my husband is getting on in the years and is a tough old man but not in good health. every deer season he disapears in the forest and spends the rest of his time dressing and preparing venison for the table when this is done he tans deerskins for leather.i know he loves me deeply but i get lonely and worry about his safety contantly.what shall i do?
2006-12-06 00:30:00 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
Bound's hubby here (and Bound):
I can appreciate your concern. I know in about 10 years, my wife will probably have the same concerns (not that she would not be concerned when I head for the woods now!). Personally, I have been caught in too many cross-fires, and been hunting in areas that were just plain too crowded. I do not like to hunt with other people.
You have left out some important information. How "old" is your husband? Does he hunt locally by the day, or does he go away for a week or so and stay in a deer camp or cabin by himself? Does he hunt with a club or friends, or by himself?
I would suggest that you encourage your husband take up local "still hunting", where he will be coming home each night. To allay my wife's concerns, I would suggest that she help me build my deer stand or blind, so she knew where it was. Then, when the time came to go hunting, I would put the slide-in camper on the truck, and have her head out to the deer woods with me. She could stay at the camper, and at a set time, I would come out from the stand and join her for a hot lunch, and maybe a nap before I go out for the dusk feeding hunt. Then, if I were running late (more than an hour), she could feel comfortable "looking" for me, or calling for help to look for me.
A lot can go wrong in the field, as you have probably imagined. I know when I hunt, I will take my compass, a knife, a rope, my rifle and about a half dozen shells, then head out ... carrying as little as possible. The last thing I want is to pack a cell phone ... if there was a signal, the last thing I want is to spook a trophy buck with the ringing of "Hail to the Chief"!
Also, the last thing your husband (if he is really "up in age") wants to admit is that he can't do what he could when he was younger. He will miss what he could do, and push himself to his limit. Then, suggest either day trips or a guided "hunt of a life-time" that you join him on, making it (at least) a lodge or camp vacation every year!
Good luck!
2006-12-06 07:25:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
My mother always attributed my parents' long and successful marriage to her ability to send my father to the hunting club. but I occasionally acted as guide when she wanted to hunt. He probably does really want you to try it. There may be some problems, if you aren't much of a hunter, because he'll be "the expert," so your relationship will be on unfamiliar ground. But I've hunted for a half century with couples, and in some, the wife is the better hunter. Give it a try, and if both of you are a little flexible, it may add another dimension to your marriage On the other hand, I have a couple of ex-wives I don't care to think of with a firearm in their hands!
2016-05-22 23:45:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get him a cell phone and/or a handheld GPS. For one, hunting is an escape for men, like going to the mall is for women. Its your alone time, and having someone younger go with him might be a good idea, but it still doesn't solve the alone issue that you are having with it. It is his hobby, that he does yearly, and I would think you need to find something for yourself to do around that time of year. If he is getting old and your capable to go with him, why not tag along? When something happens, it does for a reason. If your husband had to chose a way to die, I'd bet he'd like to be out in the wilderness with nature, rather than sitting in a hospital bed, wondering what is going on. I know that sounds morbid, but well You just cant expect someone to give up a life long hobby cause they are getting old. At one point in life, yes that will happen, and you will also see their health decrease immensely at that point in life as well. I'd find some younger family members/neighbor kids that would like to be taught a safe, and evidently productive way of hunting. I don't know if this helped, but don't be jealous of your husband being up there in age, and still having a hobby that he likes and wont give it up until he has to. That just isn't cool in most peoples books.
2006-12-06 00:48:02 · answer #3 · answered by dontblamemeivoted 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Looks like you got allot of great answers. Make sure you know where he is hunting at. Topographic maps are great, have him mark where he is at on it. G.P.S. are very accurate within a few feet. But to someone that is not familial with them can be very confusing. Cell phones are nice but sometimes they can lose signal, so I would suggest a two-way radio. They are just like walkie talkies and now have greater ranges than ever. Hunting partners are always a good idea. Hopefully he is not hunting or has to travel too far or in too difficult terrain for his abilities. And another good idea is to have his doctor give him a physical, just to be sure.
2006-12-06 04:56:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
make sure someone younger and in good health goes out with him. make them carry cell phones AND 2 way radios because sometimes, the phones don't work in the woods. talk to the person he goes with and tell them to make sure they don't go too far from the vehicle.
dont tell him he can't go out at all because that will just make him miserable.
my bf is "young" but I still worry every time he goes out, especially when he is by himself.
and to cpin....nobody asked your freaking opinion on hunting. I guess you would rather have the sides of roads littered with deer that have been hit by vehicles, one of them most likely yours! THEN you will be complaining about there being too many deer around!
2006-12-06 02:07:51 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can do 1 of 2 things. Get him a cell phone. I always carry a cell phone with me when I go deer hunting by myself. Or take up deer hunting yourself. There are more and more women getting into hunting each year. You never know it may become a great past time for the both of you.
2006-12-06 00:36:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
If you are feeling lonely because of it then I would go out with friends. Or you could find a similar hobby like horse riding for example (might not be similar unless its hunting). Also I would definately make sure he has GPS and a cell phone with him at all times.
2006-12-06 03:23:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You didn't say just how old he is, but you prolly been worrying about him since about the time you were married. Do as others have suggested, but keep in mind, it is his love of the outdoors and the exercise he gets from it, and the good food he shoots that will help keep him around for many more years.
2006-12-06 06:19:37 · answer #8 · answered by tmarschall 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a friend that is younger in better health with a cell phone is what I would I try to find to go with him. If he enjoys hunting I would never try to stop him from going. My grandfather was 97 and loved to fish I took him in my boat 2 weeks before he passed away
2006-12-06 02:58:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
First! Know where he is going and when he expects to be back. Have him mark everything on a topo-map.
You may want to get a pair of the GPS units that can show a persons location, one for him and one for you.
Finally, don't discourage him from going. He will know when it's time to call it quits, even though he won't like to make that decision.
2006-12-06 02:10:53 · answer #10 · answered by bdnihm 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋