For a decade, community organizer Todd Dunn, owner of True Lure, has been organizing events geared towards disabled youth and veterans, with an emphasis on outdoorsy and hunting activities.

Recently, he offered the community another opportunity to hunt, with the Annual Jim Elliott True Lure Pheasant Hunt, which was geared towards his favorite target populations.

The volunteers for the hunt had been preparing for the big day, with 200 pheasants purchased for the event, which was held on Dunn’s private property. Dunn also worked with Tim Hortons and Ollie’s Burgers and BBQ to have food and treats for the disabled veterans and children who attended.

“It’s all about giving the kids and disabled vets a chance to hunt, which they may otherwise not be able to do,” Dunn explained. “It is always a great day with big smiles, I tell you.”

Dunn has been organizing deer hunting, pheasant shootings, and trout derbies for people with disabilities for many years, with growth each year.

Dunn had 150 guests show up, with youth and veterans being about 50/50. He said a total of 160 pheasants were hunted.

“It’s addicting to give back to the vets and kids,” Dunn said. “For many, there isn’t a lot to do, but this gives people an escape to try something they think they may be limited in.”

The pheasants will be prepared and smoked over the coming week, and a dinner for veterans will be held at American Legion Post 23 on October 28.

“It feels great to see everybody’s excitement the day of the event and it feels even greater to see the results of their work at the Legion to feed the veterans,” Dunn claimed. “I love it.”

Leftover food from the event was also delivered to Post 23 after the shooting.

The event is named after retired firefighter Jim Elliott, who is also a veteran of the armed forces.

“He was big in the Portsmouth fire Department and has been giving back his entire life,” Dunn said. “We pay tribute to him with this event. We try to make a difference for veterans and honoring him with this event seemed appropriate.”

Elliott was pleased with the event, saying, “It was wonderful to see all of the vets and young people there enjoying themselves. Todd put a lot of work into it for other people and I was honored he mentioned my name. I was very honored by that, especially when there are so many great vets and people in this area.”

Elliott retired from Portsmouth Fire Department in 2011 as an assistant chief. He was also a member of the Navy between 1959 to 1962.

“I’m looking forward to future events held by Dunn and especially looking forward to the Trout Derby this spring,” Elliott said. “It is such a nice thing for people.”

As always, Dunn was excited to welcome Elliott and said a lot of volunteers and community leaders joined him, including Sheriff David Thoroughman, Gina Collinsworth, Gary Jenkins, and Joey Sandlin.

“It went very well and we had some impressive shots and some people hunted for the first time,” Dunn said. “It was a nice time for everyone.”

Reach Joseph Pratt at (740) 353-3101, by email at [email protected], © 2023 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved.