I’ve gotta teach my wife to hunt:

[popgun]

She always helps with the skinning, sometimes with the gutting, most of the processing, and all of the cooking.
Since I have gotten older, I have had to come back to the house several times and get her to help me load the darn things in the truck.
She even helped me track one, one night until 2:a.m., in 10 degree weather until we found it.
She is the perfect wife, and believe me; I know how lucky I am.

I have taught her how to shoot, and she enjoys it, but she does not want to hunt.
It is either too cold, too rainy, too hot, too many chiggers or ticks, no place to wee if she feels the need, and at least a dozen other really good feminine excuses.

Here is where the problem begins:

We eat deer. We eat a lot of deer.
I have two freezers and they are usually full of venison at the end of the deer season and almost empty at the start of each new season.
My son hunts with me most of the time.
Between his and my own tags we are allowed 6 deer each year, and usually limit-out before the season ends.
Simply by tradition, I have always given a lot of meat to my brother who does not hunt, but loves venison. I give a lot of meat to the owner of the property where we usually hunt. And now I have a chance to hunt the adjoining property, where the deer seem to stage before coming on the property we have been hunting. Many times the deer stage there, and don’t cross over until after legal shooting hours. If we do hunt the property next to us we would be able to cut the deer off earlier.
The other property owner said we could hunt if we just give her a deer, cleaned, processed and freezer-ready.
So we need more tags.
We can’t party-hunt or have a tag-sharing program in this state so we just need another hunter in our family.

You, “Ladies Who Hunt” can help me.

I will let her read your replies in the forum. Convince her that she needs to be a “Huntress”.

We are deer hungry, and tag short.
Please make your replies to Mrs. popgun, in this thread. Your help is appreciated.
…..popgun

[carbonhunter]

Mrs. Popgun,

It sounds as though you have a husband who greatly appreciates you and the sacrafices you make during the deer season. From his detailed ex. it sounds like you have been a part of almost all of the hunting experiance, and most importantly the part that is def. the least fun. There seems to me that there is only one more step for you to take to complete one of the greatest heritages we have as americans and human beings. A recent study done said that 67% of americans approve of hunting while only 7% actually take part in this great pastime everyyear. That number makes me wonder at times what stops people from going out and enjoying themselves in the outdoors? Is it that they have no one to take them, are they nervous that they wont be excepted by other more experianced hunters, or is it that they just cant bring themselves to pull the trigger in the moment of truth? In the past two years i have had great privilage in taking two first time hunters out, one was a young boy who had been in the stand before and gutted/dragged deer for his brother and I since he was old enough to walk. He always seemed to be a little shy of actually doing the deed. After much urging he finnally pulled the trigger on a doe later that season, and the expression on his face was one i will cherrish in my heart for as long as i live. When you take the life of another living breathing thing the natural reaction is too feel sorry for the animal. To the contrary I think the reaction should be great respect for tha animal and yourself, for you have just completed one of the greatest cycles man has ever known, and a cycle that has provided for the human race for thousands of years.

So Mrs. popgun I guess i challenge you to go and complete this cycle, just once, I think you will be suprised at the feeling of great satisfaction respect you will gain for these great animals and the mother earth that we call home.

Thanks for your time
Aaron

[chicks_hunt_to]

well just take her out with u when u go make her shoot as much as poss ans just let her loose wemon know more than thought about hunting by listing to ther husbands

[TM2FLI]

Well I can tell you that 5 years ago I never thought I would be hunting every year but when I first met my husband he got me all interested in it, I got my first bow and here I am! I WOULDN'T TRADE A SEASON OF HUNTING FOR ANYTHING! When we go out hunting we always sit in different stands and it is aways so fun after the hunt to get in the truck and talk about what we saw walking around out there. Truely wouldn't trade anything for those times!

[HuntnMa]

she'll just have to get out in the woods and experience the hunt herself, no better tme than the present ...the solitude of the hunt is the main reason i am out there, then sometimes i am blessed with a critter, the excitement and pride that i get from that is unreal.....if she tries it and doesnt have the bug, at least y'all will know, but from what i have read, she's got it in her, she just needs to get out there and show you men how it's done good luck to you on getting her to hunting and good luck to her when she's out in the field....take care

[HuntingInMaine]

Mrs. Popgun,

I never in a million years thought I would enjoy hunting or fishing.....until I gave it a shot (no pun intended)! But there is nothing that compares to the feeling of pride when you get a bigger deer than your other half's! LOL Plus there is a whole year of bragging rights, and you don't have to rag on him too much...his buddies won't let him forget it.

I totally understand your concerns about finding some place private to go to the bathroom, but you will get better at that with practise.

You are already doing all the "dirty" work, so pick a nice day and give it a try. You might be surprised at how much fun it is, even when you come home empty handed. And if you don't like it at all, at least you gave it a chance.

Good luck!

[chicks_hunt_to]

make sure u dont force her to if she likes hunting go fer it
get er done

[HuntnMa]

well, have you showed her this yet?........what does she think?

[tedicast]

[ QUOTE ]
no place to wee if she feels the need

[/ QUOTE ]

Popgun,,,,here is a litte advice. When she feels the need to go, and you happen to have a camera with you....DO NOT take the picture...lol

I about got my butt kicked...lol But it was well worth it. Actually she can take a joke pretty good, and it ended up being funny. I'm sure somewhere down the line I will pay dearly for it,,,lol!

[chicks_hunt_to]

so how is it going does she like it

[Ozarkgal]

I think that you should not pressure her into doing something that she does not want to do, but ask her to go along with you and see if she likes it then, most women don't have hunting in there blood, but I think if she goes with you and see's what hunting is all about she will love it. Tell her its not all about killing something its being outdoors where you feel free and not have to worry about anything, its the early morning where the air is clean and cool that just makes you want to relax, and the rush when you see a big buck or see a big turkey. I hope that she goes with you and loves it like I do, we need alot more women in this sport so that we can dominate the men(lol)

[Andrea]

I was married for 9 years before I decided to start hunting. Can't really say what made me start either. I never thought I could shoot a living creature. I even cried the first time I killed a spike. Natural reaction I guess. But now I am completely obsessed with the sport. I hunt more than my husband does. I can't imagine NOT being able to hunt. Have you ever been with your husband when he hunts? If not, try it. Just watch him. And here's a little trick you can try to help you get up the nerve: While you are sitting there on a freezing morning and you're miserable and cold and suddenly see a deer-----pretend your children at home are starving and this is your only means of survival. When that "momma" instinct takes over you will be surprised what you can do. After that, it becomes easier and easier. And a lot of fun. There's nothing I like more than to hang out with the guys and actually have my OWN stories to tell. Good luck!!!!!

[popgun]

I want to thank everyone for your replies.
My wife is still not impressed enough to get out in the woods yet, but maybe I'll have better luck next fall when it isn't quite so cold.
I would never try to force her to hunt with me, as I learned long ago that she does pretty much what she wants to do.
I think anyone trying to force my wife to do anything would quickly find out how frightening 110 lbs. of "mean little woman" can be.
There is always next year. .....popgun