Hunters, mentors and volunteersat the Baptist Home of Arcadia Valley in Ironton, Missouri, pose for a group photo before the Senior Field to Fork hunt started. An additional hunt took place at Baptist Home Ozark in Ozark, Missouri.
The National Deer Association recently teamed up with Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries to put on a couple of very special Field to Fork programs for the senior residents of the Baptist Home of Arcadia Valley in Ironton, Missouri and the Baptist Home Ozark in Ozark, Missouri.
In Ironton, five “reactivated” hunters were given the opportunity to go out on the 160-acre campus property to try and harvest a deer with Mission Crossbows on opening day of Missouri’s archery season.
The Ozark Senior Field to Fork event recruited a few new hunters and reactivated some former hunters. A total of six hunters joined NDA for two days of education, crossbow shooting, and deer hunting including 93-year-old Bessie Hume, who had never deer hunted before.
93-year-old Bessie Hume was all smiles during the Ozark Field to Fork event. She had never been deer hunting before, only squirrel hunting with her dad when she was a child. She couldn’t wait to call her twin sister and tell her all about the hunt.Doug McClelland with Bass Pro Shops’ Thomas Housser and NDA’s Cheyne Matzenbacher shared a blind for the Ozark Field to Fork hunts. Doug had been unable to go hunting for several years due to numerous surgeries (shoulder, hip, and knee replacements) and was thrilled to have the opportunity to get to go hunting again.NDA’s Cheyne Matzenbacher mentored 91-year-old Dr. Fred Davis for the Ironton Senior Field to Fork event on Missouri’s opening day of archery season.Dr. Fred Davis enjoying the sunrise from the blind on the ready with the Mission crossbow at the Ironton Senior Field to Fork. Mentors aided hunters with their crossbows at the archery shooting range for the Ironton Field to Fork event.Spencer Hutson (Church Relations Specialist with Baptist Homes), Bill Cooper (Outdoor Writer), and Baptist Homes resident, Johnny Sanders, enjoyed some snacks in the blind while waiting for the deer to show up in Ironton, MO.
NDA Improves Winter Deer Habitat in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Jun 13, 2025NDA Staff
The National Deer Association (NDA) is investing in the future of deer herds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by improving winter range conditions in the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests. This work will provide much-needed browse…
read more
7 Easy Steps to Improve Saddle Hunting Comfort
Jun 11, 2025Brian Grossman
One of the biggest concerns I hear from would-be saddle hunters is that it doesn’t look comfortable. But going into my fifth season hunting from a saddle, I can attest it is a very comfortable way…
read more
100 New Deer Hunters in Pennsylvania Through Field to Fork
Jun 3, 2025Autumn McEntee
There’s absolutely no question Pennsylvania is home to many deer hunters – which makes it a great state for the National Deer Association’s Field to Fork program. Experienced mentors and opportunities to introduce new hunters…
