I am many things. First, I am a sinner saved by the blood of Messiah, whose sacrifice allowed me to be grafted into His family. I am a wife. I am a mother. I’m a homeschool mom. I am a cow chaser and a horse piddle-arounder. I am a guitar player and a gardener and I’m a “why-did-I-just-say-that-weird- thing-er”….but right up there, pretty high on the list, I am a hunter.
I hunt. I grew up hunting. I continue to hunt and teach my kids to hunt, too.
As far back as I remember, hunting was a big deal to my family. Whether it was a day shooting a mess of squirrels or waiting for dad to come home with a whitetail, there was always some form of hunting going on. I even got to spend much of my childhood playing with beagle pups, because chasing rabbits was also of utmost importance.
When we moved to Colorado I got to be more involved. I got to stay at camp while the guys were horseback looking for elk and I got to be part of the butchering process when an animal was down.
I remember the day I took my hunter’s safety test and the excitement that filled me. I remember the first time I filled out a hunting license application. Back then they came in the hunting magazines and it was a stressful process 🤣 you know, back before everything was done on the good ol’ world wide interwebs.
The first deer I took was a monster two point by Colorado terminology, but a 4 point in Oklahoma.
My dad and I had been walking in a pasture checking horses when this absolute booner stepped out. My dad let me rest my rifle on his shoulder and that’s that. We took him home and got him in the freezer. That’s a memory that will last as long as I breathe. My first deer and I was hooked. I even took the hair tie out of my braid to secure the tag.
As I grew, I spent countless hours in the woods with my dad.
My dad and I were inseparable. Turkey every spring, archery, muzzleloader, 1st, 2nd, 3rd seasons in the fall, and December and January cow seasons. We hit as many as we possibly could. We would even break in the fall to head back to Oklahoma for a few wild hogs, a couple whitetail, and a mess of squirrels.
It was mostly good times, except that one time with his bull, but we don’t talk about it, because my feelings are still hurt about that one 💔🤣 I’ll even tell you about the time he had me belly crawl across a pasture full of cactus just to still not be able to get to the elk, but not the bull story 🤣
We put miles on the horses…and we rode some dang good horses. We saw beautiful country. We weathered some good storms. We saw too many elk and deer to count. We ate gas station burritos and polish sausages when we got back to town and would have the best naps when we got back home and would always put on trash tv like Jerry Springer or Maury, finding out the father was always so entertaining 🤣
When we would get a critter down, Mom was always home waiting with a knife to help process it. She may not hunt, but she’s a butchering machine.
My brother was already grown and away with the Army by the time I really got into hunting. However, I’ve got some pretty good stories with him, too. And I pray for many more in the future.
Hunting with my dad helped shape me into who I am…the jury is still out on whether I’m someone worth knowing or not 🤣 but nevertheless, the lessons I learned through all of that time with him gave me immeasurable skills and knowledge.
Not only did I learn the value of working hard to put food on the table, but I learned how to find the food, bring it home, put it up, and prepare it. I learned how to butcher all these animals, which saves me a ton of money now. I can put my own meat in the freezer, without the need for someone else to package it for me.
These days I don’t hunt much with my dad. Schedules are different. Life is busy.
Instead, I’ve been hunting either alone or with my husband.
My husband and I have gotten into some pretty cool country to hunt. We absolutely love getting away from everything and being in the woods.
And now, I get to pass on my love for hunting to my children along with my husband.
This year, I was able to take the kids out with me on my pronghorn doe hunt. They were with me for the whole hunt. They helped me spot her, get ready for a shot, and find her in the field after she was down. Then they got to help with the entire butchering process and now get to eat all that we harvested.
Hunting is a huge part of our life.
It isn’t about the thrill of the kill, honestly, I hate the killing more and more every year. It isn’t about bragging about antlers. It isn’t even about the number of heads on the wall or in the shed.
It’s about the time spent with my family. It’s about being in the woods and listening to the sounds. If you’ve never taken a nap under an aspen while a bull bugles somewhere in the distance, I don’t feel you’ve truly had a good nap and that saddens me for you 🤣
It’s about having the healthiest, most organic meat on this earth available to feed my family.
It’s about knowing how to take responsibility for myself and get the job done, not relying on people to provide it for me.
It’s about taking time to appreciate all that Yahuah has provided for my family and me. Each animal we are blessed to eat is prayed over and greatly appreciated. We do our best to honor each animal we are provided.
Hunting is a family thing. I am grateful my dad trained me up so that I may continue this lifestyle.
May your aim be true and you steaks be tender ❤️
Middle Creek Mama 