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WOLF CREEK
Dreams do come true with Dream Catchers USA
by Nancy J. Copeland
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Dreams for Ray Lyons began to unfold as he set out with Internet Chat friends
to book his dream hunt for elk in Colorado. The help of a few good people, which
had turned his plans into Dream Catchers USA, to further assist in setting this up,
made it a very rewarding and enjoyable experience for him.
Ray has Lupus and recently cancer took the vision from one eye and the vision in
the other also is affected. He wants to live each day that he has to the fullest. To
hunt for elk has been a dream of his which turned into a bonus experience,
especially when coupled with the fact it is given him by friends he has only met
by chatting in a favorite Internet chat room on one of their favorite subjects
... hunting!
His chat room friends, unknown to him, are also affiliated with Dream Catchers,
USA, many from our governing board and area representatives across the states
are also regular visitors to this chat room, which is sponsored by AOL..com.
It was inevitable that one of their own would be submitted sooner or later to have
a dream and wish come true.
Ray Lyons is a unique individual with a big giving heart. He is always positive
and tries to keep himself that way by surrounding himself with friends of a positive
nature. He is always there reaching out to others with a helping hand. October
11 arrived in Colorado for a Wolf Creek hike-in hunting camp experience with Rich
Childs. In the accumulation of weeks of preparation, his excitement continued to
grow.
After Ray woke up from a well-needed sleep, Ray like so many other hunters
confessed to his dreams of elk hunting dancing around in his head. He related
that as a hunter he is always ready, alert and one with the woodlands and
meadows that are surrounding him when he is out in the wilderness.
His dreams continued to grow as he prepared for this trip. When the day arrived,
tags had been drawn and for Ray a tag had been secured by Rich Childs and was
awaiting him! The excitement continued to build and Ray made his final plans.
Finally, the day that he had been awaiting was there.
Ray's hunt started from the base camp along the side of a misty meadow on the
Northwest side of Wolf Creek. With his belly full from the hot camp breakfast
which included a special sugar cured ham and bacon shipped out from Dream
Catchers, Chairman of the Board Don Bland especially for this occasion,
he was ready for his dream to come true.
Ray waited patiently, listening to every sound and everything the wilderness
speaks. He related to us, "My hearing became very distinct. My vision was
precise and clear. I felt one with my surroundings like I always do when I am
out like this with nature."
Ray's dream soon continued to develop. Three hundred yards into the horizon,
as the morning sun slowly warms and lights the Colorado range, Ray is watchful
and soon detects the silhouette of an elk, the very animal that he has journeyed
deep into the mountains to possess. The elk approaches and soon is within his
sight. He slowly raised his rifle, careful not to alarm the elk. Steaming mist is
bellowing from his mouth and nostrils as the magnificent mammal displays his
huge rack of majestic antlers. Ray takes careful aim and shoots. The sound
of the shot echoes throughout the forest that surrounded him. He watched intently
with his adrenaline pumping through his veins. The excitement of the moment is
hard to explain. He missed and after searching in vain for any sign of blood he
realized he made a clean miss.
Being one of the elk hunters doesn't consider "killing" a must to have a successful
hunt. Ray took his camera along as well as Rich Childs. Being happy with a safe
hunt and having a good time in the wild was his primary objective. Seeing deer and
other game also completed his trip and added to his hunt, not just the harvesting of
an animal. For Ray being able to go out near a herd in the evening and listening to
their bugles was an experience and joy as well.
As writers, and nature photographers, we have heard this dream related to us in
various forms. As hunters we have experienced it.
"At this hunting camp, consisting of quite a few camps together, five hunters, and
Dream Catchers governing board member Rob Cook. Rob had taken time off from
law enforcement in the Houston, Texas area to book and join in on a hunt. This
hunt will live in my memories for a long time," related Rich Childs "Rob Cook took
his first elk on this trip. All together three fine bull elks were harvested and taken
home to fill the freezers of the hunters participating with this wonderful experience
with Ray."
Rich Childs through the years has become an "Accidental Mentor" to many a
first time hunter and the thrill of accompanying them on their first hunts. He states,
"I did not plan on my hunting trips becoming such a big deal with my family and
friends. It just turned out that way"
"I have been hunting for half a century now and do not have plans of stopping.
Just with my age, I am maybe taking it a little slower!" he smiles to us. Rich Child
says: "I find being a mentor for the hunter on his/her first hunt is very rewarding and
when they do get game I feel the joy right along with them, even more so perhaps.
This year taking Ray on his first Elk hunt was a thrill for me."
Rich continued, "It had not really been pre-planned as such when Ray first called.
It was unknown to me, what would unfold, to be a dream hunt for someone I was
acquainted with on the Internet until I received a phone call from Nancy J. Copeland,
who is also one of the founders of Dream Catchers, USA, it's current National
President as well as a dear friend to me and my wife Glenda. I have been a small
part of this organization since its conception."
Dream Catchers USA is a nonprofit organization created especially for the purpose
of helping to advance independence, productivity, and confidence of people with
disabilities, physical challenges and the terminally ill. For these special people,
Dream Catchers, USA will show that dreams and wishes can come true,
non-discriminative of the type of disability, or their age, race, sex, or religion.
Simply stated, Dream Catchers, USA will be a helping hand to allow special
individuals to get out into the great outdoors, to live their dreams, and meet the
challenges placed before them, to live as full a life possible. These outdoor
"dreams" will include fishing trips, hunting trips, shooting competitions,
demonstrations, and other outdoor adventures.
Dream Catchers, USA is made up primarily of hunters, competitive shooters,
fishermen, and boaters. Included in this group of people who work together
nationally toward this purpose are firefighters, law enforcement officers,
lawyers, bankers, mechanics, factory workers, doctors, writers, photographers,
nurses, teachers, and people from all across the board. Our sponsors come
from all across the United States of America. No one receives pay for serving
on the Board of Directors of this Organization.
All Officers, Trustees, and area representatives are volunteers. We don't
solicit door to door, by phone or mass mailers. You hear about us by word
of mouth, at hunting shows, sports expositions, gun and ammo shows,
and through hunting magazines and publications . continued..click
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