^ coincidentally my son was born sept of 2022.
i've killed 2 elk and 2 mule deer since he was born. but it was absolutely less hunting time each season.
it's just all dependent on the couple and individual as a hunter. if hunting was second only to your spouse before having a kid (as it should be at a minimum) and then it becomes third to your spouse and kid (as it should be at a minimum), you will definitely hunt more than the parents who had many other things in life as a higher priority than hunting before kids.
whatever your wife says shes okay with you doing hunting wise before the kid and/or while pregnant is total BS, to no fault of her own. she doesn't know how she will feel and how hard things can actually be until the kid actually comes and neither do you - there is no prepping on this planet that actually prepare you for all the many nuanced things that will mentally and physically befall her, and yes, also befall you. your first kid is a trip down more lanes of anxiety and sleep loss than anyone can help you understand exist. be prepared for zero hunting time and definitely be the the one to voluntarily give it up if there is any slight indication she wants you home, but all that will get better with time.
i've been lucky to put in some decent days both seasons since he was born, but we're in a lucky situation being close to family and, not least, my wife really wants the meat. but you don't get to just dick around in the woods anymore having fun, hunting has to be a little more business oriented in compressed time.
it's all worth it. hunting ain't everything.
having one in the fall isn't even the end of the world either. plus, if the kid wants to be a hunter you get to give them the pro tip that they can now use their birthday wish to go hunting for their birthday when they're older
long story short, if you want kids, hunting should not even be a part of the equation as to whether or not you should have them.
i've killed 2 elk and 2 mule deer since he was born. but it was absolutely less hunting time each season.
it's just all dependent on the couple and individual as a hunter. if hunting was second only to your spouse before having a kid (as it should be at a minimum) and then it becomes third to your spouse and kid (as it should be at a minimum), you will definitely hunt more than the parents who had many other things in life as a higher priority than hunting before kids.
whatever your wife says shes okay with you doing hunting wise before the kid and/or while pregnant is total BS, to no fault of her own. she doesn't know how she will feel and how hard things can actually be until the kid actually comes and neither do you - there is no prepping on this planet that actually prepare you for all the many nuanced things that will mentally and physically befall her, and yes, also befall you. your first kid is a trip down more lanes of anxiety and sleep loss than anyone can help you understand exist. be prepared for zero hunting time and definitely be the the one to voluntarily give it up if there is any slight indication she wants you home, but all that will get better with time.
i've been lucky to put in some decent days both seasons since he was born, but we're in a lucky situation being close to family and, not least, my wife really wants the meat. but you don't get to just dick around in the woods anymore having fun, hunting has to be a little more business oriented in compressed time.
it's all worth it. hunting ain't everything.
having one in the fall isn't even the end of the world either. plus, if the kid wants to be a hunter you get to give them the pro tip that they can now use their birthday wish to go hunting for their birthday when they're older
long story short, if you want kids, hunting should not even be a part of the equation as to whether or not you should have them.