How do you all Deal with "anti-hunter" inlaws?
#12

the last thing you want is a pissed off in-law. i'd leave it alone but like someone already said, i would tell the kids she is wrong about hunting.
#15

My family did not approve either so I fixed breakfast. The conversation went like this.
Them: This is the best sausage I have ever eaten! Where did you buy it.
Me: I didnt...I shot it.
They finished their sausage.
Them: This is the best sausage I have ever eaten! Where did you buy it.
Me: I didnt...I shot it.
They finished their sausage.
#16
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 61

I've had great luck with the "anti's" explaining the benefits of hunting on a deer herd as a whole. I have a sister who just doesn't get it and can relate. It sounds like your mother-in-law isn't trying to see your point of view. Anyway this is what has worked for me. Explain that you try to harvest older animals that will eventually get eaten by coyotes or die of old age. Most people who oppose hunting are just uneducated.
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,358

Mine have come around over 20 years. They accept it, kids do it, wife even hunts now!
I wouldn't be the one to bring it up, your wife is the important one, she can actually be the go between here.
As long as it isn't being pushed into your kids, I wouldn't have a problem with it, everyone gets an opinion here.
As for hiding it in your house, nope, when mine come over they see the deer head, deer rack and elk rack all on the wall. Sort of freaked my MIL out at first, but now they don't even notice.
I use to have more trouble with my Mom. She showed me an article about a goose hunter who shot a goose, the goose's "mate" wouldn't leave the shot goose alone, so she asked how I could do that. I said "I wouldn't put up with it, any real goose hunter would've shot em both" She never talked to me about hunting again [8D]
I wouldn't be the one to bring it up, your wife is the important one, she can actually be the go between here.
As long as it isn't being pushed into your kids, I wouldn't have a problem with it, everyone gets an opinion here.
As for hiding it in your house, nope, when mine come over they see the deer head, deer rack and elk rack all on the wall. Sort of freaked my MIL out at first, but now they don't even notice.
I use to have more trouble with my Mom. She showed me an article about a goose hunter who shot a goose, the goose's "mate" wouldn't leave the shot goose alone, so she asked how I could do that. I said "I wouldn't put up with it, any real goose hunter would've shot em both" She never talked to me about hunting again [8D]
#18

yeah, been married 10+ years now.
Wife and Ma-in law were totally against hunting at first. Maybe I'm just lucky, but they would actually listen respectfully when I talked to them. Then I made some veni-burgers one day which the wife proclaimed "The best [email protected] burger she ever had"!!
She then became an acvocate, talking more about it with her mom. Now they are always as stoked as me when the season rolls around. They don't care about racks and whatnot, they just want me to bring home the meat! Now they get pissed when I come home empty handed.[:-]
I try not to let them down.
Wife and Ma-in law were totally against hunting at first. Maybe I'm just lucky, but they would actually listen respectfully when I talked to them. Then I made some veni-burgers one day which the wife proclaimed "The best [email protected] burger she ever had"!!
She then became an acvocate, talking more about it with her mom. Now they are always as stoked as me when the season rolls around. They don't care about racks and whatnot, they just want me to bring home the meat! Now they get pissed when I come home empty handed.[:-]
I try not to let them down.

#19

Be careful about starting an unnecessary squabble with family. On the other hand, speak to her when the kids aren't around and make it very clear that you are responsible for raising your kids and that she is not to speak against hunting in their presence any more.
#20

All of my relatives are aware that I hunt, and even the ones who don't know better than to question the fact that I do. None of them are bunny huggers anyway.