We’ve been talking a lot about ritual at Late Bloomer lately, and it has me excited for one of my personal favorite rituals to begin.
Every year, my partner, myself, and my collie dog live life by the rhythm of whatever we can do on horses, deep in the backcountry. In spring, it’s bucking snow breaking in colts and cold-backed oldies. In the heat of summer, it looks like long pack trips to someplace beautiful, usually involving a lake or some good fishing. In winter, it’s one very, very cold ride on bewildered horses until the ideal Christmas tree is spotted and packed out.In fall, when the elk start to whistle, the horses hair up, and it gets too cold to lay our bags on the ground under the stars, I know it’s time to set hunting camp.
My very favorite.
We pray for snow to fly, so we can track the elk a little easier. Personally, I hope for it mostly because a wall tent is made better only by the sight of snowflakes drifting by through the tent flaps and horses gathered quietly under the pines. Though you may have guessed at it already, I’m both a terrible shot and shamelessly preferential towards reading a good book or knitting and tending dinner in the tent while the boys hunt. (It’s all about the ambiance for me.)If you’ve never had the pleasure, all I can say is that there’s nothing like sitting in hunting camp in the whole world. The sound of wood popping and crackling away in the wood stove and the hum of the lanterns is the perfect backtrack to the quiet classics playing on someone’s speaker. It’s freezing once the sun goes down, but the inside of the tent is so warm you can sit in just your shirt.There’s always a warm meal, and warm coffee, and cold brews. There’s always a never-ending card game happening on the table. People come in and out of camp all night, and all weekend, long. Sometimes they join the game, and everyone bets quarters until someone comes away rich (a small fortune of usually about $20 in coins). Stories are told, and told again, and told again. The details change every time, but everyone still laughs.
The mornings come with hands so cold you can barely saddle your horse, and the time until dawn is spent half looking for elk and half thinking about how COLD you are and attempting to stuff your hands far enough under your horse’s mane to warm them up enough to hold your reins. I am not a morning person, but dawn in the north country rouses even me. It’s probably the most beautiful sight in the world.If you’re lucky, you spot an elk, and the race is on. We chase them down on horseback, hoping for a moment to take a shot through the brush. It’s thrilling, the most fun you can have, and sort of terrifying. It’s perhaps not the easiest way to hunt, but the sport in it feels fitting for the noble hunted.
This is my first season participating, and not just witnessing. Raising animals with integrity for a living, there’s an extra element of nerves for me taking a life. It’s the greatest responsibility in the world. I am hopeful I get the chance, but somber at the thought. It will feed my family well, and I am grateful. Mostly, I'm excited for the chase on my best mare with my best friends.
If you are also lucky enough to enjoy the gift of an animal to process this hunting season, my best tip is that Late Bloomer Ranch leaf lard makes the perfect complement to lean game meat and brings an extra element of flavor that takes the already delicious to sublime. Add it to all of your ground products and enjoy a flavor and nutrition powerhouse! We put a lot into the authentic experience of hunting camp and hunting responsibly on horses. Our holistically-raised leaf lard is the perfect compliment to an already high-vibe meat, and, because we know you value that too, you can't miss out on this perfect pair.
Shop lard HERE
See you in the mountains and, if you can find us, come play a round of cards.
