MOOSE HUNT AS IDENTITY

Already as a teenager, Evelina Åslund was drawn to hunting, a fascination that developed from the moose hunts with her father. Growing up in Åsarna, Jämtland, it became a natural part of her life. Additionally, Evelina competed in both biathlon and cross-country skiing, so the trips with her father in the woods became a perfect way to exercise.

At 17, Evelina earned her hunting license, and since then, she has hunted every year.

- Even though life has taken me around Sweden and even abroad, it was always the moose hunt that called me home,” says Evelina. “Hunting has remained a strong part of my identity.

COMMUNITY INTO BUSINESS

Today, Evelina lives with her family and seven dogs on a farm between Åre and Östersund, surrounded by vast mountains and miles of forests. At home, she mostly hunts small game, but every fall, it’s the moose hunt in Ljungdalen that draws her. What she perhaps appreciates most is the fantastic sense of community that comes from being part of a hunting team. This may also be why hunting took a new direction in her life 16 years ago. Today, Evelina runs a hunting and health company, Joy Event Hunt and Health, where she combines hunting experiences with health-focused activities.

- We don’t just offer hunting but also direct health packages. Most of our customers are Swedish, but we also have international hunters from Italy, Germany, and Norway. To create other unique experiences beyond hunting, we’ve even had a sommelier join us for a mountain hike with wine tasting in nature – an experience that truly adds a touch of luxury, says Evelina.

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MOOSE HUNTING IS A LIFESTYLE

The passion for nature has been there since childhood – and moose hunting has always been special. After all, that’s how it started. Hunting has become a lifestyle that has carried Evelina through life, given her unforgettable experiences, and shaped who she is today. Evelina believes the moose is a fantastic animal, Sweden’s national symbol, and that there’s something particularly special about hunting with loose dogs. Perhaps because it’s not as common everywhere, not nearly as obvious as it is in Sweden.

- Even though I’ve never owned a moose dog myself, I’ve grown up, lived with, and experienced moose hunting dogs and this exciting hunting method, full of community and adrenaline, says Evelina. Hunting with loose dogs like we do here in the Nordics is exotic and likely found nowhere else in the world, so many want to experience this specific type of hunting.

HUNTING WITH THE STALON VICTOR

Of course, Evelina hunts with a silencer, specifically a Stalon VICTOR. She says that the biggest advantage isn’t just the reduced noise but perhaps even more the significantly reduced recoil.

- The reduced recoil makes shooting more comfortable, both for me and for those nearby. If I were to find a downside, it would be when hunting in areas with long distances and poor communication, where the shit isn't as audible, but the advantages definitely outweigh that, she says.

BEST – AND WORST – HUNTING MEMORY

Evelina has many varied hunting memories, from her first moose on a standstill and learning how to call hunt in the SVT show “Jaktliv,” to funny moments like when she mixed up the bolts of her rifles.

- I had to embarrassingly admit that I had the wrong bolt with me out in the field and had to go to the next hunter, Evelina recalls.

Another non-moose-related, somewhat humorous hunting memory is from Evelina’s first organized hunting and spa trip to Estonia. The story begins with all the luggagge ending up on the wrong flight – to the wrong country.

- Our equipment landed in Riga, so I had to rent a bus for us to go and pick up the rifles. We missed the spa experience but didn’t lose any hunting days. Despite this, the guests were happy with their premium tour, and I continued organizing hunting trips there for five more years, Evelina says with a laugh.

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