Balancing Hunting Season With Family Life
For a lot of us, hunting season is something we look forward to all year. I count down the days until I can be sitting in my blind once again.
It’s time in the woods. Quiet mornings. But once you become a dad, especially with young kids, hunting season starts to look a little different. Balancing time in the woods with time at home isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary if you want both hunting and family life to work long-term.
As a dad raising a 4-year-old and 2-year-old, with twins on the way, I’ve learned that hunting season isn’t just about planning hunts anymore. It’s about planning around family.
Sometimes it can be difficult and stressful, but that’s not a bad thing.
Family Comes First Always
I know this sounds obvious, but it is a foundation that must be set.
Hunting is important, but family is more important.
When kids are young, especially in those early years, your presence matters more than ever. Bedtime routines, weekend mornings, and family time are things that build trust and connection.
No, that doesn’t mean giving up hunting.
It just means making sure your time outdoors doesn’t come at the cost of being the kind of dad your kids need.
When family comes first, hunting stays enjoyable and will hopefully help promote your kids to eventually want to spend time with you hunting as well.
Plan Your Hunts Ahead of Time
One of the biggest changes after becoming a dad is learning to plan instead of just going whenever you want. This was a difficult task for me. Before kids, it was easy to decide last minute to head out for an evening hunt or decide in the morning to get in the stand. Now a days, planning ahead makes everything smoother.
Talk with your spouse about:
• Which days you plan to hunt
• How long you’ll be gone
• What family plans are already scheduled
• When you’ll be available to help at home
Communication avoids frustration.
Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I love a good plan. And when everyone knows the plan, it builds trust and support.
Remember That Short Hunts Are Still Good Hunts
When kids are young, long all-day hunts aren’t always realistic. That’s okay!
Some of the best hunts happen in short windows; early mornings, quick evening sits, or even scouting trips that only last an hour. As we all know, things can happen quickly!
Short hunts help you stay involved without missing important family time. And sometimes, they force you to hunt smarter instead of longer.
Involve Your Kids When You Can
One of the best ways to balance hunting and family life is to make hunting part of family life.
That doesn’t mean taking them on every hunt, especially when they’re young. This means letting them feel included. I always discuss with my kids when I am going hunting and what I am going hunting for. This helps them feel involved.
Simple ways to involve kids include:
• Letting them help pack gear
• Showing them trail camera photos (My favorite activity with my kids)
• Letting them sit with you for short outings
• Talking about animals and tracks
• Sharing stories from your hunts
These small moments build interest and excitement. My oldest constantly asks me to see pictures from my trail cameras!
Be Present When You’re Home
Time at home matters just as much as time in the woods.
If you’re thinking about hunting while you’re supposed to be playing with your kids, they notice.
When you’re home, be home. Play with them. Help with bedtime. Trust me, your spouse will appreciate it. Spend time with your spouse.
Hunting should add to your life, not distract from it.
Being present builds stronger relationships, and strong relationships make it easier to find time to hunt later.
Accept That Hunting Might Look Different for a While
This part was very difficult for me for my first couple of years, and something I still struggle with today. This is something many dads struggle with.
There will be seasons where you hunt less than you used to.
Less time in the woods doesn’t mean less passion, it means shifting priorities for a while. Something I have learned is that:
Kids grow fast.
Those early years don’t last long. Enjoy them.
Hunting seasons will always come back, but time with young kids doesn’t.
Learning to accept this makes hunting more enjoyable instead of frustrating.
Use Hunting as a Teaching Tool
Hunting isn’t just about getting away outdoors, it’s about passing something down.
As kids grow older, hunting becomes a way to teach:
• Patience
• Responsibility
• Respect
• Discipline
• Appreciation for the outdoors
Those lessons matter far beyond the woods and will take them a long ways in life.
And when kids grow up seeing hunting as family tradition, it becomes something you share together, not something that takes you away. This will become much more meaningful.
Support Your Spouse During Hunting Season
This part often gets overlooked and forgotten, but may be the most important on the list. If your spouse feels overwhelmed while you’re hunting, tension builds quickly. Make sure to help out before and after hunts.
Do things like:
• Handling chores ahead of time
• Helping with meals before and after
• Taking over bedtime on non-hunting days
• Making time for your spouse on the day to day
These small actions show respect and appreciation towards your wife. When your spouse feels supported, you are much more likely to spend more time in the woods.
Final Thoughts
Balancing hunting season with family life isn’t always easy, but it’s worth figuring out.
Hunting is a passion, but fatherhood is a responsibility and a privilege. Not to mention the greatest joy that I have ever encountered in my lifetime.
The goal isn’t to choose one over the other. It’s to make both work together.
Plan ahead. Stay flexible. Be present. Include your kids when you can.
And always remember, the memories you build at home are just as important as the ones you build in the woods.
Someday, the kids who watched you leave for early hunts may be sitting beside you in the stand. I myself cannot wait for those moments.
That’s when the balance truly pays off.
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