How many times per week do you hunt?

[Ben M.]

#7124

I’m sure this is a “dead horse” to a lot of you guys but humor me.

I’m thinking here of your typical three or four month whitetail archery season, not a one-month scramble to bag an elk. (If I had only one month to put up the two hundred or so pounds of venison my family has come to rely on, I’d probably hunt every single day, shamelessly, until the job was done.) I’m 32, married, have three kids aged between 5 & 10 years old, and live the average sort of busy life that comes with that. I have time to hunt twice a week; that is, two mornings, two evenings, or one of both. Any more than that would probably be unnecessarily burdensome on my family. I’m brining this up because I know that if I hunted more I’d have better chances of success–and in the last month I’ve had precious few chances–but I’m giving it about all I’ve got. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to compare notes with you. What are your/your family’s needs, and how much do you have to hunt to meet them?

-Ben

[Stephen Graf]

#58382

Like you, my family relies on the venison I bring home. If we don’t catch it, kill it, or grow it, we generally don’t eat it.

When I was a working man, I did about what you do. Now that I have more time, I hunt more. That said, I don’t think my “success rate” is any higher than when I had limited time.

I expect that the reason has to do with the fact that while I have more time to hunt, I don’t have more places to hunt. So I end up stinking my hunting spots up more than normal.

Common wisdom, and I believe it to be true, is that you should not hunt the same places over and over. Once or twice a week should be the limit. Otherwise, the deer get wise.

So I’d say don’t worry about it. If you get lucky enough to come up with some extra places to hunt, then consider increasing your time in the woods. But keep in mind what they say about too much of a good thing…

[1shot]

#58405

Never been married, no kids… I spend around 175-200days a year hunting/scouting, about 60days of that with my recurve in hand.

I will hunt multi stands mixed with still hunting in NY, only getting two weeks there this year, last week of bow, first of r&*^e, bummer, but I’m helping an outfitter with some Wounded Warrior hunts in AZ so it’s all good.

I’ll be hunting the entire month of January2014 for Coues for myself, and WW also.

My ‘success” anymore is not based on a critter on the ground, but the total joy of the hunt, with it’s ups and downs, weight loss, lack of sleep, and sore body. Did I say this before??? Man I LOVE this time of year…

[shaneharley]

#58502

A fun topic. I’m an ex falconer. I have a wife and two girls. When I hawked I hunt 6 or 7 days a week for 6 months, before or after work. There was a tremendous drive and passion for hawks in me, still is. But it’s not really fair to God or family to be that driven towards something. I just could not or would not do it half way. There is a huge difference between guys who hunt everyday and those who don’t. That said I had to quit. I use to bowhunt as a kid and loved it. Always wanted to hunt with a longbow. So now I do. This season I hunted almost everyday of the 30 day season. I had to take some time off to prepare for a sermon for church. Spending a couple of months going hard is a lot less than 6. If I had enough vacation I would take off all of elk season and hunt everday. But my job is stingy with vacation that time of year so I hunt less than I would like.

[grumpy]

#58559

This is not a “dead Horse”!!!

I’m a single, working parent for the second time.

Had to leave my profession when I was the single parent of my son in the ’80s, and now am parenting my grandaughter (10). Went 10 years without fishing while raising my son, and have done the same for my grandaughter. Just went thru dealing with her dyslexia/attention disorder with her teachers. Had to explain that I succedded with these gifts, and that Arwen will too. Took a lot of time, and is part of the reason I’m not hunting this year, she needs my time. Next year she will be more independent, and I’m planning on getting the two deer and a bear that the license allows. If I tried this year, it would be at best half azzed, and I don’t do anything half azzed.

Ignore the guilt while you are in the woods. You will be a better parent when you are there if you have your time. They also need to learn that dad has a life too (if you arn’t there to hold her hand, she may figure it out for herself, and gain some independence), and they will learn from the modeling that you are providing. Both my parents worked [i]a lot[i] and we all became VERY independent as a result, but still learned their values. Can’t tell you how many times my son (now 34) has said “Like you taught me.” Didn’t know I was teaching him, he just learned from watching me. Remember the objective is to make them independent, that is harder if you are always there.

Good idea to tell them every morning that they are just as bright, and just as pretty as anybody else in the school.

[tailfeather]

#58607

Ben, I’m pretty much in the same situation as you. I’m 38, with two kids and a wife (who is very supportive of me hunting). Venison is our staple…..we eat 5 or so deer each year. If I don’t kill it, we don’t usually eat it. Back in my life B.C., I hunted 4 or 5 days a week. Can’t and won’t do that now, as other things are more important.

Lately, I’m lucky to have three hunts each week…..which has made it tough to fill the freezer because sightings have been terrible thus far. I’d love to go as often as I used to, but it does make each trip a little more important….try to soak it all in while I’m there! Luckily, my little boy is starting to hunt with me and loves it….so Mama may be sending us both out of the house before long. Pleeeassse don’t throw me in the briar patch!:D

[Ralph]

#58901

When I was working, a lot of the early years the vacation I earned was dedicated to the Marine Reserves. Alas after a couple thousand years of that I thought, ha, hunting time. Well, my kids came about. Well, plan B. Keep working, acquire more vacation, OK. Good for a few years, got to actually dedicate some time hunting. Divorced, sharing time with kids and their mom and weekend hunting was even possible. Cool. Whoops, comes love of my life! More kids! Love them but hunting slows down again but I did manage to do some, enough for meat which is good thing. Retired, ha , hunt as I wish. Keep on dreaming old buddy. Grandkid’s dads are, can I say %#*&^%** worthless and non existent in their lives so my priority in life is their education and their chance of having a real life. I’ve been out 4 times in the last 3 weeks. Not complaining at all, just things ain’t always as one would have things be. I’ve taken close to 50 deer in my lifetime so it’s not a gotta do thing anymore, I just like being out there. Things are turning better with school, football, band and all so I’ll be able to go more I hope. But, Nov. 4th is the first Monday of Texas general hunting season and yours truly has jury summons. I guarantee that when the Thanksgivings and Christmas school vacations are happening, hunting is happening too!!!! 1 more ball game. Ha! Saturdays will be mine again.

[grumpy]

#59537

Thanks R2, nice to know I’m not the only one!!

Raising kids is the most difficult and most important thing you will ever do. Not really worried about you guys, the fact that you are worried about it tells me you will do just fine.

Pete

[paleoman]

#59944

I’m lucky to get out once a week. Not much time to work with after work. I’m lucky enough to be outdoors a lot at work so maybe I’m overexposed to fresh air? Seriously. Sometimes I just don’t want to step in another swamp or crawl through brush ever again at the end of my work week:shock:!

[strait-aero]

#61953

I usually get out two or three times per week,giving days in between to let the area be cleansed of my presence. But,when the rut is on I usually try to be out somewhere all day long. The exception to this is going to be this season,as I’m starting heavy equipment school Monday and will be gone Sunday thru Friday for the next nine weeks. I’ll hit it hard on Saturdays. It’s great just being out there…:wink:

[mhay]

#61967

Usually I will hunt one evening during the week and hit it hard on the weekends . Last year I lost my job due to the plant closing its doors which allowed me to hunt every day . Now , this year I am a full time student which has prevented me from hitting the woods as much as I would like . But , I have Fridays and weekends .

Haven’t seen the first WhiteOak acorn here around home which could really effect the fall turkey hunting as well as the deer . Just have to put down the boot leather and cover a lot of ground to locate a flock .

[james gilmer]

#16617

every day both am and pm if possible. Sunday I killed a doe, it was my 63 rd outing of the season.

[sinawalli]

#17087

Not enough!

[Col Mike]

#17094

Same as Bill said. However we are leaping through hoops to get Linda ready to head out to Canada for a dry land (wheeled) dog sled race this weekend. She will be running a 4 dog team. Any of you close to Essex Ontario–stop by and cheer her on.

Semper Fi

Mike

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#17184

During September elk season this year there were 4 days I didn’t hunt.

Come October, I switch to doing a fair bit of bird hunting with my shorthair, who’s feeling pretty neglected by then.

November/early December is a mix of upland and bowhunting for whitetails, and I’ll try to get out 3-4 days a week.

By later in December, its usually deep snow and full-on winter around here, but I’ll usually make a few trips south for chukar and quail. One of these years though, I want to combine it with bringing the bow along for javelina.

[jpcarlson]

#18369

Ben,

Same boat, different paddle:) I’m 37, have 1.5 year old twin girls, work full time with shift work as a patrol officer on a different shift than my wife who is the same with different days off. On top of that, she didn’t come from a family with a hunting tradition, where as I came from one where the fall was hunting, every weekend until December. I’m lucky, as my wife has come to realize a bit more each year (going on 4), just how much the hunt means to me and how recharged I am when I come home. I am really glad to see how many here have prioritized their family before the hunt; that is the way it should be. Our kids are only young and growing up once, we only get one chance to guide them through each phase and to enjoy it and make memories before they are all grown up and gone. Hunt when you can where you can, but don’t stress about it. I have only been out 5 times this archery season since it opened in the end of September. No worries, I will go when I can and when it works with my family. I would rather be out in the stand or stalking around when I know I have taken the time needed for them and I can be there with a clear mind to truly enjoy it and soak it all up. I used to hunt 5 days a week BC, then birds every weekend (my griffon pup has about had it with me since we haven’t been out yet). I take it all in stride as I know there will come a time for more hunting at some point. I will end with this; there is a priority which should exist IMO. God, then your spouse, then your kids, then everything else. After you take care of those, hunt hard.

Jans

[grumpy]

#18844

Lke your priorities, jp

[David Petersen]

#19276

13,420, on average, depending on weather and mood …

[Troy Warner]

#20415

Before I “got a hair cut and got a real job” I hunted 4-6 days a week.:D Now that I’m “respectable” with a real job and travel most of the year I get out when I’m home. This year 3 days so far, and hoping to make it 4 or more days a week in the next 3 weeks, since I’m on vacation.

[David Petersen]

#21444

Troy, respectability is vastly overrated when you consider who it is giving and withholding the respect. Conformity is all the dominant culture really wants, respectable or otherwise.

[Troy Warner]

#21509

Dave, that’s very true and if it weren’t for medical benefits for my wife I could very easily return to being a “BUM” as my late father in-law always called me before I was offered this so called real job.

[Dan Sweeney]

#24705

Five to six on average. Societal obligations are synthetic and overrated. Not to mention…a lot of people I know, family and otherwise, make good use of the venison (birds, small game, etc… Fish too, for that matter).

[Ben M.]

#29832

Thanks, guys. It’s good to hear from so many different perspectives.

-Ben

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