How do I get my wife more interested in the outdoors?

[jocmurph]

I am trying to figure out some new ways to get my wife more interested in the outdoors. I think her biggest fear is the bugs. Has anyone else had this issue with their lady? Were you able to ever get them out with you? Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my time alone in the woods, but I would also like to bring her along sometimes. Thanks for any advice.

 

[MCgrease08]

 

[jocmurph]

I think this just might do it!

 

[bocefus78]

Thermacell...they work well unless it's really windy

 

[jocmurph]

I think its more of a fear of all creepy crawlies, spiders, snakes, and whatnot. I love my Thermacell. It is a must for early season hunting.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

My wife isn't so much afraid of bugs, she just doesn't like them buzzing and biting her. Then there's the heat and humidity--she has a very low upper temperature comfort zone.

If your girl is like mine, you might wait to try to get her out once cooler weather hits and the bugs and stuff are gone for the season.

 

[Bfish]

Yeah the thermacells are nice! I would just try not to take her in areas you are most likely to encounter those kinds of things, at least at first. What are you wanting to get her doing outside??

 

[jocmurph]

Yeah the thermacells are nice! I would just try not to take her in areas you are most likely to encounter those kinds of things, at least at first. What are you wanting to get her doing outside??

I want her to go sit with me for an all day hunt.

 

[bulletsmith]

Lock the doors?

I had nothing constructive to add, sorry. The whole concept is foreign to me.

 

[MrsGungho]

I want her to go sit with me for an all day hunt.

if you can't get her out for short outings, you won't succeed for an all day hunt.
Baby Steps, short periods of time to start with.

 

[clfergus]

I once wanted this to happen as well. Then one day I realized if she comes hunting with me, she will realize I really don't need a new gun every year along with all of the other crap I claim is needed. I also make it a time to stop and eat at places she wont on my way home.

 

[DRob]

I guess I'm lucky. My wife doesn't like bugs/spiders/snakes but she will happily spend 8 hours in a prairie dog town on a 90 degree day with no shade trying to melt the barrel off a rifle. I think it's the "reactive" targets.

 

[churchmouse]

Lock the doors?

I had nothing constructive to add, sorry. The whole concept is foreign to me.

I was so wanting to post this but decorum prevents.....

 

[686 Shooter]

If your wife isn't interested in the outdoors and she wasn't interested in the outdoors before you were married, quit trying to change her. If you spend your time outdoors and she wants to be with you, she'll be able to find the door on her own.

 

[Hookeye]

Mine took 25 yrs to start developing an interest beyond casual.
Brought home tons of geese, rabbit, deer and dove.
Now says she might want to try.
Have no clue why the sudden cool factor.

 

[KittySlayer]

Just like introducing kids to the outdoors, you have to make it fun. Make the trip to the woods a date. Picnic in the woods with a bottle of wine and some wild flowers the two of you pick on the way. Women love that crap. Start slow with short trips and let her fall in love with the woods.

 

[singlesix]

So you want to change your wife's mind about something .... when someone figures this out men everywhere will make him a rich man. Seriously if she doesn't enjoy it why force it, thank God my wife doesn't want me to like sewing and shopping.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I want her to go sit with me for an all day hunt.

Are you prepared to spend the day discussing your feelings? Or are you going to shush her because you're hunting?

Good luck with this particular endeavor. Sitting in the woods watching somebody else hunt sounds as attractive to me as an all day dental appointment, and I *like* being outside.

Maybe try backpacking or canoeing or something that lets her be an active participant. My wife got into backpacking because we made it an outing. Even a 3 mile hike, we'd take a backpack with some snacks, take the camera, etc. We got a book with different trails to try, etc.

 

[Sigsauerosarus Rex]

My wife is adventurous, she has been on a 75 mile backpacking trip with me in the Ozarks, and she is the camping leader for the kids at church. How she got interested in backpacking was a few friends and I from work started going on backpacking trips together. There is older woman friend that is in this group, a real outdoorsy type. She was 59 when we mere, and this lady was in better shape than some of the slugs I went to basic with. My wife and her just hit it off, and ever since then she loves being outdoors.

 

[Leadeye]

One day mine just asked to go hunting. I gave her a 44 mag and set her in a tree stand, said don't shoot at anything more than 15 yards away. The next season she had her own equipment. You just never know when it will happen.