Good luck/Bad luck

[Scoot]

Good news- Our group drew an elk tag for Wyoming this coming year.

Bad news- My wife is due with our second child on Sep. 6th.

Talk about poor planning on my part! I never imagined we'd actually draw our elk tag. I figure we had about a 5% chance of drawing. Something about the sun and a dog's butt comes to mind...

Any suggestions on how to go about presenting this information to my darling wife?

[Powerstroke]

You were only applying for points and you actually got drawn.?!? I'm not sure on the actual dates of your trip, but you gotta do it. Its like playing the lottery on getting pregnant too so I'm sure you'll work it out.

[harvey lee]

Is there any chance your group can stay home until your child is born and then bail?? I dont know when the season opens and for how long but it might be a option to leave at a later date. You leave while she is having your child and you may have plenty of time to go hunting.

[Stratosman]

Yeah what he said....

[Scoot]

Powerstroke- we applied for both a tag and a pref point. Still, very low likelihood of pulling a license. But we somehow got lucky.

HL and Strat- Oh don't worry, I didn't mean that I was considering missing the birth of my child-- I wouldn't miss that for anything!!! I also won't leave to go hunting the day after he/she is born. However, once mommy and baby are home, everyone is doing well, everything is getting a little more settled after a week or more at home... then I'll get a little more serious about heading out. We've got parents on both sides who would be thrilled to spend a number of days with their new grandchild too- so that should help my cause.

HL, I'm sure you hit the nail on the head when you said I'd have plenty of time to hunt if I missed my kid being born while on an elk hunt. I may be crazy about fishing and hunting, but not that crazy! My priorities aren't that messed up...

BTW, I spoke with my wife last night about this and she was very supportive of the idea of me going out. We both were clear that I wouldn't be leaving unless everyone and everything was A-OK and we were pretty settled at home. When I mentioned that my mom would come and take my place for as much time as she'd like, I think my wife realized she'd be making a very good exchange there. I generally do a pretty good job as a dad (at the very least I sure try hard), but I don't match up very well against either of my kid's grandmas (of course, not many of us do).

[harvey lee]

I guess you could always look at it this way if it doesnt work out. You will have some very good Whitetail hunting this fall and you will have all fall to do it.

[Scoot]

Good point, HL! As I see it, this fall will be a great one- regardless of how the elk deal turns out.

[Royce Aardahl]

You might better your odds with her if you switch the good and bad news around

[Scoot]

Good point eyeguy. You're absolutely right- my next kid on the way is definitely wonderful news! It's only bad luck in relation to timing of the elk season.