Mom guilt is real. Balancing work, house chores, and personal time is challenging enough without adding the longing looks of your children when you’re heading out without them. As a hunting mom, I understand these struggles, so I’ve put together some tips to help balance family and hunting. While I don’t always achieve the perfect balance, I strive to make the most of my time and maintain harmony.
Involve Your Children (When Appropriate)
Including your children in your hunting activities can be rewarding, but stressful. Hunting often serves as a time to de-stress, think, and enjoy peace and quiet—something that might not happen with kids in tow. Choose wisely when to bring them along. Select days with nice weather, plan for shorter sits, and ensure you have patience. Avoid taking them when you’re already stressed or tired.
Make Scouting a Family Activity
Scouting can be a great time to involve the whole family. Spend time scouting from your vehicle or stand, putting up trail cameras, clearing lanes, filling feeders or just looking for sign. Ensure you have plenty of drinks, snacks, bug spray, and, most importantly, patience!
Share the Hunting Schedule
Many couples take turns hunting, giving each other a well-deserved break. Determine what time works best for your schedule—early mornings before the household wakes up or evenings to wind down after a busy day. Create a plan and stick to it. The kids will be fine without you for a few hours, and you can enjoy some tranquility on the stand. If you’re successful, bring the kids along for the recovery process to involve them without the pressure of having them by your side during the hunt.
Use the Recovery as a Teaching Moment
When an animal is down, it can be the most fun part of involving the family and a great teaching opportunity. Share the details of the hunt with your kids, explain how to field dress the animal, show them where you were and where the animal was, and let them help with processing if they’re interested. Teaching kids about hunting, where our meat comes from, and involving them in processing and cooking game can bring the experience full circle. Be mindful of each child’s personality—some may be more sensitive than others. Never make them uncomfortable, and cater to each child’s needs and comfort levels.
Balancing family and hunting is not always easy, but with a bit of planning and flexibility, it can be a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
