LIVINGSTON - The owner of a south-central Montana ranch is offering injured soldiers a chance to enjoy the outdoors as part of their rehabilitation.

Bill Cohen said he was inspired to provide a place where servicemen could find "therapeutic recreation and rehabilitation" after reading reports of similar efforts around the country.

"I just knew there was a need out there," said Cohen, a retired managing director of a Wall Street firm.

Cohen has converted his six-bedroom home into a guest lodge of sorts for servicemen. Groups of six to eight soldiers are invited to enjoy a six-night stay at Cohen's home and participate in activities such as horseback riding, fly fishing, ATV riding and trap shooting.

This summer, Cohen hosted three groups of servicemen from major military hospitals at his 520-acre ranch in the Shields Valley.

"I've got this beautiful place here, why not share it with this great group of guys?" Cohen told the Livingston Enterprise.

The visitors from Sept. 14-20 include John Masters, who lost three fingers on his right hand in an explosion while serving as an Army staff sergeant in Afghanistan in January. The visit gave him the opportunity to adapt to an injury to his dominant hand.