I started writing this blog post on the bus last week, on the way to the airport to fly back to Stockholm, but have been too busy to publish it. The days up north passed way too quickly and I miss all the great people up there.
It proved a bit difficult doing any blogging since we’ve been out and about every day and then passed out on the couch every evening, tired from all the fresh air. I also didn’t bring my laptop so I’ve only been able to post photos I’ve taken with my phone. But we’ve had a great time as usual.
One of the reasons we wanted to visit during the autumn this time was to try some hunting. And we’ve been out hunting quite a bit – but without luck… Still it was great fun to join in and see how it is done since it’s a completely new experience for me and interesting for Brian to see how hunting is done here in Sweden.
We first went out with Eva-lena hunting for birds, black grouse and capercaillie, with a dog especially trained to do so. We saw quite a few smaller types of grouse who had just switched into their winter coats but no luck with the bigger ones.
The next day we followed Eva-lena’s dad Leif out on a type of moose hunt where you sit quietly in a tower and call for them. It was an awesome experience, so peaceful and exciting at the same time. We went out before sunrise with the four wheeler to a tower not far from their home right next to some marshlands. Sitting there made you painfully aware of how much noise we humans make, the lightest cough or fabric making sound when you move could easily scare away an animal. Leif would bring out his handmade leather funnel, put it to his mouth, pinch his nose closed and make long, nasal wailing sounds, imitating a moose cow in heat. If there are any bulls within hearing distance they usually come bolting through the bush at this sound, especially this time of year when all they do is look for females. But this time the bulls seemed to be too far away and we had the wind against us as well. If it’s too windy in the wrong direction the sound won’t travel far enough.
After hearing nothing but some birds and sitting absolutely still for about three hours it was both a relief and a disappointment when Leif said we might as well get moving. We decided to stay and join him for the evening hunt as well so at four o’clock we got on the four wheeler again and headed out to another tower. We got seated with gun and camera ready and Leif said we would wait for 15 minutes before he’d start calling them, the reason being that moose seem to have a memory span of 15 minutes. So even if they did hear us come, after that amount of time they seem to have forgotten about it and can happily come walking our way.
It was gorgeous seeing the sun set slowly over the marshlands and forests. Minute by minute the light would go softer and the colours would fade until everything seemed to be shadows. Still no moose though. We left the tower when there was just enough light to see your way through the forest and Brian and I headed home to Eva-lena and Lars and feasted on some whiskey marinated wild boar.
So no luck on the hunting side during the week but we’ve still had a great time as usual. Björk is growing fast and imitates everything you say and do. The funniest thing is when she tries to say moose meat in Swedish (älgkött) but it sounds just like moose shit (eeelj-shit)…
It has also been great fun getting to see Eva-lena and Lars’ outdoors shop Vildmarksmekka that they opened recently after dreaming of it and planning for it for several years. Other than all sorts of equipment for fishing, hunting and outdoors they also offer guided activities around the area. So if you’re ever in the Pajala region and want something to do – go see them, they’ll keep you entertained, I promise!
Björk, busy making sure nothing is in its right place at the shop.
Oh, and the blog post title… Well, whenever we visit Eva-Lena’s parents we’re served moose. This time Leif said, apologetically, that we must be tired of always getting the same food when we’re there. Uhm… No. Never.
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