Gabe Stark
The Trenton Telegraph

Crowder State Park honored Missouri’s veterans by hosting a special guided hunting event over Veterans Day weekend. The initiative, now in its third year, pairs veterans with experienced guides for a weekend of camaraderie and outdoor recreation, has grown steadily since its inception, providing a unique way to recognize those who have served while also supporting the park’s natural resource management goals.

Veterans interested in participating applied through the Missouri Veterans Commission at local service offices, including the nearby Chillicothe location, as well as offices in Bethany and Cameron. The program is open exclusively to Missouri veterans, with participants selected through a drawing process. This year, the park expanded the event to accommodate 20 veterans—up from 15 in previous years—each paired with a dedicated guide, many of whom are volunteers from the local community and beyond. Some guides even traveled from as far as Table Rock State Park, several hours away, to lend their expertise and support.

The event is about more than just the hunt. Veterans and guides are provided food and lodging at the park’s group camp, and the community rallies together to create a welcoming atmosphere. Local businesses such as Hy-Vee and organizations like the Thompson House contributed snacks and meals, while Redneck Blinds and Coon Manufacturing (Empire Hunting Blinds) provided hunting equipment and supplies, including custom hunting blinds and backpacks for all participants.

Anna Persell, who has organized the event since its founding, was recognized this year for her outstanding dedication. State Representative Mazzie Christensen attended the closing ceremony and presented Persell with a special award, praising her commitment to both veterans and conservation.

“Anna’s passion for serving our veterans and preserving our natural resources is truly inspiring,” Christensen said during the ceremony. “This event brings our community together in a meaningful way, and it’s thanks to Anna’s leadership that it continues to grow.”

Persell expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the collaborative spirit behind the event. “It takes a whole community to make this happen,” she said. “Our veterans have given so much, and it’s an honor to give back to them in this way. I’m also thankful for all the guides, volunteers, and local businesses who step up every year.”

The program was inspired by a similar event at Mark Twain State Park, which has hosted a veterans hunt for eight years. Crowder’s version continues a tradition of managed hunts at the park, which date back to the mid-1990s, primarily as a way to maintain healthy deer populations. This dual purpose—honoring veterans and supporting conservation—makes the event especially meaningful to organizers and participants alike.

Natural resource management remains a top priority for the park. Each year, wildlife surveys and studies determine whether a managed hunt is necessary based on deer population data. The decision to hold the veterans hunt reflects a careful balance between providing recreational opportunities for veterans and ensuring the sustainability of the park’s ecosystem.

The success of this year’s event was due in large part to the dedication of the guides, volunteers, and staff, many of whom are veterans themselves, as well as the generosity of the community. As the program continues, organizers hope to maintain or expand it in future years, dependent on wildlife survey results.

For more information, including photos and stories from the event, visit the Crowder State Park Facebook page.