Colfax site set up for disabled youth hunt

Youth Outdoors Unlimited crew sets up blind.

A wooden box was set up and covered in camoflauge outside Colfax Saturday to prepare the first hunting blind for the Youth Outdoors Unlimited program.

Youth Outdoors is a Moses Lake-based organzation formed to give youth with life threatening illnesses or physical disabilities the opportunity to hunt and fish.

“Our goal is to just teach them that even though you have some challenges, you can still get out there and hunt and have a good time,” said Cindy Carpenter, founder of the organization. “You just have to make some modifications.”

Carpenter, along with her husband, Joe, and Don Sell the group’s chief administrative officer, were setting up the hunting blind on property owned by Tom and Cheryl Kammerzel along the S curves just south of town.

The blind will be used as a hunting spot this fall by Justin Rustine, a Lake Stevens boy born with one arm.

Cindy Carpenter said they have been teaching Justin how to fire a gun with his one arm.

Cindy said she was inspired to create Youth Outdoors after going on her first deer hunt a couple of years ago.

“It was so much fun I said we’ve got to do this for some kids,” she said. “So we just did.”

Joe Carpenter helps Justin Rustine fire his rifle.

Rustine will hunt for his first deer on the Kammerzell property this fall. Carpenter said they plan to host benefit dinner in Colfax prior to his hunt.

Kammerzell said he was proud to be able to help Rustine hunt. He added the program could be a way to help the city fight its deer problem.

Salt licks purchased by the city are being placed around the property to encourage deer to make the area their home.

Youth Outdoors is also setting up three more hunts in other parts of the state for other disabled youth.