Taking a girl to elk camp. . .

[MosquitoCoast]

This may seem dumb but stay with me and especially ladies out there give me your thoughts.

I have hunted elk on and off over the last 15 years with my good friend and his dad being the primary group and occasionally including my dad and brother when they could draw tags along with us.

The last few years have been primarily truck camps with wall tents/trailers, a cook tent and pretty comfortable conditions and then using 4 wheelers/SxS to get into elk country and hiking from there. 3 years ago when my son turned 12 I started brining him along and the last two years he has had a tag in his pocket when he goes. He has loved hanging out with "the Guys" and it has been fun watching him mature and get educated on being a part of camp.

This year my daughter turned 12. . .

My oldest son has been hunting with me since about 10 months old, getting carried in a kid carrier for pheasant hunts, sitting in the blind duck, walking the trap line, you name it, he's been by my side and lives and breathes hunting. My daughter has been more give and take. She has always been invited but rarely accepted an invitation until last year when she decided to go deer hunting and harvested a smaller Muley buck. She really enjoyed the hunt and has already made sure I have a tag for this year for her to go deer hunting.

A few weeks go as I packed to head out for archery elk she casually asked me when she gets to come to elk camp, and it caught me off guard as she had never really expressed an interest. Then I got to thinking, do I take my daughter to elk camp with the guys??

Now to be clear our camp is nothing bad we aren't discussing anything off color, but we have some drinks at night and language isn't PG by any means, and then there are names and words thrown around at each other that most likely wouldn't be used if a 12 year old girl was present,

I'm not Saint and she has probably heard every word in the book at home while I've worked on vehicles or remodel projects but it's fewer and farther between than with 3-5 guys in camp giving each other crap. We run a good camp and set up decent privacy for showering and a toilet situation, but again a woman may find it disgusting all the same.

The other factor is, if her and her brother are in camp together for a week there is bound to be some bickering. Nothing new to me but possibly annoying to others.

So what are your thoughts? Would you have an issue if your buddy brought his daughter to a camp that has been just guys?

I bought her a point this year, and have the option to take her along in future years or take he on a father daughter hunt. I also have an aunt that has always hunted deer and never gone elk hunting even though her husband goes every year that I am considering having buy a point and I could take them both out on a hunt in the future.

Am I Over thinking it? Just clear it with the guys and let camp adjust?

I have two daughters and no sons, but the answer to this question is YES, You are overthinking it. Take your daughter.

 

[Dos Perros]

My buddy has brought his daughter floating and hunting with us, just as I have brought my daughter floating. Girls aren't as different from boys and we'd like to think. Take her, that's what life is all about.

 

[noisy]

As others have said, bring a separate tent for the two of you so she can get away and have some privacy and your buddies can have some guy time in the evenings (you too--leave her alone and go have a few). Warm sleeping bag and extra fleece blankets. Maybe a Little Buddy heater for your tent.

I have two daughters who were raised on deer and elk meat and love it, but had no interest in the killing part. They can ski the triple blacks like nobody's business though and that's all that ever mattered to me.

 

[WildBoose]

If you hunting buddies aren't cool with you brining your daughter....find new buddies. My little girl turns 3 in December and will be going to deer camp with me this year.

 

[Tradchef]

If she is showing interest, you have to foster it imo, if you don’t she will definitely lose interest

I don't have kids but if I had a young daughter and she wanted to go backpack hunting with me or a situation like you have I would take her in a second. Hard and uncomfortable things are amazing learning experiences and you never know....you could end up with an elk killing machine for a hunting partner

 

[BTLowry]

Ask the group their thoughts

If they are good with behaving appropriately around a 12yo kid (daughter should no different than son IMO) then great.

If not, find some like minded parents or individuals and start a new group.
My kids (and now grandkids) always get consideration if they want to hunt or fish.

If taking them is a possibility and they want to go, do what you can to make it happen

 

[MNGrouser]

I say take her, but definitely ask them. As others have said, it is vacation time for your buddies too. Some people just aren't "kid people". It doesn't make them bad guys. I wouldn't dream of bringing ANY new person, of ANY age or gender into camp without clearing it with the group. It seems like it is only common courtesy to me. Think for a sec if someone were to have a problem with it. You bring your daughter to camp unannounced and it is going to be awkward for you, awkward for your buddy and crappy for your daughter.

If you get green lights all around, go and have a great time. Someone who is burning their vacation time and elk tag has a problem with it, respect their position and take your daughter somewhere else! Then the 2 of you go and have a great time.

 

[Hnthrdr]

If you hunting buddies aren't cool with you brining your daughter....find new buddies. My little girl turns 3 in December and will be going to deer camp with me this year.

My 3 year old got sick right before my elk season this year, she was gonna come out for an afternoon and she was pretty sad that she couldn’t come, hopefully there will be a lifetime of Septembers for her to enjoy

 

[jtevanMT]

Absolutely take your daughter hunting, every chance you get. My daughter started hunting at 12 yo and has hunted every year since. She is good luck and has filled her elk tag nearly every year since. She got engaged at elk camp last fall and married a great guy this summer.