Honor Their Service
Veterans in the Outdoors
Veterans and youth have always been an important focus of the WTA Outdoor Guardian Fund. Through our partnership with Jason’s Box, a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful outdoor experiences for severely combat-injured service members, we’re proud to help give back to those who have sacrificed so much.
By contributing financial support, sharing outdoor industry relationships, and storytelling, Guardian helps make these experiences possible while bringing greater awareness to the mission of Jason’s Box. Each project is an opportunity to improve mental wellbeing, honor service, build camaraderie, and create lasting memories through the outdoors.
Julie Lund
WTA Outdoor Guardian Fund Manager
“As a military spouse, this partnership is especially close to my heart. I know how much our service members and their families give, and being a small part of a big mission that these experiences are is something I’m incredibly grateful for. Through the Guardian, we have an opportunity not only to support the incredible work Jason’s Box is doing, but to share their story, reach more people, and hopefully inspire others to get involved. It’s an honor to be part of something that gives back to those who have given so much.”
Honor Their Service
A Kentucky Veteran's Deer Hunt
The WTA Outdoor Guardian Fund joined forces with Jason’s Box and Salt River Outfitters to help provide two combat-injured veterans with a memorable week in Kentucky.
Retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Matthew Slaydon and retired U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Matthew Bradford traveled to central Kentucky for an experience centered around whitetail deer hunting, with opportunities to enjoy fishing, equine therapy, beekeeping, reloading, archery, distillery and horse farm touring, and other activities along the way.
With the support of dedicated volunteers, guides, and outdoor industry partners, the week offered much more than time in the field. It was an opportunity to take on new challenges, build friendships, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes the outdoors so meaningful.
Two Veterans, One Shared Experience
Technical Sergeant Matthew Slaydon — U.S. Air Force
Matthew Slaydon joined the U.S. Air Force in 1989 and served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. During his third deployment to Iraq, an improvised explosive device detonated just feet from him on October 24, 2007. The explosion caused severe injuries, including the loss of his left arm and his eyesight. Following more than 16 months of treatment and rehabilitation, Matthew continued moving forward, drawing strength from his family, his sense of duty, and his military brothers and sisters.
His participation in the Kentucky event provided another opportunity to spend time outdoors, enjoy new experiences, and connect with others who share an appreciation for the outdoors and the bonds formed through military service.
Corporal Matthew Bradford — U.S. Marine Corps
For Matthew Bradford, the decision to serve his country began after witnessing the events of September 11, 2001. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005. On January 18, 2007, while serving in Haditha, Iraq, Matthew stepped on an improvised explosive device, losing both legs and his eyesight. Rather than allowing those injuries to define his future, Matthew has dedicated himself to overcoming challenges and encouraging others to do the same. His personal motto says it best: “No Legs, No Vision, No Problem!”
Although hunting wasn’t part of Matthew’s life before his injuries, his determination to continue experiencing new things eventually brought him into the field.
During the Kentucky hunt, Matthew worked alongside his hunting guide and Jason’s Box aide to become familiar with the crossbow and method for shooting while blind, to make the necessary adjustments for an accurate shot. When the opportunity presented itself, he successfully harvested a whitetail buck. But for Matthew, the greatest reward wasn’t the harvest. It was the opportunity to spend time outdoors, share the experience with others, and enjoy the friendships and camaraderie that came with it.
While the featured film follows Matthew Bradford’s hunt, both Matthew Bradford and Matthew Slaydon participated in the September 2025 event. The accompanying photography captures moments from both veterans’ experiences.
Two Veterans, One Shared Experience
A successful hunt is often measured by the animal harvested, but experiences like these leave an impact that goes far beyond the field. Throughout the week, the veterans had opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, participate in different activities, and spend time with people who were there for a shared purpose.
For Jason’s Box, these experiences are intentionally personal. Rather than organizing large events, the all-volunteer organization typically hosts one or two smaller events in the Spring and Fall, allowing its team to focus on the individual needs of selected service members.
From travel, accommodation, licensing, taxidermy fees, to specialized equipment and activities, Jason’s Box works to remove the barriers that might otherwise make these opportunities difficult to access.
Joseph A. "Joe" Tirone
Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.), Volunteer President, Jason's Box
“These events are so much more than hunting or fishing. They’re about giving our wounded service members opportunities to experience things they may have thought were no longer possible, while surrounding them with people who care.
The enduring friendships, laughter, and memories made during these trips are what make it all worthwhile.
Having partners like the WTA Outdoor Guardian Fund helps us continue creating these opportunities and reaching more veterans who deserve them.”
For Matthew Slaydon and Matthew Bradford, the Kentucky experience was another opportunity to create memories, embrace new challenges, and enjoy the connections that make time outdoors so rewarding.
Helping Make the Next Experience Possible
The success of the Kentucky event reflects what can happen when people and organizations come together to give back to those who have served. Through the generosity of its supporters, Jason’s Box continues to provide outdoor experiences at no cost to participating veterans. Financial contributions, donated equipment and services, and volunteer support all help make future events possible.
The WTA Outdoor Guardian Fund is proud to have played a role in this experience alongside Jason’s Box and Salt River Outfitters, and to share the stories of the veterans and people who made it possible. Because in the end, this was about more than a deer hunt. It was about honoring service, strengthening connections, and creating opportunities that will be remembered long after the week was over.