When you ask his favorite season, don’t expect to hear him say “fall” or mention what he’s watching on Netflix. There are only 4 seasons that matter to a hunter: deer, duck, turkey, and small game. He won’t expect you to remember them at first, but if you’re in this relationship for the long haul you’re going to learn pretty quickly based on whats fresh in the fridge/freezer and how often its cooked.
There are only 2 “dates” he’s concerned about, especially during deer season: opening day of bow and opening day for gun. Don’t expect to be that cute Instagram couple who goes to Saturday morning brunch dates, because most weekend mornings, by the time you’re up, he’ll already be up in a tree somewhere. Some mornings its lonely and sad, but just think about all the sleeping-in you get to have and all the girl friend brunches you didn’t think you’d have when you started dating! Plus, when ____ season is over, he'll be giving you more attention than what you know what to do with!
Don’t expect to see him on the days leading up to Thanksgiving. He’ll likely be out on a Turkey trip to, quite literally, bring home dinner. Its a time honored tradition. Plus. who doesn’t want to find feathers all over their kitchen until next Thanksgiving from this endeavor? They're memories.
Speaking of holidays, Christmas present shopping become a little easier. Any kind of hunting gear, gun equipment, new scope, cleaners and etcetera becomes treasured and usually shown off to his hunting buddies the day after Christmas. You'll just have to be careful so you don't buy something he already has!.
DON'T USE SCENTED DETERGENT! You wanted to be sweet, plus he was exhausted and smelly, so you wanted to do a load of laundry for him! Its the sweetest gesture, if you do it right. Washing his hunting clothes in scented detergent is is a major no-no, enough to have to send you to couples’ therapy. Imagine: you and your significant other are sitting on a couch in a therapist’s office when he/she asks “so what brings you in today?” Thats when your S.O begins crying in front of the therapist saying, “a deer scented me because I smelled like lavender!!!” The horror!
You won’t go hungry so long as some season is running. You’ll always be able to go to your significant other’s place and have a romantic home cooked meal of whatever is in the freezer (or fresh from the woods that morning, if you’re lucky). Mustard fried venison is good, don’t knock it until you try it.
He's not ditching you to do something better, I promise. He's also not avoiding you. Him wanting to be in the woods isn’t anything about you, honestly. Yes, you wanted to go see that new Taron Egerton movie thats out right now, but he made plans to go to the woods that same afternoon. He needs his alone time just as much as you do and this is that time: alone in a tree stand, silence and no cell reception for several hours just one day every so often.
You’re never going to date anyone more devoted in your life. You want to date the kind of person who has the limitless patience. This guy has had to wait for a deer for several hours, he has the judgement skills of when and when not to do something, the ability to listen, and the kind of person who knows that all good things come with time. These are the traits you want to find in a guy.
If you’re lucky, he’ll want to share this with you. Him wanting to take you hunting isn’t because he wants to show off (okay, just a little bit), but he wants you to experience the thrill of it all and share in something that is important to him. Theres no better feeling when you know that he knows you're appreciating and respecting this. It brings you closer together as a couple. (Also, it gives you bragging rights if you caught dinner for that night!)
