If there was ever another Lewis and Clark Expedition, they would need to take Kirk “Shrapnel” Stovall along as the expedition hunter. Kirk is a premier sportsman and hunter. He targets many big game species, upland birds, and can even catch a few trout if he must.
The entire Stovall Family is made up of hunters. Even Bronson, the youngest grandson, gets in on the hunt. The sons Jesse and Reid are also good hunters as well. Rituals, traditions, and family values support every outing. Reid also presents seminars on archery skills for elk at local outdoor shows. Kirk has been a Hunter Safety Instructor, guide, and lifelong outdoor sport.
As a vintage gun collector, Kirk also uses long un-shot weapons to fill his tags. Winchester lever actions, Sharps rifles or whatever fancies his mood can be uncased and taken afield. He believes that the weapons were made to be used and enjoyed.
As lifelong hunters, we need to mix things up and set new challenges. Using modern calibers, optics, rangefinders, and technology gives the Fair Chase edge to the human. Uncasing a 100-year-old Sharps, with iron sights, evens the odds. Kirk made a great shot on this year’s Muley Buck, using a vintage Sharps.
The Stovall Family was raised on wild game. Multiple freezers fill and empty each year. Every hunting season is an opportunity to aim for new adventures, challenges, and companionship. The harvests are honest, legal, and utilized. If they have a surplus, it is shared with friends.
Kirk often picks me up to keep him company and assist in the hunt. We tagged the 4th largest bull moose ever shot in Montana together. Not bad for a couple Old Farts with arthritis, back fusions, knee replacements, shoulder surgery and all the aging issues that come from a lifetime of outdoor adventures. “You know what you get if you sit at home!”
Montana is about Hunting and Gathering. The history of hunting is deeply rooted in Montanan’s soul. Every season offers a challenge for survival. Big Sky Country is not for everyone. Yes, it gets cold, has few people, has hungry grizzlies, wolves, and Mountain Lions. Every trip is an hour or more drive. It can snow during every month of the year. If you get stranded in Montana, maybe you will run into a Stovall or two that can feed you and show you how to get home.
Like shrapnel, the excitement of hunting, and outdoor adventure, radiate around the Stovall’s. Hunting and gathering are a traditional Montana way of life. They feed the body, spirit, and souls of family and friends.
Aim small, miss small!
Montana Grant
