Rollie the Retriever

Remembering Rollie makes me smile and get teary eyed all at the same time. Rollie was one of my four legged friends that is no longer with us. He had a short life with us but it was a very loved and memorable one! Dogs truly are mans best friend! Rollie Pollie Pants was my […]

Read More » | February 28, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: 2

Don’t Let Fear Stop You in Your Tracks

Two years ago, while hunting for whitetails in Idaho, I decided to pursue a monster buck my husband had seen the previous weekend. The only catch: the five train trestles between me and my quarry, and I was terrified of heights. The mere thought of crossing the ancient wooden trestles put a knot in my stomach. The gaps between the ties were wide enough for my feet to fall through should I make a single misstep. … I felt my heart racing in my chest and my legs turning to Jello as I stood before the snow-covered train trestle that spanned the raging creek and icy boulders far below. After surveying the situation and realizing there was no way to get to the buck’s hideout without crossing the trestles, I gritted my teeth and took a tentative step onto the first trestle. Trying to block out the vision of my body plunging to its death through the wide gaps between the railroad ties, I focused my thoughts on the giant buck. Taking a deep breath and gripping my rifle tightly in my sweaty palms, I took another careful step onto the next railroad tie. I forced myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other until, after what seemed like an eternity, I triumphantly stepped onto solid ground once again. One trestle down, four to go! … I conquered the next three trestles without losing my nerve and it was with a renewed sense of confidence that I approached the fifth and final trestle. But to my dismay I realized that it was the longest and tallest trestle yet. Looking down at my feet, the gaps between ties appeared even farther apart than they were on the earlier trestles and I envisioned myself crashing to my death even as I stood there, trying to decide what to do. I chickened out. … Feeling defeated, I turned back in the direction I had come. As I approached the last trestle I had crossed, I realized I had to confront this ridiculous fear. I could not let these trestles defeat me and keep me from my trophy buck! So I turned around and headed back to face my nemesis. When I found myself once again looking across the trestle’s long span, I told myself “Just breathe! You can do this” and stepped semi-confidently onto the trestle’s first tie…. … As it turned out, I did see a couple of nice bucks but didn’t take one that day. However, I took home a greater prize from that hunt: I triumphed over my fear by not letting it keep me from doing something I love! … Since that day, I have crossed many trestles and with each one, my level of anxiety has gone down significantly. Last fall, I went a step further and hunted for the first time from a tree stand with a level of comfort and confidence I never thought possible. I have indeed conquered my fear of heights, thanks to the sport that continues to give me so much more than meat in my freezer!

Read More » | February 27, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: 2

The Night The Sky Was Quiet

If you’re like me, you have always since a child looked up at the night sky, wondering what’s out there, what you’re seeing, where the objects moving are going. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a small girl. I am amazed at the beauty of the unknown, especially that seen only at […]

Read More » | February 25, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: none

Huntress Kills Huntress

Before I divulge the details of my cougar hunt, I’d like to share some history. Ever since I began hunting at the age of 13, I never thought I would see a Mountain Lion…especially not in the Panhandle of Idaho. They are far from endangered here, but even the most experienced hunters have never encountered […]

Read More » | February 24, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: none

Can Hunters Be Animal Lovers?

Anyone who hunts has probably heard this comment or something similar many times: “I could never hunt; I love animals too much.” It is a common misconception and a frequently exploited concept by anti-hunters that hunters are cruel and heartless people who only want to see animals suffer and die. However, over the course of […]

Read More » | February 23, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: 4

Patience Pays Off

I first laid eyes on “behemoth buck” about three weeks ago when he graced my game cam with his presence. I was completely awestruck. I had never seen such a gorgeous whitetail, and the thought that he was just a hundred yards from my blind sent shivers down my spine. I was certain I would […]

Read More » | February 22, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: 2

Quacker Smackers – My Love of Shotguns

Growing up I always had an interest in firearms. Guns have always held my interest and kept my attention, but my feelings for shotguns are a little bit more heartfelt! Yes I do kind of have issues with my admiration and love of shotguns! Shot guns have such a variety of choices. The different gauges, […]

Read More » | February 21, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: none

My Hunting Bucket List

I know as a hunter that many serious hunters have a bucket list of game and places that they’d like to hunt. I love to hear each hunters account of where their dream hunt is, or after what game. Sometimes these dream hunts are with certain people, not necessarily after a certain game or at […]

Read More » | February 20, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: none

The Unknown Effect

We live our lives day to day and try to do what we love and ensure happiness for ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us. Most of us never really think about how much one little action affects others who we may not even know or how far reaching something we say or do […]

Read More » | February 19, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: none

My Introduction into the Hunting World

After learning of my not-so-feminine hobby, this question almost immediately follows: “How does a girl like you get into something like this?” They seem to find it hard to believe that a girl could get into hunting on her own free will, without the influence of a man. I usually just smile and say, “I […]

Read More » | February 18, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: 1
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