South Zone Dove Traditions
Each September, wingshooters flock to fields in pursuit of hunting thrills, memories, fellowship and an elusive little brown bird.
David Sikes/Caller-Times
PAINT TOWNSHIP — Michael Steele started a bird hunting business when his kids, Sierra and Cody, were young teens and he took them bird hunting on public grounds.
“We couldn’t find any birds. We hunted all day and we couldn’t get any birds up,” he said.
That was about 17 years ago. About that time the Steeles bought Mountain View Acres near Windber.
Steele and his buddy, Jeff Lee, went in together and purchased 50 hunting birds, hunted some and sold the remainder. Both retired military veterans had hunted on public grounds for many years.
“So my kids got to hunt birds right out of the hole. That is what started it,” he said.
We saw an opportunity to start a business, he said.
Mountain View Acres, a 240-acre property, is now a veteran-owned and operated business located along the Allegheny Ridge in Paint Township.
Steele’s wife, Lori, and his two children are involved in the business. Even Steele’s granddaughter, Annabella, helps.
The business raises and provides 1,500 birds for hunting.
The farm hosted the annual Pennsylvania Farm Bureau legislative tour Friday afternoon. More than 30 farmers, legislators, municipal and county officials showed up to learn about the Somerset County farmers challenges and concerns and to learn about one of a few pheasant farms in the area.
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Pheasants nest on the ground. When startled they will burst to the sky in a “flush.”
They can fly up to 60 mph when chased for short distances, but prefer to run and can get up to speeds of 8 to 10 mph.
Chukars, another type of bird found at Mountain View Acres, are similar, but prefer to run across the land. They are the smaller cousins to the pheasant.
Hungarian partridges are also raised at Mountain View Acres for hunting.
The Somerset County farm could be called even more unique because of its connection with military veterans.
“About four or five years into it we decided we wanted to give back to the military,” Steele said.
“I wanted to give away a hunt (to veterans). But I wanted the action-track chairs. I couldn’t figure it out on my own. So I got a core group of people together and we eventually formed Wings for our Heroes, a nonprofit organization that provide action-track chairs with electric motors and caterpillar tracks in place of wheels so that veterans with limited mobility can navigate the outdoors and hunt. The apparatus’ even have the potential to operate remotely if the veteran needs that assistance.
He had the chairs available for the legislative tour group to view and even to ride in one to see how the chairs work.
The nonprofit raises funds to provide the chairs that can easily cost more than $20,000 each and provide the money to pay for the veterans’ trip to Mountain View Acres. This year the nonprofit added fly fishing to the veteran’s itinerary, Steele said.
So far, he has two of the track chairs at the farm and has given two away to veterans. He is working on a third.
District Attorney Jeff Thomas has been a lifelong friend of Steele’s.
“I’ve been involved with them for a while helping them raise money to provide track chairs for veterans to go hunting out here,” he said.
Thomas, a veteran, said he sees his time in this venture as a way to give back to the military. He attended the tour in support of his friend and what he considers a worthwhile endeavor.
In 2020, Lee retired from partnership with Steele, but continues to guide. Retired U.S. Army veteran Mike Hucik, who has been a guide at Mountain View Acres since 2021, took up the partnership role.
Follow Judy D.J. Ellich on Twitter at @dajudye.
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