Andrew Akins is an able bodied board member and has been a member of Capable Partners since 1993. Currently Andy is the Coordinator for the spring sporting clay event and the fall duck hunt at marsh Lake. He also assists with pheasants, turkey, and other Capable Partners outings. Andy is the managing Partner of his family run property management business, Premier Properties, and lives with his wife and three children in Chanhassen, MN. Andy enjoys hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. He has taken Fire-arms safety instruction classes and has a yellow lab named Chuck.

Jim Vorderbruggen is a charter member of Capable Partners and has participated in the growth and evolution of the organization. Jim has been a Capable Partners coordinator for several pheasant and turkey hunts as well as several fishing outings. Jim sums it up, "Capable Partners has meant a lot to me. I have made a lot of wonderful friends. It's very satisfying and exciting to have a new physically challenged person join Capable Partners and watch them accomplish and go beyond what they felt they could do."

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UPLAND GAME NEWS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sporting Clays at Caribou Gun Club Shooting Preserve
• Turkey Shoot at Le Blanc's Rice Creek Hunting & Recreation
• Fall Pheasants at Major Avenue

Sporting Clays at Caribou Gun Club and Shooting Preserve
Saturday, April 25th at 9:00 a.m. fourteen shooters, seven disabled and seven able bodied, took part in Capable Partners first sporting clay event at Caribou Gun Club.

The temperature was about 60 degrees. There was a slight wind and overcast skies which prevented the old, "I had the sun in my eyes," excuse. Best of all, the paths were dry and fairly easy to move through

Caribou did a fine job making sure everyone had a safe and rewarding day. We broke into three groups. Each group took turns trying to hit ten targets at five different stations spread out along about a quarter of a mile circle in a protected valley. At each of the stations, the shooters were faced with a different type of shot. First, an uphill shot going away. Next, a high shot, flying towards the shooter. The third was the toughest, a fast pair to the right. Fourth was singles and pairs flying very fast straight up. Last was a thrown to roll on the ground, respectfully referred to as "a rabbit".

After each shooter shot at fifty targets we compared scores and ate a picnic lunch of hot dogs, potato salad, chips and pop.

With stomachs full and egos restored the bravest of the shooters returned for a second round and worked on our excuses for the missed targets.

Sporting Clays is a very humbling, but exciting sport. I know I speak for all that attended when I say, "I can't wait to try it again!"

Andrew Akins, Upland Game Coordinator
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Turkey Shoot at Le Blanc's Rice Creek Hunting & Recreation
We couldn't have had a better day. The weather was perfect. The food was great.
We had twenty six disabled hunters, sixteen able bodied hunters, plus some able bodied who came to help out and didn't hunt. It was nice to see several new hunters. Alot of new friends were made by all!

There were thirty seven birds harvested. Lisa Murphy led off with the first bird, a nice Tom. Our President, Jonathan, harvested two with one shot!

We drew numbers for location. When it was my turn to draw a number there was non left. Le Blanc's did some shuffling and landed my partner Larry Sanders and me on top of a steep hill. I set up my decoy on the side of the road, and Larry and I climbed the mountain, setting ourselves back to back against a tree. We heard alot of shooting from the other hunters and were feeling a disappointed that we were not in the middle of the action. All of a sudden, through the brush and trees, I saw a nice Tom walking parallel to where we were sitting. He headed straight for my decoy and I was shaking with excitement. Well, he didn't make it.

A special "thanks" to Joe Le Blanc and his crew. They made sure nobody walked away empty handed by providing smoked pheasants for anyone who didn't land a turkey.And of course "thanks" to the able bodied who helped, our cooks, Dick LaChapelle, John Frazer, Larry Sanders, a host of helpers, and our sponsors the Weapon Collectors of Minnesota.

Jim Vorderbruggen, Upland Game Coordinator

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Fall Pheasant Hunts at Major Ave
The weather promised to be balmy and rainy but the rain held off and it turned out to be a very comfortable day for pheasant hunting at Major Avenue in Glencoe, MN. There were thirty-two hunters and we harvested eighty-seven birds out of a hundred.

There were two disabled and one able bodied in each blind situated in a circle a hundred yards from a tower where the birds were released. The wind wasn't too strong, but still it made for tough shooting.

At noon we had a wonderful lunch and Kerry Sobieck qualified several for the upcoming deer hunts.

I think I speak for all when I say that once again, it was a great hunt!

Jim Vorderbruggen, Upland Game Coordinator

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