My wife didn't really grow up in a hard core hunting family like I did. Her dad rifle hunted deer about 3 days a year and that was it. When we were dating she used to get upset when deer season rolled around and I went hunting instead of on a date with her. She used tojoke that the only way she could get any attention from me in deer season, would be to grow a set of antlers!She got used to it over time. She started to see how much it meant to me and my family. I talked many times with her about how it helped strengthen family ties, and how it wasn't a competition. I don't think she believed me when I told her that, given the power to choose, I would choose for my Dad to shoot a trophy deer before I did.

Fast forward 10 years..we have 3 children and my wife hunts with me. I do balance hunting and family. She knows that come September 15th...my time starts to be taken up with hunting. She also knows that throughout the rest of the year, I'm pretty much game for whatever she wants to do. If you're spending massive amounts of time hunting during season, and yet refusing to give her time the rest of the year, you need to look at what it is that's distracting you during the off season. Regardless of what some others have said, most marriages require a lot of work, or they aren't going to be good ones. If you are being responsible to your family in the off season, you need to let her know just how unhappy you are. Explain how much hunting means to you....have you ever tried to sit down and put into words what it does mean to you? Maybe you're having trouble communicating those needs to her. If she still doesn't buy it, you have some deeper issue that's hurting your relationship. That issue needs to be resolved or your marriage will not last.

Talk to her....it usually works.

GH