Nine hunters who have various handicaps were able to spend the opening day of regular firearms deer season on stands thanks to the annual Mill Creek Baptist Church Greater Outdoor Ministries’ and Botetourt Longbeards/Virginia Wheelin’ Sportsmen’s Disabled Sportsmen Deer Hunt.

Volunteers from the church, community, Longbeards and Buchanan Moose Lodge provided the hunt that is part of the Virginia Wheelin’ Sportsmen Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) outreach across the state.

The hunters were assisted by the volunteers who helped on stands and with any deer harvested. Various landowners provided places for the sportsmen to hunt.

The event started Friday evening with check-in and a potluck dinner at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Guest speaker was James River High School football coach Jacob Phillips. Music was provided by Crossing County Lines with members Jacob Holdren, Isaac Blake, Michael Burnette and Eli Phillips.

Saturday morning started with an early breakfast at the church and the hunters and guides headed to their stands at 5:30 a.m.

Don and Nancy Epperly again provided the site for the midday lunch, and the Botetourt Longbeards and Buchanan Moose Lodge prepared the meal.

After lunch, hunters were able to head back to the stands.