How much do you all actually hunt?

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

It’s funny this came up, I am making it a point this year to keep better track of my hunting days and write it all down. So far 4 days in 2021! Average somewhere between 40-60, some years a little more depending on draws. My wife is a saint, almost all are out of state.

 

[FLAK]

Been an off year for me. I've only hunted 8-10 times since I lost my private access and convenient lodging to NF land.
I moved here about 3 yrs ago and the hunting is just not
my cup of tea (marshes/swamps).

 

[Tradchef]

Since I started in the restaurant industry 28 years ago I’ve had to master the half day and day hunting thing. With Covid I didn’t have a day off from June 28th until October 14th so I missed most of archery season. Didn’t elk archery hunt at all but I was able to punch 4 deer tags with the longbow on a couple of half day hunts. Gun season was much of the same. I didn’t get to scout at all this summer so I went to spots I found last year for elk and was fortunate to get out the last week for a day and took a beautiful bull . Better late than never and a little luck this year which I’ll take. I’d say on any given year I might get a total of 2 weeks maybe. I spend a lot of time scouting so I can make it happen when it counts. I wish I had time like most of you guys but in a lot of ways I love doing it this way because it keeps me super focused.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Put a lot of time in April/May for turkey. All of september, usually. Most of October for bear and helping friends on rifle hunts.

Then predator hunt a few times a month until the next season starts, but this year I'm going to try to do it at least once a week until April. Then repeat. More coyote hunting in the summer as well this year I imagine.

Doesn't include time scouting, and fishing. Couldn't tell you total time in the woods.

Not married. LOL

 

[kpk]

I've barely hunted in the last 2 years after my daughter was born - my choice. Being gone for a even an entire day was liking coming home to a whole new person when she was so little. Used to be either hunting or fishing probably twice a week year round. I was super excited to take a week off this year - then shot my deer first time out after about an hour.

Planning at least 2 weeks out of state for the upcoming season.

 

[CREillY]

30 plus days, it was a tough whitetail season

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I get out a lot for half day/evening hunting and fishing trips. I generally get one big out of state hunt a year, and a handful of 1-2 day hunts nearer to home. Probably adds up in the 45-55 day range if you count half days (and I'm including fishing in that summation).

 

[Opah]

way less than the years before, 2020 has wrecked havoc on my hunting.
Just hoping it can recover in 2021

 

[CAB]

Before the little guy came along I hunted about 125+ days a year between turkey, grouse, expanded archery season, regular archery season, rifle season and late expanded season and then rabbit hunting. You can hunt a lot in Maine as they don't make you pick 1 weapon for deer hunting so you can hunt all of them if you want.

Now.......I'm more around 20ish maybe days a year but thats because leaving my wife to work remotely and deal with a 1 1/2 year old is a bit cruel and unusually punishment.

 

[540-Virginian]

I thought I get to hunt a lot... wow do some people get to hunt a boatload!

My questions are:
1. Do you have younger children?
2. Does your spouse work full-time?
3. What are you doing rest of year?

I have a 2 year-old, and a 4 year-old. My wife works part-time (weekends, some night shifts) where I work FT.

I got to hunt about 4 full days in October for archery deer season here. I got to hunt about 3 full days after that between November to December. I take 2-3 days off in January to scout. So overall, I'm getting around 10-12 days to hunt total. I don't go fishing much right now during summer unless it's with my father-in-law. I spend about 4-5 hours each week shooting my bow throughout the year.

To me, this was plenty and I almost felt spoiled I got to go so much with young kids. My wife had some 'not happy with me moments' but we had an immediate civilized conversation about it. I learned she was essentially jealous that I had a hobby and she didn't (didn't say those exact words). And she was pissed she has to be with kids all week where I can take PTO (I have a lot) to go off by myself. We worked it out, and she's had to commit to takening up a hobby and putting time into it. I will also grab the kids 1-2 a week during hunting season and tell her she has day/afternoon whatever off. This all seemed to help.

When I was just out of college/not yet married, hunted almost every other day.

 

[540-Virginian]

Should add because of where I hunt, I can't really do quick morning/evening sits. Has to be an all day endeavor.

 

[WCB]

I thought I get to hunt a lot... wow do some people get to hunt a boatload!

My questions are:
1. Do you have younger children?
2. Does your spouse work full-time?
3. What are you doing rest of year?

I have a 2 year-old, and a 4 year-old. My wife works part-time (weekends, some night shifts) where I work FT.

I got to hunt about 4 full days in October for archery deer season here. I got to hunt about 3 full days after that between November to December. I take 2-3 days off in January to scout. So overall, I'm getting around 10-12 days to hunt total. I don't go fishing much right now during summer unless it's with my father-in-law. I spend about 4-5 hours each week shooting my bow throughout the year.

To me, this was plenty and I almost felt spoiled I got to go so much with young kids. My wife had some 'not happy with me moments' but we had an immediate civilized conversation about it. I learned she was essentially jealous that I had a hobby and she didn't (didn't say those exact words). And she was pissed she has to be with kids all week where I can take PTO (I have a lot) to go off by myself. We worked it out, and she's had to commit to takening up a hobby and putting time into it. I will also grab the kids 1-2 a week during hunting season and tell her she has day/afternoon whatever off. This all seemed to help.

When I was just out of college/not yet married, hunted almost every other day.

I replied on here already but I figured around 80 days a year plus not including fishing and scouting.

1.Yes 1.5 years old and one on the way
2. Yep Teacher so working during hunting season and she hunts as much as most people.
3. fish...ice fish here and there in the winter and fish almost every weekend in the summer.

Our daughter has been fly fishing in 3 states already, duck hunting, and upland hunting with us. Her first trip was 3 months old strapped to my wife fly fishing in Montana.

 

[Ross]

Through the year I am gone approximately 50 days to the mountains, used to be more but the body needs more recovery these days

 

[nobody]

Between archery, muzzleloader, and rifle elk plus mule deer with a friend, I spent about 32 days out this year.

 

[kda082]

Maybe 40-50x but local mostly, not a western hunter. Been married so long my wife now asks when the season starts. Either her boyfriend is coming over or she likes me out of the house.

 

[Hoghead]

I thought I get to hunt a lot... wow do some people get to hunt a boatload!

My questions are:
1. Do you have younger children?
2. Does your spouse work full-time?
3. What are you doing rest of year?

I have a 2 year-old, and a 4 year-old. My wife works part-time (weekends, some night shifts) where I work FT.

I got to hunt about 4 full days in October for archery deer season here. I got to hunt about 3 full days after that between November to December. I take 2-3 days off in January to scout. So overall, I'm getting around 10-12 days to hunt total. I don't go fishing much right now during summer unless it's with my father-in-law. I spend about 4-5 hours each week shooting my bow throughout the year.

To me, this was plenty and I almost felt spoiled I got to go so much with young kids. My wife had some 'not happy with me moments' but we had an immediate civilized conversation about it. I learned she was essentially jealous that I had a hobby and she didn't (didn't say those exact words). And she was pissed she has to be with kids all week where I can take PTO (I have a lot) to go off by myself. We worked it out, and she's had to commit to takening up a hobby and putting time into it. I will also grab the kids 1-2 a week during hunting season and tell her she has day/afternoon whatever off. This all seemed to help.

When I was just out of college/not yet married, hunted almost every other day.

For me I do a lot of deperation hunting from 5 minutes to 3 hours from my house. When the almonds are coming in I'll get up at 2am head out kill 2-3 hogs then go to work. I hunt every week. During deer season I'll go hog hunting then head to the mountains and deer hunt a couple days then come home and hog hunt again.
My wife is very understanding but the hog hunting doesn't take to much time away from home. My kids are older too. When I talk to her about a hunt and she gets mad sometimes I'll say your already pissed I'm going because your going to be mad either way.

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[jlh42581]

Some of you are definitely pushing the limits whether you admit it or not. Id bet a few of you are on the brink of divorce and dont even realize it.

My wife quite literally lets me do almost anything I want but I do know my limits. Back to back weeks off with a kid in elementary school tested her patience... ONE... ONE KID.

90 days in five different states for 10 different species... if i had your money id burn mine.

 

[mike.adams.467]

Probably 10 days spring turkey hunting, 28 days archery elk hunting in Idaho, 3 days archery elk hunting in Montana, about 15 days rifle elk hunting between the two states, 3 days deer hunting in Idaho. So, about 2 months last year. I’ll try to pick up the pace in 2021.......


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[Northpark]

Some of you are definitely pushing the limits whether you admit it or not. Id bet a few of you are on the brink of divorce and dont even realize it.

My wife quite literally lets me do almost anything I want but I do know my limits. Back to back weeks off with a kid in elementary school tested her patience... ONE... ONE KID.

90 days in five different states for 10 different species... if i had your money id burn mine.

I think your right about pushing limits. I mean normally I get to hunt whatever I want. I temper it usually because my wife is a stay at home mom who homeschools our kids. I know that’s a tough job so I usually try to take kid duty when I come home from work and on weekends. Maybe I just pushed to far.

I enjoy being married and when she says enough it’s worth listening. I canceled my weekend backpack hunt so she’s happy and I figured I’ll take the kids predator hunting so I still get hunt and she’s not pissed.

 

[missinglink]

Impressive numbers from a lot of you guys. Jealous for sure.