Hunter Joel Eriksson shot the elk calf from the hunting tower. 'I'm glad it went well and that the elk didn't have to suffer,' he says.
It's Monday and hunter Natalie Markusson is out in the woods of Medle. Branches break and the sound of galloping animals can be heard.
– The moose are coming, she says.
Two calves appear between the trees and run towards her. Troja, her hunting dog, drives the moose forward.
Just in front of her, the calves step aside. The gun goes off and Natalie takes aim. But all she sees is black.
– I made a mistake you should never make. Not folding up the scope cover on the sight when walking in dense forest.
The next thing she knows, the moose are gone.
– Hunting towers 69 and 70, be ready, she says into her radio.
Two shots ring out through the forest. In tower 69, Joel Eriksson has fired his rifle.
– I had the sun in my sights when I fired the first shot, it was a bit far back, so I fired another. Then I saw the animal fall, he says.
One moose turned and ran straight into the line of fire of the hunting tower. The other might still be nearby.
– Now we want to find the calf as quickly as possible. It's not fair to leave it without its mother when winter is approaching, says Natalie.
Her hunting dog is still with the downed calf, but the hunters believe that the other calf is nearby.
– I have some decision anxiety, Natalie says.
Below, the forest becomes denser with undergrowth. Behind her, the terrain goes uphill.
– We'll go up there and keep watch, she whispers.
A frightened hare dashes across our path. Forest birds scream.
Now the scope cover comes off.
Two calves have just run by. One has been shot, but now the hunters want to find the other one as quickly as possible.
Together with her husband, they run a hunting and fishing store in Halland.
– But I've been hunting here for ten years.
The morning sun begins to warm up the forests. It's still early in the morning and the hounds are full of energy to burn before it becomes too warm. Updates come in on Natalie's phone.
– We have a meeting on Messenger now with the other hunters.
Hunters know very well which mobile operator has the best coverage in the forest. Hunting has become more digital.
– It's a mixed blessing. It makes the process more efficient and safe, but instead of reading the forest, I'm looking at my phone now instead.
There's a rustling noise behind her.
Now Troja is approaching.
An orange vest can be glimpsed between the trees. Soon the hunting dog appears. With three transmitters on her.
– I can see exactly how she moves via apps on my phone. Ever since I lost two hunting dogs in car accidents, I want to keep better track of their movements.
One of the apps that helps hunters see where their dogs are located. When the dog starts barking, it's also visible on the mobile phone. Barking is a sign that it has encountered an animal.
A green line shows the route they've run in the forest.
– A moment ago, the line for our other dog turned red on the map. That means it started barking.
A little way off, Natalie's husband Markus Kristensson is walking with the couple's other hunting dog, Urax.
– When he started barking, I sneaked forward. He was running in circles to keep a moose in place, says Markus.
Between the trees, he sees a moose cow that Urax is barking at.
– Today we're only shooting calves, so it was just a matter of tipping my hat at the moose. But I'm still proud of the dog. He did a good job keeping the moose in place.
Markus Kristensson likes the hunting grounds in Medle. 'The terrain is good, it's not too hilly which makes it easier to move in the forest,' he says.
Natalie is on the move again. Her boots get stuck as she crosses marsh and ditches. Of all the hunters out today, she is the only woman.
– Most people are positive about women hunting, but there are some who are negative. This is an attitude that is also being passed on to the younger generations, she says.
– Hunting is male-dominated, she adds.
– Sometimes people are surprised to learn that I am a hunter. That doesn't happen to my husband.
But you cannot force a gender balance.
– There has to be an interest in hunting if you're going to do it.
There are forums and groups that are just for women who are interested in hunting.
– If you're a woman posting in a general Facebook group, you get 10-20 friend requests from men.
After a few hours of hunting, her dog Troja has covered eight kilometres.
There are tracks everywhere. She observes that without their mothers, calves easily lose their bearings.
She often takes on the role of dog handler when she's out hunting.
– Interacting with the dogs is my favourite thing.When your dog does a good job, you feel proud. It warms your heart, she says.
At around 11 o'clock, Natalie Markusson and the dog Troja are done for the day. 'It's not fair to make them work so hard when it's become warmer during the day,' she says.
In the forest, Troja leads the way.
– She keeps an eye on me and searches a radius of about 300 metres around the area.
The other calf hasn't been seen and at 11 o'clock the hunt leader calls the hunt off.
– It is possible to have a good hunt without having to fire a single shot. Now Troja needs to rest.
