A Different Hunting Season
I’m starting to get the feeling that this year’s hunting season is going to be like no other. I believe that the change is for the good, but I also think that with the change, will come less time spent in the woods. I’m not looking at that as a bad thing by the way. It just proves that I have my priorities right.
We are at the 36 week point of the pregnancy; it is getting close to showtime. Pretty much-from this point on-the baby can arrive and be healthy. With that being said, I am still hopeful that she will wait it out until her due date. As much as mom and I would love to get this show on the road, I think the longer she waits to come out, the better for everyone involved. We want a healthy baby, not an early baby.
Now, I need to get back to my point. I think this season is going to be way different because of the little one being involved. Not only trying to hunt before she arrives, but also trying to hunt after she is here. It is going to be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Before all of you start screaming at me about being selfish, first, let me clarify a few things. I have been talking to the wife about how close to the due date I should hunt. I think that come close to the time, especially if some laboring action is already underway, I shouldn’t even be thinking about hunting anymore. Suprisingly, though, she is of a different opinion. She thinks that I can hunt for awhile, and everything will be fine. I worry that I will be hunting, I won’t have cell phone service, and she will go into serious labor without me knowing. That is the first issue at hand.
The other issue that has come up, is how often I will be able to hunt once the baby arrives. I am of the mindset right now that I wont hunt as much. It isn’t because someone has told me I can’t, or anything like that, it is just because I want to spend a lot of time with little Abby when I can. The wife’s side to this argument is that she is going to be sleeping a ton anyway, so that I might as well sneak out and hunt from time to time.
I am really struggling with these two things. It is pretty funny though, that the wife is encouraging me to go, and I’m freaking out about going. I am just so afraid of missing something, before or after she is born, that I don’t want to take the chance of missing out by going out and hunting.
It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. I think I am going to feel incredibly guilty if I miss out on certain things because I’m hunting. The wife thinks I’m overreacting a little bit, and I guess that could be the case, but I just don’t want to miss out on anything.
So tell me what all of you think? And I don’t want to hear about how selfish I am, or any of that, because that is nonsense. And the wife telling me to go isn’t the introduction to the opposites either; she really, and truly means it. Would you go? How often would you go? All of you out there with experience in this baby stuff, let me hear it. Can I sneak out hunting and still be considered a good dad?
I feel guilty already.
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Newborns really do sleep a lot and I’m with your wife, go hunt. Sure you will cut back some but really baby’s sleep a lot (just not always when you want it to) and your wife knows that you have your priority’s right so listen to her.
Also labor usually takes awhile – if you are only going out for five or six hours at a time you are unlikely to miss out on anything.
Since you won’t be hunting much this year would it be possible to hunt out of your treestand?
I call Arts bow since he is staying home.
Can I borrow your new boots too???
I think it’s sweet that you are worrying so much. She will be Daddy’s little girl for sure. I think you will know what is best when the time comes.
Since your staying home this season, can I borrow your MT050809067989 water-proof, breathable, dry plus laminate, mesh linear, blaze extreme, quiet pack, gore-tec, scent-lok, fleece dry plus, silent pro, buck skin deluxe, insulated zip-up parka? It gets cold here in Indiana.
I think you should just wait and see how it goes. After Abby is here you’ll have a much better handle on what having a baby requires in time and energy.
Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that your wife might like some time away too. Make it a trade off. You go hunting sometimes, and other times she gets a few hours to do something on her own while you handle baby care. Sounds like a fair trade to me.
Oh for cryin’ out loud- Play it by ear, you don’t have to have it all planned out before hand. I think it’s part of your OCD, be a little flexible and listen to Jenn.
Of course you won’t go out if she is already in labor. Look how long Michelle was in labor.
If she goes into labor while your in the tree stand, and you don’t have cell service she can send Tom or Ben or Charlie to get you, While Kathy Michelle and I take her to the hospital.
You sound like you will be a great dad…I would take advantage of a sleeping baby this season. It will be different next year when she is more active. This is an exciting time for you and your wife in expectation of your new addition. Love hearing about it.
I had the same predicament this year, and I would advise you to play it by ear. My wife had our son the day after the opener of the deer hunt. She wanted me to go on the opener, and I got up and headed off, only to turn back because I was too worried. I missed the opener, but I made it out the next couple of Saturdays. It was a great hunt, and I just took advantage of the times I could get out. My time hunting was done in short spans, but every minute was worth it. Then at the end of the day, my son would let me hold him and tell him all of my hunting stories without interruption. It is the best being a dad! Congratulations and Good Luck!
Play it by ear. From reading your posts, I gather that isn’t your style, usually, but I tell ya….all the planning in the world can be thrown out the window in a heartbeat. I’d just make very very tentative plans and see how things are going – see if you can stand being away from the little one, first, then go from there.
I also say play it by ear but also take advatanage of the fact that little Abby will be sleeping a lot and go hunting when you can but also make sure that your wife gets some time to herself also. Next year will be different as Abby will be alot more active. Before I was married and had kids I would be out hunting almost every weekend. Now if I get out 3 or 4 times I am doing good. Now don’t get me wrong I am not complaining. The good thing is that my sons are now almost old enough to hunt and I will be getting out more becuase I will be taking them hunting. Now to me that is what it is all about.
Heck yeah you can hunt after the baby is born and still be a good dad!
But seriously, the commenters who said to play it by ear are right. Every plan you make in advance of the baby being born will fall apart the first night mom and baby are home from the hospital.
You will probably hunt less than you had hoped to; my first son was born about three weeks before the end of deer season. I was off work that entire three weeks and expected to do a lot of hunting but didn’t go even once. Things had changed, however, by the time my second son was born, also near the end of deer season. I continued hunting, and when the season was over I went to Vegas!
You’ll know what to do when the time comes.
Art you worry too much! You can’t have a game plan when it comes to kids! They never listen any way! lol! Do what feels right for you and Jen. If you go out and Jen goes into labor, you know your family will come storming the woods to get you!
After Abby is here, you will know if you want to go out or not. I like the traid off idea, you would both get quality time alone with her and some time to yourselfs too.
Don’t worry! You guys are gonna do just fine. ;D
Cant wait to have the whole property to myself!
I do have one problem………Which stand to hunt..lol…Im just glad you got the ocd and not me!
Art have OCD??? Is this true??? No way! Lol
Congrats on your new baby girl to be. I’m so happy for you and your wife….don’t worry – everything has a way of working it’s way out. It will be a whole new ball game for sure but you will adjust. I know you will get sleepy on the deerstand..take a nap and wake up and you will see all kinds of deer around you! Enjoy your new daughter when she gets here!
