Matt Oleson – Grinnell, IA

This weekend my daughter wanted to hunt, so we went to the blind and saw nothing, we still had a great time. Saturday I was Dad all day and the kids and I had a blast sighting in the new TC Triumph and of course checking traps. Mom returned from Christmas shopping and informed me of all the deer she saw running the fields as they drove down the interstate, just trying to rub it in maybe.

Sunday morning means church and Sunday school. After a great lunch with the family, I started to pack up my gear and head to a new spot I received permission on; as I pulled into the drive I could see the farmer cutting wood, no dice today on the new spot.

I went home and told my wife I was hunting on the home farm instead, I went to my spot and got everything ready to go. I grabbed the portable stand out of the truck only to notice the tow rope was gone. I quickly assessed the situation and decided to just hunt a stand that was “iffy” for a Northeast wind.

I was sitting in the stand by 2:05 ready for action. The wind was marginal and I knew I would have to be ready for a quick shot, if the deer came from the cattle pasture. I settled in and pulled out my pocket solitaire game to pass a little time and let the woods calm down. I played a few hands and was thinking of how much time I was going to have to get down and back home in time to get the kids picked up for evening service, when I looked up and there he was.

20 yards in from of me was the buck, a nice mature 8 that had a massive body. I honestly did not look at his rack; I took one look at the body and decided he was a shooter. He was scent checking the bean field and was almost acting “drunk” He had slobber running down his face and had obviously been chasing does all morning. He stepped into a shooting lane at 2:27. I drew back and stopped him with a soft grunt. The shot was perfect; he ran 50 yards and piled up. A couple of quick phone calls and I was following the easiest blood trail I have ever followed. As I picked up his head I saw his left eye was completely mattered and he looked to be blind in that eye. When I looked at the right eye it was almost the same. It was half way glossed over and full of eye matter. This buck was almost “legally” blind.

I went home and got the family (6 kids and the wife) and off we went to get the deer. It was great to watch the boys follow the blood trail and the look of excitement on their faces as they saw “their” deer. We got the deer hung up and off we went o church. My #2 son said “Dad, what are we going to name this one?” We thought for a few minutes and came up with “Blind Bartimaeus” or Blind Bart.

I have always been consumed with hunting and this year I learned to let it take a back seat to family and things that make an eternal impact. It doesn’t really matter if I kill a deer. What matters is the legacy that I leave with my family. This was truly one of the best hunts I have ever been on. The boys helped hang the stand, drag the deer, and take pictures. It was a family affair. Even momma got involved (5 months pregnant and she tromped through the woods like a trooperJ)