Love & Hunting | The Burnside Story

In 2024, Texas Hunter Products celebrated 70 years in business—a remarkable milestone we were eager to celebrate. We launched the 70 Seasons Contest, a simple yet meaningful idea: give away one of our premium Wrangler Series blinds while inviting hunters nationwide to share their favorite hunting memories, just as we reflected on ours. 
 
Entrants generously took time to submit heartfelt stories, treasured photos, and reflections on why hunting matters so deeply to them. We read about a cancer survivor triumphing in the field just a week after their final treatment, a young boy harvesting his first buck with his grandfather’s rifle, a hunter fulfilling a lifelong dream of taking a 200” whitetail, and many more. Each story was unique, making the task of choosing a single winner exceptionally challenging. Yet, as we worked through the process of awarding the grand prize, it became clear that the winning family was truly special, their story embodying the heart and spirit of the hunting community. 

The Burnsides 

The winning entry to the 70 Seasons Contest was made by Mike Burnside, who found out about it through Texas Hunter’s social media pages. The details that Mike shared of a specific hunt with his daughter Kenzi would spark the interest of any hunter, and it captured ours so much that we had to learn more.  

Mike primarily hunts on his 80 acres of land just outside Talala, Oklahoma, alongside his wife Janet, their daughter Kenzi, and their son Thor. An avid hunter his entire life, Mike sparked Janet’s interest in the hunting lifestyle. Though she occasionally hunted birds with her family growing up, his encouragement deepened her passion, and the couple hunted together until they welcomed their triplets—Hunter, Kenzi, and Thor—into the world. Tragically, Hunter passed away at just five days old, and nine months later, Kenzi was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Facing this challenging time, Janet recalls feeling lost, uncertain about what life would hold. Mike’s words became a turning point: “We could either make it positive, or we could make it negative, but for Kenzi’s sake and for our sake, we’re going to make it positive.” From that day on the couple decided that whatever Kenzi decided she wanted to do, they would try to make it happen. 

While Kenzi’s condition limits her physically, her determination and her parents’ will have led to a prosperous outdoor lifestyle. Her brother Thor grew up to follow in Mike’s footsteps, becoming a successful young hunter in his own right, and Kenzi wanted the same for herself. She and Mike hunted hand-over-hand for several years, and at 15 years old she harvested her first turkey. Right about the time Kenzi graduated from high school, Mike learned of Holy Pursuit’s Dream Foundation, a non-profit organization that takes children with previously life-threatening illnesses or diseases on no-cost, fully outfitted hunting and fishing trips. Kenzi went on a whitetail crossbow hunt in Illinois with the foundation, which became the turning point for the Burnsides’ hunting experience. 

Mike had little prior knowledge of adaptive hunting equipment that could support Kenzi, but Holy Pursuit’s Dream Foundation opened his eyes to transformative possibilities for his daughter. The new equipment revolutionized their hunting process: a scope-mounted camera relays Mike’s view to a tablet in front of Kenzi, allowing her to experience the hunt from their pop-up blind as he does. When Kenzi spots a buck she likes, Mike takes aim, and her mother, Janet, flips the air actuator safety and assists with the vacuum air tube connected to the rifle trigger. Kenzi then uses the air tube to fire the shot. This setup has changed their lives forever, enabling Kenzi to successfully harvest mule deer, aoudad, turkey, elk, pronghorn, and countless whitetail deer with confidence. 

In The Field 

Despite the improved shooting setup, one challenge persisted: the blind itself. Getting Kenzi in and out of the field with her wheelchair posed significant obstacles. Janet explains that their hunts always begin with positioning Kenzi, setting up chairs and equipment, and then placing the pop-up blind over her before climbing in themselves. After notifying Mike that they had won our contest, we asked how the new blind would transform their future hunts. He responded: 
 
“Kenzi can't move her toes or rub her hands together like an average person can. She is affected by cold more than normal, but she has a very high pain tolerance. High winds like we have here in Oklahoma blow right through fabric blinds and are another obstacle to her enjoying the hunt, especially when dealing with temperature swings, or let alone when we have rain or moisture present. 

Having a ‘controlled’ environment, where we can have a small heater if needed, will make hunting much more enjoyable for her. Also, having a hard-sided blind that will help reduce noise levels will make it easier when we have three people in the blind as part of Kenzi's hunting team. We must whisper to each other about what is coming and if she wants to take a particular deer, which adds to the challenge of beating a deer's senses.” 

As we began the process of fulfilling the grand prize and learned more about the Burnsides’ story, Cody Borgfeld, Texas Hunter’s General Manager, raised a crucial question, “Will Kenzi’s wheelchair fit in the blind?”  

After a phone call with Mike, confirming that it wouldn’t, Cody immediately contacted the manufacturing team and set to work customizing the Wrangler blind, widening the door from 22.25” to 34.25” to accommodate Kenzi’s wheelchair. Janet’s reaction captured the impact of this change: “It’ll be so easy just to roll her up in that blind and not have all the preparation of getting the blind over her and fitting all the chairs. We can have that all set up and pretty much just roll her in and we’ll be good to go.” This modification promised not just convenience but comfort and maneuverability for Kenzi’s hunting experience. “This will be like going from horse and buggy to automobile in our eyes,” says Mike. 

Beyond Expectation 

When we envisioned this contest a year ago, we never anticipated becoming so deeply involved. Typical giveaways lack such a personal connection. But when the Burnsides’ story reached us, we felt compelled to learn more. We sent a videographer from our team to Oklahoma to meet the Burnsides and capture their story firsthand. We invite everyone to watch the video below and discover the family that embodies why we’re honored to be part of the hunting community. 

The Opportunity

The Burnsides live by a saying, “The trophy is the opportunity.” They believe that having the ability to be in the field at all is the trophy itself for most individuals living with disabilities. Mike emphasized this, adding, “Most of those with disabilities may never get the chance to be out there as no one will take them or have the ability to take them out hunting, fishing, or just getting outdoors.” 

If you would like to contact, donate, or become involved, the following organizations come recommended by the Burnside family for those looking to gain better access to the outdoors — all of which have left a lasting impact on Kenzi: 

Holy Pursuit’s Dream Foundation 
Provides hunting and fishing trips to children who have or have previously had a life-threatening illness or disease at no cost to them or their families. 

Life & Liberty Outdoors 
Provides hunting and fishing opportunities to children and young adults under the age of 25 with life threatening illnesses and combat disabled veterans. 

Disabled Outdoorsmen USA, Inc. 
Provides life-changing outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities, ensuring everyone can hunt, fish, hike, and explore. 

Camo Dreams Inc. 
Dedicated to providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to deserving children with disabilities or terminal illnesses on some of the best private lands found anywhere in the United States. 

Empowerment Outfitter Network 
A Christian-based organization whose mission is to, through a network of landowners and other resources, provide positive and meaningful hunting and outdoor opportunities for disabled and terminally ill children and youth. 

Into The Wild Outdoors 
Exists to disciple people in Christ by combining outdoor adventure with biblical truth—equipping the next generation to lead with courage, live with purpose, and walk faithfully through every season of life.