Hunting Time Allocation- HELP

[nphunter]

Backing off on hunting when the kids are little is a given IMO.

I’ve hunted my whole life as well. Quit several jobs similar to yours because I couldn’t get time off to hunt. (Road construction) Once I had kids they were my #1 priority, I still hunted some but there was probably a 5-7 year period when it was very seldom and in short stints. We still spent a lot of time in the woods with the kids (wife hunted also) but in the fall I seldom left for multiple day trips.

I took my oldest quite a bit when he was old enough to enjoy it and both boys when I could. Once the boys were old enough to keep up somewhat I started hunting more again. The boys tagged along and went most times to put out cams and scout as well. I took the kids as much as possible to give my wife a break.

My wife was also a stay at home mom until the boys were teens. She was a runner in school and started running again when the kids were young. I made sure she got her runs in, dropped her off for runs and went to her runs with the kids to watch. We even did several family runs when the kids were small even though I hate running. I made 80% of the year about her and the kids, never missed anything for them or her. Took the boys on many multiple day hunts when before high school sports.

Fast forward to current times and I hunt and scout about 100 days each year. I take the boys sometimes but they are into other things now, I also take my wife when she gets tags. Even during hunting season I make a point to get back home. I think I’ve missed 1 cross meet for the boys in the last 6-7 years. I prioritize making it important events even if it means giving up a day or two or making some all night trips down from camp and back.

This year I left on two out if town trips in September to watch the kid run cross and hang out with the wife. My wife knows how much I love being in the woods all of Sept and by me giving up several days it shows how much they mean to me and earns me some extra points.

I hunt enough now to make up for any lost time. I’d take the days with my kids over hunting any day of the week. All of my favorite memories of hunting are with my boys, half on unsuccessful hunts. Taking them as much as I could when they were small was the best thing I ever did. They both still enjoy hunting and I think it’s something they will do forever.

 

[DuckDawg22]

I'll be 37 next week, with an almost 3 yr old and just turned 1 yr old. The harsher responses here seem to be from older guys much further removed from young kids. This is a different world now, there has never been more pressure to just constantly be doing shit regardless of how little sense it makes. The lack of respect for one's time for the enjoyment of others is just something our parents' generation can't comprehend. And young kids are HARD, especially when you don't have the help that was promised by said parents only to discover they all of a sudden like going on European cruises multiple times per year instead. It's ok to scale back and be a dad for a few years, you're never going to get this time back.

I only got out for ducks twice last season, and put in for points only on game. I did get to fish a lot more this summer with the longer days. I could put the kids to bed and still get 2-3 hours on the water a few times per week.

Moral of the story is that you're only 25 and by the time you hit your mid 30s and more established in your career, your kids will be old enough that they'll be much easier on your wife, and you'll have more flexibility to take the time off both from work and home.