Re: how do i get my gf into hunting?
Whao! Some 'interesting' opinions here. Nevertheless, my wife comes out with me once in a while. They are great times. We chat about nature, wildlife, I share what I can about the things we see in the bush, sometimes we even pull over and...
Ahem, anyway, I try not to force hunting on her, but do make the trip enjoyable and more focussed on the experience than focussed on killing something. Pack a picnic lunch, choose an area that is easy to hunt and get to. Trudging long distances through tough bush to your favorite hide is a sure way to lose out. Choose fair weather days, too. If you try to throw a pack on her for a 7-day alpine sheep hunt - you've lost her forever. Unless she is fit and up to something like that.
A few years ago, I took my wife on a spring black bear hunt - just a day hunt. Made a good breakfast, left at a liesurely time, had a picnic lunch, some coolers (beer for me) and drove out to the area (about 45 mins). It was a big cut block that had a couple of nice overwatches on it that would take no more than 15 mins to walk onto and you did not feel like you were on a stairmaster afterwards. Sat for a while, talking about the habits of bears, bear habitat, behaviour in the spring, etc., when SHE spotted a bear! She promptly took the binos from me to glass it. We watched it for about 10 mins before deciding it was worthy enough for the freezer. We did a short stalk together and I dropped it with my 308.
The whole experience about walking up to the carcass, dressing it, and dragging it (she helped), was just fasinating for her. She took part in the experience, helped out and it wasn't forced. She doesn't come out me all the time and when she does I adjust my expectations about my hunting. My hunting is quite a bit more intense and puritan and she would not enjoy that - maybe later, she will. We are planning on going up north for a moose hunt in the future and she is 'game' but we got to wait a bit until the kids are older.
Firearm advice if firearms are your tool of choice - go with easy calibres. If its deer - go for a .243 or .260. For larger, .280 and you carry a bigger calibre. If recoil is not a problem for her then go with what she shoots well.
Happy hunting and watch out for species dying off on the vine - some of which are on this thread!
Last edited by Ltbullken; 03-18-2006 at 10:05 AM.
Regards,
Ltbullken
Freelance Wildlife Population Manager
Animals - If you can't eat 'em, wear 'em!