Marine veteran receives hunt of a lifetime

One local veteran was lucky enough to have been selected to receive a once-in-a-lifetime hunting trip this upcoming fall.

At the second annual Elite K9 Veteran and First Responder Banquet held in November, Lovell resident and mayor Tom Newman was the highest bidder on a 2025 archery antelope blind hunt.

The hunt was donated by Will and Jenna Stovall of Mill Iron Outfitters of Buffalo, South Dakota, to the fundraiser and was valued at $3,150. It will be a five-day hunt in Buffalo with meals and lodging included.

Newman, an avid hunter himself, chose to donate the hunt back to Wes Mangus of Elite K9, and the duo decided to give the opportunity to a veteran in the area. So they contacted Josh Foster of Downrange Warriors for worthy candidates.

“I just wanted to pay it forward to a deserving veteran,” Newman said. 

Gary Baugman of Cody was chosen by the Downrange Warriors board of directors for his service to our country and for his hours of volunteerism to the organization. Baugman serves as a videographer and content editor for the Downrange Warrior’s website.

“Gary’s work behind the scenes with the testimonial videos reaches those who are struggling and their family members that helps them realize they are not alone,” Foster said. “His videos help light the path for true healing, specifically to men and women in uniform and what they suffer and deal with. He is very worthy of this selection.”

Baugman was born and raised in Texas City, Texas, where he married his high school sweetheart, Vicki, in 1985. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps right after graduation at the age of 17.

He served in active duty from 1982-1986 and inactive duty through 1988 as a Cryptographic Equipment Technician. Baugman was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, attached to Headquarters Battalion, First Marine Division. He reached the rank of Lance Corporal (E-3) and was honorably discharged with a medal for good conduct.

When Foster first contacted Baugman about the opportunity, Baugman agreed to attend, assuming they were asking him to go as the videographer and capture the chosen veteran’s experience.

It wasn’t until later when Foster clarified that it was Baugman that would be doing the hunting that he put the pieces together.

“I was shocked,” Baugman said. “I’m not one of the lucky guys that ever gets chosen for anything like this. I am very grateful and really looking forward to it.”

Along with the trip, Newman presented Baugman with an extra stipend to help with the added traveling expenses. 

Both Newman and Mangus gave their best wishes to Baugman on the hunt.

“We can’t wait to see pictures of the massive buck you take down,” they echoed. 

Until then, Baugman will continue volunteering his time to help spread the message of Downrange Warriors, whose office is now open in Lovell at 149 East Main Street, Suite B (behind Butler Accounting) at the rear entrance. Information can be found at their website, www.downrangewarriors.org, and they encourage any veteran seeking help to contact them for an appointment.