Get back or give back

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The 2nd Security Forces Game Wardens have collected more than 16 hunting stands that have been forgotten or improperly marked.

With more than 18,000 acres of hunting area on Barksdale, hunting gear can get lost or even forgotten. With limited space available to store these stands, Game Wardens have devised a plan to give them back to owners and community.

"Over the past three years, we have collected a lot of these stands," said Staff Sgt. David Wales, 2nd SFS game warden NCO in-charge "Many of these stands were collected due to improper markings. But, some have just been forgotten, and the information on them has weathered away. Many times, someone had multiple stands and missed one when they took them down at the end of the season."

These leftover stands won't be available forever though.

"We will only hold collected stands for 45 days after the notices have gone out through the base paper, Roll Call and other avenues," said Wales. "Anyone coming to get a stand will have to give us some information such as where it was, what type it is and other important information. We want to make sure the original owners have a chance to get theirs' back; it's not a free for all."

Leftover stands after the 45-day window won't be thrown away; they will get a second chance at a hunt of a lifetime.

"We are going to be donating the unclaimed stands to a nonprofit organization which helps children with a terminal illness get a chance to hunt," said Senior Airman Tyler Hughes, 2nd SFS game warden. "The Hunt of a Lifetime organization is giving these kids an opportunity to be regular kids, and with the stand donations we can help them do that."

Much like the Make a Wish Foundation does for children with terminal illnesses. The Hunt of a Lifetime organization uses donations such as these to enhance the lives of children with terminal illness.

"I've seen firsthand what organizations like this can do for a child with a terminal illness," said Hughes. "My brother had an illness and got to take part in a Make a Wish Foundation program. So, I thought, what better way to help other kids like my brother."

For more information on how to collect your hunting stand, contact the 2nd SFS Game Wardens at 456-5436.