According to the Sportsman’s Global Positioning System, Tuesday, Oct. 28 was the best day of the week to hunt for the elusive whitetail deer.

Luckily, on the 28th, more than a dozen hunters hit the blinds to try their luck on a South Carolina hunt. These hunters were veterans, servicemen, youths, sportsmen and more than a few Marines.

Safari Club International Lowcountry Chapter’s 4th Annual Wheelchair Hunt, along with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources offered wounded outdoorsman the chance to get back in the hunt.  This hunt gave injured servicemen a chance to do what they love.

“This type of event also gives these men a chance to relax during their recovery process,” said Staff Sgt. Jared Dugger, a platoon sergeant for the Wounded Warrior Battalion East. “This is one of the better, more organized hunts.”

Among these hunters was Marine Sgt. Zack Golfos, a Wounded  Warrior who has been out of the hunt for the past four years. Golfos was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt; however, he hasn’t had the time or the ability to since he joined the Marines.

“Even if I don’t kill anything, I still like being out there.

“Once I found out about this hunt, I signed right up,” he added.  “I scheduled my doctor appointments around it and started to get prepared. 

I was excited, I haven’t been able to go hunting since I joined the Marine Corps.”

On March 6, 2006, he deployed with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion to Fallujah, Iraq, where his initial injury occurred.

On June 26, 2006, Golfos was traveling in a Humvee when it ran over an improvised explosive device.

Golfos and another passenger were knocked unconscious and suffered grade-three concussions. He later received three more concussions from IEDs.

He finished up his deployment as though nothing had happened.

When returning to the states in October 2006, he was again located at Camp Lejeune, only this time with Headquarters Platoon.

In January of 2007, Golfos was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and continuous headaches.

Then in October of 2007, Golfos was again deployed to Fallujah,  only this time with Delta Company, Headquarters Platoon as a driver for a Mine Resistant Armor Plated Vehicle. On this deployment, the symptoms of his PTSD got worse.

He started experiencing severe migraine headaches. On Christmas of 2007, Golfos left Fallujah to go to Landstuhl, Germany, where he was treated for chronic PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

Due to the injuries, he left Germany no longer able to drive a motorized vehicle. This put a damper on his recreational hunts.

“Now if I wanted to go hunting, my wife, Kacie, has to take me to the woods, drop me off and then come back and pick me up when I get done,” Golfos said.

It was good for him to get away for a few days and go hunting.”

On Jan. 1, 2008, Golfos found his way back to Lejeune with the 2nd AA Battalion, Headquarters and Service Company only to be separated soon after.

On July 10, 2008, Golfos was sent to the Wounded Warrior Battalion East where he presently is awaiting medical retirement.

“Ever since I joined the Marine Corps, I have missed hunting season,” Golfos said, “I just haven’t had the time or the area to hunt, and I know one day I won’t be able to.”

Although Golfos has successfully taken two pigs in the past month, the 4th Annual Wheelchair Hunt  was his first chance to harvest a whitetail.

“When I got here, I didn’t know what to think. I was overwhelmed with all the things planned and how big of a hunt this was,” he said.

While sitting in the stand for numerous hours, right at the edge of dusk, at 7:06 p.m. the wait paid off.

A four-point buck walked out of the corn. It stood out in the wheat 103-yards away presenting a broadside shot. Down it went. Dropped, right in its tracks.