LIVING!
LIVING!
When in our lives do we become who we are? Is it from the moment we take our first breath, Is it as an adolescent, a young adult.. Or do we really ever become one decided person? I believe we are who we are simply because we are meant to be that person. In our lives we are sometimes fortunate to meet people who change our lives forever. Sometimes for the good and sometimes not so good.
I was blessed to be raised by my parents; mom always made sure we were well fed, loved and still wishes the best for her children. Dad made certain that we were immersed in the wild places and nurtured my natural desire to become part of the natural order of things. My best friend in my youth John roamed the mountains of Montana with me making memories along the way, although we are no longer friends those memories still remain. Ladies I have known, some broke my young heart, some captured it¦ while my soul mate and life partner Stacey WON it through true love and absolute devotion. I have buried good friends and cried at the loss, I have made enemies who will last a lifetime and friends who will last even longer.
My children are my most perfect accomplishment, yet I see my own flaws in them and wonder if they will be able to cope with all that lies before them. I see my strengths in them as well and am proud of their ability to enjoy life and all it has to offer, no matter what befalls them. I secretly hope for them all there is to see, do and experience, yet I wish they would always stay close by. I have a hand full of friends who I believe in and who believe in me, a select few who I would give my life for and who I am sure would return the favor. I am a hunter and most of my friends and family are hunters as well, yet there are those close to my heart and immersed in my life who would never harvest an animal.
Yes brothers and sisters of the bow, life is an ever changing ride. I am sure mine will change, evolve and I look forward to every moment I get to experience it. Thanks to those who have joined my circle on this journey we all share, and to those who may be a part of it in the future.
May every day be blessed with fine hunting, every hunt be filled with adventure and every adventure be filled with enjoyment. And may every twist and turn of this journey we call life be intertwined with one another, as we all strive toward a common goal… To not simply exist but to LIVE!!!!! Hawk
Mike “Hawk” Huston
Battle of the B.O.W. Opening Weekend
Team HuntingLife.com Date-9/12 and 9/13
Opening Weekend Opening morning and the weather was not what we had hoped for. Temps on Saturday morning were in the 60 s and 100% humidity. Terri Lee was hunting and since Kale was working Joe Sharp took over the filming.
Oma and Opa picked up Tali Friday night, (she was not happy) so we could head out early in the a.m. Tom is working so he can t watch her. Joe and Amy had supper with us and I took my last shots with the bow from the garage rooftop. Everything is ready. All my clothes have been washed in scent killing laundry soap and placed into a tub with cedar and pine boughs, even my underwear and socks. I am going all out after that big buck.
4:20 the alarm goes off and I am not ready to get up. 2 nights without sleep, due to excitement, had me dragging. 4:25 I am out of bed and into the shower. We are going to be chasing after a big buck that we have seen on the trail cams, but not this a.m. We are doing a trial run at the apple tree stand. The big buck has been coming in early evening and we do not want to spook him but I do want to get some jitters and bugs worked out. We see two small bucks and a doe as we thought we would.
I head over to pick up Tali and go home for some much needed rest and later a change of babysitters. Auntie Nicky picks up Tali at 4:00 p.m. Tom will get Tali back after work and meet me back at home, after hunting. Into the shower again, as it is so hot and I am so sweaty I have to become scent free again. Joe picks me up at 4:30 so we can head into the stand early. It is so still and muggy.
We take the wheeler in at 5:00 and bait the stand like we did the night before. We have been running the wheeler in every night at 5:00 for 2 weeks picking up trail cam pictures trying to pattern this buck. We are hoping to get the deer used to the wheeler noise also. Joe returns the wheeler to a remote spot while I get set up. We get settled in sweat pouring off of us.
Around 6:00 we have a visit from a pesky bear. We have only seen him in here once on the cameras and he picks tonight to show up. He does not want to leave. It is getting closer to the time we have been patterning our buck and we want him out of there. We start throwing rocks from our Grab-it bag. We put it in the stand earlier just in case something like this would happen. We never hit the bear but Joe almost took me out as his rock ricocheted and nearly hit me in the head! lol. He should have had that on camera.
Joe finally decided he was going to get down and chase the bear out. (I was going to film because I knew this was going to be good!) When he stood up to get out of the stand, the bear finally walked away. He was not happy he huffed and puffed as he sauntered off.
Nothing more came in and we headed out at dark, planning to return the following morning. When I arrived home, supper was waiting for me. I have an awesome husband!
9/13-My husband Tom is home this morning so no need for babysitter. Joe picks me up at 5:15 again. We head into the stand in the dark. Not much happening this morning. We think the bear has changed the dynamics of things. Weather is still very humid and warm. We pull the trail cam pictures and head home to review. We want to know how long it was before the big buck returned last time, after the bear raid. He had been back the following day. That was good news and we were hoping he will make an appearance tonight.
I Head back home for family time, a nap and another shower.
5:00 p.m. Joe and I head back to the stand again. Same routine. Joe drops me off and ditches the wheeler. We get settled in. It is probably close to 80 degrees just slightly less humid than last night. The air is very still though, no breeze. Around 6:00 we have a small doe come into the bait pile. She hangs around for a short time.
We can hear something coming in from behind us and circling around. Through the limbs I can see the deer and I get a glimpse of horn. My heart begins to race slightly. If the pattern we have seen is true, the 9 pt will come in, followed by the big buck. He finally steps out head down and I can see it is the 9 pt. He looks up directly at us. We don t move a muscle.
The mosquitoes are biting my cheek and back of my neck but I know I cannot move. I know I am not going to take this one but if we spook this him, the big one will not show up for sure. He continues to look at us and then moves back into the woods and comes around at a new angle. At one point I thought it was the big buck coming in and my heart was jumping out of my chest. I took some long, silent deep breathes to try and compose myself. Then it felt like my heart totally stopped. I thought maybe I had had a heart attack and just hadn t fallen over yet.
The deer kept staging for quite some time, coming in part way and then retreating. He finally departed, and it was pretty dark in the woods by now. We never spooked him and I don t think he knew we were there. I didn t realize until I talked to Joe that it was the 9pt all along. The big buck didn t come in and we will not be back to hunt there for a few days. We will be checking the trail camera, though to see what he is up to and work on a plan from there. Later in the week I will be filming Kale. Stay tuned for more!
Remember to join us on www.wisconsinoutdoorsnetwork.com!
See the original article at CampWildGirls.com
Extreme Huntress Contest
Primal Adventure s Extreme Huntress Contest ARE YOU A HARDCORE WOMAN HUNTER? Winner will get an all expense-paid sheep and mountain goat combo hunt with International Sportsman s Grizzly Basin Camp in British Columbia. Winner s package will include airfare, license, clothing, optics, boots, firearm and ammo all presented by contest sponsors. Also, hunt will be filmed for a future episode of Primal Adventures on Versus. Total package worth $50,000.00 [more]
See the original article at CampWildGirls.com
Team Huntress Comes to WI
REVOLUTIONARY TEAM HUNTRESS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLINIC
COMBINES OUTDOOR INSTRUCTION WITH THE PAMPERING WOMEN LOVE
Just because a woman wants to learn outdoors skills doesn’t mean she wants to stop being a woman. That’s why Team Huntress created the Outdoor Adventure Clinic, a revolutionary three-day event that caters to women who want to learn or expand on their outdoor skills while enjoying beautiful accommodations, spa treatments and the camaraderie of like-minded women.
Following the resounding success of its inaugural Outdoor Adventure Clinic for women June 12-14 at the Pheasant Phun/OJ Bar Ranch in Hitchcock, S.D., Team Huntress has announced plans for its second clinic to be held at the beautiful Buffalo County Outfitters in Mondovi, Wisconsin Aug. 21 -22 – 23. 2009.
The Outdoor Adventure Clinic offers training in archery, firearms, wildlife photography, gear and survival skills from the expert Team Huntress staff of prominent women hunters while a team of clinicians offers the kind of pampering women love: massages, facials, foot rubs, nature walks and wine tasting.
Because the majority of the teaching staff is female, the environment is particularly welcoming for women who are interested in learning outdoor skills, but intimidated by the overwhelmingly male nature of the shooting sports. Team Huntress understands that women want and need a supportive and pleasant environment for learning – no ribbing about missed shots, no competitive bravado, no substandard accommodations that make a woman cringe.
That formula – instruction, female staff and pampering – proved highly effective at the inaugural Team Huntress Outdoor Adventure Clinic at Pheasant Phun in June. Women who’d never fired a gun felt secure taking those first steps and found they really enjoyed what they were learning. By the end of the weekend, participants were abuzz about the shooting sports and the new friendships they’d formed.
The Team Huntress Outdoor Adventure Clinic is the ideal gift, whether it’s a woman treating herself to something she deserves, or an outdoorsman who’s been looking for a way to bring his wife, daughter or girlfriend into the lifestyle he loves.
Team Huntress Wisconsin Outdoor Adventure Clinic
Empowering Women for Outdoor Success
DATE: August 20. 21, 22,& 23, 2009
SPACE IS LIMITED: Only 20 Participants; Call today!
LOCATION: Buffalo County Outfitters, Mondovi, WI 54738
FOR: Women ages 18 and over who want to learn or expand their outdoor skills
BY: Team Huntress, an expert staff of prominent women hunters and outdoor enthusiast including Terri Lee Pocernich Camp Wild Girls, Kirstie Pike Prois Hunting Apparel, Barbara Baird the Women’s Outdoor News, Stacey and “Hawk” Huston A Focus in the Wild, Holly Heyser NorCal Cazadora, Jane Keller Team Huntress
INSTRUCTION: Archery, firearms, gear, wildlife photography
SPA SERVICES: Massage, facials, foot rubs, nature walk, wine tasting
ACCOMMODATIONS: 2-3 women per room, 5 full bathrooms, spacious great room
TRAVEL: Mondovi is 25 miles south of Eau Claire, 1 hour and ½ from MSP airport; pick-up and drop-off will be offered on the 20th & 23 if August.
COST: $995 – includes instruction, meals, spa treatment, gifts from sponsors (clothing, skin care, and food), lodging and transport two and from airport for those who fly in.
SHOPPING: Women’s hunting apparel from Prois, Camp Wild Girls will be available for purchase at discount Team Huntress rates. The Team Huntress camp store will be open.
CONTACT: Team Huntress founder Jane Keller, jane.keller@yahoo.com, 605-450-0931
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See the original article at CampWildGirls.com
