Bowhunt or Wedding Plans? Hmm...

[EROCK1313]

Tired of not drawing the Limited Enrty Units for 7 years (but building up plenty of points) I decided to take up Archery. I am now addicted. This was my first year ever bowhunting. I bought a Bear Truth bow at the end of May after much deliberation and found that it was a Great Value and perfectly capable. I practiced approx 3 times a week in any every weather condition but snow so I would be ready. There was only one flaw to my plan. I was getting married about a week and a half after the Bowhunt started and planed to be gone a full ten days to maximize my success. I had the bowhunt planned way before I ever got engaged but the Fiance was pretty P.O.'d that I wouldn't be there to finalize everything and set things up. I am not a mean person, but I had this planned for over a year and I was going with my father who was from outta state and meeting me half way and would only have 4 days to hunt with me so I had to stand my ground. Rude???

Well, my father who has killed many an Elk and Mule deer with a bow was pretty confident that we could find a nice buck pretty quickly and be back to please the future Mrs. Well, he was right....Here is a picture of my first Bow Kill on the first day with the first arrow. I got it at the last available light. I guess I am no longer in the dog house; but should I have held out a little longer after hiking over 10 miles up, down, over and under and seeing scarce sign?? Who knows, but I am pretty proud that I was self taught and have only been shooting since The end of May!! What do you think??

 

[MortgageMan]

Congrats, I see NO problem with what you did. Most women understand that sort of thing. LMAO!!

 

[NMHUNTNUTT1]

Congrats on a nice buck , ya did good on the hunt.

Now , what the helll were you thinking when you agreed to a wedding in September? You do realize there are anniversary obligations and such right ??? My buddy is expecting his second child any time this week and he only archery hunts , talk about poor planning....Maybe I'm being criticle , but I made sure I never planned anything in Sept or October.SHHEEESH ,I've been told hunting isn't everything and I shouldn't get so worked up about it....Don't understand that either....

Seriously , congrats on your buck and your marriage, and here in NM us married guys always say to a newly wed ,"Seinte Muncho"....NM

 

[fatrooster]

Congrats to you on your first buck. My story is like yours, I started shooting at the end of May and shot my first buck on my first stalk with my first arrow.(See "fatroosters buck" under "search" and in the mule deer forum.) Awesome story. I too got married last year on August 5th and archery season is in the month of August in Nevada. I never thought I would be bow hunting but now I am. A lesson to all you guys out there. NEVER GET MARRIED IN ANY KIND OF HUNTING SEASON!!!!!!! fatrooster.

 

[EROCK1313]

You think after 4yrs. of marriage delays I would have been able to put it off another couple of months, but she just HAD to have a summer wedding. I think she knew exactly what she was doing. Good thing she knows that this is a yearly thing and not once in a lifetime and Thank The Man Above for the Extended Archery Hunt here in Utah; I may need it if I can't get my Limited enrty again next year after the 8th yr trying. Thanks for all the compliments/encouragements from all of you. It always amazes me the kind of comradery the sport of Archery has!

 

[COLO3D]

You did the right thing. Please don't tell my wife I said that.

 

[ChasinBone]

If you love deer hunting, avoid getting hung at all cost when thier is a possible deer hunt. PLAN PLAN PLAN Get married from FEB to JUL. I have a buddy that got married in October and gets screwed out of some of the best hunting almost every year. Believe me she will get over it sooner or later, IF SHE LOVES YOU!!!! PLAN PLAN PLAN!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kilowatt]

Never have kids period, then no problems. LOL Just joking for most of us, but don't get married during the Aug-Nov time frame.
My anniversary is Oct. 6th but my wife is a good sport and knows that I might be gone during that time some years.
We usually go out either before or after the date to celebrate and this year will be home unless Eelgrass can't find a Lope to shoot and needs my help. LOL

Brian

 

[EROCK1313]

Well, I do already have kids; so that isn't an option but the bonus ( if ya wanna look at that way) is that I split custody with their mother. So that pretty much works out in my favor. I did find a sorta sneaky way to approach the whole thing that will hopefully get me more days in the field; or at least get some understanding. I put the seed in my wife's head that she would love archery and would probably be pretty darn good at it since she has a keen attention to detail. She is not a hunter, so I informed her of the many great shooting leagues and possibilities if she became good. I even told her that she may even be better than me....who knows?!?!? She then finally saw me shoot my bow for the first time (most times I shoot alone) and thought it was pretty 'HOT' as she put it. I let her know that there were some pretty inexpensive bows that we could go try (just in case the money issue was a problem or she decided she didn't like it as much as thought) and she seems pretty excited about it. The good thing is that an anniversary is just a day event, so I will make sure not to plan any trips too close to my hunting and the bonus is that I can always ask for hunting stuff for an anniversary gift and actually get to use it to hunt the same week. She seems to be a little more understanding now so I am pretty lucky that way.

 

[BLooDTRaCKeR]

You guys are killing me! Why? because I totally agree. My wife wanted to get married in november, I hunt the wasatch extended. I told her to think about January or later because November is prime time for the rutting activity and I ain't having an anniversary smack in the middle of my hunting adventures. Anniversaries are supposed to be a time of celebration, not a time of remorse depression because your not out killing that big buck, but spending time with the wife. LOL
Congrats on a great first archery buck. If you have kids, try to keep their B-days out of the hunting time as well. Like someone else here mentioned....PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.



Formerly known as "greatwhitehunter" on dwr forums

 

[canhunter]

Would not have even been discussed or even considered in mine. Going hunting regardless so get used to it and she has. Her or hunting and she knows where she fits in, and she has never even wanked a little!!!! Feel sorry for those that even have to think about it. Yes, you made the right choice as there are lots of women but few good animals.

 

[ICHABOD]

STAND YOUR GROUND NOW; let her know that hunting is a very important part of your life, as is she. The first couple of years set the tone for how she will look at your hunting forever. Show her that there is room in your life for both.
If you curtail your hunting for the first couple of years (even if its to show her how much you love her)it will come back to haunt you later! She will wonder why hunting is "all of a sudden more important than her."
Another bit of advice...dont spend money on that bow for her for awhile after you are married...she may be showing an interest to make you happy (women seem to do these things BEFORE marriage) LOL

The year I was engaged, my (now) wife took hunters safety, went bow hunting with me, and rifle hunting with me. We were married in November...12 years now and she has NEVER shown an interest or gone on another huntin trip with me. I used to give her grief about it...now I'm just thankful! hehe Just kidding! (no, really, I am)
By the way, Its awful hard to not have sex from december through february...planning or not!

 

[buglinbull2]

I am pretty much hunting 12 months a year. My wife tried to weasel our wedding date in the middle of September. uuuuuuh nooo! That is the holiest of the holies for hunting. The elk are bugling. Plus no one would show up to our wedding. The next choice was mid August. The opener for archery antelope. Again a big no. We settled on the first weekend of August. We got married up in the hills. The reception was at her parents property, about 1 mile from prime elk hunting. Needless to say, after a few cocktails, me and some hunting buddies decided to go scouting for elk. What better way to spend your wedding reception? Yes, 10 years later I am still married.