As a hunter and fisherman‘s wife, you know it’s more than just a hobby for your hubby—it’s a way of life for the whole family!
Having an avid outdoorsman in your home impacts everything: your meals, discretionary spending, home decor, TV channel selection, and definitely your family’s yearly calendar!
I didn’t grow up in a hunting and fishing household! Sure, as a kid I went fishing with my family occasionally, but it wasn’t an every weekend occurrence. And hunting? Before I met my husband, I couldn’t tell you the first thing about the sport!
But after I married into this new way of life, I quickly realized it was going to take a big adjustment on my part. It was entirely new territory for me, but after 10 years of marriage, I’ve learned how to navigate this lifestyle and embrace the adventure!
In fact, as I write this, I’m accompanying my husband on a trip to scout for deer several hours away from our home.
He was selected to participate in a managed deer hunt that he’s been trying to get for ten years, so now that he was picked, the prep work begins. And instead of him being gone again while I stay at home, we decided to turn this trip into an adventure for the whole family. We’re spending four days and three nights at a boondock campsite so there’s ample time for scouting.
Right now, he’s off with our son trekking through the woods, surveying the property, and scoping out the best hunting spots. And I’m holding down the fort back at camp, which is what I typically do back at home during hunting season. Only this time … I’m going along for the ride!
And that brings me to why Hunt & Fish Wives began…
Over the years, I have realized that being the wife of a truly avid hunter and fisherman requires you to take on a very unique lifestyle that comes with certain challenges. For many women, it’s a difficult lifestyle that creates a lot of turmoil in the relationship. For others, it’s a way of life they love and wouldn’t give up for the world. However you see it—and whether or not it’s something you wanted—it’s your world now, and it takes time to learn how to survive in it.
Whether you’ve been a hunt and fish wife for decades or you’re brand new, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
There are certainly a lot of positives to being a hunt and fish wife, but there are plenty of things that don’t come easy. Our struggles may look a little different from person to person, but for the most part, here’s what most of us would have at the top of the list: time, expense, and food.
First Challenge: Time
During hunting season, many of us become what’s known as a “hunting widow” because you never see your husband. You know once the season starts, you’re responsible for the house, the meals, the kids, the business, and all things that keep life moving forward.
And this doesn’t include the time spent before hunting season for preparations, which includes scouting, cutting trails, planting food plots, putting up tree stands, sighting in the bow or rifle, checking game cameras, and many other time-consuming and tedious tasks.
If your husband is an avid fisherman, you know the fish are always biting—day AND night! And if he didn’t manage to catch a fish that day, that just means he wasn’t in the right spot. But he knows exactly where they’ll be biting tomorrow. Am I right?
Oh, and I should mention there’s always something in season: deer, elk, moose, bear, turkey, ducks, geese, dove, quail, squirrel, coyotes, frogs, walleye, bass, crappie, catfish, trout. The list goes on and on. While the species may vary based on where you live, the season is always open on something, somewhere, so you can expect some element of hunting or fishing 365 days a year!
It’s no wonder that time is one of the biggest challenges for a hunt & fish wife!
Second Challenge: Expense
While we want to support and encourage our husbands in a hobby that takes them to the beautiful outdoors, I don’t have to tell you that hunting and fishing can be expensive!
Don’t they say that boys’ toys get more expensive as they get older? Well, indeed they do, and this most beloved hobby is no exception!
You certainly save money on groceries because you rarely have to buy meat. But if you consider the cost of the gear, equipment, electronics, licenses, tags, preference points, travel, accommodations, and the many other expenses … it really adds up! This is especially true if your hubby requires the latest and greatest gear and top-of-the-line technology.
There’s no black and white when deciphering the needs from the wants, and the difference in opinion between you and your hubby can create a war zone when discussing the family’s budget.
Third Challenge: Food
Although hunting and fishing can be expensive, we know it ultimately puts food on the table! And not just any food, but food that’s harvested locally, antibiotic-free, and free-range, all of which are a huge plus in our family!
I enjoy watching my husband glow with pride when he “brings home the bacon,” and I think it’s hilarious how the meal tastes so much better when it’s something he’s harvested. But that’s the thing … it can taste better if you know how to prepare it! If you don’t, not only is the cooking process frustrating, but the meal can be practically inedible!
I know several hunt and fish wives who have said they would eat what their husband brought home if they knew how to cook it. But instead, it just sits in their freezer because they’re too intimidated to try. Others say they’ve given it many tries, but many fails later, they’ve given up on it altogether with the conclusion that it’s simply not good.
Cooking wild game can be tricky, and if you don’t have someone helping you along the way, it can be a big challenge to overcome.
Introducing Hunt & Fish Wives
So this is where Hunt & Fish Wives comes in! I embrace these challenges now, but believe me, it was a struggle for many years. Even now—10 years into this—I’m still making adjustments and learning how to face the obstacles as they come. But my attitude has changed: I’ve decided to embrace the adventure.
And that’s my hope for you too!
Hunt & Fish wives is here to bring you encouragement, laughter, recipes, tips, and tricks from other hunting and fishing “widows” as we navigate the joys and challenges that come with this lifestyle. We’ll share our wild game cooking techniques, funny stories that only a hunt and fish wife would appreciate, and words of wisdom from other women who have gone before you.
You may feel like you’re alone in this, but you’re not! There’s a whole community of us out there, and this is where we can all learn from each other. I’m here to help you relate to other women just like you, laugh at the many idiosyncrasies that make our lives so unique, and appreciate what you have in this challenging, yet rewarding lifestyle!
I’m just another hunt & fish wife living the hunt & fish life, and now, we get to do it together!
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With Love,
Jackie
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