Uncategorized
Back 40: Moms hunt too
Published
7 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Krista Larson EBS Contributor
I tell everyone I took up archery hunting for a challenge—so I could get close enough to elk to smell and touch them—but I also got into it to stay active and out in the woods while pregnant with my second child. I wanted a new sport to learn and enjoy with my husband Caleb and we wanted to acquaint our son, even at age 1, with hunting as a fun family sport.
Archery hunting is providing other benefits: it’s helped me experience a sense of freedom I hadn’t enjoyed, even briefly, for at least a year; and it’s allowed me to fill my family’s freezer with meat and participate in what I believe to be the most responsible practice for a carnivore.
Sept. 22 was a wet, foggy day with a constant wind that made Caleb and I work tirelessly to stay downwind at our favorite, quiet parcel of public land west of Missoula.
After hearing elk bugling and making our approach, we realized the bull we were bugling with was moving up the ridge. We climbed up after it. This meant sneaking slowly up another 600 feet of ridgeline through wet brush, mixed conifer stands and open meadows. The next two hours of pursuit led to encounters that leave you tired, weak in the knees and squinting through the mist to catch a glimpse of this incredible animal.
Three times I watched golden-colored antlers move toward me over the tops of new growth conifers and heard the thrashing of trees and brush between chuckles. Just as those antlers reached the edge of trees, I pulled my bow back to full draw and tried to remain calm and steady, thinking this is it, the moment I’ve been waiting for—only to hear another chuckle and watch the bull slowly vanish into the fog up what seemed like a never-ending ridge. Enter old friend: discouragement.
Despite exhaustion and feeling defeated, we decided to give it one more push after once again hearing a bugle not too much further ahead. We decided to change our tactic by moving forward more aggressively together, but the cover became thinner and it was harder to sneak around, despite the fog.
I crept up to stand between two fir trunks that were only about 8 inches wide and barely concealed my midline. As Caleb bugled behind me, a beautiful five-point bull came out of the mist and walked straight toward me. He walked slowly, pausing once to turn his head slightly, and I finally got a good look at the animal we’d been pursuing for over two hours.
Just 20 yards away and out in the open now, he looked right back at me and began moving forward, stopping at the tree trunk right in front of me. My only move was to put my bow between the trunk and myself, face my bow straight out, and pull back as quickly and steadily as possible during the split second his eyes were behind the trunk.
He stopped for a brief second because he caught my left arm movement out of the corner of his eye—they say elk have a 270-degree field of vision—but after hearing Caleb bugle again below me, he slowly stepped past the tree to my right. This was it! I slowly moved my sight on his vital zone. At 3 yards away, he was so close I could have touched him as he walked by. I held steady and then released.
That’s when everything switched from slow motion to fast forward.
He began running quickly, like a bucking bronco. After hearing Caleb cow call to him, he rounded the ridge and slowed to a trot before dropping down the edge, just out of sight. I caught a glimpse of my arrow sticking out of his vital area, and there was bright red blood already visible. This was encouraging, about as good of a scenario as an archery hunter can practice and hope for, and it appeared he wasn’t going to run too much further.
We didn’t want to celebrate too much yet, but an immediate wave of excitement brought us to an emotional embrace that summed up the months of preparation leading to this moment—the practice shooting sessions in our yard, the instructional and inspiring videos, the 10.5-mile training hikes with 30-70 pound packs while pregnant.
All of it led us to this moment of success that we will both remember for the rest of our lives.
Krista Larson is a fourth-generation Montana mama exploring nature and seeking new challenging ways to enjoy it and share it with the next generation.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
29mar3:00 pm4:00 pmGood Friday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event City:Big Sky
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Friday) 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm