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Kirk Thomas

Kirk Thomaswas born andraised in Meridian,MS where he grewup hunting & fish-ing with his fatherand brothers. Hisfirst-ever hunt wasa dove hunt whenhe was about nineyears old.Kirk was injured

in November of1992 while hunt-ing alone in thewoods not farfrom his home inGeorgia. A tree fellon him when hewas walking backto his truck, crush-ing his back andshoulder and breaking several ribs. Several hours after theaccident, a friend found him lying face down and waving hisorange vest.Kirk spent 52 days in the hospital. He lives with constant

nerve pain. Upon discharge from rehab, he went directlyback to work. The next deer season, he was back in thewoods crossbow hunting on his own. Kirk can take on most any obstacle or challenge without

any special adaptive equipment. He has harvested a bull elkand shot a 2500 bison in Saskatchewan, and a 180” whitetailin Missouri. He loves to duck hunt and dove hunt everyyear in Georgia.Kirk founded the Wheelin’ Sportsmen Program of the

NWTF in 1996. He created Outdoors Without Limits, host-ing 100’s of hunting, fishing, shooting & archery events overthe years for anyone with a disability. He belongs to theNational Rifle Association, the National Wild TurkeyFederation, and the Quality Deer Management Association.Kirk has spoken at churches, schools, museums, cruise

ships, wild game suppers, etc., telling his story and promot-ing disabled hunting. He brings his inspiring message tothousands of people. In 1998, he initiated the DisabledSportsmen Access act and spoke before Congress to have 30million acres of military land opened to disabled hunters.

Monica Kamal

In January 2001 MonicaKamal of Madison,Wisconsin, was volun-teering for one of herson’s school field trips toa local ski hill, when shetried to avoid a collisionand her skis caught theside of the run causingher to lose balance, falland slide into a tree. Theaccident caused a spinalcord injury paralyzingher at mid-chest. Sheparticipated in physicaltherapy and rehab thefirst year of her injury.Monica relearned to par-ticipate in many adaptivesports and recreationactivities includingkayaking and bicycling. Monica did not grow up in a hunting family. She has only

hunted as a disabled person using a tripod or a Caldwellshooting system to help hold her crossbow or rifle in posi-tion. Her first hunting experience took place in 2010 whenshe attended a learn-to-hunt Becoming An Outdoors Womanworkshop. She has hunted every year since 2010 harvestingturkey and pheasant in Wisconsin, but has yet to harvest awhitetail deer. In 2014, Monica was given the opportunity tohunt in Wyoming for mule deer and antelope. The trip wassuccessful for both.Monica is a member of the Dane County Pheasants

Forever, Oregon Sportsman’s Club, Access Ability WI,National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and is aWisconsin Department of Natural Resources certifiedHunter Education Safety InstructorMonica is the founding member of Madison Spinal Cord

Injury (SCI), Inc. In 2013, she started Access AbilityWisconsin (AAW), an organization dedicated to facilitatingand providing the means for individuals with mobility chal-lenges to access and enjoy Wisconsin’s natural resources.She coordinated topics for discussion with the MadisonInterfaith facilitator 2008-2009. She volunteers and facilitatesprojects for different nonprofits to acquire adaptive outdoorequipment to help persons with disabilities. Monica is a cer-tified facilitator for “Living Well with a Chronic Condition”with the Wisconsin Institute of Healthy Aging. Monica haseven more volunteer activities that mentioned here. She isdedicated to helping others through all of her volunteering.

PATHFINDER AWARDSELECTION COMMITTEEBill & Vicki SwanCo-chairs Pathfinder Committee

Disabled Hunter/Pathfinder is anSCIF Humanitarian Services program

PATHFINDER AWARD MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS

Jan Oelofse SafarisNumzaan SafarisFauna & Flora CustomhouseBrokerage, Inc.Highveldt TaxidermyLife Form Taxidermy

Safari Air Cargo Systems, CCRobert KiyosakiW.C. Russell Moccasin, Co.Oxi-LogisticsAfton Guest House

Jackie BartelsRon BartelsRandall BushWayne ClarkRichard DeLisleRobin S. Jerauld

James LeonardJanet LeonardDave LundinJames NotemanLarry Steiner

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Pathfinder AwardWhen an individual is faced with overcoming a physical challenge or disability that is capable of blocking the “routine”way forward through life, (including hunting and shooting), he or she must discover previously unexplored regions ofself-esteem, self-worth, courage, persistence, and determination. Through trial and error, success and failure, thepathfinder, with a “never quit” attitude, works hard to discover his or her own way through life. A pathfinder is «onewho discovers a way into or through unexplored regions.This award is made possible through the generous support of Jan Oelofse Safaris, Numzaan Safaris, Fauna & FloraCustomhouse Brokerage, Inc., Highvelt Taxidermy, Life Form Taxidermy, Safari Air Cargo Systems CC, Oxi-Logistics,Robert Kiyosaki, Afton Guest House and W.C. Russell Moccassin Co.

PATHFINDER AWARD RECIPIENTS

Gail Liniger (1989)Doug Ver Hoeven (1990)Joseph Schweitzer (1991)John Searcy (1991)Drake Smelser (1992)Oliver M. “Grem” Lee IV (1993)James Meacham (1994)Jim McLellan (1994)Ronald K. Deets (1995)Ted Ewald (1995)Tim Pifher (1995)Marty Dow (1996)Dean Tabone (1996)Rick Klein (1996)James Noteman (1997)Michael Hunter (1997)Mike

Hamm

(1997)

John Rook (1997)Jeff Saddler (1998)Robert Helffrich (1998)Aaron Harris (1999)Brent Rasmussen (1999)Kirk Atter (2000)Zachary Davis (2000)Bob D. Poffinbarger (2001)Frank Dennis (2001)Richard Kaliska (2002)Larry Wieser (2002)Wayne Blackwell (2003)Michael Houston Roy (2003)Sheila Burnham (2004)Bryce Donald Fauskee (2004)Austin Christopher Childers (2005)John Ramsey (2005)Mike Schmitz (2006)Bradley (Brad) Skramstad (2006)

Stanley S. McGowen (2007)Ronald “Paul” McDowell (2007)Louis J. Riccardi (2008)Camron Tribolet (2008)Gregory A. Stube (2009) Ed Mays (2009)Rick Ramsey (2010)Chad Waligura (2010)Chris Clasby (2011)Eric Edmundson (2011)Doug Bermel (2012)Brad Garfield (2012)Aaron Cross (2013)Eric Jones (2013)Brian Gilba (2015)Tommy Clack (2015)Kirk Thomas (2016)Monica Kamal (2016)

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