Hunter hunting along a marsh

Matt Horn

Information

  • Date Taken: 10/13/2019
  • Time Of Day: Evening
  • Method: Compound Bow
  • Official Score: N/A
  • County: St. Clair County
  • Property: Private
  • Dressed Weight: N/A

Bare with me on this one!
I started this season with the typical trial and tribulations that revolve around the archery scene. I built new arrows and tuned my bow accordingly, carefully picking out a single arrow and carefully marking it with “SS”. That is where our story shall begin. Now I know to most people that “SS” doesn’t mean much to them, but to me it held a very special place in my heart. “SS” would be with me on every hunt, seeing every sunrise and every sunset, with me as I reflected on days passed, and in the future, decisions I have made that were good ,and decisions I made that were bad, relationships built, and relationships destroyed, helping to guide me to a better self along the way. “SS” would always be there in the stand with me as I knocked that single arrow that reminded me of who I am. And as chance would have it, my opportunity would present itself on Oct 13th at 6:05pm on a big 8 point that I have been seeing(or so I thought) and I looked long and hard at that “SS” one last time before drawing back, with an open heart and confidence inspired by “SS”, I watched as that single marked arrow slipped through its intended target. Unfortunately the buck made slight move as I released the arrow causing me to hit him a bit back. So i decided to immediately back out. The next day we went back in there to to the scene of the crime and was able to recover the deer 150 yards from where I shot him. I immediately noticed that it wasn’t the big 8 that I had been seeing. But rather a 10pt that I didn’t know was in the area. This buck also had a gouged eye on his left side from fighting. But I will never forget that single arrow that forever sealed my dream into my legacy. “SS” and I made another memory, with hopefully many more to go, love and miss you dear friend, this one was for you! until we meet again.
RIP Steve Strieter 1/1/61-6/11/18