Kicking Bear Impact

Foundation for Hope Deer Hunt 2022

Kicking Bear closed out the month of October by heading up to Grayling, Michigan to join forces with Tony Semple and The Foundation for Hope on their annual deer hunt. The hunt is hosted by Cedar Hollow Lodge and this year five young hunters and their families came out to chase some dreams of hunting a big buck. These young men are on a wish list hunt and all the prayers were that the big boys would come out to play.

The hunting started off with a bang as Gavin brought home a monster! His buck weighed in at 287 lbs and he had set the bar high for the weekend. His buddy Carson was hot on his heels with a big boy nicknamed “Moose” because of his webbed rack. Carson was all smiles as his friend Craig helped guide him through the hunt and he got to share his monster buck with his family!

Many of the hunters were using a set up called a guardian gun. With this equipment guides are able to help overcome some of the physical challenges for the hunters. With the help of computers and cameras they guides can help hunters get their aim locked on, then with the push of a button from the hunter the guardian gun which is located outside the blind will fire. Such a cool way for technology to help make something really cool happen for hunters who just need a little help.

Eric and Zack were the next hunters to get on the board! Eric was on the hunt with his father and shot a nontypical buck that you just have to see to believe. What an awesome experience for a father and son! Zack and his brother were on the hunt together coming up from Ohio.  The brothers came back to camp smiling as Zack brought in a dandy of a buck. Through Saturday evening the hunting had been great!

Throughout the weekend there were times for meals to be shared and hunting stories to be swapped. A crew even came in and made wood fired pizzas for the hunters and their families. Times of worship were also shared and joy filled singing around the fire filled camp.

Sunday morning brought one last chance for Travis the only hunter left to fill his tag. Travis was on the hunt with his Dad and Ray had the privilege of helping guide them. They nestled into a blind called “the doe’s nest” and were ready to see if any bucks would be swinging by looking for a girlfriend. This crew was using the guardian gun and everything was locked in as a giant buck came out and gave them a clear shot, Travis pushed the button but something got gummed up, the gun clicked, but did not fire. Blake was guiding with this group as well and he went out to check the gun. He pulled the shell and the pin had hit, but for some reason the gun did not go off. Actually, the whole guardian gun set up was failing now, so Blake went into special operations mode and as quietly and quickly as he could he set up a new guardian gun. After all, this is Sunday, the last day and Travis still needed to fill. They were back in action now, but the buck had run off.

The pressure was starting to build as time was running out and it wasn’t looking good. But just then another buck popped out into the clearing, the problem was that the buck was a smart one and had positioned himself just outside the range of the guardian gun, it just wouldn’t turn enough to get crosshairs on him. But God is good and Blake is a hero, he snuck out again and was able to reposition the gun and not scare off the deer! The crosshairs lined up perfectly and Travis made the perfect shot!! Smiles, fist bumps and hugs filled the blind in celebration as Travis had gotten his buck!

For a video of the hunt and to see the guardian gun set up click here: Foundation for Hope Hunt 2022

“Really you come here and it is unbelievable, the food and all the stuff, the fellowship. Listening to other men of God sharing their testimonies and sharing with these kids, even myself being able to spend time with Travis and his Dad in the blinds and talk to them about Jesus. I mean it is really a wonderful place to be able to share the Gospel and let these kids know that God has a purpose for them.”-Ray Howell

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up:–Galatians 6:9

Trunk or Treat with Kicking Bear Kansas

Kicking Bear Kansas was able to participate in the Trunk or Treat held at our local Assembly of God church, which is one of our local churches that helps put on our camp. We were able to pass out, not only candy, but some fun scripture-based activity books and over 100 New Testament bibles!! It was a fun night of showing God’s love to hundreds of kids, on a night that can surely use some of God’s shining light.   We would like to send a big thank you to pastor Rodney and his wife Kandace for letting us be a part of a great event they started many years ago!!

These community partnerships between local churches and Kicking Bear chapters is all part of our ministry vision for next year! So cool what God is doing through these loving relationships.

Opening Doors for New Hunters

By Pastor Kevin

  This month we are taking a look at how God has used our friend and new mentor Aaron to serve in Kicking Bear over this past year.  Last month I shared how God has equipped me to serve in this ministry, this month we hear about how God uses the already equipped to serve with KB too.  Read on to find out how Aaron did taking out not just one brand new hunter to chase a dream, but two first time hunters this past year!!

Brother Aaron remembers being the little brother who grew up with a hunger in his belly to go out hunting with his Dad and older brother.  Growing up in Onalaska, Wisconsin he had to wait patiently for his 12th birthday when he finally was old enough to head out into the woods with the big guys.  He fell in love with the sport of hunting, describing it this way, “I really, really took a love to God’s gift of nature and being outside. The fresh air.  The planning, the trying, and the learning of the hunt, I loved it all.”  Aaron shared that back when he was so hungry for learning it was a little different back then.  With no YouTube videos or social media yet a young Aaron would pick up hunting magazines or books and faithfully tune into Jim Carlson’s Outdoors every Sunday night to add to his skill set. Aaron realized at a young age he loved the planning and execution that goes into a good hunt, testing out much of what he learned out with his buddy on public land.  As a teenager he found early success hunting ducks, geese and pheasants, but after harvesting deer with both a rifle and bow, he was hooked on chasing whitetails!

Fast foward and Aaron got introduced to Kicking Bear in 2022 when he brought his family out to our camp at Justin Trails in Sparta. They all had a blast and Aaron was hungry to learn more about Kicking Bear.  On New Year’s Day last year Aaron joined us as we helped take down the rotary lights in La Crosse, WI.  It was a great opportunity to get to know him better as we teamed up rolling thousands of lights on a giant spool. I quickly realized that Aaron had a real passion for hunting and as I explained how our mentorship program helps many kiddos get out on their first hunt, he was all in!  He reflected on our early conversation like this, “I could tell there was an opportunity to help other kids who may not have the opportunities I had learning how to hunt growing up.  They might not have someone to help them build that foundation to be in the outdoors and learn how to hunt and fish.  I want to be that person.”  That was music to my ears and we wasted no time getting Aaron plugged in.  He started volunteering at events right away and also gave a big “yes” to help guide on our upcoming youth hunts.

Aaron’s “yes” was just what we needed as we planned the spring turkey hunt last year with some new hunters on the roster.  We do our absolute best to get all kiddos interested out into the field for our hunts, so having so many awesome godly men and women step up each season is a HUGE blessing, thank you all so much!!  I paired Aaron up with a kiddo we all knew named Johnny, you may know Johhnny too, he is the youngest of the Mobley family who have been a part of Kicking Bear for many years.  His older brother Gray and sisters Vicky and Catherine had been on hunts in the past and it was time for young ten year old Johnny to go on his first one. 

 Aaron did a great job guiding on Johnny’s first hunt.  They all met the weekend before as we set blinds and Johnny got to shoot a shotgun for the first time.  The next weekend they were ready to go! Aaron shares that as they settled into the blind on Saturday morning young Johnny was not the only one experiencing firsts on this trip, “I did something new to me, it was the first time I had ever prayed with other people in a blind to open a hunt.  So with Johnny and my son Luke with me, we prayed that morning for health, saftey, thanks for the wilderness and of course for a successful hunt.”  That morning sit was a success as they heard lots of birds and it was a great opportunity for Aaron to share wisdom with the boys about hunting and life.  No turkey for Johnny yet, but spirits were high and things were just getting started.  The boys headed back out for the afternoon sit and after getting settled in and gazing across the field for about 20 minutes Johnny spotted a bird!!  

“This turkey comes into the decoys and stops.  I whisper to Johnny that it might be a jake and we can wait for another if we want to, but he was having none of that.  He put the sights on that turkey and that was it, he made the perfect shot.  Johnny drops this turkey and we go running out, high fiving and chest bumps,  then take some pictures.  These kids were having fun and here on Johnny’s first day of hunting, he was lucky enough to shoot a turkey!”.  This was exactly the type of dream that Aaron had felt called to help kids chase back on that cold morning wrapping lights with me. He had helped Johnny chase his dream of going hunting and they were successful!  

Next up was our big Wisconsin Youth Deer Hunt and again I was in a tight spot trying to find enough guides for all our eager hunters.  The way things turned out I needed Aaron to take another first time hunter out, this time a young nine year old named Rylee.  Again, Aaron started things out with Rylee by hitting the gun range and getting him comfortable shooting.  He did great and Aaron was excited to have him using the same .243 rifle that his father had taught him on back in the day.  To add to the camaraderie of the hunt Aaron again brought his own boy Luke along for the hunt and as all three got settled into the blind that morning they again prayed over the hunt and it was go time. Their prayers were answered pretty quick that day as it wasn’t too long into that first sit and two bucks came right down the trail toward their blind.  After the excitement of watching them spar a bit they got set up for a shot, but neither buck would quite turn broadside for them.  Rylee was all smiles though and the boys were locked in now!  About an hour later a big ole doe comes walking down that same path and turns broadside. Rylee took the perfect shot and after a 30 yard scamper she went down.  The boys shared a quick celebration and then they decide to see if Luke could maybe get a shot on one too.  Sure enough, 15 minutes later a small buck comes down that trail.  Luke scoped him up and takes his shot, the deer stood for several seconds and then bounded off into the brush.  Aaron knew the gun was locked in, and they all thought Luke had made a great shot, but unlike the doe earlier they didn’t see it go down.  

After waiting for about an hour so as not to spook a wounded deer they ventured out of the blind.  Aaron explained, “We got out of the blind and headed to Rylee’s doe first.  He lit up!! Big smile, high fives and pictures with his deer. It was awesome!”.  Now to find that buck.  They headed to the last spot they saw him and found blood, but no deer.  So they backed out and headed back to camp after gutting Rylee’s doe.  Back at camp a large group of young hunters gathered around as Aaron showed them all how to skin and butcher a deer.  “It was really cool that these kids were so into this part of the process. With all the YouTube and video games out there it was awesome to see them so focused and so into learning how to gut, skin and quarter up this deer.”  The lessons were not over though, they still had a deer to track.  Brothers Ray and Mark headed out with Aaron and the boys to see if they could find Luke’s deer.  Aaron shared, “Sure enough after about 10 minutes they all heard Ray’s “owl hoot”  and if you have ever been around Ray Howell, you know that when he hoots it is either because something awesome has happened or he wants to get the kid’s attention.  This time it was both!  Ray called the boys down and showed them some blood, letting them know he thought they must be close.  With Ray guiding them on the blood trail it took just a couple minutes and they saw a nice six point buck laying there!”  Both young hunters had success!  On a year when the overall success rate for youth weekend in Wisconsin actually dropped by 8%, Aaron had guided not just one young deer hunter to success, but two in one sit!! 

I have since let Aaron know that he may just have to take out all of our first time hunters since he seems to have the touch for rookies!  He just smiled and in his humble way shared how thankful he was, “Just being with these kids means the world.  It brings me so much joy to see their smiles and guide them through their first hunt, it really means so much more than any hunt for myself anymore.  

Sometimes kids don’t have these opportunities to get out and go hunting.  I have realized that the hunting and fishing knowledge and gifts God has given me are meant to be passed on, I am called to serve.  And if we don’t open our hearts and minds and lives to these children we might miss the opportunity to open these doors and give them these chances.”

Well Aaron, God has definitely used you to open some doors for young hunters and we are incredibly thankful for that!

If you would like to give your “yes” to helping kiddos chase their dreams in the outdoors please email us at info@kickingbear.org. 

Young Lives Changed Through Kicking Bear’s Introduction to Bowhunting

By Kyle S. Lipke

Author’s note: This article previously published by Pope and Young Ethic Magazine

Just west of Medicine Lodge, Kansas lies the gorgeous burnt-red Gyp Hills. This area is cattle country, as well as home to giant whitetails, a plethora of Rio Grande turkeys, great bass fishing, and one of 36 locations across the U.S. where Kicking Bear Ministries hosts its yearly archery camp. During the first weekend of every June, shouts of joy and laughter can be heard echoing across the landscape as hundreds of kids and their families come to this incredible location to attend Kicking Bear. It is one of the most thrilling adventure days of the summer that many of the kids in this community get to experience.

What is Kicking Bear?

Kicking Bear was established in 1999 as a youth outdoor program with the mission of ‘putting a bow in a kid’s hand and leading their family to the Lord, one-on-one.’ With a passion for kids lacking access or opportunity to archery, bowhunting, and time in the great outdoors, Kicking Bear has served to meet this need for more than 25 years by conducting archery camps, adventure days, and youth mentored hunting trips all over the country.

Unlike many outdoor camps that are stationary, Kicking Bear is a mobile camp that travels from state to state to host adventure days throughout the summer. The headlining activity is always archery. Kids get the chance to rotate through an archery course where there is an array of 3-D archery targets to shoot at. From beginner to advanced, these courses are set up to accommodate all ages and experience levels of archers. Since this is the first time that many of the kids attending have ever shot a bow, an archery instructor is stationed at each target along the course. These instructors make sure that each kid is properly fit with a Genesis or Mission bow and then safely guide the kids through the process of aiming and releasing an arrow.

The fun isn’t just limited to archery. Kids also get to learn the art of throwing tomahawks. Families can encourage each other to complete physically challenging obstacle courses. They get to grapple in competitive games of tug-o-war. There are engaging opportunities to pelt each other in friendly marshmallow or water balloon fights. Many camps also teach kids how to fish or find shed antlers. Often, the local DNR or game and fish department teach how hunting benefits the future of wildlife conservation efforts through the Pittman-Robertson Act, habitat improvement, population management, and the wise use of natural resources.

Kicking Bear Camps are offered completely free of charge. Finances are often a barrier to youngsters and their families getting to experience archery and other outdoor pursuits. Kicking Bear has never wanted money to prohibit a kid from getting the chance to shoot an arrow or go on their first bowhunt. This is why these events have been and will always be open at no cost to anyone who attends.

It has been by the grace of God and the generous support of donors, churches, and outdoor companies that Kicking Bear has been able to carry on its mission of changing lives without charging a dime. Kicking Bear has been blessed that the Pope and Young Club is one such group that has supported the ministry from the very beginning.

One-On-One Mentorship

Kicking Bear has been sharing the love of archery and outdoor adventures in the Gyp Hills for more than a decade. Due to the trickle-down effect, the number of lives that have been impacted or transformed for the better is hard to calculate. One thing is for certain, Kicking Bear has helped bring positive change to the community of Medicine Lodge and families beyond, through the connection of their archery camp.

Numerous young lives, having attended the Medicine Lodge Kicking Bear camp, were able to release an arrow for the first time. This ultimately led many of these youngsters to not only get involved in archery but to additionally form a desire to become bowhunters. In many cases, an introduction to bowhunting through Kicking Bear’s mentorship program has changed these lives forever.

During summer camps, such as the one mentioned in Medicine Lodge, Kicking Bear works to make connections with kids who are interested in bowhunting but may not have the means to do so. Kicking Bear then pairs these kids with local mentors who can provide year-long discipleship and bowhunting instruction. The purpose of these mentors is to give a means for these kids to go on hunts with a bow in hand, as well as to have positive role models that will help direct their lives down straight and narrow paths as they become young adults.

Young Lives Changed Through Bowhunting

Kicking Bear has stories from kids across the country about how bowhunting has positively influenced their lives. The following are simply a few examples from kids who attended the Medicine Lodge camp.

Tyce Lonker had never shot a bow until he attended a Kicking Bear camp. After connecting with his mentor in Medicine Lodge, Tyce spent a lot of time learning how to become an effective archer. This one-on-one time helped him learn how to correctly shoot a bow. With a new fire lit inside of him, Tyce began shooting more than ever in preparation for his first bowhunt.

He got his first taste of bowhunting the next spring. While tucked inside a blind, his mentor called a tom turkey into 15 yards. Tyce let loose a perfect arrow, starting his bowhunting journey! Referencing his bowhunting experience Tyce stated, “It really just opened my eyes. It was just awesome being that close! It took a lot more work, but it was a lot of fun!” When asked how Kicking Bear has influenced his life, Tyce said, “It’s helped keep me on the right path. There’s a lot of stuff out in the world that’s not too good. So, it’s helped me decipher the good from the bad and how to be on the good side of things.”

Kirk Fischer attended the first Kicking Bear camp in Kansas and several others thereafter. As a little kid, his favorite part about camp was the wild fun he had during the marshmallow fights as well as the slip n’ slide. He got started down the path of bowhunting when he received a bow from Kicking Bear at the first camp held in Medicine Lodge. After practicing all summer long, he was able to harvest his first archery deer, a whitetail doe.

As he got older, he became more enthralled with the pursuit of bowhunting. One November, after getting zero sleep due to a high school football game, Kirk climbed his stand in the predawn darkness. Tired as he was, he knew the bucks were going to be on their feet that morning. When a 162-inch buck trailed a doe beneath his stand, Kirk made good on his shot opportunity. The lack of sleep was well worth it! Kirk said Kicking Bear has helped influence his perspective on life, “It (Kicking Bear) got me more into hunting. Which brings you down to earth. It’s very real. It’s very humbling to be in the woods…I think that correlates to how I live my life. It has

strengthened my faith, and I think through that as a young man there’s definitely circumstances where you need your faith, and you use that as the backbone of your life.”

Kirk’s brother, Jake Fischer, also got into archery and bowhunting through Kicking Bear. His indoctrination into bowhunting came when he made an impeccable double lung shot from 22 yards on his first mature whitetail buck. Jake, who claims he is now a bowhunter for life, had this to say about Kicking Bear’s positive impact on his life, “It’s changed me. Putting a bow in my hand changed me and how I see everything. I love the outdoors. It will get you, too.”

Not only have these kids become young gentlemen who spend countless hours bowhunting each season, but they give their time to instruct archery to the next generation of kids at the local Medicine Lodge Kicking Bear camp. Additionally, they volunteer each spring to guide veterans on turkey hunts.

How to Get Involved

Having personally attended the Medicine Lodge camp multiple times, as well as dozens of other Kicking Bear camps throughout the U.S., I can attest to the power of influence these camps bring to kids and their families. Kids who are stuck in tough situations, don’t have the finances to get into archery, or would otherwise be sitting on the couch scrolling social media, get the chance to shoot bows and have the time of their lives in the outdoors. Each kid leaves Kicking Bear with a purpose to their life and a huge smile on their face.

Whether you are a young kid interested in getting into archery or bowhunting, are a person with a passion for sharing the outdoors through mentorship, you would like to volunteer your time serving at a camp, or you would like to help sponsor Kicking Bear through a personal or business donation, there’s an opportunity for you. Visit https://staging.kickingbear.org/get-involved/ to get involved. If you are interested in getting a Kicking Bear camp, adventure day, or mentored bowhunting program started in your community or email Chrissy at Chrissy@kickingbear.org.

God Will Equip You

By Pastor Kevin

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,  equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.–Hebrews 13:20-21

Two years ago I was blessed to step into serving full time with Kicking Bear!  It has been an amazing ride and I am very thankful.  One thing hit me hard this past month though and that is just how unqualified I was for parts of this assignment back then.  Let me explain.  

My first task with Kicking Bear back in 2022 was to plan that fall’s youth hunt.  Ok. Well, I had never actually been on a hunt before, never…haha funny assignment God.  To be honest it was a little overwhelming and I felt the pressure through the process to not screw it up because it was such a cool opportunity for these kiddos.  But, by His grace and some amazing support from fellow guides I was able to plan that hunt!  

And on that hunt, I had my first sit in the blind for whitetail deer with Tyler and Kaylie Bass.  They were the veterans, I was the rookie.  Sure enough Kaylie got a deer on our last sit Sunday morning.  Part of my initiation into this hunting stuff was that I had agreed over the weekend to gut the deer.  I kept telling everyone that I was probably going to either get sick or cry, so the cell cams were out.  Again by the grace of God I was able to keep it all together as brother Chad guided me through the process of field dressing that deer.  Time and time again I hear veteran volunteers with Kicking Bear talk about how they agreed to serve thinking it was all “for the kids” but once the work was being done they realized God was using that time “for them” as well.  This was happening for me too!  

One more cool thing about 2022 was teaching mentees Jeffrey, Raelyn and David how to shoot crossbows so we could catch late season archery in Minnesota.  Brother Ray helped me train the kids with our Mission Sub 1 Crossbows and then we were able to get out for a winter sit.  We couldn’t quite get the deer in on that one, but again I was learning so much about the sport of hunting, it was really amazing.  Over the last two years I’ve been blessed to learn about deer, turkey and bear hunting from some of the best around! 

Fast forward to last month and everything sort of came to a pinnacle moment about how God will equip those he calls.  My buddy Reese and I were out on a sit with the crossbow.  God blessed Reese with a nice doe that night and he made a perfect shot on her.  Right after some high fives and congratulations it all hit me.  I had been out on our group hunts as a guide, but this was the first time none of the other veteran’s were in reach or in the area. Was just me and Reese that night. I’d also never been out on an archery hunt that was successful.  I’d never tracked a deer solo or field dressed one without someone to mentor me through it.  As we packed up and went to look for the bolt it hit me hard, I got nervous.  But, you know what, I had learned it and so had Reese.  All the time spent with the Kicking Bear crew and all the wisdom passed on had all been part of the plan.  Reese and I had an absolute blast that night!  We tracked his deer, dressed and dragged her out and I don’t think we stopped smiling the whole time. For both of us, it was a great time to give thanks to God.  Thankful for all the amazing people who had taught us along the way and all the experiences we had in His creation.  Also thankful that night to step into putting all we had learned into practice together, making new memories.

I still have a lot to learn about hunting and if my prayers are answered God will keep providing opportunities to learn more, because I am hooked on getting kids out to hunt. It is not just about the harvest on these hunts, the time together with these kiddos is so unique in our world today.  The peace, the quiet, watching creation wake up or the sun setting, conversations about life, prayers together.  God knows about this special time and that is why He created Kicking Bear and the things we do.

God will equip those he calls. I just want to pass this along because I think sometimes we check our qualifications before stepping into Kingdom work before we check His, and that isn’t how God’s Kingdom works.  He is good and all His promises are yes and amen!  He will equip those He calls, every time.  Now let’s get some more kiddos out hunting!!!  

Are you interested in becoming a mentor with Kicking Bear?  If so, email Pastor Kevin at info@kickingbear.org today!

We kicked off October in Wisconsin by taking 24 youth, 19 adult guides and 2 junior guides out whitetail deer hunting! This year we had nine kiddos harvest a deer, including four young ladies.  For eight of those young hunters it was their first deer ever!  

We are so thankful for Melanie and Dennis Simon at Living Waters Events, Retreats and Cabin Getaway in Hixton, WI and Rick Teska for hosting our crew this year.  Also, a huge thanks to LTM Farms, Duane Dutton Family, Teska Family and a few neighbors for providing awesome spots for us to set out 20 blinds for kiddos to sit.  Larry Guthrie gave an awesome gospel message and Mike Rambo led worship for us up in the barn on Saturday, we had a blast sharing hunting stories and doing church together on Sunday before breaking camp.  Want to thank all the guides who step up every year to help kiddos chase dreams, and to our two junior guides who grew up in Kicking Bear and are now paying it forward by helping out with the next generation.  We also want to thank you!  Hunts like these are all made possible for kiddos who would not normally be able to have experiences like these because of your generous support of the ministry.  Thankful!

Kicking Bear guide Dan also took his mentee Zack out with the Viola Sportsman’s Club Learn to Hunt program here in Southwest WI.  They got Zack’s first deer right on opening morning!  Many of our young hunters will be out with mentors well into the holiday season, keep them in your prayers please!

Mentorship Dinner

By Kevin Bonnar

We gathered at Olivet Church in La Crosse, WI last month to celebrate our mentorship program and also to recruit new mentors and mentees. We started out the night with Ray sharing the heart of Kicking Bear mentoring and the history of how God has changed lives for the past 25 years by matching up interested kiddos with a Godly man or woman willing to take these kids on amazing outdoor adventures. Then we shared this video with KB moms sharing the impact that mentoring has had in their family’s lives: Kicking Bear Moms. Was really cool to hear of the impact! Next, we walked through our highlights of last year including our turkey, bear, squirrel and deer hunts, along with kayaking, fishing, and many more outdoor memories made by mentors and mentees. To close out the night we honored our current mentors and were very thankful to be able to give them a gift of thanks for all they do to move the mission of Kicking Bear forward and to help kids chase dreams and know that God has a purpose for their life and that purpose is for good!

If you are interested in our mentoring program please reach out to Pastor Kevin-kevin.bonnar@kickingbear.org. Also, we have created a new monthly mentor doc that we are sharing with our team, it is uploaded to the website each month and maybe you will find it useful too, check it out here: Making Tracks.

We would like to thank Silver Stag Knives and Advertising Concepts for helping us create gifts of thanks and appreciation for our mentors!

Community Impact

Last month 400+ men attended a wild game dinner in Bark River, Michigan. Ray was blessed to be their keynote speaker. Dean Hulce from God’s Great Outdoors and the leaders from Bark River Bible Church host this annual event, where they invite unchurched men in for an evening of entertainment, amazing spread of wild game dishes, hunting gifts and an invitation to accept God’s free gift of eternal life.  It was incredible! Ray’s favorite dish was the bighorn sheep meatloaf!

We witnessed God move in an incredible way with this event. God is amazing!

We were also blessed with an opportunity to serve our friends at the Mathy Boys and Girls Club in La Crosse for their February Family Night. We set up our archery stations and some arts and crafts for families. It was so much fun and really exciting that for many of the kiddos that night it was their first time shooting archery, we love that! Thankful for our partnership with such a great organization and thankful for the opportunity to share the Gospel through our service and smiles! Check out more pics from the night here! Banquet Season 2025! Big thank you to our Kansas Kicking Bear crew for their very successful Wild Game Tasting in February! Thank you to First Christian Church of Medicine Lodge, KS for hosting, all the amazing volunteers and sponsors and the community of great folks in Kansas that do so much to carry forth the mission of Kicking Bear with such big hearts and smiles! The body of believers in Medicine Lodge and the way they support and work with one another is a beautiful way to see the churches work together to have a positive impact on their community. Thank you for showing the way and God Bless!