Advice from old and seasoned hunters NEEDED: is it a trap??

[predatorG]

I need some serious advice from a well seasoned man of the woods. I am dating a girl right now and she’s awesome. She seems to be catering to my hunting itch and saying things like “I totally understand that elk season is in a week and that you have that on your brain”. She lives in Eugene and I was down visiting her and her parents this week and she even took me to The Bow Rack in Springfield to see the spot that Cam Hanes gets his bow and to let me talk to Wayne. She let’s me practice my elk calls in the car, is fine with listening to all my hunting podcasts, and even cuddles up and watches last season of Born and Raised outdoors with me  what is happening? Is this actually real life or are things gonna be changing for me real soon?? What should I expect in the future? Is this a sign that she’s catering to me now and is actually going to go full crazy in the future? Or is she being serious and might turn into an archery hunter in the future?? I’m worried that this might be some sort of trap, the female gender has a long and storied history of pulling these type of maneuvers until it’s too late to run for the hills. I need some advice from you old timers, is there a way to keep this sweet dynamic going or should I run for the hills??

[h20hunter]

I say play right into her hands. Encourage this behavior.  Go further to Encourage her...buy flowers,  cook for her....even frilly and or sparkly.  If she takes the bait and even encourages you more then it's time to lock her down and put a ring on it.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I say play right into her hands. Encourage this behavior.  Go further to Encourage her...buy flowers,  cook for her....even frilly and or sparkly.  If she takes the bait and even encourages you more then it's time to lock her down and put a ring on it.

Whoa, whoa stop right there. 

Bad advice.

Get her bowhunting first, and if she likes that after a couple seasons ( made sure you add some Kate season cold weather in there) then you can start thinking about rings.😉

[lokidog]

 

The only problem is that when they like to do all of this stuff, you  have to buy two sets of everything.    Play along, enjoy the ride. I dragged my, now wife, through the berry bushes of western Washington modern rifle deer hunting and she enjoyed it.

Good luck.

[kselkhunter]

Count yourself as a lucky man, and hang onto this one. 

[Special T]

I say play right into her hands. Encourage this behavior.  Go further to Encourage her...buy flowers,  cook for her....even frilly and or sparkly.  If she takes the bait and even encourages you more then it's time to lock her down and put a ring on it.

Whoa, whoa stop right there. 

Bad advice.

Get her bowhunting first, and if she likes that after a couple seasons ( made sure you add some Kate season cold weather in there) then you can start thinking about rings.😉

Boss is on the right track. You have to test her more and see if she can hang. She will put on her best behavior to lure you in. If she likes to shoot a bow and do 3ds with you, camp and stuff like that then even if she doesnt like to hunt you will like to do enough together.

[Bob33]

My opinion is that the most important issue is how she feels about you being a hunter. If she doesn't hunt but freely allows and encourages you to do so that's the first step.

No one knows how she will feel in five or ten years. I suspect I would trust her.

[pianoman9701]

I need some serious advice from a well seasoned man of the woods. I am dating a girl right now and she’s awesome. She seems to be catering to my hunting itch and saying things like “I totally understand that elk season is in a week and that you have that on your brain”. She lives in Eugene and I was down visiting her and her parents this week and she even took me to The Bow Rack in Springfield to see the spot that Cam Hanes gets his bow and to let me talk to Wayne. She let’s me practice my elk calls in the car, is fine with listening to all my hunting podcasts, and even cuddles up and watches last season of Born and Raised outdoors with me  what is happening? Is this actually real life or are things gonna be changing for me real soon?? What should I expect in the future? Is this a sign that she’s catering to me now and is actually going to go full crazy in the future? Or is she being serious and might turn into an archery hunter in the future?? I’m worried that this might be some sort of trap, the female gender has a long and storied history of pulling these type of maneuvers until it’s too late to run for the hills. I need some advice from you old timers, is there a way to keep this sweet dynamic going or should I run for the hills??

Within the first week of dating my current wife. I made it clear that I hunt elk for two weeks every year (condition of employment, as well), and that I'll hunt geese every weekend I can. If I don't tag out in September, I'll be hunting late season. If someone gives me an opportunity to hunt something else, I will. If your girlfriend is down with that, marry her. Don't get married in the Fall and no unprotected sex from Dec 1st through February 1st. Simple rules. And if she agrees, buy her a car.

[h20hunter]

I just teared up.

[cem3434]

Follow Boss's advice.If you're lucky like me, she will take to hunting. My wife never shot a gun or bow before she met me and didnt grow up around anyone that hunted. She has turned out to be very passionate about the outdoors and probably hunts at least twice as much as I do now because of my work schedule. She started with a rifle, but then moved onto muzzy and now archery.  She has taken several pheasants, ducks, geese, turkeys (lost count) 9 deer and 5 elk since she started hunting around 2006. To say she loves hunting and fishing now is an understatement. Good luck and sharing time in the outdoors with your significant other can leave you with a sore back and legs, but be very rewarding. 

[kselkhunter]

I need some serious advice from a well seasoned man of the woods. I am dating a girl right now and she’s awesome. She seems to be catering to my hunting itch and saying things like “I totally understand that elk season is in a week and that you have that on your brain”. She lives in Eugene and I was down visiting her and her parents this week and she even took me to The Bow Rack in Springfield to see the spot that Cam Hanes gets his bow and to let me talk to Wayne. She let’s me practice my elk calls in the car, is fine with listening to all my hunting podcasts, and even cuddles up and watches last season of Born and Raised outdoors with me  what is happening? Is this actually real life or are things gonna be changing for me real soon?? What should I expect in the future? Is this a sign that she’s catering to me now and is actually going to go full crazy in the future? Or is she being serious and might turn into an archery hunter in the future?? I’m worried that this might be some sort of trap, the female gender has a long and storied history of pulling these type of maneuvers until it’s too late to run for the hills. I need some advice from you old timers, is there a way to keep this sweet dynamic going or should I run for the hills??

Within the first week of dating my current wife. I made it clear that I hunt elk for two weeks every year (condition of employment, as well), and that I'll hunt geese every weekend I can. If I don't tag out in September, I'll be hunting late season. If someone gives me an opportunity to hunt something else, I will. If your girlfriend is down with that, marry her. Don't get married in the Fall and no unprotected sex from Dec 1st through February 1st. Simple rules. And if she agrees, buy her a car.

   Hunting pre-nuptual agreement!  Including months that unprotected sex is allowed to prevent births/pregnancy during hunting season.  I love it.   

[ghosthunter]

37 years this Tuesday. Does not hunt. But I have been gone the entire month of October for that long. She will sit and criticize hunting shows. Pointing out things she doesn't think are fair to the animal.
But a lot of gear I pull out in hunting camp was a gift from her. Including rifles.

I think time away from each other is good for a marriage.

I cant hang dead stuff in the house. But she did mount some anthers for me on a old pack frame and let be hang it in the bedroom. Thought that was funny ,but I came home and she is using it for a hat and scarf rack.

Balance is key

[buckfvr]

Women have a way of changing significantly as they age, notably from +- 20 to +- 30.  Children influence much of this.  Id not encourage anything, opting to let her decide all by herself if she has a serious, lasting interest in hunting/fishing.  Youre going, she can go with and camp, or she can stay home and do whatever.  If she decides to try hunting, baby steps, a little at a time and dont tailor it to fit her strength or weakness.  I say this because she needs to see how it really is going to be, not a watered down version to accommodate her during her first impression.

No, Im not being a dick.  My wife has hunted some, taken a couple w/t bucks, and we did a lot of steelhead/salmon fishing back when it really was good.  She has duck hunted and upland hunted also.  She has plans to take a buck this year just for the meat seeing hows things are/may be.  Everything has been her decision because over the years Ive seen too many friends and relatives who prodded their wives and girlfriends into their every activity and I can say many of them ended up in the terlet.  My own wife of 42 years admits she likes her own time when I hunt, not at all feeling she needs to always be along. However, when/if she does say I want to go along, there is never any hesitation on my behalf, she goes with.

Play it by ear, dont dive in and steer her, let her figure out for herself.   

[buckfvr]

37 years this Tuesday. Does not hunt. But I have been gone the entire month of October for that long. She will sit and criticize hunting shows. Pointing out things she doesn't think are fair to the animal.
But a lot of gear I pull out in hunting camp was a gift from her. Including rifles.

I think time away from each other is good for a marriage.

 

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

Buckfvr gave you some really solid advice......!!!

I’m lucky enough to have a fiancé that absolutely loves doing those things with me! When I first took her it was baby steps, now when she wants to go along, I’m more then happy to accommodate and believe me I do not hesitate!! Life gets crazy sometimes also, especially when raising a family, so along with relationships need a little time apart, some good quality time with your girl away from daily life’s stress can do the relationship a lot of good as well. Follow the advice given by these guys and use it to make your own decision, but believe me its all good advice!!

Good luck buddy.....

[BNAElkhntr]

32 years this Thursday wife understands the Month of October and half November  Are mine she can have the Rest

[kselkhunter]

37 years this Tuesday. Does not hunt. But I have been gone the entire month of October for that long. She will sit and criticize hunting shows. Pointing out things she doesn't think are fair to the animal.
But a lot of gear I pull out in hunting camp was a gift from her. Including rifles.

I think time away from each other is good for a marriage.

 

Yeah my wife would never go hunting with me nor shoot a gun (she personally doesn't like guns after her childhood best friend was shot in a robbery attempt, but she doesn't have a problem with me having many).  She has her hobbies and I have mine.  I can hunt as often as I like every year, without complaints or resentment from her.  As long as I don't leave my gear out on the floor around the house or something stupid, she leaves me alone.  She even bought me a Hobie pedal powered fishing kayak for my birthday recently...which was very cool.   But having at least some separate hobbies is helpful for a marriage, especially when there are no kids in the house anymore (or ever, in our case)....helps keep you from driving each other bonkers. 

[Jingles]

32 years this Thursday wife understands the Month of October and half November  Are mine she can have the Rest

Congrats on the 32 years  and I know exactly what you are saying about Oct and Nov being your and the wife understanding, my wife has put up with it for 50 years the 19th. She even asked if I was actually going to be home this year instead of in the woods?

[Sandberm]

Trap!

Of course most women are adept at setting this trap and it is accepted by society. They act all interested in your sporting activities and you feel like the luckiest guy in the world cuz your chick goes and watches you race your dirtbike and seems to be amused by Jimmy Huston...and then shortly before the wedding things seem to change but you chalk it up to her planning her special day.

After the wedding, she'll never watch another episode of Babe Winklemen with you or go to any dusty mx races. No more cleaning fish in the laundry room sink. Dont even think of hanging dead animal heads anywhere in HER house. Its all about decorating the house, having the right car to drive and planning for kids to impress her snobby friends.

My first ex wife even had towels in the bathroom that were not for using, just decoration! Say what?

And don't even ask what doesn't happen in the bedroom anymore...or how less frequently it happens

So in other words, your chick seems pretty normal, just be sure to check where she fits in the crazy/hot matrix.

[fishngamereaper]

First piece of advise relevant to this is don't ask for advice on a hunting forum. 

Second piece of advise is what do you think she would say if she saw this post.

If it works out it works out...But if your paranoid about her motives already I can tell you it's not going a good direction.

[Twispriver]

My advise is to never practice elk calls in the car. The acoustics are terrible and you'll never really be sure if you're achieving the sound you are after.

[Cougartail]

It"s a trap.

[dvolmer]

I will give you the advice my father gave me!  "You dont know what true hapiness is until you get married, and then its to late"!!!!!  Or, "You know what puppy love leads to?  A dogs life"!!!!

[Alchase]

Some serious truth being spoken here!

The un-usable towels, is an indication of severe nesting disease. It starts when the kids start leaving the nest.
In the begging it is towels, then increases to Bathrooms, Bedrooms, even Dining rooms!
We have three bedrooms I am not allowed to  evenwalk in because it will leave foot prints on the freshly vacuumed carpet. We have two bathrooms I am not allowed to use (unless I want to clean them regularly) I am only allowed to use the bathroom off the garage and the Master Bath.
I did put my foot down when we bought our house here in Oklahoma. The plan had a dining room that was enclosed on three sides. I told her we will never use a formal dinning room here. All our family lives in Washington, and very few will make the trip out here, so we need to knock those walls down to make the family room bigger. I got my huge living room, she can have the three unused bedrooms (except her clothes in the closets) and the other two bathrooms, for her to leave "pristine".
She also loves when I am gone hunting. I guess men can contaminate a clean house just by walking in the door
 
She gets visibly upset if I do not bring home game. I even thought about killing a smaller wild hog just incase to appease her if do not get a deer, but damn they stink!

I did take her scouting once up in the Methow. I showed her how to avoid the thunderbrush so you do not spook the deer. We hiked in a couple miles, then up a ridgeline. I pulled out my new bear call. I gave it a few blasts and got a response just below up in the trees. She asked "what was that!"
I did not want to tell her that chomping and snapping she was hearing was a bear in the trees below us, so I said "I do not know".
Next thing I hear is STOMP STOMP STOMP as she was heading the opposite direction hitting every patch of thunderbrush on her way! It took me a ways to convince her it was safe.

She never wanted to go Scouting/Hunting after that   

[Odell]

Someone told me the thing about marriage is you are making a commitment to love and cherish not only the person she is, but the three other people she becomes in the next 50 years.

I'd get solid on the deeper things, what does she value, what drives her, etc. Deeper things about faith, character, what kind of mom and wife will she be?  If your core values and hers line up you figure the rest out as you go. You might change too. I've seen hardcore hunters set it all down and walk away for something new.

[Alchase]

Someone told me the thing about marriage is you are making a commitment to love and cherish not only the person she is, but the three other people she becomes in the next 50 years.

You start this thread out with wisdom unbecoming from Hunting Washington! 

I'd get solid on the deeper things, what does she value, what drives her, etc. Deeper things about faith, character, what kind of mom and wife will she be?  If your core values and hers line up you figure the rest out as you go. You might change too. I've seen hardcore hunters set it all down and walk away for something new.

Then you loose perspective and go all mythical on us!

Just kidding, some good advice here. 

[Sandberm]

Brother Alchase is preaching the Gospel..

I left a skidmark in the wrong bathroom toilet and got a gentle reminder what a caveman I am.  No chance of scouting any game with my current future ex wife...talk talk talk, "thats nice honey"...*sigh*

Oh well, she does take really good care of our dog...but, pretty sure thats because she loves him more then me.

Good luck!

[Jonathan_S]

Simple rule but difficult in the moment

[Boss .300 winmag]

I will give you the advice my father gave me!  "You dont know what true hapiness is until you get married, and then its to late"!!!!!  Or, "You know what puppy love leads to?  A dogs life"!!!!

Ah puppy ❤️, I still think about my first girl friend a lot, she was everything till I saw here with an older guy in town a hour after I took her home.

[Alchase]

Brother Alchase is preaching the Gospel..

I left a skidmark in the wrong bathroom toilet and got a gentle reminder what a caveman I am.  No chance of scouting any game with my current future ex wife...talk talk talk, "thats nice honey"...*sigh*

Oh well, she does take really good care of our dog...but, pretty sure thats because she loves him more then me.

Good luck!

Here is a hint "Metamucil"!
A little fiber Kills skid marks in the toilet and the laundry,   


 

[Special T]

This isnt really hunting per say, but look at what her mother is like. A lot of who we are is absorbed, or a direct reflection of what we grew up around. Also pretty likely how she will look in later years.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[bassquatch]

Patience is your friend, not theirs!

I made my wife date me through an entire bass fishing season to test her "go fishing if you want to go fishing" nonsense. Turned out to be legit and we just celebrated 13 years of a very happy marriage! 

[predatorG]

Hahahaha damn I made this as a joke but I really appreciate the advice fellas. Me and the lady had a good laugh reading through this. We’re gonna go smoke a bear later I’ll tell you all how it goes. Gotta shoot a bear cause we’re still kinda in the deer are cute phase....

[hunter399]

Just put a baby in the oven ,it will keep them busy for a little while. Then say baby you know I hunted before we even got together.Then go hunting with or without her.
That's what I do.
 

[Buckjunkie]

You got a pic and her number? I’ll call her for you and see if she is legit.

Just kidding, I’ve been married for 30 years. My wife came from a hunting family, so she knew what she was getting into. Does your friend come from a hunting family?

[Bareback]

This isnt really hunting per say, but look at what her mother is like. A lot of who we are is absorbed, or a direct reflection of what we grew up around. Also pretty likely how she will look in later years.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Winner, Winner, chicken dinner.

Great thread........ guys trying to pattern women. That’s like trying to pattern a Blacktail.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Just put a baby in the oven ,it will keep them busy for a little while. Then say baby you know I hunted before we even got together.Then go hunting with or without her.
That's what I do.
 

You left your phone unattended didn’t you, and she read this thread. Classic rookie mistake.🤣

[hunter399]

Just put a baby in the oven ,it will keep them busy for a little while. Then say baby you know I hunted before we even got together.Then go hunting with or without her.
That's what I do.
 

You left your phone unattended didn’t you, and she read this thread. Classic rookie mistake.🤣

No worry ,she can read read it.
King of the castle right here
She's my queen of the castle.
Sometimes I win a few,sometimes she wins few. Compromised a few. Happens all the time,keeps it interesting.
 

[Alchase]

Hahahaha damn I made this as a joke but I really appreciate the advice fellas. Me and the lady had a good laugh reading through this. We’re gonna go smoke a bear later I’ll tell you all how it goes. Gotta shoot a bear cause we’re still kinda in the deer are cute phase....

See you have to prove to her, they look even cuter when the backstraps are wrapped in bacon and cooked over an open fire! 

 

[idaho guy]

I think I’m in love  oh wait I’m married and your describing your girlfriend! My wife grew up eureka Montana where everybody hunts but she never shot anything and didn’t want too. Mostly just went out with her dad and brothers to tag along.after a few years together and her going with me as the shooter she decided she wanted to get a buck. She got one and I unleashed a monster  :chuckle we hunted hard together for probably 10 years for everything and she woke up one day and decided she didn’t want to hunt anymore. I miss it honestly but my freind pointed out I should maybe spend time doing what she loves. Horses! Which is great and I already loved trail riding so now that’s how we spend time together. She will change a bunch and so will you. I’m almost 30 years with my wife 20 married no regrets on any of it. I did have to build my own house for all my mounts and hunting stuff though! A man cave behind our garage highly recommended 👍

[lokidog]

This isnt really hunting per say, but look at what her mother is like. A lot of who we are is absorbed, or a direct reflection of what we grew up around. Also pretty likely how she will look in later years.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Winner, Winner, chicken dinner.

Great thread........ guys trying to pattern women. That’s like trying to pattern a Blacktail.

Not mine, tries to be anything but like her mom. 

She didn't know anyone who hunted, had never shot a bow or gun, and had never eaten game meat. Our first date was opening night of Elk season when I had drawn a Margaret tag. She got introduced into some serious hunting right off the bat. 

[elksnout]

Run away as fast as you can. I'm dead serious.

Elksnout

[Dan-o]

It's a trap!

Still don't believe me?

If after this warning, you are still wavering:

Just don't be like this 5 years in:

Just remember to treat her right.   You need a long, happy life.
I don't want to be hearing this later:

On a serious note, sounds like you better put a ring on it, and make it legal.....

And do it before she figures out how many fish there are out there!

There.   You've been taught.   

But you still have much to learn.