Taking a girl to elk camp. . .

[Mr. October]

Take her! She isn't going to hear or see anything there she doesn't hear or see anywhere else. And it could be memories you have for the rest of your life.

 

[eddielasvegas]

While I'm in the take her camp about 80%, I say broach the subject this year to grease the skids for next year.

Kids and a female change the dynamics in a group. Just a fact.

Good luck,

Eddie

 

[realunlucky]

I guess i don't see all the drama. Move your tent/trailer a little further from the rest of the group. They can do thier thing and hunt how ever they want and you can focus on hunting places that make enjoying time with your daughter easier.

You can still get together for breakfast or in the evenings or not depending on the situation. Everyone in camp can still help each other when a animal is down.

Time is fleeting as kids grow older who knows what next year brings this might be the only time she's interested in going along and you'll regret not capitalizing on this opportunity to make lifetime memories with her.

My daughter likes to draw a hunting permit for her it's about spending time with me doing something I love. It's hard for me because she is a fair weather hunter who doesn't enjoy grinding day in and day out to notch a tag. Totally opposite of me but i try and make the hunt about her. So if it's road hunting when the weather is bad that's what I do. She's now 19 and I feel blessed she wants to hang out with her dad still, and who knows this might be the last time we can draw tags together.

 

[butcherboy]

Gender wouldnt make a difference to me. Age would though. As limited as my time is these days. If I was planning on a guys weekend or a good hard hunt. Only to show up and be blindsided with daddy day care and a couple of bickering kids...I'd have some real strong opinions on that.

A bit of a heads up would go a long ways with me

What’s stopping you from having a good hard hunt? It’s still your hunt so go hunt how you want. How is it a daddy day care? It’s his daughter and his responsibility.

 

[String&stick]

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.

Agreed she will go on a hunt one way or another, just feeling out thoughts on taking her to regular camp or "forcing" myself to go twice and either being her and I alone or maybe another lady or two that want to go!

 

[String&stick]

I’d ask your buddies depending on “who’s” camp it is.

We’ve never had women in our elk camp. And it isn’t that any of us are doing anything too bad, a little cussing around the domino table, a few drinks but no drunks, dudes scratching their nuts, the occasional joke of a nature I wouldn’t tell around a teenage girl or probably any girl besides my wife.

But it isn’t just my camp, there’s about 10 of us that are every year diehards who always schedule work off and plan a big part of our lives around the trip to elk camp. It may be the only vacation some of us get and guys like to cut loose a little and just hang with the guys. And for the record boys don’t get to come until they’re old enough to hear a dirty joke and maybe have a beer they aren’t allowed to tell Mom about.

Absolutely take your kids hunting, regardless of their sex. But there might be a right place and right time that doesn’t involve making it awkward for anyone or causing a rift with any friends. Worst case scenario you get to go on an extra hunting trip with your daughter.

Thank you, this is more along the lines of what I'm thinking of, I will probably try it both ways and see how it goes but I'm also thinking of her and is it more fun with a bunch of guys hearing stories, or maybe more fun with an aunt or two that she can bond with and Dad is the odd one out being the only guy!

Appreciate the input

 

[Fatcamp]

If they won't accommodate some discretion move on. Our kids should be priority #1.

 

[String&stick]

@String&stick -

Remember that women sleep colder than men, so make sure her bag is 10 to 15 deg warmer than the guys' bags.

JL

Solid advice! I wouldn't have thought of that, which most likely would have resulted in a heater on high and me cooking!

 

[Hot_tub_josh]

If she shows interest you should definitely take her. I think it’s a good thing for her to be exposed to some things that her dad likes and looks forward to. Some foul language and drinking shouldn’t be an issue. She may end up being a permanent member of elk camp. Hopefully.

 

[Bigred323]

I would definitely bring it up to your buddies just to get a feel of it. You know your buddies and how they’ll react to it.

There’s a time and place for everything. We had an annual dove hunt and was pretty much a strict guys weekend and no kids or women allowed and the one guy that decided to bring his gf, had to get a hotel room cuz she wasn’t staying In the house with us. But we were younger and rowdier.

If your buddies have kids, I don’t think they’ll have a problem, but if they don’t, I could definitely see where someone may be turned off by the idea. I would not just show up with my daughter to an all guys deal unannounced. I would likely take her on some hunts just as a family first.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

Ask the crew. Sounds like a good group. I’d bet they’re arms wide open. Have a great time

 

[cuerro viejo]

My daughter drew more tags than I did this year. She is a little killer.

I’m about to buy a FWC shell to make life a little easier when truck hunting, but she doesn’t complain sleeping in tent.

Honestly camper more for me, I’m tired of fiberglass shell topper and not being able to sit up and put my boots on. But gave me a more valid reason to spend the money

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

You have already introduced bringing kids to camp, I don’t really see a difference in the gender.

My boys come on some hunts, my daughter hasn’t expressed interest yet but she can too, but there are also hunts they don’t come on because they aren’t interested. If it was a hardcore hunt and they were interested there would be a serious expectation conversation but realistically they like the lower key hunts. My hunting partner has girls that will turn 12 soon, if they want to hunt they are welcome too.

I don’t expect my buddy to cater to my boys and at 12+ years old it ain’t daddy daycare.

 

[Boarmaster]

I couldn't add anything that hasn't already been said. Be respectful of the other guys in camp. Everyone has their own reasons for being there. Everyone takes their own time off and spends their money to go.
If your hunting friends arent keen on it then it doesnt make them bad guys. Its just not the experience they are wanting. If they have an issue I would find another opportunity and take my daughter hunting.
I have different sets if buddies for different parts of my life. They're all great people but not for every occasion. I am older now and like to see the kids enjoy themselves at deer camp. When I was younger and wilder maybe not so much.

 

[mattflipper]

I’ve got two girls who have been raised around camp and “the guys”. The one that still hunts is a better and more well rounded young as a result. I would trade the times with them in the woods and camp for any of the hunts I’ve been on without them. If the guys say no or have any hesitation find a new group. They’ve heard whatever they might hear in camp on tv, at school or from friends so don’t get hung up on that. Make whatever accommodations needed and enjoy the time with her.

Oh, and I would just be sure that the kids know any bickering and they won’t be invited next time.

 

[hunt1up]

I guess having a daughter turned me into somewhat of a feminist, lol. My daughter is 14 and shoots guns and bows better than most adult men I know. She gets the same instruction and attention in the outdoor arts as my son.

Some trips can be adult only, but if kids are coming then it doesn't matter if it's a boy or girl. I want my daughter to be a confident and self reliant person, so she gets the same treatment as anyone else.

 

[MosquitoCoast]

This may seem dumb but stay with me and especially ladies out there give me your thoughts.

I have hunted elk on and off over the last 15 years with my good friend and his dad being the primary group and occasionally including my dad and brother when they could draw tags along with us.

The last few years have been primarily truck camps with wall tents/trailers, a cook tent and pretty comfortable conditions and then using 4 wheelers/SxS to get into elk country and hiking from there. 3 years ago when my son turned 12 I started brining him along and the last two years he has had a tag in his pocket when he goes. He has loved hanging out with "the Guys" and it has been fun watching him mature and get educated on being a part of camp.

This year my daughter turned 12. . .

My oldest son has been hunting with me since about 10 months old, getting carried in a kid carrier for pheasant hunts, sitting in the blind duck, walking the trap line, you name it, he's been by my side and lives and breathes hunting. My daughter has been more give and take. She has always been invited but rarely accepted an invitation until last year when she decided to go deer hunting and harvested a smaller Muley buck. She really enjoyed the hunt and has already made sure I have a tag for this year for her to go deer hunting.

A few weeks go as I packed to head out for archery elk she casually asked me when she gets to come to elk camp, and it caught me off guard as she had never really expressed an interest. Then I got to thinking, do I take my daughter to elk camp with the guys??

Now to be clear our camp is nothing bad we aren't discussing anything off color, but we have some drinks at night and language isn't PG by any means, and then there are names and words thrown around at each other that most likely wouldn't be used if a 12 year old girl was present,

I'm not Saint and she has probably heard every word in the book at home while I've worked on vehicles or remodel projects but it's fewer and farther between than with 3-5 guys in camp giving each other crap. We run a good camp and set up decent privacy for showering and a toilet situation, but again a woman may find it disgusting all the same.

The other factor is, if her and her brother are in camp together for a week there is bound to be some bickering. Nothing new to me but possibly annoying to others.

So what are your thoughts? Would you have an issue if your buddy brought his daughter to a camp that has been just guys?

I bought her a point this year, and have the option to take her along in future years or take he on a father daughter hunt. I also have an aunt that has always hunted deer and never gone elk hunting even though her husband goes every year that I am considering having buy a point and I could take them both out on a hunt in the future.

Am I Over thinking it? Just clear it with the guys and let camp adjust?

I have two daughters and no sons, but the answer to this question is YES, You are overthinking it. Take your daughter.

 

[Dos Perros]

My buddy has brought his daughter floating and hunting with us, just as I have brought my daughter floating. Girls aren't as different from boys and we'd like to think. Take her, that's what life is all about.

 

[noisy]

As others have said, bring a separate tent for the two of you so she can get away and have some privacy and your buddies can have some guy time in the evenings (you too--leave her alone and go have a few). Warm sleeping bag and extra fleece blankets. Maybe a Little Buddy heater for your tent.

I have two daughters who were raised on deer and elk meat and love it, but had no interest in the killing part. They can ski the triple blacks like nobody's business though and that's all that ever mattered to me.

 

[WildBoose]

If you hunting buddies aren't cool with you brining your daughter....find new buddies. My little girl turns 3 in December and will be going to deer camp with me this year.