Taking a girl to elk camp. . .

[taskswap]

As a dad of a 13yr old girl… Take her! Any of your buddies that might have a problem with it aren’t real buddies.

This. You have to pick who's most important in your life and everyone else has to make room or get out of the way. And our kids come first, 100%.

Look at it the other way. If the sight of you doing the right thing by your kids doesn't inspire the others to accommodate that, they were never your friends/partners to begin with.

 

[Dave Thomas]

Take her. Most adults know how to act around kids and still have a good time. Every camp I've been in love to have the kids around. If one of them has a problem acting decent around kids find a new group.

 

[atmat]

There’s no person in the world I’d rather be at elk camp with than my kiddos. And I’ve got nothing but girls.

 

[johnnycake]

As a dad to a 12yo girl headed to coastal brown bear "camp" next week it probably is no surprise that I'm also a vote for taking her! No brainer.

 

[ReddingArcher]

You take your daughter hunting. That’s it. I get talking to your buddies but they are a-holes if they have a problem with it. I wish my daughter would want to hunt with me. She said she wanted to briefly, I bought her a 6 creedmoor and got it set up then she lost all interest in it. That’s fine though we still make memories together, I’ve been sitting at a volleyball tournament all day with her today, but I’d sure love if she would go hunting with me. Consider yourself very lucky that she’s interested in it and wants to go.

 

[Wprinkle]

Anyone that would not be ecstatic to have a kid in camp WANTING to participate, would be someone that would need to find new partners. I will choose hunting 100 yards from the truck with my kid over 9 miles deep surrounded by monster bulls every single time.

 

[rookieforever33]

Ask and respect your friends wishes about bringing any new members to the group. If needed start a new camp with your children. You bred them. Teach them right. Your friends will be there to hunt with when you have time to play with them later if thats how it plays out. As far as needing to step it up to keep up with your kids, thats good for you, enjoy the motivation.

 

[cnelk]

If you don’t take her someone else will…

Choose wisely

 

[kpk]

If my daughter asked to come with, she's coming. If the guys have a problem with that or they aren't proper company for a girl then it would be just her and I going on a trip.

 

[UKwildcatfan]

I wouldn't have a problem with it, but others might. Feel em out. What has to happen is to get the girl out with you one way or another.

 

[7RemMag]

Mirroring what others have said, take her!

My sister took to hunting as a teenager. She had accompanied us for years but hadn't had much interest in pulling the trigger until she turned 16. She's 20 now, and unfortunately, college and a pretty full work schedule hold her back more than she wants, but she's welcome anytime she's able to go-And she comes virtually any time she is able. Her coming has absolutely added to the experience for our entire hunting party. I'm 25 and not once has my sister being there been a problem for anyone I hunt with. If it were, it would mean they were no longer a friend.

 

[waspocrew]

Definitely take her along!

 

[huntdoc]

Agree with all the previous, but in addition consider that camp might be better with your kids there. It could be awesome. You don't want to miss out on the small amount of time we get them to do things with us before they leave as young adults.

 

[ddd-shooter]

I could not imagine one of my friends asking to take his daughter on a trip and it bothering me. In case you need to hear it for the 30th time: if they object, you just got saved a bad friend group.

Take her. I think good manners tells the group ahead of time, but I would just tell them, I wouldn’t ask.

 

[RS3579]

She is YOUR daughter. There shouldn’t be any questions/doubts. If you think she might feel uncomfortable with anything then you’ve been doing something wrong at “Elk Camp”

 

[wind gypsy]

If it wasn’t OK for my daughter to go to elk camp because she’s a girl I’d make a new elk camp.

 

[HilltopHitman]

I’m a young dad with an 8 year old daughter and she’s obsessed. She has yet to come to camp as we backpack in most of the time. When she turns 10 I’ll do a wall tent camp and dedicate the time with her, and if my buddies want to come they can but it will be different. Easy on the bottle and easy on the language. You taking her comes before you being selfish with your current camp situations. IMO. She’s only young for so long, make that time a priority.

 

[KenLee]

If you are leary of taking her, schedule an easy whitetail hunt asap in the Southeast where licenses are cheap and deer plentiful.
See how she likes it.

 

[MallardSX2]

The only time I ever regretted bringing our kid was the one year we went to Maine snowshoe hare hunting.

The trip was a bit much for my daughter at age 9..

The other members (“friends”) in our group did NOT adjust for a kid being there and it really created an awkward situation. Drinking, swearing, bad conversations… there was no filter from them. They were really testing my patience.

Looking back, we should have just left.

 

[h2so4]

I give my buddies a heads up when I’m brining kids with me to adult activities- but I dont differentiate between boys/girls. It doesn’t really matter if it’s your kid.