Mom Hunts Down Once-in-a-Lifetime Moose Just 4 Days After C-Section

Talk about a wild birth announcement. A North Dakota mom recently had the opportunity of a lifetime when she harvested a moose she had been hunting for weeks. The hunt was being held as part of Shayla Beckler’s once-in-a-lifetime tag, and she only had a limited amount of time to hunt the moose before she would not be eligible to receive another moose lottery license.

But there was one little problem for Beckler: She was nine months pregnant and just a week away from her scheduled C-section when she fired on the moose from 40 yards and missed. According to the Facebook post she shared about the incident, she was devastated and thought she had missed her chance for good.

Instead, she says her husband, brothers, and several different farmers worked together to help her get back on the hunt just days after welcoming her baby girl. In the end, Beckler got her moose, she and her husband got a freezer full of meat, and the family got a birth announcement photo that you have to see to believe.

Now, people are celebrating the warrior mom for her hard work and dedication to fulfilling a lifelong goal without letting anything stand in her way.

The Mom Had Been Tracking the Moose for Three Weeks

Some people spend the end of their pregnancy nesting and getting ready to welcome their new bundle of joy. However, Beckler spent the last few weeks following a moose through corn fields in order to fulfill her once-in-a-lifetime tag. In North Dakota, people put their names into a drawing in an attempt to secure a tag that will allow them to hunt moose, according to the Mossy Oak blog.

Once your name is pulled from the drawing, you are never eligible to win the lottery again, even if you don’t successfully take down a moose when it’s your chance. Beckler had finally won her chance while pregnant with her second child, and she spent three weeks trying to get the moose with a bow before missing a shot during archery season. 

“At that moment, I felt defeated knowing that I might not get that opportunity again since I was having a C-section in one week,” she captioned photos from the hunt.

However, she says that those nearest and dearest to her knew how much getting this moose meant, and they jumped into action to make sure she could see the hunt through during rifle season. “The amount of time, effort, and dedication these guys put into tracking this moose was absolutely unreal,” she wrote. “Not only were they determined to help me fill my tag, but they made sure I was comfortable, taken care of, and having a good time every step of the way.”

Everyone Was Cheering for the New Mom

The story was eventually picked up by local news outlet KMVT News, which shared Beckler’s story online. Commenters immediately started celebrating the newly minted mother of two, saying how impressive it was to take down such big game while still recovering from having a baby.

“I couldn’t get out of bed 4 days after my C-section, let alone hunt,” one mom wrote. “Good job, mom!”

“If woman power were a person, it’d be her,” another person added. 

“At least we know who didn’t have to pack out the meat cause of the stitches! Smart lady,” another person joked. 

Now that the hunt is done, hopefully Beckler can take some time to snuggle up at home with her new baby. It really sounds like she’s earned it!