Depressing Times....

[bobcat]

It's not easy for me to get out in the woods with my two girls, a 2 year old and a 3 month old. I'll feel lucky to get one full week and a couple of weekends to hunt this fall. I used to hunt something just about every weekend from September 1st to December 31st. Not anymore. But I sure am looking forward to taking the girls out hunting as soon as they're old enough to keep up with me in the woods. I'm thinking I'll start them out on grouse and with any luck after a few years of that we'll be hunting deer and elk together.

[littletoes]

I love teaching the kids about hunting.
My oldest Son will be 12 this coming deer/elk season, and I'm having some trouble deciding if he should go elk hunting this year. Last year was his first deer season, and he bagged a nice 3X3, but elk is quite a bit harder.

He's game, thats for sure. But going in a mile or two for deer is not the same as 10 miles or more for elk. Then, what if you actually get one that far in???    (I got back-up, two guys with horses/mules).

What would you guys do?

PS-I take both my boys yote hunting when i go out, the oldest packs his .243 deer rifle. Youth model, short and fast handleing!

[Ridgerunner]

Lots of common threads on here, kids are the greatest but man do they cut down the time in the field at the beginning.  I've felt the crunch as well, I'm looking forward to them getting bigger so I can get out more again, but till then I'm focusing on accomplishing hunting goals that don't require the huge time committments, or out of state hunts.  And I'm making sure I am getting out on quality trips, not quantity of trips.  Taking them scouting can be great fun too.

[rainshadow1]

LT, when my oldest is 12 my wife won't see much of us at all! My youngest will be 10, we'll be gone all the time! He's almost 4, his brother is 2. They both want to go, and love blowing calls, but I have to be careful about their introduction to the whole thing. Need to keep it positive and not boring, exhausting, cold, hot, or frightening. This year the 4 year old will be on coyote stands. Doesn't matter how tough it is for me, he'll see a dog come in, I'm determined!

Big game, that's another judgement call, you're absolutely right.

I love my kids and wouldn't be without them, it's just the way life goes when you try to do it right. Like I said, 10 years from now? Leave me a message, WE won't be here much!