Practical advice for those with young kids at home...

[schr0563]

Here's my situation.

Have a 6 month old at home and very limited time to get out in the field. I consider myself lucky that my wife lets me hunt one morning (3-4 hours) each weekend. That being said, I have yet to fire a shot in 4 trips to the blind this year. All 4 outings were in different places.

I know, I know, I need to scout more. Go where the birds are, right. But what if my schedule doesn't allow it. Certainly there are guys out there who have been in my shoes. How did you manage?

Since scouting during the week isn't an option for me, do I scout one weekend, then hunt the next, hoping the scouting is accurate a week later? Or is this the reality of being a parent and I simply need to give it 8-9 years until I can bring my kids along? What have other parents done? A few times without birds is still enjoyable, but when it becomes everytime it starts to become more work than it's worth.

[jumboperch]

It will get better, trust me. I have been in those shoes before. Enjoy the time you get.

[CJH]

I have a young one at home (19 months) and I enjoy any break and or peace and quiet I can get! I know you want to have some success hunting, but enjoy the peace and quiet away as well!!! (I sometimes have to "run to the hardware store" just to get a break!!)

[norm25]

Buy a backpack for you to put your child in and tell your wife your going for a hike. It works for me.

[paceman]

when it is naptime for the twirp, put him/her in the car and go scouting. The baby will sleep great and mom will have a quite house and you can scout....win, win, win......

[ChuckN]

Welcome to the club! I have a 2+ year old and a 3 month old, and they love road trips.

I'll tell ya what, scouting has done little for me this season. One day you find something great and the next nothing! Play the wind and weather. Have options, pick one body of water with the weather and go for it. We really need some weather to get the ducks moving again...

Not shooting or seeing much for ducks is discouraging, no doubt. However, I've appreciated the love sunrises and peace and quiet. Worrying about bringing home ducks to clean is really low on the list these days.

[brmuskie]

I am in the same boat - except I use some of my vacation time so I can hunt during the week once in a while. Take a few hours off one morning - work late that night - it all works out in the end.

[schr0563]

Thanks for the replies. Nap time in the car is a great idea. I'll have to give it a try.

[brittman]

Here's my situation.

Have a 6 month old at home and very limited time to get out in the field. I consider myself lucky that my wife lets me hunt one morning (3-4 hours) each weekend. That being said, I have yet to fire a shot in 4 trips to the blind this year. All 4 outings were in different places.

Trying to figure out if the places you pick to hunt are just not ducky or are you just unlucky (so far).

Have these 4 places provide you with shooitng in years past?

You seeing birds? Are they working, but just not getting close enough for a shot?

[slabchaser]

I also have taken my 4year old scounting since she was little. It was worked well for me but another thing I use is just enjoying being on the water. I had a great opener and have been out 5 other times since then and didnt get a good hunt until today. I went to a lake that has produced birds and put out a spread that was simple and functional and the birds finally showed up. Just keep with it sometimes finding the birds can be hard.

[schr0563]

brittman - I am going with unlucky. The places I have tried have produced birds in the past. This year the numbers seem to be way down, at least on the days I have been out. I tried 2 places up in Alexandria, and 2 places around Young America. Friday I tried Rice Lake west of Waconia and only SAW one duck over 4+ hours of getting to my spot, setting up, sitting there, picking up, and getting back to the car. It seemed like a nice big swamp that should hold birds. It had a few hundred coots on it, just no ducks. My time would have been better spent driving around looking for birds, but one never knows until you are out there. This weekend I'll be heading back up to Alex and I'm optimistic that my luck will change.

[iceman1603]

This may seem awful but here is what I did until my daughter turned 4. We have a lot of friends and family that love the fish I catch and the wild game I kill but they dont hunt or fish. I get phone calls from many of them asking if I have some venison steaks or goose breasts in the freezer or any jerky made. I in turn make a deal with them or usually the deal is with their wifes or older daughters that are old enough to baby sit.. They watch my daughter for me and I go get them what they want as long as the seasons are open. This works for scouting, hunting, fishing, and all the prep time. Things are different now. Yea Katie still goes and spends time with them but she wants to be with daddy when hes scouting or getting my gear ready too. Yes a four yr old blowing on a goose flute in a garage is very annoying at times but I take the good with the bad. Im sure youve all seen the little pink Cricket 22 rifles that are sold in some sporting goods stores, well Kaity and I were at Gander Mtn last week and guess what she saw and now wants for Christmas??? (of course it must have tinkerbell stickers on it tho) lol. I hope you can find a way to make things work out for you. If not right now, very soon you will be back at it full time.

[slabbin@thecabin]

tell me about it. I'm still trying to figure out how to be in 2 places at 1 time.

[mudslinger]

I have a 1 month old and a very understanding wife. My time is deffinately limited compared to other years but thats the price we pay i suppose. At least im not the only one

[Ebiz]

I'm in the same boat with a 7 month old at home, only been out goose hunting once this year so far let alone scout. Between work and family it's been frustrating not being able to get out but I figure I still have the rest of my life to hunt.

[motley man]

Never leave kids in a car unattended and go off in the woods !!!

[Scott M]

Not shooting or seeing much for ducks is discouraging, no doubt. However, I've appreciated the love sunrises and peace and quiet. Worrying about bringing home ducks to clean is really low on the list these days.

Great post Chuck! Talk about a man with his priorities straight. I love to chase all of God's critters, but someday I'll have a couple kids to tie me down some, and that's not all bad either.