I started blogging several years ago (not going to admit how long ago it was) under the handle of "HuntsLikeAGirl". It was a fun way to share my initial hunting experiences, as they were numerous, hilarious and sometimes unbelievable, therefore I felt they needed to be shared with world. The outlet I chose was a blog named, "Scent Free Lip Gloss." After reading through the archives, some of these are worth sharing again. You're welcome. 

Today's Throwback Thursday blog post.... Hunt Farting!
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​I'm not sure I have a point to all of this other than the fact that if you ARE a hunt farter, quit the denial.  Hunt farting is farting.  We hunt.  We fart.  Hunt farting. ​

Are you not sure HOW or WHEN to get your kids involved in your hunting adventures? Here are a few of our tips and what we've done so far with our now almost 2 year old daughter. We aren't experts by any means, but thought we'd share what has worked for us!

TALK ABOUT IT!
Leading up to our trips, I made sure to talk to Lindsey about all the animals we would see and what we are going to do outside. Granted, she was only 15 months old when we took our first big hunting trip, but I think it did really help to get her excited when I told her what we were about to do. Plus I let her help me clean and pack the camper. By the time we set up our home on the mountain, she was used to the camper and excited about living in it for a couple weeks.

BRING THEM WITH YOU!
When we found out that we were pregnant almost 3 years ago, Troy and I knew that our hunting lifestyle was about to change, but we also knew that it didn't mean we would stop hunting. We spend the majority of September hunting elk in Colorado, so what was this going to look like with a baby / toddler?

It was a lot of work planning and preparing to take along a one-year old hunting, but trust me, it was worth it.  Take your kids with you, if you can! Here is what we did to make it possible...

1. "New" camper. We purchased a newer (used) camper that had a bunk room which would provide extra space for a pack-n-play and plenty of toys! 
2. Take turns hunting or just hunt less. Troy and I used to hunt together all the time. We've now learned to adjust and do more solo hunting. Honestly, this is more true during whitetail season. Elk hunting is a little more tricky to solo hunt for us. So, we learned to relax and not hunt ALL THE TIME while on the mountain. We took the time to enjoy being together as a family. This was hard for me to adjust to at first, because I'm used to going full force and taking advantage of every daylight hour while hunting. Trust me, when my mindset changed, I was able to truly enjoy sitting in camp, drinking a cup of coffee and watching my daughter pick flowers while my dog ran along beside her. 
3. Invite Grandparents. Having our parents up on the mountain allowed us to hunt together for several days and Lindsey got great quality time with her grandparents. It was a win-win! The bigger camper allowed us to have room for grandparents too!

MAKE IT FUN!
Whether you are just bringing kids to hunting camp or letting them actually go on a hunt with you, remember to keep it FUN! You want to make sure that the first impressions are good ones, so adjust your hunting expectations and focus on introducing the hunt in a positive way. That means not expecting that a 2 year old will be able to be still or quiet for long periods of time. Remember that young kiddos have short attention spans! Here are a few ideas for a first hunt...

1. Bring snacks! Lots of snacks.
2. Have them search for different bugs. 
3. Bring quiet toys or small books.
4. Play "I spy with my little eye"
5. Let them attempt to use the call, e.g., turkey slate, elk call, etc. (Remember that this is a fun hunt and if they don't call perfectly, who cares! Also... be ready because sometimes those imperfect calls actually work! LOL)
6. Talk quietly about what you are doing, explain the how and why of the hunt and why it is important to TRY and be quiet.
7. Bubbles!! Lindsey loves bubbles right now and it kept her busy at the truck while we were scouting, setting up blinds, etc.  

​These are all just suggestions. I haven't had the chance to use all of them yet, as Lindsey is only 2 and we have only taken her on a turkey "hunt" and for not that long... it was more like setting up the blind and playing at the truck while one of us hunted. We'll get there eventually, but I think the important thing is to simply let Lindsey be a part of the process early on and see how fun it is. She was definitely excited to see the turkey this spring after I shot mine and wanted to be in the picture. Small steps! 

We want to know.... What have you done to introduce your kids to your hunting lifestyle? What tips do you have to share?

~Emily

Elk hunters understand the significance of the last load out.

Muscles strained to the point of exhaustion, testify to the work leading up to the last step out of the woods. Carrying pounds of pure protein upon your back while traveling over downed timber and making elevation gains, is the result of filling a tag. Sometimes, this means several loads from the kill site. The thought of future meals, steaks on the grill, evenings with friends milling around a BBQ grill where elk burger smells fill the air, drives us to continue the journey, the motivation needed to take the next step. Back and forth we journey until the last edible piece of meat is removed. If you've never experienced the feeling of exhaustion from carrying out a years worth of meat out of the woods on your back, then you may never fully understand and appreciate where your meal comes from. It is a far cry from the normalcy of the nice, clean and easy trip to the grocery store. 

Hunting is messy, bloody and will test you to the core. It is a lifestyle in direct contrast to the current age of convenience where a burger can be located and consumed around nearly any fast food joint around the next corner in town. It is almost amazing that anyone would still willingly choose to take on the daunting task of hunting, killing and bringing meat out of the forests. Almost. I am still hopeful that future generations don't loose the understanding and love for the hunt. In this day and age I believe it is a toughness that needs to be cultivated. As I watch the cultural trends and mindset of this current generation, I am a little fearful that this way of life may be lost if we aren't intentional about passing it on. But then I look at the hunting community and am hopeful because of the many passionate individuals who understand the importance of valuing and teaching others why we hunt.

Troy and I are committed to teaching Lindsey the importance of understanding where her food comes from, respecting the animals we pursue, and appreciating the outdoor lifestyle that we live. Hopefully, she will grow up loving the outdoors. Kids naturally love the outdoors and I've already seen her light up as she discovers new things in the world around her. I don't think the lifestyle of hunting and enjoying the outdoors will be a hard sell. Thank goodness!

I was reminiscing recently about how I once carried out almost an entire an elk on my back (3 trips to take out the front shoulders and a hind quarter.) As I was making my way back to meet the guys on the mountain slope for the last load, I stumbled upon a doe bedded in the aspen. The beauty of the scene stopped me in my tracks. The straps from a bloody, empty packframe, strapped to my back, slowly swayed in the mountain breeze. The contrast of life and death swirled around me. There is a thankfulness for a pile of meat which will feed a family for a year, yet a reality of the cost it took to obtain it that washes over the hunter. She sat there unaware of my presence for several minutes. We shared the peacefulness of those few moments, while I let thankfulness for the opportunity to be there and simply let the beauty of it all fill me up. My muscles began to remind me that if I stopped too long, I may not want to or even be able to get that last load out. I had to keep moving. When I reached the guys for the last load, I was met with puzzled looks and the question of, "What took so long this time?" Joke was on me... they were slowly gutting and cutting up the meat, in the hopes that if they took long enough, I would end up carrying the entire elk off the mountain. I didn't tell them right away that I took a break on the way down the mountain that last time (thank you, doe, for the distraction!). We had a good laugh around the campfire that night. 

All this to say.... as hunters, we work hard to get every last bit of meat off the mountain, and when the last load is finally strapped to your back and hauled out, there is a sense of satisfaction that is hard to explain. I remember each elk shot on the mountain, each time we hauled out all the meat and each time we finally reached the truck with all the meat. 

I wonder if that is truly why elk tastes so good. It is a labor of love.