by **OutlawSoldier** Wed 19 Jan 2022, 9:47 am

Positive feedback to first Veteran Hunters episode

Written by Noel Edey Tuesday, Jan 18 2022

The second installment of the Veteran Hunters television series premiered last night on the Canada Sportsman Channel and will continue to run in different times slots over the next few weeks.

Entitled "Pheasants a Plenty," it captures a two-day Pheasant Festival for veterans and first responders hosted by the nonprofit Veterans Hunter at Wessex Game Birds in Carstairs, AB.

It follows episode one, entitled "Anxious for Antelope" which began airing on Dec. 27.

Veteran Hunters founder Todd Hisey says the show's sponsors have been receiving a positive response to the first episode. That includes Jeff McClounie, operations manager for Steelhead Ventures, whose among the show's sponsors.

Hisey says there is the opportunity for further sponsorships for both its show and programming. Their fundraising runs from January to Match before the spring hunts begin.

"Any Cochrane or Calgary and area businesses or organizations that want to partner with us to provide donations for the organization or look at an opportunity to sponsor the TV show would be much appreciated," says Hisey.

The Veterans Hunters are also participating in the annual fundraising dinner of the Grand Valley Safari Club on Jan. 29.

The dinner started nearly 20 years as a chance for a few hunters to gather to swap tales and has evolved into an evening that attracts upwards of 300 people. Safari Club chair Kevin Firkus says they've raised about $250,000 over the years for many worthy causes.

Hisey says Veterans Hunters appreciated the opportunity to be among the evening's partners.

"It's a great opportunity for the community to get together, ranchers and hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, for an evening and raise some money for some worthy causes," says Hisey.

Veteran Hunters will have some items up for grabs in the silent auction. At their booth, you'll be able to learn more about the organization, its show, and meet some of their host hunters.

There are a few tickets available and can be purchased by contacting Veteran Hunters through its website here or by emailing Firkus at kevin.firkus@dickslumber.com.

Hisey had a 22-year career as an officer in the Canadian Army with deployments in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Russia. In 2018, and after nearly six years of PTSD treatment, it was determined he could no longer work in a traditional role. In January 2019, he launched The Veteran Hunters with a website, podcast, and social media presence to continue to give back to the community and help his fellow soldiers.

Veteran Hunters was created to support veterans and first responders with PTSD by providing peer support through outdoor adventures. Since its inception, it has facilitated activities for over 200 people.

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