A 12-year-old Florida boy, who will soon go blind, bagged an8-point buck and a doe on a Catch-A-Dream hunt hosted byGeorgia-Pacific’s Monticello mill Saturday.

Eddy Limonta, of Jacksonville, Fla., arrived in MonticelloWednesday afternoon with his mother, uncle and a cousin to realizethe dream. Limonta has an optic glioma caused by a brain tumor andattends the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine,Fla.

“He’s completely blind on the left, but he still has a littleimagery on the right,” said his mother, Lien Aleman. “He can’t makeout people’s features. He identifies them by their voice.”

Eventually, Limonta will go completely blind, she said.

In fact, that eventuality may not be far in the future, saidCatch-A-Dream Director Marty Brunson. While validating Limonta’seligibility to participate in the organization’s program to providelife-changing outdoor experiences for children withlife-threatening illnesses, Brunson said the doctors told him toact “soon.”

Despite his handicap, Limonta bagged an 8-point buck weighing121 lbs. and a doe through the assistance of his uncle, ElvisAleman, and GP employees, who served as “dogs” to drive deer on themill’s nature’s preserve to the young hunter. His huntingproficiency earned the moniker “One-Shot Eddy” from the dogs.

“The magnification of the scope helps him to take the shot,”Lien Aleman said.

Elvis Aleman, of Tallahassee, Fla., would spot the deer and helphim line up the shot by peering over his shoulder, but it wasLimonta who decided when to pull the trigger. It was a routine thepair had worked out before this weekend’s outing in his uncle’sback yard with a bow and arrow.

“I would pull it and he would tell me up, down, left, right anda certain amount. I knew I hit if I heard it hit the box,” Limontasaid.

Among Limonta’s first words after shooting his first deer, thebuck, on Thursday afternoon was that “the Lord has shined his lighton me,” he said.

It is a comment that exemplifies the mission of Catch-A-Dream,Brunson said.

“We use hunting and fishing as opportune tools to expose thesechildren to the wonders of God that await them in the outdoors, notin the bleak and sterile world of medical facilities, treatmentsand hospital gowns, but in the presence of the Creator, who is theauthor of real hope,” Brunson said. “That’s the real trophy. Notthat buck hanging on the wall.”

Catch-A-Dream was founded by the late Bruce Brady of Brookhaven,an avid outdoorsman and author. Brady’s wife, Peggy, remains anactive board member.

The organization sponsored 39 trips in 2005, Brunson said.Limonta’s hunt was the first hunt in the 2006 season.

Georgia-Pacific’s Monticello mill has sponsored four hunts inthe past five years and has become one of Catch-A-Dream’s mostreliable and trusted partners, Brunson said. No child on aMonticello GP hunt has left without fulfilling his dream.

“We missed one year when our young hunter got sick and we had topostpone,” said Johnnie Carlisle, GP’s public relations director.”By the time he got better we were ready for the next hunt, so hecame on that one.”

Asa Hardison, the mill’s general manager, said he can name allfour hunt recipients and keeps up with them by correspondence.

“The most wonderful thing about it is the people you meet,” hesaid, adding the children never cease to inspire him with theirpositive outlook on life despite their handicaps.

While speaking during a luncheon Saturday to mark Limonta’ssuccessful hunt, Hardison said next year he would like to bring allfour children back for a visit and, possibly, a second hunt.

Limonta was also surprised at the luncheon by some special giftsprovided by GP. He was excited to open to unwrap a rifle case andshouted in glee when he opened it to find a .243 caliber RemingtonModel 7 rifle complete with scope, the same type he used during theweekend hunt.

“Can you believe they got me a rifle?” he would ask with a smilewhile visiting with everyone after the event.

Elvis Aleman asked to speak during the luncheon and gave atearful thanks to all involved that watered the eyes of everyone inattendance.

He said three months ago, they learned Eddy’s slow slip intoblindness would soon end and he would likely be completely blind.The boy and his uncle confessed they shared a dream of wanting towitness together the great outdoors and God’s wonder before Limontalost his sight.

However, Elvis Aleman didn’t know how to achieve this dreambecause he didn’t have the money to buy a professional hunt. Indesperation, he said, he sent the Mossy Oak company an e-mailoutlining his plight. They suggested he contact Catch-A-Dream.

Two days later, Elvis Aleman said, he was talking with Brunsonabout this weekend’s hunt.

Brunson also made a special announcement during his remarks atthe luncheon.

“As you know,” he said, “each year we honor a special award tomark someone who has gone above and beyond to support our dream.I’m proud to announce today, for the first time, that on May 2 wewill present a Corporate Vision Award to Georgia-Pacific.”

The award is given annually to a corporation or organization torecognize its efforts in supporting the Catch-A-Dream program.Mossy Oak is a previous Corporate Vision Award recipient for itsdonations of equipment, supplies and funding.

The family returns to Florida today.