“Wounded Warriors” rally, dice run held at L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve

SHINGLEHOUSE — American flags waving in the breeze along Route 244 East leading to the L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve at Oswayo in Potter County on Saturday signaled a warm and patriotic welcome to the more than 150 motorcycle enthusiasts who rode in the New York and Pennsylvania Patriot Guard Rally and Dice Run to benefit “wounded warriors.” [read more...]

“Wounded Warriors” to attend spring open house at Potter County hunting preserve

OSWAYO — Twelve of our nation’s “Wounded Warriors” who are being treated at several military hospitals are slated to attend the annual Spring Open House on May 15 at the L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve in Potter County for a meet-and-greet. [read more...]

LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve is proud to announce the dates for its upcoming Spring Gobbler Hunt from 12 - 16 May 2010. Please contact us for reservations and additional information through our web site link.

Leek Hunting and Mountain Preserve - 16 December 2008

The LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve would like to recognize and say thank you to the following businesses and individuals who supported the U.S. Army’s Wounded Warriors during the Black Powder and Rifle season deer hunt. These business and individuals truly welcomed our warriors into the Potter County community.  We wish to pass along our sincere appreciation for undertaking such an endeavor which demonstrated a significant effort, as it reflects not only your patriotism, but a lasting impression of your character towards our American soldiers.  This was more than just a hunt as it helped these warriors mental and well being as well as developing their individualized treatment plans.  Their individual experience will also benefit future polytrauma service members and directly impact patient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Warrior Transition Units located throughout the United States.  Thanks again for everything, including your true compassion and willingness to sacrifice your time and efforts in support of a worthy cause serving warriors and defenders of freedom.  For the Troops, God Bless.

Many thanks to our donors

Edward J. Fisher, US Army (ret)
Dir, Business Operations

Lewis T. Fisher US Coast Guard (ret)
Dir, Fish and Game Operations

Wounded Soldiers Treated to a God's Country Gift
Endeavor News - 25 October 2008

It was as if they were back from a mission, in the rear, smoking and joking, harassing each other the way young soldiers do; five men having lunch, busting each other's chops hard enough to make any other grown man uneasy.

But they were thousands of miles from Iraq, the place they last served their country; the place ultimately responsible for their being here, where the only rounds they'll hear firing will come from their own weapons.

That's because they have been brought here as a reward of sorts. Or, if you'd rather, as a "thank you" from people who still believe that God and country always come before "me" and "I." Hell, call it a gift. Whatever the case, there are few men who deserve an all-expenses paid deer hunting trip to Potter County more than they do.

Another generation of soldiers— a handful of men from the Shinglehouse American Legion Post— the soldiers' hunting guides and their hosts, Ed and Lew Fisher welcomed five Iraq war veterans to Potter County Wednesday. The group is here mostly thanks to an organization known as the LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve, a slice of God's Country in the picturesque hamlet of Oswayo Borough.

It's property owned by the Fishers, a family of military men and women who have built the preserve in honor of their late father Lewis H. Fisher who had a dream to build such a place for his family and friends to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors.

His children, with the blessing of their mother, expanded their father's vision in a way that would most certainly make him proud. Today, LEEK is a hunting preserve for disabled veterans.

"It's great to bring them here to smalltown, rural America where they will be treated like the real heroes they are," Ed Fisher explained. "These men deserve the best and we are sure going to try to give it to them."

All five men were hunting deer at press time Thursday evening. They arrived in Oswayo Wednesday evening after the long, and trying, drive from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

After the ride, which Sgt. Jason Letterman, a soldier from Missouri, said was "long and full of wrong turns," the soldiers were treated to supper at the Faith Bible Church in Little Genesee, where they got a hero's welcome.

On Thursday, they went to the rifle range and accepted a bag of gifts from the owners of Potter County Outfitters Ed and Leslie Easton.

Before heading into the woods Thursday afternoon, they were treated to lunch by members of the Shinglehouse American Legion Post. Then they took time to speak with Endeavor News.

"This really is a beautiful place," said Sgt. Letterman, a 15- year veteran of the army who lost both of his legs to a homemade bomb, coined now as IEDs or improvised explosive devices. "It's real nice to be here."

A platoon leader, Sgt. Letterman lost some of his soldiers in the attack.

"A lot of times, there's no way of finding them," the soldier explained. "They bury them in the road and then asphalt over them."

Sergeant First Class Josh Ferguson, a Minnesota man, lost one of his legs in a similar attack, south of Baghdad, in view of the Babylon ruins.

His team helped train Iraqis to be soldiers, but on this day their mission was to find the Iraqis who were firing mortar rounds at U.S. positions in the town of Hilla. On the way, the truck in which he was riding was torn to shreds by a IED.

"We were lucky," Sgt. Ferguson said. "Usually, when a bomb hits a vehicle like that, at least half (of the soldiers) are killed, sometimes all of them."

Ferguson, who was the only soldier wounded seriously in the attack, is a soldier's soldier.

"I was glad I was the only one hurt bad and I sure ain't looking for any sympathy," he said. "I was just thankful my men made it out alive."

Ferguson is the only hunter who will be hunting with a bow and able to shoot a buck or a 'doe" or both.

Ryan Ferre, a Pennsylvania native, suffered a broken neck and back when a hatch from an armored vehicle fell on him during action in Iraq. After several successful surgeries, it's hard to tell the feisty 26-year-old is injured, until you see the big scar on his throat and the massive scars under his shirt.

Ferre, who has shot "many, many deer," was impressed with the area, particularly the outfitters who treated the soldiers so well.

"They are just great, great people," he said of the Eastons. "I was really impressed with their shop. They have some really nice stuff, top of the line."

Jeremy Henderson, a Maryland man who had never hunted until Thursday, suffered a severely broken arm in Iraq. The break required surgery to stabilize both bones in the forearm— the radius and the ulna. He expects his recovery to be full and plans to continue his stint in the Army.

"I was never a hunter before, but now I am," Henderson said. "I'm really looking forward to this. It's an opportunity for me to learn."

Jace Badia, who also lost a leg during action in Iraq, apologized for his candor, but did not want to be interviewed. "I just can't do anymore interviews," he said.

The men were afforded this opportunity thanks not only to the Fishers, but also thanks to the soldiers' colorful driver, Ross Colquhoun, a US Navy veteran who works at Walter Reed.

"The bottom line is this: whatever we can do for these men and women, we do," explained Colquhoun, who is Walter Reed's Field & Stream Program Manager. "This is my job and I love it. I provide hunting and fishing opportunities for wounded veterans, whatever it takes."

In this case, it didn't take quite as much work as it often does for Colquhoun, who works with outfitters around the country, searching for the best experiences for his soldiers. The Fishers took care of virtually all of the details.

"They did the legwork," he said. "Ed contacted me and let me know what he had lined up. All I did was put up a sign-up sheet (in the hospital)."

Ed Fisher wrote to Pa. Game Commission Director Carl Rowe who personally signed off on the soldiers' complimentary licenses and wrote Ed a letter thanking him and wishing the soldiers a "good hunt." The Fishers also took care of the other details, like providing weapons (Ed. Note: never say 'gun' around soldiers. Just trust me on this.), ammo and other equipment.

But, it's not always that easy, Colquhoun said. A lot of outfitters refuse to cut deals, even for handicapped soldiers.

"I call them and tell them what I need, period," he explained. "If they can't do it for me, I move on to the next outfitter. If an outfitter isn't eager to help us out, it's unlikely they can provide an experience we would be interested in anyway."

All five of the men were in specially made stands waiting for deer Thursday evening.

The Fishers' preserve is being fashioned in every way for handicapped sportsmen and women. The blinds are accessible by vehicle. Their camp has a freshly-built handicap ramp on the deck. They have two all terrain vehicles for hauling hunting passengers.

The Fishers have also lined up guides for each hunter. Guides for the soldiers are: Darren Norton, Ken Martin, James Dawson and Ed and Lew Fisher.

In addition to the Fishers' land, the soldiers are also being welcomed on land owned by Lester Milstead, Hoffman Dairy Farm and Carl and Wilma Zettlemoyer.

"I think they'll all get good opportunities," said guide Darren Norton, who has been scouting the areas the soldiers will hunt. "Actually, I think they'll all get one."

Let's hope. We'll share as much of their stories as we are able in future editions of Endeavor News.