My ex takes my son hunting during his visitation,is this ok?

Question

My son is only seven,and I am happy that they have a bond,but do not agree with the hunting. My 7 year old informed me that he shot a squirrel the other day. I was very mad.He is only 7 and wakes up at 4 in the morning to go in the woods and fall asleep & he received multiple bug bites,that I had to take him to the doctor,he put him on antibiotics since their were so many. Is this a sign of neglect and could I get some visitation taken away from him?He even goes on school nights,this is not in the best interest of the child,I don't think?

Answer 1

You need to document everything and take it to the judge.

The father has every right to do anything legal with your son during his visits, but if your son is suffering because of it, you need to prove this and the judge will rule accordingly.

A 7 year old needs to have a set bedtime with 10 hours of sleep each night.

When you go to court make sure you take records of dates that your son went hunting and also bring the medical records showing that he suffered from bug bites. Also make the father prove that their hunting equipment and locations and targets are legal.

You do have a case against the father, but the Judge will not take away visits, he will most likely rule that he either does not take him hunting anymore or give him more detailed rules to follow such as bedtime. If he does not follow those rules he is in contempt then you can take further action to suspend visitation.

Answer 2

Several of these answerer's need to get real. It is NORMAL for a father that hunts to teach his son that same interest. No different than a dad teaching his son about model railroads, antique cars, or music. It's something he can SHARE with your/his son. I sincerely doubt his dad is letting him use a shotgun or high powered rifle. Your son is probably using a little .22 rifle that has absolutely NO kick. And if he is a responsible parent, or man, he WILL teach your son about not having it loaded while they are walking through the woods and keeping the safety on when he isn't aiming a gun at another squirrel. If you are concerned, talk to your son. Ask him all the different things his dad is teaching him and I am willing to bet he is learning to be safe. I don't understand why it is a big deal to go out on a school night either. The law says spotlighting is illegal, so they have to be in soon after dark. Tell your ex that your son has to be in the house by 8 so he can get his bath before he goes to bed and make sure your son understands as well that this is the rule. As far as the bug bites go, get the UNscented bug spray. ONLY unscented. Talk to your ex and remind him how important it is for your son to keep the spray on. Where I am from, hunting is about tied up with SEC football. It is important here, and most dads teach their son. It is a sport.

Answer 3

Make sure you are truly considering the best interest of your son. I don't personally believe in hunting *for myself*, as it appears you don't either, but don't let that affect your judgement. Your son will need to decide for himself if he believes hunting is ok. You can influence him, just be careful not to make his dad out to be the bad guy.

It is so important and your obligation to your son to be supportive of his father...regardless of how the relationship is between you and the father. Easier said than done at times, but just keep checking yourself by asking "why am I really upset" or "what do I want to happen". You need to be sure your motives are pure, and you're not just acting out of emotion. Your son will thank you for it later (when he's older, he'll realize just how difficult it was for you sometimes).

If you find something unreasonable and truly against what is best for your son, talk to your ex. Taking visitation away isn't the answer...sounds like punishment not only for your ex, but for your son. Look for a positive solution instead.

Answer 4

I think you need to discuss this with your ex. Its great they have a good relationship, but taking him hunting during school nights- not good. If your son likes hunting with his dad, then there is nothing to worry about, as long as he wears the right clothes, has anti-bug spray on, get enough sleep after and dont feel pressured in going with his dad. You will know the signs if he is unhappy with this hunting experience.

Answer 5

Maybe it isn't in the best interest of you to have your kid spend time with his dad. If your kid enjoys time with him, don't be so hard on your ex. Maybe you two didn't make it together, but you shouldn't "divorce" him from his son. Maybe talk to him about not bringing him out on school night, but other than that it sounds like he loves his son and wants to do stuff that would be fun for the both of them. Don't break that. Good luck!

Answer 6

Is your ex your son's father? it incredibly is incredibly common for some Dad's to sleep or bathe in an analogous room as their youngsters - even nonetheless, ten is a splash old, and an age whilst your son could be gaining some independence e.g. with the ability to sleep/bathe on my own. i could incredibly think of this is extraordinary and could have a extreme communicate with your ex concerning the type you do no longer approve of this manner of behaviour. i be attentive to this is assuming the worst, yet he ought to be abusing your son without you even understanding approximately it. good success.

Answer 7

There's a difference with hunting for sport. Like hunting animals for fangs and trophy, or hunting something you will eat.

Someone kills the animals whose meat you, I assume, eat. Even if you are vegan, humans have been hunting for food much cloner than we have been buying our food from farmers or meat factories.

You can talk to your ex about your son's safety, you can ask him to teach the child to respect animals and the fact that feed us, but you cannot tell him not to raise his son they way he sees fit.

Teaching your son to hunt is not abuse. Mind you I would never teach my son to hunt.Not my cup of tea.

For hunter squirrel is vermin, and it is a rodent much closer to rat than Alvin and the chipmunks, and they can give rabies and such to people...

Your son did not kill Alvine, he shot a rat.

You can talk to your son ab out respecting animals and thew fact they feed us, how people used to be hunters as a way to support their families, clans and villages (communities) and such..

Pick your battles with your ex and this is not one of them.

Just coz you and I could not kill a squirrel doesn't mean people who do are bad.

People daily kill our food for us, so don't be hypocritical and let your son have some experiences of life you didn't...

Talk to your child that we should not gloat over the fact that we have to kill our food, or buy it already killed, that we should not enjoy killing, but treat is necessary evil...

etc...

Make this into a learning opportunity for your son and teach him more than how to shoot a gun, and hunt.

Answer 8

Why is it that when you know what type of man you married and are now divorced with kids you don't want him doing the same things as his father. Are you afraid hes going to someday be just like his father? Or is it you just don't like the way he spends his time with him? I think you need to mind your own business because you sound very manipulative and over bearing when it comes to your son (with resentment toward your x). What if daddy didn't care? And another thing, you refer to your son as yours only, how about sharing him with his dad? Think Please!

Answer 9

This is not good maybe you're ex is trying to tell him some bad things about you let you're son tell you what happen and let him be honest with you some children put secerts, talk with you're ex and tell him what did you hunt and let him tell you the story for free time sometimes ex may do some bad things to you're child teaching them bad words.. Good Luck !

Answer 10

Well, tricky question. As fas as the bug bites goes, I think its healthy, one should not be so afraid of things.

When it comes to the hunt, well, I sort of think that it is OK, nothing wrong for a kid to learn how food is made.