Riding Shotgun

Growing up with a dad and brothers who like to hunt, I became accustomed to venison and pheasant being a staple in our family meals.

My dad also made the best smoked jerky using the deer meat he would bring home.

As a young girl I wanted to go bird hunting with him, not to actually hunt but to be his dog handler. He had a black lab named Bo who was not only his hunting companion but a family pet as well.

Bo didn't need a handler. He was a seasoned hunter and had had his game down to a science but my dad never let me in on his and Bo's secret. He let me come along and Bo let me think I was instructing him on how to flush out a bird and bring it back.

Although I was around hunters in my young life I'm not a fan of the sport.  I do respect those who use the meat and not hunt just for the trophy. 

The husband dabbled in hunting when he was a teenager, it gave him something to do with his dad, but he never took to it and gave it up once he got older. 

Last weekend he and I wanted to get another camping trip in with the horses before the beautiful fall days turn cold and wintery.

We decided to go to a camp site close to a ski resort as well as the Pacific Crest Trail. 

It was also opening weekend for elk hunting.

I was a bit nervous to be riding in the woods where possible hunters would be looking for elk but the husband assured me we would be fine as long as we wore the proper hunter orange
attire.

He was right, we were fine and the camping trip was a success. The only people we saw on the trails were a few hikers and only one hunter, who was wearing his bright orange. 

We brought portable pens for the horses

Not the covered stalls they are accustomed to like the horse park we typically camp in but they had blankets to wear at night to keep them warm and cozy.

We were the only horse campers there but by the looks of it you would think there were other people in the camp ground.

I liked being able to look out the trailer and seeing the horses.

Oskar, for some reason enjoyed drinking from a puddle. The melted snow must have tasted mountain fresh.

Although chilly, it was so pretty being in the trees and riding around a lake.

We also took advantage of our fire pit and warmed ourselves up before settling in for the night.

We are close to our goal of camping 12 times this year. Last weekend was our 9th trip.

3 more to go and with snow around the corner, I hope we can do it.