For our Purple Heart veterans, hunting from a blind isn’t just about the harvest—it’s about the mission and an eventual friendship. Each outing feels like a well-planned operation, where teamwork and shared expertise come into play. Analyzing the terrain, measuring distances, factoring in wind and lighting—every detail is assessed together, just like in their military days.

But beyond this strategy, these hunts forge something even greater: camaraderie. The bonds built while sighting in rifles, sitting in the blind, retrieving the harvest, and sharing the experience of the day around the dinner table, create lasting friendships that go far beyond the hunt.

The hunt itself becomes a common ground, a familiar mission. These combat wounded veterans strategize together, discussing wind direction, movement patterns, and the perfect shot, just like they once planned operations in service. These conversations start with the hunt but naturally lead to deeper topics—stories from deployment, shared experiences, and life after service.

Without the pressure of a formal setting, these talks flow easily. Walls come down. Laughter is shared. Trust is built. And when the hunt is over, veterans don’t just walk away with a harvested deer—they walk away with a new friend who truly understands them.

This is why we do what we do at the Warrior Bonfire Program. We may be building bonfires but what we are really building is a support network of friends through these small moments, where veterans can simply be themselves, side by side, supporting one another. And sometimes, it all starts in a deer stand.

#BrothersInArms #HealingThroughHunting #WarriorBonfire