Published: October 06, 2007 10:07 pm            

MARTINO: Freedom Hunt proves to be special day for kids

Special needs children are treated to a day in the outdoors

In 1998 at the age of four, Anthony Matamoros of Plainfield was riding in a Ford Escort with his mother. Strapped in a car seat, Anthony and his younger brother, Austin, watched the passing scenery. A short time later, at a poorly marked intersection, the family was involved in a horrific car accident. Austin would not survive while Anthony suffered a severe spinal cord injury that will likely leave him confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Since that dreadful day, Anthony, now 13, has decided to move forward, taking each day as a gift. His dreams are to hunt and one day become a police officer. His first dream was realized just last week when he took part in Freedom Hunt 2007.

Spearheaded by Kokomo’s Steve Griffey and supported by dozens of compassionate outdoorsmen and women, Freedom Hunt provides 10 children with special needs the opportunity to take part in Indiana’s youth deer hunting weekend.

These children, their families and a host of volunteers spent the entire weekend camping and hunting on a beautiful Cass County farm located on the scenic banks of the Eel River. The landowner graciously donated use of his property for this unique event. Numerous barrack style canvas tents were furnished by the Indiana National Guard.

Participants received an entire repertoire of hunting equipment which became theirs to keep. Everyone in attendance was also treated to a buffet of succulent camp food like venison chili and wild game kabobs. When it came time to take to the field, these children were accompanied by their very own personal guides.

Anthony was joined by his grandfather Jerry O’Neill of Pittsboro. Fresh from a year-long stint in Iraq, O’Neill, who just completed a 32-year career in the military, saw this as the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with Anthony. “I really missed my best buddy,” O’Neill said, referring to his grandson. “As soon as I heard about this special hunt, I knew we both had to attend.”

In the early morning darkness on the first day of the hunt, the young boy, his grandfather and their guide, Roger Eubank from Kokomo, slowly picked their way to their ground blind, strategically placed just inside the woods overlooking an alfalfa field.

“Have you ever seen the woods come alive?” Eubank asked the young boy as the first wisps of light became visible in the eastern sky. It wasn’t long before the sounds of birds and the sharp claws of squirrels as they scampered down nearby trees filled the woods with nature’s cacophony. A smile slowly coursed it way across Anthony’s innocent face as he slowly turned to Eubank, nodding his head in approval.

Meanwhile, at another nearby location, Freedom Hunt founder Steve Griffey shared a blind with 9-year-old Andrew Ash. “Even though Andrew bears the brunt of autism, he is all about hunting,” said his mother Tina.

“Here comes a deer!” Griffey whispered as a doe walked within 20 yards of their blind early that first morning. Andrew slowly raised the 20-gauge Remington. The woods echoed with the gun’s report and the young boy would soon collect his first deer.

“This was the most exciting thing I have ever done,” the typically quiet Andrew said after some coaxing. “I want to do this every year until I am too old.”

In the end, almost all of the 10 kids who took part in this year’s event saw deer with three of them encountering success.

As the weekend long Freedom Hunt drew to a close, several of us gathered around the still burning camp fire. We discussed the positive merits of involving kids with the great outdoors, especially children with special needs.

“This type of activity not only benefits the children, but we adults as well,” said Ernie Hurst, who also served as a guide. Several of us agreed that it was nice to leave the pressures and stress of our daily jobs behind, if only for a little while, to provide these children with a positive memory. “It almost makes me feel kind of bad,” Eubank stated, as he rubbed the two day stubble that had accumulated on his chin. “While we talked about the pressures we sometimes deal with, these kids have to deal with the utmost in challenges every day of their lives, yet they remain positive and take each day as a gift. Everyone can learn a lot from these kids.”

Even though this year’s Freedom Hunt may be over until next year, there is no doubt the 10 kids who took part came away with memories and knowledge they will have for a lifetime. But then again, so did the volunteers!

Tournament results

• Morse Reservoir was the site of a local tournament benefiting Kokomo’s We Care. Nearly one-half of the proceeds generated were earmarked for the popular and worthwhile charity.

After weigh-in it was the father and son team of Everette and Dennis Lytle coming out on top with four largemouth bass topping the scales at nine pounds, nine ounces. Second place went to Hink Hinkle and Dennis McKee with four fish totaling seven pounds. Jerry Hogan and Neille Dugger were third with three fish going six pounds, 11 ounces. A four pound, seven ounce fish gave the team of Max Kelly and Dave Pross the tourneys “big bass” award.

• The 2007 end of the season Bullseye Team Tournament Trail “Classic” event was conducted on Lake Tippecanoe. Phil Reel and Greg Rude won the event with two fish dropping the digital scales at 5.64 pounds. A fish tipping the scales at 3.87 pounds also gave them the tourney’s “big bass” honor. Rod Varnell and Carlos Padilla were second with two fish weighing 5.13 pounds. Lonnie Dewitt and Thomas Waldon finished third with two fish weighing 4.62 pounds.

Deer hunting results

For many outdoor sports minded men and women, we are now in one of the most celebrated times of the season. The early archery deer hunting season is now open and many people are enjoying the excitement of trying to take one of our country’s most challenging big game animals with bow hunting equipment.

As I have done for the past several decades, I will do my best to recognize those hunters who collect deer and take them to one of our area’s deer check-in station, as required by law. This information will be collected with help from Bryant’s Outdoor Store, Burlington Locker, Jack’s Tackle Center, Full Draw Archery and Frank Simpson’s Deer Processing. This information will include field-dressed weights along with county of harvest.

Carroll County: Grant Baker, 105 pound doe; Doug Carroll, 130 pound doe; Doug Carroll, 100 pound doe

Cass County: Tyler McAchren, 100 pound doe; Kole Kirkman, 100 pound doe; Robert Harrison, 125 pound, six-point buck

Fulton County: Alex Hampton, 100 pound doe

Howard County: Casey Ling, 120 pound doe; Mike Delagrange, 120 pound doe; Bryar Schroeter, 60 pound button buck; James Collingsworth, 120 pound doe; Brock Newton, 117 pound doe; Clint Bontrager, 134 pound doe; Grant Gaylor, 110 pound doe; Wyatt Conners, 105 pound doe; Colton Mince, 60 pound button buck; Austin Pratt, 120 pound doe; Caleb Abbott, 130 pound doe

Miami County: Mike Whipple, 90 pound doe; Evan Klockziem, 80 pound button buck; Tyler Vincent, 90 pound doe; James Horne, 100 pound doe; Don Hill, 60 pound doe

Tipton County: Andy Hinkle, 105 pound doe

John Martino is the Tribune’s outdoors columnist. He may be reached through the sports department at (765) 454-8574.

        

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