Taking Your Wife Turkey Hunting: 10 Tips to Survive It (And Maybe Even Enjoy It) 🦃😂

Getting your wife into turkey hunting can be a blessing and a bit of a challenge—but mostly a blessing. I'm lucky mine not only hunts with me, but works full-time here at Houndstooth Game Calls too. She keeps me on the straight and narrow (most days). But we’ll save that story for another time.

Opening day this season, she was on the gun and got it done. You can check out the video here: Watch the Hunt. It’s worth a watch. But if you’re thinking about taking your wife hunting, let me give you a few hard-earned tips to help make it a good time for everyone.

1. Set the tone early.
This isn’t just another day in the woods—set expectations, keep the vibe fun, and don’t be too serious.

2. You’re not her husband in the woods—you’re her guide.
Trust me, she doesn’t want your relationship advice out there in the swamp. Just point her to the tree and tell her when to shoot.

3. Bring bug spray—and use fear to apply it.
She won’t want to put it on because of how it smells. Just casually mention how many ticks you’ve pulled off your legs this week and watch her go to town with it.

4. Practice shooting in advance.
And I’m not talking the day before. I mean 3 months of shooting beer cans in the backyard. If she can’t hit those, you’re in trouble when it counts.

5. Don’t even try to keep her still.
Accept the fidgeting. Manage it the best you can. There’s no stopping it.

6. Teach the mosquito mask trick.
When a skeeter lands right between her eyes, show her how to blow air up under her mask. Saves you both from getting slapped in the face.

7. Prepare for snakes—and maybe have some fun with it.
You’re probably gonna run into one. Most of the time she won’t know if it’s poisonous or not. Want a good laugh? Yell “It’s a cobra!” Just know: your turkey hunt is over for the day after that.

8. Pack real snacks.
She’s not trying to survive on vienna sausages and sardines. You’re on your own for snacks—choose wisely and bring backups.

9. Remember: yes means yes in the woods.
If she says she’s ready to call it a day, believe her. Don’t push it. Home rules don’t apply out there.

10. All jokes aside—enjoy the time.
There’s a lot of sarcasm in the tips above, but in all honesty, a family that hunts together stays together. Getting to share the woods with your wife and kids is a blessing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So if you get the chance, bring your family along. Make memories. Laugh a lot. And maybe bring snacks that aren’t packed in oil.

And hey—if I go missing out there, y’all better call and check on me.

– Lyle

P.S. Wanna see how she did on the opener?
👉 Click here to watch Summer on the Gun 🦃

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