Dreams were evolving, casting a nova brilliance that will be witnessed for years to come.

Safari Club International’s Safari Wish program was based at just such a destination. The Deer Tracks Ranch was the home of the 2001 Safari Wish Michigan program. Deer Tracks founder Dave Tuxbury had envisioned whitetail hunting dreams coming to fruition when he developed this extraordinary spot.

The SCI Safari Wish program was created to accommodate life-threatened and terminally ill individuals who want to go hunting and fishing as one of their life wishes. A few years back, the Make-A-Wish Foundation succumbed to political incorrectness and suspended the granting of all hunting and fishing wishes for these individuals. Tuxbury added, "These young adults deserve an exceptional experience in their lives."

Chad Hall was a normal teenager…running, jumping and playing with the reckless abandon of a 16-year-old. In 1998, after playing a backyard football game, he experienced excruciating pain in his left leg. He did not remember being injured while playing. After a medical examination, Chad was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma of the left knee. Immediately he underwent an extremely radical surgery that replaced the bones in his left leg with titanium rods and Teflon seats for his knee joint. Moreover, if that was not enough, Chad had to endure 15 grueling months of chemotherapy that left him in a physical state requiring 14-hour medical attention. "Hunting is my passion, and I haven’t been able to hunt much since becoming so sick," explained Hall. Currently, the condition of Hall is in remission and guarded. Similar ill-starred stories have befallen other Safari Wish candidates Trevor Jenks, Matt Taylor and Eric Kruczynski.

The uncanny common denominator among the 2001 Safari Wish candidates is their celestial personalities and heavenly spirit. For each of the candidates has endured such afflictions in their respectively short lives that it was astonishing to see the positive aura emanating from their beings.

As the program drew near, anticipation reached orbital levels. The 2001 Safari Wish program was enthusiastically coordinated and orchestrated with the support and involvement of the Novi, Southeast Michigan Bowhunters, Flint-Regional and the Northeast Michigan SCI chapters. The SCI chapter representatives were Ed Curtis, Mike Wilmot, Tim Pifher and Craig Mortz. Mortz is the coordinator for the program and has a seat on the SCI Humanitarian Services Committee. "Any opportunity to fulfill the dreams and wishes of these life-challenged individuals is what motivates me and drives this program. As healthy individuals, we have the ability to partake in innumerable hunts around the world throughout our lives. I ask you, ‘Do you remember every single hunt you have ever been on?’ When you participate in the granting of just one Safari Wish, you will unquestionably remember that for the rest of your life," Mortz remarked.

Each SCI chapter was responsible for securing and mentoring a special candidate based on a Safari Wish application process designed by the SCI Humanitarian Services Committee. Each SCI chapter willingly handles the animal processing, animal taxidermy and award presentations to each of their candidates. "This is an extraordinary project and an opportunity of a lifetime. I am so thankful to SCI and Deer Tracks for giving us this chance to participate," expressed Hall.

Bass Pro Shops, Inc. eagerly supported this year’s program by outfitting the candidates with camouflage clothing from head to toe. Brand-spanking-new Scent-Lok Mossy Oak suits were generously supplied for each candidate by Scent-Lok Manufacturing. World-renowned outdoor writer and videographer Dan Bertalan rendered professional videographic services for the events. Bertalan surely captured the unfolding nuances and the superstar smiles of everyone involved for a lifetime of viewing memories. There was plenty of picture taking and countless stellar stories were told over the three-day excursion for the participants and their family members. The culinary staff at the Deer Tracks Ranch managed to nourish the entire SCI Safari Wish contingent with gourmet delights. Deer Tracks housed the Safari Wish candidates in the newly constructed 3000 sq. foot custom-built log lodge with Tamarack pines towering overhead.

Over the course of the maneuvers, the Safari Wish candidates took flight and harvested some magnificent whitetail bucks with the perseverance of the Deer Tracks’ experienced guides. Chad bagged a 225-pound, heavy-beamed, seven-point beast from the timbers. Eric perfectly placed a strike on a monstruous ten-pointer weighing in at 250 pounds. At 65 yards, Trevor walloped a majestically symmetrical, 195-pound, eight-point whitetail. An exceptionally wide-antlered, 205-pound, seven-point buck made the mistake of walking in front of Matt, who downed the animal with one shot from his rifle. Matt added, "I was so excited I thought I was going crazy! I had never harvested a whitetail buck before, and I did not know what to expect. This is a dream come true!"

So there…

Author: Craig S. Mortz
Safari Club International
Southeast Michigan Bowhunters Chapter
SCI Humanitarian Services Committee member
Safari Wish Coordinator