Otto's First Deer Season

I am so proud of this boy.

Otto turned 10 in September, which meant this was his first hunting season walking around with a deer tag in his pocket.

He worked hard learning how to shoot his .243 rifle, and we put in a shit ton of time over the past five weeks looking for deer on the ranch.

We were so close multiple times, but it never all came together for me to give Otto the green light to shoot.

The general season ended Sunday, which means Otto won’t get a deer this season.

We are both bummed.

Not because Otto didn’t get his first deer, but because our quest for Otto’s deer is over.

It was such special time together.

Great conversations, silliness, laughter, shared frustrations, long stretches of us just sitting there together in silence watching the landscape.

No cell service, no distractions — just Otto and I looking for deer and enjoying nature.

As a dad, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

And Otto loved it.

He’s a hunter — with a hunter’s heart and a deep love for nature — and we are already making plans for next fall.

I snapped this photo of us Sunday evening.

It was a gorgeous sunset, and a giant full moon was rising over the Crazy Mountains behind us.

The wind had stopped, and we watched a short-eared owl fly right by us.

The coyotes were singing their hearts out, and we thought we heard wolves howling in the distance.

Otto might not have gotten his first deer, but this is a wall-hanger I’ll cherish forever.

Thank you, Otto.

I love hunting with you more than you’ll ever know.

— Matt