My first, successful, solo hunt.
It was a crispy morning of mid 20’s as frost coated everything around me.
My heavy breathing created a white cloud above my headlamp as I carried my dad’s 300 mag on my back. As I made my way through the scrub oak trails memories from my past replayed in my mind..
As a young girl of just 12 I often wandered around the woods, a shotgun in hand as i hunted for blacktail deer.
The morning sun shines bright on the frosty earth and everything around me starts to glow. Soon the sky is highlighted in pink and the earth suddenly is glowing, I stop to take it all in. And, then I see him
walking just 80 yards in front of me. I drop to my knees and pulling up the rifle i settle my elbows on my knees, let the gun settle, aim and fire!! I hit the buck square on the back and drop him dead in his tracks.
Walking up to this buck felt a lot different than it had in the past. Usually, my dad, a sister or brother was there sharing such an amazing experience with me.
The connection we hunters feel with the animals we kill is personal, and this hunt for me proved me wrong in so many ways,
During this time of my life I was having a hard time with self love and worth. I was so broken and was looking for ways to become stronger.
Looking down on the buck, the reality set in that I better get to work field dressing this animal, and packing it out.
With each stroke of the knife I cut away the lies that I’m not good enough, the self hate, my self confidence, or lack there of.
Not wanting to make more then one trip with the meat on my back, I decide to d-bone the meat so it would all fit in my pack and I wouldn’t have to come back.
Those first few steps as I took off to the truck were such important steps for me. They paved a new direction, a new focus. That pack our taught me many things, but most importantly it gave me confidence to keep pushing forward. I hope all you women reading this will experience this one day, and if you already have , let’s keep sharing our stories from the field.
We are all right WHERE WE ARE SUPOSE TO BE!!
I encourage you women to get out there, and hunt, and explore all by yourself. Of course, be prepared with proper knowledge of the sport. I promise you, you're going to love it! It creates character in us, and we become better humans in the process. I’m so excited for you to feel these moments.
If you’ve read this far, then let me tell you about this amazing clinic coming up!
WOMENS MULE DEER CLINIC at the UTE THEATHER in RIFLE CO.
LADIES!!! This one is going to be so fun! If you are new to hunting, or perhaps want to learn more about it, Rocky Mountain Sportswomen and Muley Fanatic Foundation and Natural AF Jewelry are teamed up for this event! There will be speakers, from public land-notching your tag and field dressing. There will be coffee, local companies with booths, lunch included, some more great speakers and then we’ll all head downtown for live music and a free drink on us, so we can connect!! Head on over to utetheather.com to purchase your tickets and join us for a fun day ! I’m looking forward to meeting ya’ll, to hearing your stories and learning together!
I love that I was wearing this onesie on this hunt!
Such a cool buck! He escaped death once, but not by me.