A duck hunt to remember

Lifelong Hartland resident and NRHEG alum Noah Nielsen recently shared the story of his favorite duck hunt of all time in a Facebook post that garnered hundreds of likes. But it is the meaning behind this hunt and the gift Nielsen gave to Waseca Police Officer Arik Matson that has touched the hearts of so many.

Matson, who had been an avid duck hunter from age nine, made his grand return to the sport last fall after missing the 2020 season while recovering from a traumatic brain injury sustained from being shot while in the line of duty.

Arik’s wife, Megan, recalled that it was “heartbreaking mentally” for him to have to miss the season opener in October 2020, and that “a lot of prep work” had to be done to ensure that the next season would be more successful.

Per Megan, Arik's doctors were concerned about his return to hunting because he was experiencing double vision, but this was later treated surgically.

“They never took it away from him; they just added precautions,” said Megan, who added that their friend, Jeremy Hencke, kept a close eye on her husband as he operated his gun. Other members of the hunting party were Noah Nielsen, Albert Lea Police Officer Nathan Idstein, and cameramen Jeff Frowley and Dale Mord.

Nielsen recalled that, on the day of the hunt, Arik “made a great shot,” downing a blue-winged teal duck, leading to a special moment Nielsen decided to memorialize.

In secret, Nielsen, who owns a taxidermy shop in Hartland, worked on a special mount for Matson’s first duck, which put it in a flight position against a backing board of the flag for police solidarity, with the phrase “Matson Strong” on the thin blue stripe.

“Without the Matson Strong drive, that hunt wouldn’t have been possible,” said Nielsen.

To Arik, being Matson Strong means “to persevere and never give up.”

Ultimately, to the Matson family, Nielsen’s gift “was more than the duck was” and serves as a reminder that through Arik’s recovery, he is able to regain both everyday skills and participate in hobbies he enjoyed before the injury.