Camp helps those with disabilities enjoy the hunt

• Twist of Fate

Each hunter is invited or nominated by family or friends to go on the trip. $12,000 was donated to Twist of Fate this year to make it possible.

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The joy of the hunt; something a small group of people near Wyndmere has been robbed of until this weekend. A deer camp called Twist of Fate is doing just that for a dozen people who, because of disabilities, have never, or have not been able to hunt for years.

It was 1969 when a land mine exploded right next to Gary Holk while serving a tour in Vietnam, a moment that changed his life.

Gary Holk – Disabled Veteran: "It decapitated the guy behind me. And it totally disabled the guy in front of me."

Holk wound up with a large piece of shrapnel in his arm leaving him disabled enough to give up what he loved most, bow hunting more than 20 years ago.

Gary Holk: "Well it was tough, but it’s something you have to live with, ya know."

So it’s by a Twist of Fate Gary and 11 other people with disabilities from the area are experiencing a North Dakota hunt. A 3 day all expenses paid deer camp for people not able to do it alone.

Brad Heinz – Twist of Fate Organizer: "Heartwrenching. You know from time to time. There are a lot of tears shed out here, no question. You get to be pretty close with all these guys."

In its 13th year, Twist of Fate has brought hundreds over a common hurdle to a achieve peace in a backwoods hunt. And after 20 years away from what Gary Holk has missed so much this weekend will be his first opportunity to be back in the blind. In a hunt that's more about the camaraderie than the kill.

Gary Holk: "And when I got this chance I just jumped on it."

Each hunter is invited or nominated by family or friends to go on the trip. $12,000 was donated to Twist of Fate this year to make it possible.

Tags: dylan wohlenhaus, news, outdoors, wyndmere, reporters, updates