Important question

nice, you did much better than me and I was out both days looking for the elusive walleye….

Pal

nice

Nice and chunky!

Question for all of you guys out there….here is the situation. My wife and I recently moved to TN and our first child is expected on Nov. 21st. We don’t have any family or friends in the area so I have declined to hunt the public land in the area due to the distance (1 hour drive + 15-45 min boat ride + time to get to stand) and time that I would be away in the event that anything happened.

So a friend of hers has been talking about coming down the last weekend in October or the first weekend in November. She would be 36-37 weeks at this point but she is ok with me flying home to bowhunt our family farm. All stands are set and ready to hunt.

For you that have had kids, would you do this? I am wrestling with this idea and most likely it will come down to a last minute decision. Just hoping to get other perspectives on this choice.

Personally, I would not consider that. The potential to miss something that important would outweigh any possible short term personal gain…..

FWIW – I had my wife out in the boat 4 days prior to her giving birth….. but if she would have went into labor – I would not have missed welcoming my son into the world. I would not chance missing that event for ANY deer in the world.

T

Everything at that point is a calculated gamble. One of my account managers is in Nashville, so I know that it’s not easy to get a direct flight from MSP, so trying to race back home if the action starts is probably not going to happen.

The averages say that the first child tends to be late, I think it’s by 4-5 days. But as we all know, the average is the thing that never actually happens.

Case in point, our first son was 11 days early and that was after over 48 hours of labor. Her water broke on Wednesday morning, Henry was born Friday afternoon.

As you say, IF you do it, I’d say it’s an audible based on the last Dr. visit. But babies don’t really care what the Dr says or what’s convienent for you, they come when they’re ready and that’s that. If you’re asking me what I’d do, I’d say pass and stay home. There will be plenty of other deer seasons, but you don’t get a lot of chances to be there when a first baby is born.

Grouse

My first was due Nov. 23rd last year, he came on Nov 17th (opener of the gun season). If your wife is anything like mine I got called back home from the stand (about 1.5 hours from the time I climb down the tree till I’m home) both the weekends prior to his arrival because she thought she was going into labor. Knowing that now, I’d have stayed home and gone fishing or worked on house projects those weekends.

Quote:

---

I would not chance missing that event for ANY deer in the world.

---

This is about where I am at right now…If she was going to be 38-39 weeks, it would be a no brainer.

However, it is a tough call with her being 36-37 weeks…

I planned for mid march and got march 4th and april 4th. Missed walleye spring runs both years and would not change a thing. Most incredible days of my life was watching my wife in the last month and the birth of my two girls. Nothing is worth chancing. Two brother in laws both missed births from being out of town. Huge regrets

I’m confused. If the boat hunting spot is close by in Tennessee, where is the fly to spot? Why cant you hunt the close spot given the situation?

I would think the added stress from you not being around could actually make her go into labor early as well. I say take her with you or stay. The two of you should be together during this period. Believe me I know how you feel but a few things take precedent over hunting and this is one of them. Hunt close by before and after if you need a fix but stick close by. Every response to your post urges you not to do it. I would listen to that kind of feedback.

Hope it works out for you.

I personally wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I wasn’t there for the birth of my child. Plus, the card that my wife could play every time I asked to do something would suck. She would never let it go.

I only have 1 little guy and can’t speak for everyone on the site but, deer can wait in my book….. especially the 1st child.

I recommend what Suzuki said and have her go with or stay. I don’t see any other options.

Quote:

---

I’m confused. If the boat hunting spot is close by in Tennessee, where is the fly to spot? Why cant you hunt the close spot given the situation?
I would think the added stress from you not being around could actually make her go into labor early as well. I say take her with you or stay. The two of you should be together during this period. Believe me I know how you feel but a few things take precedent over hunting and this is one of them. Hunt close by before and after if you need a fix but stick close by. Every response to your post urges you not to do it. I would listen to that kind of feedback.
Hope it works out for you.

---

The boat-in spot is public land here in TN. I won’t be hunting there unless someone comes down to visit and can stay with my wife. I may be able to go if someone comes down the last week of October, but would probably not go the following weekend as that is the start of Muzzleloader and there are a ton of people who do that here.

The fly to spot is back home in WI.

Thanks for all the input! It reinforced what I am leaning towards.

I’ve got a 2-year old and one that we are expecting in early December. Like everyone else has said, I’d stay home. You’ll have lots of years to enjoy the outdoors, hopefully with your kid(s). I wouldn’t risk it.

Quote:

---

I’ve got a 2-year old and one that we are expecting in early December. Like everyone else has said, I’d stay home. You’ll have lots of years to enjoy the outdoors, hopefully with your kid(s). I wouldn’t risk it.

---

New dad here too. My first, child my son, is going to be a year old here. There is no way I’d have missed that. I did infact skip a few fishing trips prior to his birth. Skip the trip. I wouldn’t chance it.

If it was the olden days you would have to hunt to feed you and your wife but trust me, that excuse wont work anymore….

Pre-kid, I would say go hunting.

Now that I have kids. There is no way I can imagine not being there for that. There is always next year to hunt. Stick around.

Quote:

---

Plus, the card that my wife could play every time I asked to do something would suck. She would never let it go.

---

Yeah, and there’s that too.

I mean, not all women are like that, obviously. Only 99.9945% are.

Which reminds me of a good one. You guys know how the subject sometimes comes up of how painful childbirth is? And a woman will inevitably say, “It’s probably more painful than getting kicked in the nuts.”

I would beg to differ and there’s evidence that getting one square in the seeds is far more painful. Think about it.

After a year or two, Jake’s wife is going to get that “come hither” look in her eyes and say, “Honey, how about we start working on another one?”

Yeah, well, have you guys ever heard any may say, “Hey, it’s been 2 years since I got mule-kicked in the sack… Yo Bob, come over here and kick me right in the family jewels…”

I think that pretty much settles that arguement in our favor, boys.

Grouse

Not just 5 minutes ago. We were in a potentially heated debate because wolf season opener was going to be on the same weekend as the kids second birthday. The woman was about to get “ugly”. And that is just a birthday.

It is really just a deer…..I vote stay home.

I say go hunting!! Only because everyone else gave you the sensible, reasonable and responsible answer.

Our first daughter was 4+ weeks early. Labor lasted about 6 hours. And for the record, #2 was a 2 hour labor, 3 weeks early. #3 was 18 minutes from the time we hit the hospital door, within days of her due date.

Don’t miss the birth of your child.

Quote:

---

I say go hunting!! Only because everyone else gave you the sensible, reasonable and responsible answer.

Our first daughter was 4+ weeks early. Labor lasted about 6 hours. And for the record, #2 was a 2 hour labor, 3 weeks early. #3 was 18 minutes from the time we hit the hospital door, within days of her due date.

Don’t miss the birth of your child.

---

Kooty- according to your pattern, #4 will come about a week after the due date and 2 hours before you get to the hospital. Get your truck prepared!

If #4 comes. There is a doctor in Plymouth who is going to have explaining to do. Held my neighbors baby last night. I’m so past that stage….

Quote:

---

I’m so past that stage….

---

Lets see….Olivia is 15….I was past that stage about 14-1/2 years ago

I have met alot of people that have introduced me to their first, second, or third child. I have never met a person who has shown me their first, second, and third buck-of-a-lifetime……..

Just stirring the pot here

Thanks all for the advice!

I notified the FW that I will not be flying home to hunt. She is still pushing me to go, but I am going to stay home because as was said often “I can’t imagine missing anything”!