Nicole Reeve high-fives Mike Lose for his turkey kill as Pat Reeve films. (Steve Bowman photo)
April 28, 2014
By Steve Bowman, OutdoorChannel.com
LA CYGNE, Kan. -- Pat and Nicole Reeve are no strangers to tough but rewarding hunts. Their popular “Driven TV” show often captures that very essence.
They got a taste of each during the recent World Turkey Hunting Championships in La Cygne, Kan. The husband and wife team took part in the Hunting for Heroes segment of the event and guided Mike Lose, a disabled law enforcement officer, on a successful turkey hunt.
After a full day of hunting, Lose was able to shoot a 24-pound gobbler with a 10-inch beard and 1-inch spurs as it strutted in front of the camera for more than 10 minutes.
The trio’s hunt will be featured on “Driven with Pat and Nicole .” But the impact of a 30-minute show will last much longer.
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“I’m sure there are those who say that this is a moment that Mike will never forget,’’ Pat Reeve said. “But truthfully, this hunt, this day and all the things that went with it, are moments I, or Nicole, will never forget.”
The pair had just returned home from New Zealand where they had each arrowed huge red stag. Hopping off the plane and driving 9 hours to Kansas to take part in the hunt would seem like a chore. The real work started on the hunt.
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Mike Lose is confined to a wheelchair, having been paralyzed in a shooting 9 years ago. Always a hunter, Lose hunts to make sure the guy who shot him doesn’t beat him, so he does the things he loves, even if it’s not easy.
Every move was a chore. The Action Track wheelchair was loaded and unloaded with Lose struggling in and out of his truck but not once was it too difficult or too cumbersome for the three to complete. The trail was often muddy, always rough, but Lose pressed on. They were all in a strange land, hoping for the best. It took all day to complete, but when it came together every second was worth it.
“(Turkey hunts) generally just don't go that way,’’ Pat Reeve said. “You just can't get it all together in one day. But, I was praying to the dear Lord and said ‘Please, if you hear my prayers, let us get a really nice turkey on the ground for this gentleman.’ And when I saw those gobblers coming in, I said ‘Oh, please, let them not spook off.’”
Reeve’s prayers were answered. Nicole Reeve, though, brought it into perspective.
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“We created a friendship for life,” she said. “You hear about things like this (Lose’s injury) happening, but I've never had any type of relationship with anybody that has actually had that happen -- being able to hear his story and him being so open about it and so upbeat.
“He’s like as far the guy that did this to him: ‘I go to every one of his parole hearings, every one of his court dates, whatever. And I'm sitting there and I'm smiling because I won't let him get me. I won't ever let it get me down.’
“That’s powerful. He told me the only thing that depresses him about the whole situation is hunting. Because he can no longer go out and do that by himself anymore. He has to have somebody else go with him, help him and everything else.
“It was just an honor to be able to help him do that.”
“You know that's what we're here for,’’ Pat Reeve added. “I get more of a thrill watching somebody else shoot a turkey. Then going and seeing a guy like Mike when it takes a lot of effort to get in the field and follow his passion. You gotta take your hat off to a guy like him. He isn't gonna give up.
“He is a big inspiration for not just me, I'm sure Nicole. At the end of the day, you look back and you're like, ‘Wow today I did something pretty cool.’”
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