Hunts for new Dads

[Maverick1]

"Hunts for new Dads"

I am happy with my father and do not need see the need to go on a hunt to replace him.

The mother-in-law, well, that is a different story!
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[MTtrout]

Don’t piss off wife. A couple years of taking it easy will lend to more freedom later.

I absolutely agree with not making the wife mad or doing something harmful to the relationship but your second part isn’t guaranteed. The longer you stay at home the more the wife gets used to you being at home

 

[Hnthrdr]

Depends on your wife and level of support. My first daughter was 5 months old when I spent about half a week away elk hunting. Her mom was around but she's practically a baby herself at times. My wife dreads hunting season every year because that first season was so hard for her. I regret pushing her limit. I wrongly thought that she could handle kids as well as my mom. I would say, whatever you both choose, make sure it's not past her tolerance because you don't want her "PTSD" to affect every season down the road. Start off strong on the fatherhood and wife support department. No overnight trips unless she encourages it. Some babies are much more difficult than others and that can't be predicted. Ty for taking this seriously. Baby with a stressed momma carries her burden, too. Hope you get some meat one way or another though!

Sounds very similar to my situation, my mom raised 6 kids, kids are nothing to her, found out not all women are like that. Haha

 

[WyldGoose]

Our first and only turned 1 last week. I had to cancel an Idaho muley hunt back in Oct because there was no way I could leave my wife for 10 days like I did in previous years.
Our situation is unique in that we live in a small town and have no family anywhere near us. No babysitters. No support network. Just us.
I’m not making plans to travel for a while. Looking forward to local day hunts. When he’s a little older I’m sure we’ll all travel together for hunting trips, or I’ll fly family out to stay and help the wife if I leave.

 

[missjordan]

Personally i would skip the first year and plan on going the 2nd year and beyond. 5 years ago we had a baby in July and my spouse took a week off for archery and he came home early. I didn’t have any support and it was a nightmare. Rifle season we all went and did what we could but it was tough.

Years 2-present have gotten way easier now our kindergartner is the 3rd wheel and it’s super fun for everyone.


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[tstowater]

Figure out why you are buying points. If you want to hunt better quality animals then you will need points or get damn lucky. If you want to hunt, then get the tags and go hunting and don't feel bad about going. Have that conversation now. Hunting other than for meat is going to be a selfish act and that's ok. When my kids were 6 and 4, I spent 31 days in Canada hunting. I have an extraordinarily understanding wife and that was probably enough. I get tired of people whining about having a family at home that they are missing. My wife and I reached an agreement that unless her or one of the kids is majorly ill or dead, then don't bother me. You figure this out when you are truly in the back country and before the modern forms of communication.

 

[jrbarnes9972]

I had twins born in September of last year. Those first couple of months were rough and I only got out 1 or 2 times by the house. Like other comments have mentioned, it depends on your family situation. We were not near any family so it was just my wife and I figuring out sleep rotations. We've since moved closer to family and I've been able to get out a bunch this year! All that to say, it may be a slow 2026, but the following year will be better!

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[chanson_roland]

First post so thanks in advance.

Expecting my first child this year, and I am curious on how guys manage family and hunting goals. I have 5+ points built up in a few states. Would you burn them now or wait till kiddo is a few years old?

Ask and you shall receive, King...

 

[TopherDave]

When are y’all due? Every woman is different. The 4th trimester can be real. It can be scary. I didn’t think my lady and I would survive. I pray you don’t have to experience that. With that being said, like others said, try not to upset her. Do all the little things you can, expecting nothing. She will notice and some day appreciate it. Even though, in the moment she’s a chemically unbalanced whack job!
God speed!

 

[Pharmseller]

4th trimester?

 

[TopherDave]

4th trimester?

The first 12 weeks after birth. Mom is physically recovering. A lot of chemical changes as well that can leave them emotional. Stacked on top of sleep deprivation. Also the infant is adjusting to life outside of the womb. It’s just a catchy phrase that the baby books call it. I didn’t make it up.

 

[Hnthrdr]

The first 12 weeks after birth. Mom is physically recovering. A lot of chemical changes as well that can leave them emotional. Stacked on top of sleep deprivation. Also the infant is adjusting to life outside of the womb. It’s just a catchy phrase that the baby books call it. I didn’t make it up.

Older dads may know it as post partem the hormones can and will go off the rails…

 

[Pharmseller]

Explains Irish twins.

 

[Wrench]

I just took them with me.

 

[TopherDave]

I concur! Takin’ em with is always the funnest approach!

 

[Jimmy]

Sounds very similar to my situation, my mom raised 6 kids, kids are nothing to her, found out not all women are like that. Haha

^^^ this

 

[SDHNTR]

Hard from age 0-5. Then they go to school and for 4-5 years and everything gets easier. Thats when you can hunt harder. Then, if your kids are athletic, from 10 or 12 until 18, you’re screwed again.

 

[SDHNTR]

I drew a desert sheep tag when my son was deep into the terrible two’s and my wife was pregnant with my daughter and throwing up every day. Took me 16 days to kill my ram. Somehow, we made it work.

 

[tallbuchholz]

I had a kid in June of '23 and hunted 6 days out of state that October plus a bunch of days at home. I had another kid in September of 24 and hunted 5 days out of state in October that year too. This year I went 7 days but had space for it to last 9. My mom lives close and helps my wife a lot when I'm gone. If not for her, I'm not sure I could pull that stuff off.

I'd advise trying it this year so they're used to it. It's expected now that I'll do a decent trip every year and it's not something she dreads all year.

 

[WCB]

All depends on your wife and timing of the birth along with how the pregnancy and birth go. My first two were born in May so by the time Fall rolled around it was hunt as usual. Hell my wife was shooting snow geese in late March just over a month from her due date with both of them.

Our 3rd was born on Dec 3rd a year ago and was due on Thanksgiving. Pregnancy was going good and I went to Canada Moose and Elk hunting for 10 days, 2 months out from the birth. Wife got Kidney Stones on day 3 but had her sister watch the kids while she went to the doctor and rested for a day. I asked if I should come home, she said "why you can't do anything about my kidney stones and you need to kill a moose." Then Montana Elk and Deer hunting for 9 days, 3 weeks out. And was in ND bow hunting for 8 days 3 weeks after the birth. Plus some around the house stuff in between.

Life definitely changes...but unless there are health issues, scheduling issues (baby sitters, daycare, etc) there is essentially zero reason to change your hunting program. Again, be realistic about your support system available to you and have those things set before you go. The infant stage if everything is going smooth is by far the easiest...they are literally a burrito that eats off mom, sleeps, and shits.