Maine mom takes infant on moose hunt, sparking online debate

A Maine mother sparked online debate after taking her 11-month-old daughter on a moose hunt on the opening day of Maine’s bull moose season. Autumn Clark, from Swanville, strapped Ophelia to her back and hunted with her husband, David, in a trek into the Maine wilderness that ended with a successful harvest. The family returned home with a 746-pound bull on the first day of the season.

Clark said including Ophelia was important despite the challenges of caring for an infant while tracking a moose. Ophelia was "crankier in the beginning of the day when she needed a nap," Clark told the Bangor Daily News. "We had to hope she wouldn’t be too fussy or loud," she said. The couple adjusted as needed, with David taking over carrying duties when required. Later, Ophelia tried to mimic cow calls and, as Clark noted, was "just happy to be outside" before falling asleep in the backpack carrier.

The Bangor Daily News Facebook post about the family’s hunt drew mixed responses from locals. A commenter wrote, "Look at the pretty moose honey. Let’s watch Daddy kill it. (I hope therapy will help)," another added, "Killing of a life should not be a photo op. Respect and honor is absent in hunting it seems as we become unappreciative more and more as we exploit basic needs for a social media fame." Others offered support: "Are people surprised this is the real MAINE way.... congratulations," and "Hell ya! Thats so awesome!"

Clark had hoped to hunt last year but, at 36 weeks pregnant, she received a medical deferment. In 2025, with her daughter along, she decided to bring Ophelia on the expedition rather than leave her at home. She previously scouted the region for a bull moose in 2015 and spent about a month planning for this week's hunt.

Opening day drew many hunters to Maine’s roads. To avoid crowds, Clark, David, and a friend moved to a more secluded area near a bog about 700 yards from the nearest road with no trail access. "As soon as we got down to the bog, we saw the bull on the other side of the pond," Clark said. The group set up, and within 10 minutes the moose approached and was standing in front of them. "It was a clean, easy kill," Clark said. David helped pose for photos with the dead animal. The moose weighed 746 pounds, and hauling it out took about six hours using a truck bed liner and a chainsaw winch. The season allows only one moose per person per year, adding significance to the harvest.

The event has intensified online discussion about parental choices, outdoor culture, and the role of social media in documenting family adventures in rural Maine.