Post by Woody Williams on Dec 8, 2006 13:56:52 GMT -5
Blind man Hunts again !! (NEAT STORY)
Brent Neeser was given another chance to hunt again recently thanks to
the love of his father, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and Capable Partners, a Minnesota non-profit organization
dedicated to creating accessible outdoor opportunities for the
physically challenged.
Declared legally blind since his mid-20s, the 37-year-old Andover man
participated in the first vision impaired deer hunt, Oct. 14-22, at the
Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area near Cambridge.
"It was a very emotional experience for me to see Brent, who once had
sight, lose his sight, and then gain back some of his independence by
doing something he enjoyed so much in the past," said his father, Dave
Neeser of St. Cloud.
State statute allows a hunter with sight to assist a visually impaired
hunter with using a firearm to take a deer during a specially permitted
hunt. Using a laser guided scope, the hunter with sight gives the
direction of the deer and tells the visually impaired hunter when to
pull the trigger.
Brent, who works for the Veterans Administration, regularly hunted with
his father from age 12 to his mid-20s when he began to slowly loose his
sight from a retina disease.
"The fall became a difficult time of the year for me because I could no
longer hunt," Brent said. "I still went along with dad when he hunted,
but it just wasn't the same."
Dave sensed his son's loss and went about finding a way to get him
afield again. He contacted the DNR, which directed him to Capable
Partners. They went about setting up a special deer hunt for the
physically impaired.
Early on Oct.14, the Neeser's and19 other physically impaired hunters
headed to the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. Capable Partners
provided a hunter orientation session before the participants made their
way to their deer stands.
Father and son were hunting together again.
"We sat in the stand with dad behind me to call out the direction of
any deer crossing our path," a still excited Brent recounted. "I joke
with dad that I can hear but can't see, while he can see but can't hear.
He soon pointed out a deer 35-40 yards directly in front of us."
Dave quickly scooted behind his son calling out the direction of the
deer. Brent trained the laser bead from the gun's scope and pulled the
trigger hitting the deer in the shoulder. The 6-point buck ran for a
short distance. Brent was disappointed after an initial search in the
area found nothing.
"It was an emotional rollercoaster, a real downer when we couldn't find
him," Brent said.
But after another search, Dave found the buck.
"I jumped in the air when he said he found him," Brent said. "I was on
cloud nine, and I'm still on cloud nine thanks to my father, the DNR,
Capable Partners and a very generous Pine River gunsmith who provided
the 20-gauge shotgun and mounted the laser at cost."
Neeser's deer was among the 19 harvested that
day.
The Neeser's hope the special hunt was a success for everyone who
participated, whether they took a deer or not. Their hope is if it was,
it would provide an opportunity for physically challenged hunters to
participate in future regular firearm deer seasons, and other hunting
seasons.
"I lost so much when I lost my sight and could no longer hunt,
especially losing that special bond between a father and son or daughter
who hunt together," Brent said. "But being able to hunt again has been
tremendous, improving my confidence in everything I do. It's great to
have a second shot at hunting."
Brent Neeser was given another chance to hunt again recently thanks to
the love of his father, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and Capable Partners, a Minnesota non-profit organization
dedicated to creating accessible outdoor opportunities for the
physically challenged.
Declared legally blind since his mid-20s, the 37-year-old Andover man
participated in the first vision impaired deer hunt, Oct. 14-22, at the
Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area near Cambridge.
"It was a very emotional experience for me to see Brent, who once had
sight, lose his sight, and then gain back some of his independence by
doing something he enjoyed so much in the past," said his father, Dave
Neeser of St. Cloud.
State statute allows a hunter with sight to assist a visually impaired
hunter with using a firearm to take a deer during a specially permitted
hunt. Using a laser guided scope, the hunter with sight gives the
direction of the deer and tells the visually impaired hunter when to
pull the trigger.
Brent, who works for the Veterans Administration, regularly hunted with
his father from age 12 to his mid-20s when he began to slowly loose his
sight from a retina disease.
"The fall became a difficult time of the year for me because I could no
longer hunt," Brent said. "I still went along with dad when he hunted,
but it just wasn't the same."
Dave sensed his son's loss and went about finding a way to get him
afield again. He contacted the DNR, which directed him to Capable
Partners. They went about setting up a special deer hunt for the
physically impaired.
Early on Oct.14, the Neeser's and19 other physically impaired hunters
headed to the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. Capable Partners
provided a hunter orientation session before the participants made their
way to their deer stands.
Father and son were hunting together again.
"We sat in the stand with dad behind me to call out the direction of
any deer crossing our path," a still excited Brent recounted. "I joke
with dad that I can hear but can't see, while he can see but can't hear.
He soon pointed out a deer 35-40 yards directly in front of us."
Dave quickly scooted behind his son calling out the direction of the
deer. Brent trained the laser bead from the gun's scope and pulled the
trigger hitting the deer in the shoulder. The 6-point buck ran for a
short distance. Brent was disappointed after an initial search in the
area found nothing.
"It was an emotional rollercoaster, a real downer when we couldn't find
him," Brent said.
But after another search, Dave found the buck.
"I jumped in the air when he said he found him," Brent said. "I was on
cloud nine, and I'm still on cloud nine thanks to my father, the DNR,
Capable Partners and a very generous Pine River gunsmith who provided
the 20-gauge shotgun and mounted the laser at cost."
Neeser's deer was among the 19 harvested that
day.
The Neeser's hope the special hunt was a success for everyone who
participated, whether they took a deer or not. Their hope is if it was,
it would provide an opportunity for physically challenged hunters to
participate in future regular firearm deer seasons, and other hunting
seasons.
"I lost so much when I lost my sight and could no longer hunt,
especially losing that special bond between a father and son or daughter
who hunt together," Brent said. "But being able to hunt again has been
tremendous, improving my confidence in everything I do. It's great to
have a second shot at hunting."
