Hunting vs. Marriage: Which Gets Your Time?

Managing our time in the woods and balancing things at home can be a tough battle. Here's how to balance your hunting and marriage pursuits.... Read more...

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How about getting your spouse into hunting? Or videoing?
I know it's hard for you guys w/kids but some of my favorite memories in my young marriage are looking down at my wife in her stand w/me perched above her- she always has the biggest smile when she looks up. Not only is it a good time but she's also got better eyes than me!

I know a lot of us hunt to get away from our wives but if you can't share what you love doing most with the person you love most there's something wrong. It doesn't have to be every sit, but offering it out can't hurt.

Another thing not mentioned in the article is to pay it forward and also make sure there are no pressing major house projects that need attention- and not just in your opinion. You may think that bathroom doesn't need re-done right now but doesn't mean your spouse agrees. Last 2 seasons, in July/August I've asked for a prioritized honey-do list of stuff that "needs" done before October. Saved me a few arguments for sure.

 

Remember it's all give and take. I've been married 40 years. Learned a thing or two in that time. Both of my wives disapprove of my hunting. Plan the use of your time carefully. Follow dnoodles advice , but remember you only live once.

 

Do your wives know about each other?

 

My wife......hunting.... hahaha. That’s a good one. She’s very lenient though so I try not to take her for granted. I do my best to get the honey-do’s done. A lot of them even get done when I get home and I’m ass tired. It’s a lot easier now that she’s a stay at home Mom though. The daily household duties aren’t as stressful. The best thing you can do is burn a couple hunts to spend time with them instead. Consider it a write off. Also TIP: when the wind changes or other conditions make your hunting unfavorable use it as an opportunity to exaggerate these “sacrifices” to choose them over hunting. Nothing wrong with that


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Fortunately for me, my wife grew up with a father that hunted so she's pretty used to it from me. As a matter of fact, she will encourage me to go sometimes when I'm really not feeling it. She actually participates with me in nearly all my hunting activities with the exception of actually hunting. She will go with me to hang stands, check cameras, and has even helped me track deer. Plus she spoils me with nearly any hunting item I could ever want. We've been married for 42yrs so I guess I must've found some balance over the years.

Blessings.........Pastorjim

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My wife loves the outdoors. She is getting back in to hunting, now that the boys are getting older. There is a lot of compromise in a marriage. I get quite a bit of time in the woods each year. The biggest draw on my time is the boys hockey schedules.

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Mine wants to go hunting but it just hasn't happened yet. She is very big on be self sufficient so she doesn't mind when I go as long as I plan my family time in advance. We have a 4 year olf and a newborn, I work 24 hour shifts 10 days a month, she works weekend nights, and on my off days I am a volunteer firefighter.

If I can figure it out, anyone can.

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I kill stuff, my husband packs it out. I cut it up and cook it, he eats it. Works out good.

I also have a hunting buddy who helps me hang stands, check cams and we help each other pack stuff out. Lately, he's been on the short end of that stick. I'm like a friend with negative benefits. :D



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We're a team married, but we're also individuals with individual needs. I never ask if I can do anything, I simply do what I do...and she simply does what she does. And that works out great for us.

Hunting makes me happy and when I'm happy, everyone is happy.

 

NO thanks, THAT'S MY TIME!!!!!!!!!

Several Date nights. during the season

 

Well put. I guess that's how my marriage works. People have my help and attention for 10 months of the year......October and November belong to me. I think that's pretty fair.

 

I am lucky in that I hunt at home so it's not like I am gone hunting I am just up in the pasture. Plus after 27 years of marriage my wife suggests I spend more time hunting.

 

I've been hunting all my life. My wife of six years has been hunting six years. Her six years surpassed by first 20. (I like to think it's because of me, her guide, but she's just a natural.)

 

Hunting or hobbies has destroyed more marriages than I care to know honestly....terribly sad. Someone said it before but if your wife is one that needs some time during the season make a point of it, I always give up a night between Nov. 1 - 15th each year....she understands the time frame is the sweetspot and that goes a long long way. I also if less than stellar rain or weather or winds are occurring I'll gladly give up the stand sit for a night with her in a heartbeat and she knows and acknowledges this.

It nearly blew us apart the first year because it was more like a "I love this, so I do this...deal with it". She has zero interest in hunting, but she does now know the deer I chase, asks for updates and now once I started sacrificing more time and nights encourages me to get out there too now.

It is a give and a take...trust me though, you wake up one day as some of my dear friends going through divorces or have went through them you may have all the time in the world to hunt and all you wish was your marriage back.

 

been married 43 years,, wife initially went bow hunting with me--I did enjoy her hunting with me, After a few years she chose to end her hunting in favour of other things--just before I said I do we made a pact, I would be at her beckon call, along with all her relatives from Mid December through September each year. That's about 10 months, No matter the need, no matter the timing I have held up my end of the bargain, So has she, Not ong ago I got a call from one of remaining Aunts asking for my help, At the end of the request she stated She would expect to see me first week in January, not to worry until then, They all have become understanding and appreciable ! Works for us

 

Ty I am surprised that hunting or hobbies has ended marriages. I guess I might be the weird one my wife and I have always had different hobbies that required time apart. I have always made the most of the time that I am home by being home if you know what I mean, making the most of the time that I am home. Seems rather controlling to be resentful of the time spent hunting when thinking about the actual time spent compared to the 365 days of the year. Granted when I was younger I bought hunting and fishing licenses in at least two states every year. I will say that when I was busy raising kids and coaching sports I did not hunt for about 10 years but I did not resent not being able to hunt it was the way it was.

 

I get 4 weeks vacation per year from the job. She gets 2 weeks and the other 2 is for the rut. She is very understanding that is the one hobby i truly love. My camp is about 45 minutes from our home. I come home twice per week and call her every evening.

If something comes up i usually come home. As long as i keep in touch with her she does not mind the time that i am away during bow season.

 

I am married with 3 kids. Even when I'm on vacation to hunt I'm really not. I chose to have a wife and kids so they get my time. I support her with her wild job that gets super busy from Oct to March and she does the same for my hunting.

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I've given each and every one of my significant others the hunting disclaimer in full detail on day 1 haha. Have to let them know what they are signing up for. I am currently with the most wonderful supportive wife a guy could ask for. She understands it.