Maine Mother Polarizes The Internet By Bringing Baby With Her On Moose Hunt: ‘Some People Shouldn’t Have Kids’

A Maine mother recently turned heads and sparked a storm of online reaction when she brought her 11-month-old daughter along on a moose hunt. Autumn Clark, a Swanville native, set out with her husband, David, on the opening day of bull moose hunting season, carrying little Ophelia on her back. What might seem like a straightforward hunting trip quickly became a social media talking point.

The Maine woman had been preparing for this hunt for over a year. She originally intended to participate last season but was 36 weeks pregnant at the time and received a medical deferment. This year, however, she decided to bring her baby along instead of leaving her at home (via The Daily Mail).

“We had to hope she wouldn’t be too fussy or loud,” Clark told the Bangor Daily News, explaining the challenges of trekking through Maine’s rugged wilderness while caring for an infant. Thankfully, Ophelia eventually relaxed, mimicking cow calls and even falling asleep in her backpack carrier.

Maine Mother Shocks Internet With Questionable Hunting Tactic

The hunt itself was a success. Clark and her party spotted a bull moose across a pond in a secluded area 700 yards from the nearest road. “It was a clean, easy kill,” she said. David brought Ophelia down to her mother for a few photos with the harvested moose, which weighed a whopping 746 pounds. Given that hunters in Maine are only allowed one moose per year, the day was especially significant for the family. The group even had to navigate a brutal six-hour haul to bring the animal back using a truck bed liner and a chainsaw winch.

Reaction to the hunt has been fiercely divided online. Some commenters criticized Clark for including her baby in the adventure. “MAGA 100 percent,” one person commented. “Some people shouldn’t have kids,” a second person chimed in. “I think people are more aghast at them hauling a baby around on the hunt rather than the killing of the moose,” a third person stated. “Child Endangerment,” a fourth comment read.

She Brought Her 11-Month-Old Baby On A Moose Hunt

On the other hand, many Maine locals defended the family. Clark, for her part, explained that bringing her daughter was important to her: she wanted Ophelia to experience the outdoors and understand hunting as part of family life.

This unique Maine moose hunt illustrates the balance between family adventure and the challenges of parenting in unconventional ways. For Clark, it was a day of rugged preparation, successful hunting, and memories with her daughter that will likely last a lifetime. As debates rage online, one thing is clear: in Maine, hunting season is never boring, especially when mom brings the baby along.