Autumn Clark, a mother from Swanville, Maine, has sparked a heated debate after taking her 11-month-old daughter, Ophelia, on a moose hunt. Clark, along with her husband, David, set out on the first day of the bull moose hunting season with their daughter strapped to her back. The family successfully bagged a moose on their first day out.
The Bangor Daily News shared the story on Facebook, leading to mixed reactions from the community. Some criticized the decision, with one commenter writing, “Killing of a life should not be a photo op. Respect and honor is absent in hunting it seems as we become unappreciative more and more as we exploit basic needs for a social media fame.”
Another wrote, “Look at the pretty moose honey. Let’s watch Daddy kill it. (I hope therapy will help).”
However, most of the commentors defended Clark’s decision to bring Ophelia on the hunt.
“Are people surprised this is the real MAINE way… congratulations,” one commenter said.
“Congratulations guys ! What an incredible experience. ❤️,” another person wrote.
Clark explained her decision to include Ophelia in the experience, acknowledging the challenges of caring for an infant during the hunt. She noted that Ophelia was cranky at the start but eventually settled down and even attempted to mimic cow calls. “We had to hope she wouldn’t be too fussy or loud,” Clark told the Bangor Daily News.
The hunt took place in a secluded area near a bog, 700 yards from the nearest road. Clark, familiar with the region from previous scouting, prepared extensively for the outing. The family encountered a bull moose shortly after setting up and made a successful kill. David then brought Ophelia to pose for photos with her mother and the moose.
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