Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/812511
118 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S T he love of hunting and the outdoors can do many things. It can bring families closer, bond friends tighter, and its memories and romance can help a soldier through some demanding situations. What Alex Russo was fighting for in Afghanistan is alive and well at Flatland Flyways: family, friends, and our American heritage of hunting. It was this American's dream that kept him sane while in an insane place—and not a day goes by that he isn't grateful for that. Now he gives back by sponsoring several veteran and youth hunts each year. Indeed, Russo has turned down deep-pocketed clients to keep prime hunting dates open for his youth and veteran hunters. Some 2,500 U.S soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq to date. They died so we could enjoy the freedom this country affords us . . . freedoms as simple as the opportunities we have to enjoy the outdoors and hunting. As of this writing, there are still 9,800 U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan. That number is supposed to be reduced to 8,400 by 2017. It should never become a cliché to thank these young men and women and their families for their sacrifice, which enables us to enjoy our independence. To Lance Corporal Alex Russo: Thank you for your service; and thank you to the Russo family for supporting this Marine while he did his duty. The fabric of the Russo family is the cloth that this great country was sewn with. n The Russos are in the process of purchasing more land and developing more habitat by adding ponds and planting additional crops to attract waterfowl. Alex is determined to develop more hunting opportunities each year. As great as the hunting is at Flatland Flyways, it takes a back seat to the family atmosphere that shines at the place. I was hunting with Ben Cade and Bailey Oakley of Avery Outdoors. Actually, it was Tommy Atkin at Avery who first brought my attention to Flatland Flyways and the Marine's interesting story. It didn't take us long to feel the warm, welcoming vibe at the lodge. We were greeted by Megan, Alex's new bride of only three months. As the manager of Flatland Flyways, Megan is the one who makes it all work. She introduced us to Maggie and Art, Alex's parents. Maggie is their amazing chef and Art does it all, from setting the table to backing the start-up finances. It's the quintessential family business. Most of our hunting was in the afternoons, so each morning Art and I would sit together and solve the world's problems over java while watching the refuge come to life through the grand picture windows. The lodge was constructed to take advantage of the fabulous view, and each morning we enjoyed watching the snow geese lift off the refuge and head for the surrounding grainfields. The spaciousness of the South Dakota prairie overwhelmed me as I watched the matinee performance. The meals that Maggie prepared would impress an Iron Chef, and when we hit the field in the afternoon, we were all moving a little slower due to over-indulging. Adding to the family feel, Alex was able to hire some of his buddies and fellow guides at Habit Flats to help with the outfitting. These young dudes worked hard and could play the hell out of a duck or goose call. All in all, Flatland Flyways has certainly surpassed the ex-Marine's wildest dreams while at Camp Black Horse. The lodge offers a fabulous view of Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Here you can enjoy a front row seat to one of nature's greatest wildfowl spectacles. Delta Waterfowl youth hunters after a morning duck shoot with the Flatland Flyways crew.