Post by Woody Williams on Oct 27, 2010 14:17:56 GMT -5
Poteau girl, 17, becomes first female hunter to kill bear in Oklahoma
On Friday, Poteau girl, 17, became Oklahoma's first woman to kill a bear during black bear hunting season.
BY ED GODFREY Oklahoman 156 Published: October 5, 2010
Not many teenage girls get their nails done and then go hunting, but Kelsey Weaver is not a typical teenage girl.
Kelsey Weaver, 17, of Poteau, the first female hunter to get a black bear during the second season for black bear in Oklahoma.
Poteau girl, 17, becomes first female hunter to kill bear in Oklahoma Thursday, the 17-year-old from Poteau enjoyed having her nails done at a salon. Friday, she became the state's first female hunter to kill a bear during black bear hunting season.
"She can be the prettiest girl in the crowd, or she can grab her camouflage and go to the woods," said Kelsey's father, Wesley Weaver, of Poteau.
"She's always been a hunter."
Kelsey was one of 31 successful bow hunters Friday on the opening of black bear season this year.
This was the second year the state Wildlife Conservation Department allowed black bear hunting in four southeastern Oklahoma counties: Le Flore, Latimer, Pushmataha and McCurtain. The season is closed once 20 bears are killed.
During last year's inaugural black bear season, hunters killed four bears on opening day and only a total of 19 during the monthlong combined archery and muzzleloader season.
It was a much different story this year as the season opened and closed on the same day. More bears were frequenting hunters' baited areas this season because the acorns had not dropped from the trees.
However, most people attribute the increase in hunters' success this year to the use of crossbows, which were legal for the first time for all bow hunters.
"I think crossbows made a major difference," said Joe Hemphill, southeast wildlife supervisor for the state Wildlife Conservation Department.
At least 20 of the 31 bears were taken by hunters using crossbows, he said.
Before this season, crossbows could only be used by Oklahoma hunters with a disability or by hunters age 60 and older.
State wildlife officials will re-examine the black bear hunting regulations since this year's season lasted just one day, Hemphill said.
Kelsey killed her bear on private land in Le Flore County, using a crossbow that belonged to her late grandfather. Kelsey, who killed her first deer when she was 8, is an experienced hunter.
"She just kind of grew up in the woods," her father said. "She started hunting with her grandfather, and, ever since she was a little bitty thing, she's been following us in the woods."
Kelsey said the bear hunt "was a new level of adrenaline. When I pulled that trigger, that was the most exciting thing."
Kelsey, a senior at Poteau High School, plays basketball, golf and is on the student council. But hunting is her real passion. She even went deer hunting the day after killing her bear.
She first hunted with her grandfather, Melford Weaver, when she was just 4. He died in 2007.
"He was really my inspiration, the main one who taught me how to hunt," she said. "He would have been thrilled (with the bear). He would always brag around the local grocery store how his granddaughter killed a buck. They would all call me Deer Slayer. Now I have a new nickname, the Bear Slayer."
Her successful bear hunt has made her a celebrity in Poteau. "Some of the guys are really jealous at school," she said. "Even some of the teachers."
And she plans to keep hunting with bright, orange fingernails.
"It looks like it gives me some pretty good luck," she said.
On Friday, Poteau girl, 17, became Oklahoma's first woman to kill a bear during black bear hunting season.
BY ED GODFREY Oklahoman 156 Published: October 5, 2010
Not many teenage girls get their nails done and then go hunting, but Kelsey Weaver is not a typical teenage girl.
Kelsey Weaver, 17, of Poteau, the first female hunter to get a black bear during the second season for black bear in Oklahoma.
Poteau girl, 17, becomes first female hunter to kill bear in Oklahoma Thursday, the 17-year-old from Poteau enjoyed having her nails done at a salon. Friday, she became the state's first female hunter to kill a bear during black bear hunting season.
"She can be the prettiest girl in the crowd, or she can grab her camouflage and go to the woods," said Kelsey's father, Wesley Weaver, of Poteau.
"She's always been a hunter."
Kelsey was one of 31 successful bow hunters Friday on the opening of black bear season this year.
This was the second year the state Wildlife Conservation Department allowed black bear hunting in four southeastern Oklahoma counties: Le Flore, Latimer, Pushmataha and McCurtain. The season is closed once 20 bears are killed.
During last year's inaugural black bear season, hunters killed four bears on opening day and only a total of 19 during the monthlong combined archery and muzzleloader season.
It was a much different story this year as the season opened and closed on the same day. More bears were frequenting hunters' baited areas this season because the acorns had not dropped from the trees.
However, most people attribute the increase in hunters' success this year to the use of crossbows, which were legal for the first time for all bow hunters.
"I think crossbows made a major difference," said Joe Hemphill, southeast wildlife supervisor for the state Wildlife Conservation Department.
At least 20 of the 31 bears were taken by hunters using crossbows, he said.
Before this season, crossbows could only be used by Oklahoma hunters with a disability or by hunters age 60 and older.
State wildlife officials will re-examine the black bear hunting regulations since this year's season lasted just one day, Hemphill said.
Kelsey killed her bear on private land in Le Flore County, using a crossbow that belonged to her late grandfather. Kelsey, who killed her first deer when she was 8, is an experienced hunter.
"She just kind of grew up in the woods," her father said. "She started hunting with her grandfather, and, ever since she was a little bitty thing, she's been following us in the woods."
Kelsey said the bear hunt "was a new level of adrenaline. When I pulled that trigger, that was the most exciting thing."
Kelsey, a senior at Poteau High School, plays basketball, golf and is on the student council. But hunting is her real passion. She even went deer hunting the day after killing her bear.
She first hunted with her grandfather, Melford Weaver, when she was just 4. He died in 2007.
"He was really my inspiration, the main one who taught me how to hunt," she said. "He would have been thrilled (with the bear). He would always brag around the local grocery store how his granddaughter killed a buck. They would all call me Deer Slayer. Now I have a new nickname, the Bear Slayer."
Her successful bear hunt has made her a celebrity in Poteau. "Some of the guys are really jealous at school," she said. "Even some of the teachers."
And she plans to keep hunting with bright, orange fingernails.
"It looks like it gives me some pretty good luck," she said.