Elk Hunting with Newborn Baby?

[Marble]

My daughter was born Aug 22 and I went to Colorado in Oct. I carrie around a little photo of her in my pocket the entire trip. Missed her a lot. Wife was totally OK with it. That's what a marriage is about, supporting the other and sacrifice. At 1-2 months old, there isn't much a dad really does if mom is breastfeeding. We lived 5 hours away from family at the time so my wife used the time to go home and visit with family. All went really well.

I'll also add...I have 4 kids, 3 are daughters, all born in August. I never missed a year because of kids.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[sndmn11]

I'd go hunt and plan to not hunt when baby is an infant. Newborn baby doesn't need as much from dad that nearby family can't cover for two weeks.

 

[GunsAreFun]

As a father of a 1.5 and 4 year old, I can tell you that newborns can be easier to care for than toddlers as long as they are sleeping and eating well. If the latter is not happening, forget it. But a toddler will stress a single parent out and it’s hard to get a break from them because they are too small to be left alone but big enough to get themselves hurt.

Also need to be on alert for postpartum depression.

And lastly, it’s only going to get harder from here, especially if you have more kids.

 

[ShortMountain91]

I'm holding my one month old now, or 3rd kid. Keep it to day hunts max of you wanna keep the lady happy.

I went on an elk hunt for a week when my middle kid was 5 to 6 months old and it was rough on my wife and I got to really missing them in camp.

I hate missing any hunt. I have FOMO bad when it comes to hunting season. But if I think about it, I will get a whole lot more hunting seasons but will only have so many kids and you'll never get those early days back.

 

[sbaker0029]

You said you planned to wait until spring to try for kids, as you see now plans have changed. Be prepared for a lot of things not going as planned with a child haha. Like Mike Tyson said,everyone has a plan until they take that first hit or something like that. Kids are great but it's hard to stick to any plans that far in advance with a little one.

My advice would be to stay home. If it feels like a trap, it's a trap.

You're on a different points system now. Take a year off and gain a point to save for the next year.

 

[yoopshoot]

This last season, my wife and I had our third child on September 1st. ( great timing I know )

I couldn’t leave my wife with a newborn and two other kids ( 6 and 8) in good conscience. Especially not in September with a one week old. So we had discussed mid October and 1st rifle season as an alternative option. My thought process was such that my newborn son would be 6 weeks old, so this being our third child, was not a new situation and we would be in a rhythm. I have good family support from my parents to help with the older kids and take them to school, etc while I would be gone. Lastly, I was only going to be gone for a short hunt. 4-5 days of hunting and compress travel by driving straight through .

Honestly, my wife being very self sufficient and organized, made this possible. If she would have asked me to stay home and help, I would have. However, she understands the importance of my time in the mountains and we made a compromise so in the weeks before the hunt, I helped with as much as I could around the house and with our newborn son to make my time away as easy as possible. I had meals prepared so she wouldn’t have to cook, laundry was set for the week, etc.

My trip went very smooth, I tagged out on the first day and everything on the home front went without a hiccup. I can say, my mind was thinking about at home more than on other trips, and I wondered if I was being too selfish. With that said, it was a great trip and I felt very fortunate to have time hunting and an understanding spouse . It just took planning and honest conversations .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[schmalzy]

Echoing what others have said, only you will know the relationship and status of your relationship. Some wives handle it great others don’t. I’ve found if I show up for everything else and prioritize my wife and kids in day to day life she is pretty encouraging about me doing my thing.

Ask her if she’s serious and then play it by ear. She may think she’s cool with it now but a month in after not sleeping and dealing with everything she may not be as into it.

Start being flexible and easy going. Makes the ride a lot more enjoyable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bearwhisky]

I tried this is 2021. Had twins born last week of July. I went on a third rifle hunt in CO, i believe it was the 2nd week of November. That puts them at 3.5 months old at time of departure. My wife went and stayed at her parents for help with the kids etc. Drove 24 hrs, packed into the mountains pretty far, woke up opening day sick as a dog with covid. Tried to grind it out but I was wrecked. Hiked out on day 2 (barely could get myself out). Called home and they were ALL very sick too. All 3 kids, wife, in laws, everyone was laid up miserable. Driving 24 hours home while sick and stressing/feeling guilty about my family was not very fun. Learned my lesson on that one!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HighUintas]

So my wife and I recently got married. We had planned to wait until the spring to start trying for kids as to avoid hunting season, but this week we found out that she is pregnant and due in August. I absolutely love to be in the mountains, but unfortunately live in a state that has none! My week vacation chasing elk is something I look forward to all year. This year in particular my best friend and I planned to go, for which he is also very excited. However, it would be crazy to leave my wife for a week with a 1 or 2 month old baby at home right? We both have family within 5 min of home that I know would help, but it still wouldn’t seem right. She told me it was ok if I went, but it feels like a trap lol! Just looking for opinions on what everyone’s thoughts are on it, and before anyone goes and jumps my case for even thinking like this I would never leave my wife unless I knew she was 100% on board.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just had my first baby in June 2021. My wife let me go for a 5-6 day hunt.

I wish I would have stayed home. They're only that size and age once.

 

[aftriathlete]

My wife struggled with post partem in a big way, especially after 1st baby. I think young me 7 years ago would have probably gone even if she told me to, but me now for sure would stay home. Too much to miss by not being there, and too much to miss helping with. Post above that talks about all the things you can still do for her even if she’s breastfeeding is spot on.

 

[go_deep]

I have this thing where I tell people, out loud ask your question to yourself.
My newly married wife is having our first child and I want to leave for an elk hunting trip about 30 days, or less after our first child is born.

If you still can't come up with the correct answer on your own, then your asking for validation from random people on the Internet that will have zero influence in your life compared to your wife and child.

 

[JFK]

We had our second child this past August. Went elk hunting in mid October. My wife was fully supportive of it and we have family close by to help. I too struggled a bit with it but ultimately went and glad I did. I’d add though, that it’s 100% situationally dependent. You know your wife best. I’m a firefighter and already gone two days a week so my wife is used to being home alone a lot. Her friends who have husbands who work 9-5’s ask her how she does it.

I’d have an honest conversation with her. If she’s against it I’d not go the first year, but make it clear that hunting is important to you and you plan on going in the future. Going from no kids to 1 kid is a massive adjustment.

A lot of new parents get caught up in the trap of abandoning things that bring them happiness. Things change for sure, but best advice I can give is to find ways that you can both pursue hobbies that make you happy. You will show up as better parents because of it.

 

[Ralphie]

I think this mostly depends on the wife and then how well the milk sipper is doing. Lots of wives seem like they can’t handle a husband gone for an 8 hour work shift. She might say now that it’s fine if you go but she ain’t gonna really know until the baby is here.

If you are seriously thinking it feels like a trap then it probably is. Stay home. Or take a short local trip to do something else. Lots of times when it seems like they are giving permission they are really just daring you.

Ive regretted being gone for some things with my kids but it was mostly once they were older like football games.

 

[knale87]

I probably wouldn’t go even if my wife insisted. Don’t think I’d fully be able to have a good time.

 

[Trackerbacker]

If you still can't come up with the correct answer on your own, then your asking for validation from random people on the Internet that will have zero influence in your life compared to your wife and child.

This.

 

[Gwchem]

OP, first off, congratulations!

Like others have said, mom's job is to take care of the baby, your job is to take care of mom.

Lots of variables, though. Do you have family close by who would help for a week? Is money tight? Are you willing to bail if the timing isn't right, at the last minute. A two month old is easy if mom's getting enough sleep. And hell if it's colicky.

 

[streetdoctor]

My son was born August 18th. I hunted that entire month of September and shot my first elk. We had meat all year. She was ecstatic. Only you know your wife. We didn't have any family out here to help her either.

 

[jimh406]

However, it would be crazy to leave my wife for a week with a 1 or 2 month old baby at home right?

I agree that it's not a good idea. I'm assuming you'll have years to hunt. You are only going to get a chance to be around when they are young once. Your wife will need help and needs time to adjust as well.

Besides that, what if your wife has complications or the baby does. Do you really want to be in the mountains while that is going on? I hope not.

 

[Gwchem]

BTW, tons of great advice from others here.

For the foreseeable future, you should always be prepared to abandon plans at a moment's notice. Babies throw life at you in new and exciting ways. My first is 6 and still hasn't slept through the night, it feels like. My second came ten weeks early, and spent a good while in the NICU. Mom has always encouraged me to take time for hobbies, but it's less every year.

And soon, I'll have two little hunting partners.

 

[Wrench]

You might need to borrow a SxS until they're past the bottle phase.....but whatever.