Hunting by yourself

H

huntertj

Active Member
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I'll be hunting the backcountry of WY this year, and I'll be on my own for a few days. How many of you guys do this? Is this a dumb idea? What extra precautions do you take? I've told someone that I work with that I will call them everyday and if I don't, they need to contact the authorities and give them my general location.

huntertj
 
You may not be able to call every day many places cell phones will not work in the backcountry.I would try to find someone to at least base camp with,its safer and more fun.just my 2 cents
 
I'VE DONE IT FOR MANY YEARS!!!

THE BEARS HAVEN'T ATE ME YET!!!

BESIDES,HOW MANY MM'ERS WOULD WANT TO HUNT WITH THE cat ANYWAY???

IF I DIE UPON THAT MOUNTAIN THATS WHERE I'D LIKE TO BE ANYWAY!!!

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT RANGE I'D AT LEAST HAVE A GPS & EXTRA BATTERIES!!!

CELL PHONES ARE JUNK THESE DAYS,YOU GONNA RELY ON CELL SERVICE???

THE ONLY bobcat THINKING HUNTING ALONE IS THE BEST WAY OF SNEAKING UP ON BIG GAME,ITS THE HARDEST WAY TO GET AN ANIMAL OUT OF A HELLHOLE THOUGH!!!
 
I HAVE HUNTED SOLO TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY STIMULATING ABOUT GOING IT ALONE, PACKING AN ANIMAL OUT IS A BUMMER THOUGH. RENT A HORSE, THEY MAKE DECENT COMPANY....AND THEIR THERE FOR PACKOUT ALSO. BEING COMFORTABLE ALONE IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY, AS LONG AS PEOPLE KNOW WHERE YOUR AT & RETURN TIME. PLAY IT SAFE, AND DONT TAKE CHANCES....A COUPLE OF TIMES I HAVE MET OTHER SOLO HUNTERS ON THE TRAIL..AND CAMPED TOGATHER. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS; SOME OF THE BEST HUNTING HAS BEEN SOLO, LESS HASSLE,REALLY MOBILE, & REWARDING. I STILL DO IT. YD.
 
I used to do this all the time. If I am going it alone I always leave my wife a map of the area I plan to hunt. I mark where I will be camping and what route I will take to "my rock". If I'm alone I only hunt one particular basin and I mark that on the map too. Also sleep with a good handgun...self explanatory.

If you get cell reception you could mark several likely spots on your map if you think you will be moving around alot. Then when you call who ever, you can tell them what numbered location you are at, camp or hunt area etc.

At least then they can find your remains a little easier after the griz visits. HAHA.

I have met a few really neat hunters and camped with them sometimes when alone as well.

Mike Henne
 
I do what deerh does. I make a detailed map, (routs, camps, and likely hunting areas) send it to my dad and my mom and a friend and then tell them to expect a call by x date (which usually is one day after I plan to be out of the woods). I give it a day, because if you change plans or the weather goes to crap, or for some reason you want to stay another day you can. If youre dead, it wont make any difference anyway. . . but you dont want to tied to a time daily timeline.

I'd never do the call every day thing either, you cant effectively hunt if your always concerned about being in a location where the phone works. Imagine if youre chasing that 30 inch monster with double droppers and you are not able to get to a high point for a call? Now what, no call, they send out the search party so they can find you and take few snap shots of you with a monster buck? Your mom just had a heart attack and your wife swore this would happen and now youre grounded for life! A month later the bill for $25k shows up to pay for the chopper, the horse feed and man power - that's winds up an expensive photo!

Dont get tied down to such a tight schedule, give yourself some time to be alone and hunt!

I NEVER take a cell phone to the backcountry. It's not a bad idea, but it's just not going in my pack!

Take care,


"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
 
I hunt by myself nearly all the time, and I don't own a cell phone so I don't even have that option. I do what Deerhuntr and TFinalshot do, I leave good info with someone. I usually send my dad maps that show:

An outline of the largest region I'm going to be hunting, and I try to stick to that.
Outlines showing the most likely places I'll be hunting.
The location of my campsite - including GPS coordinates.

I also look up the phone numbers for the ranger districts I'll be in, and the local sheriff. Just so he doesn't have to try to figure out who to call if he gets worried. I tell him what day I expect to be out, but he also knows that it could be a day later than I planned due to weather or getting an animal on the last day.

My solo trips have always been a lot of fun. However, it might be more fun to do a trip with Bobcatbess - I always imagine Bessy would be like the energizer bunny, and would be running up and down the mountains nonstop. It would probably be tough to keep up, but I'm sure it would be one heck of a trip.

Pointer
 
My Family is pretty uptight about my Solo trips in the wilderness. I have located some High spots I can get out on a cell phone, and call when I have an opportunity. Usually, I will tell my wife when I will be back in cell range on my way home, and tell her if I am 24 hours late for that "I'm on my way home" call, to call the authorities. I leave a map of my "planned" hunting area at my truck, and tell my wife what trailhead I'll be parking at. If I get something down, the trail back to the truck goes by a high point where I can get out with the cell phone to check in, and let her know I may be late getting home.

However, it has made me consider getting a Satalite phone rental for a couple weeks a year.

In Grizz country though, I would have a hell of a time getting out there by myself. Shucks, We had 2 griz encounters near the Gros Ventre River last Elk season. I'd at least like to have a buddy to outrun!
 
I'm of a different mind on this........while I know (and do) the advantage of hunting the side of a mountain alone, I won't do a multi-trip hunt without a partner in camp. Here's why; If on day one, I broke my back 4 miles in and couldn't move, I could maybe survive a few days, then, game over. because my trips are 7-9 days in length & wouldn't start looking for me until I was 7 days dead.

I believe in going on a hunt with trusted friends for a variety of reasons, and there's way more good reasons than bad ones. You don't have to hunt the same mountain or draw together, but it's nice to know there's someone in camp who will KNOW you're out there and that you should've returned. They can locate you the next day or go for help to find you before you're dead.

People break backs and legs every year in the field. Everyone thinks "nah, that's the other guy". I'm not smart enough to know that so I have a partner just in case. Plus, it's nice to have someone around who can help you get that buck out of a hellhole, not to mention sharing stories and jokes in camp at night.....
 
Hello, Most cell phones have trouble picking up a tower up in the mountains.I have hunted alone and have rented a satellite phone for a couple of weeks to appease my wife.It worked well.Just an option.There are many web sites available to rent them and they will deliver to your door.
 
My cell actually works pretty well. I've actually created a problem, because now the wife expects a call everyday - even though it may not happen. In fact, I ordered her flowers from the top of the mountain 2 years ago because I stuck her with our 18 month old son and 2 month old daughter for 10 days!!! So, I'm not worried about that. I'm just wondering if my back-up plan - of notifying my co-worker is a good idea. My plan is to leave him a voicemail every morning from camp - letting him know I'm alive and kicking and if I don't leave a message to call my wife. I also told my co-worker that if my battery starts to die - I'll tell them in the voicemail and to not expect anymore phone calls.

huntertj
 
I have hunted by myself, all over the west and have had no serious problems, knock on wood... I always have a great time and see loads of animals. It is not easy by any means and sometimes the cell phone is just added weight...


Stop Global Whining
 
Most of the time I just don't have anyone to go with. I like having someone to go with, but if I don't, I'm going anyhow. My hunts are usually weekend jaunts and don't require the extensive planning that a week long hunt requires. I always tell my wife where I expect to be, and sometimes I actually hunt there. But there is nothing like the thrill of not knowing what made that noise in the dark as you're hiking to your hunting spot alone. I really like hunting alone.
 
I imagine those that had serious problems alone up there arent here to post. With that said Ive done it alone many times. I think I actually hunt better.
 
I definitely hunt better alone, never seen a good buck with a group. Though I do like the base camp atmosphere. Twelve essentials with you and give your family the itinerary, no problem. If you are doing a true back country hunt, I would look in to a satellite phone rental, cheap and worth it.
 
I know many, many people do it alone, but I personally always force myself to go with someone. My wife probably wouldn't let me go alone anyway and she's the one writing kitchen passes!

IMO it's no problem 99% of the time, it's the 1% and somewhat minor "incidents" than can become dangerous in a hurry when alone.

If you do go alone- get a good GMRS radio and GPS! The new 14 mile ones. These days, not many "holes" in radio communications out there. You could scan the radio frequencies for others and send a SOS with location, etc. Even if nobody anwsers, you could send both anyway. Sometimes those other low power units will pick you up, but you won't hear them call back.

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.
Hunt Odds.com
 
I do it and its fine. A little lonely after a few days though. But there is something really cool about it for some reason.
I try to camp in cell coverage and everytime i move camp i make a short call home and say "love you, here are my E and W readings on my GPS" that way she writes them down and if she dont hear from me when i am supposed to she can call someone with the last camp coords.
 
I hunt alone the vast majority of the time. The key is to hunt where you are familiar, pay attention to your surroundings and weather, & dont go where you have any doubts. I pre-scout with a buddy sometimes, but when it comes time to nail that big buck or bull, the odds are more in your favor when you are alone, IMO. That is unless you are doing a ton of glassing, then it can be an advantage. But I hunt mostly heavily wooded and brushy areas.
The fewer people = less noise, scent and movement.
Eric
 
I leave a map on the table with my intended route in and General Hunting area. A garmin Rino GPS/RADIO with the weather channel is a good idea. A cell phone don't work where I go!!! Good Luck
 
no more than 3/4 days! If I need help just look for
the smoke!! more than that I need some more guys with me
just because we all can carry more stuff! never met a bear that want to hang out and party and meet my 12ga w/slugs camp gun!!
rackmaster
 
I work and play alone in the bush all the time. I acutally perfer to Hunt alone. My wife knows the general location and if I don't show up at home on the predetermined ETA she knows to call family members who know the areas in even more detail. I feel more comfortable in the bush than I do in civilization. More concerned about whackos in the city than predators in the wild. Nature is pretty easy to deal with. :)

http://sdana.photosite.com/DanasHuntingPics/
 
Pretty much the exact same as BCBoy. I probably spend over thirty nights a year alone in the backcountry and am still alive. Have torn knee ligaments lost serious amounts of blood and all sorts of minor things but you cant replace being out there alone.

I usually just tell my wife thats where i want my ashes anyways, so dont spend to long looking.
 
SPEAKING OF ASHES, THIS YEAR I HAVE THE DUTY OF SPREADING MY DADS ASHES. SOMETIME DURING DEER SEASON I WILL SPREAD THEM AROUND HIS FAVORITE HIGH COUNTRY LAKE. HE USED TO REALLY LIKE COURTRITE LAKE, SO HE GETS HIS WISH. TAKE ER EASY, YD.
 
We are spreading my Father In-Law's ashes at the upper end (Stehekin) of Lake Chelan next Friday. He didnt hunt but loved to hike and fish around there.
Eric
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-06 AT 08:05AM (MST)[p]I prefer hunting alone and have done it for many years with no problems. A guy with any common sense at all is much safer on the mountain than he is in town. But still, you got to be considerate of those who care about you, so take the high tech junk, set up contacts - whatever you need to do to set their minds at ease.

That said, you all sound "city" to me - you know, independent, keep to yourselves, don't know your neighbor, don't talk to strangers. But if something happens, your best and most immediate help is the other hunters in the area. So first night there, go visit them at their camps. I take a bottle along and since I'm in Utah, I also take a goodie of some sort. Introduce yourself, chew the fat, let them know who you are and that you're in the area. That way, if you need help, you'll have it handy. And of course, always be ready to give a hand to someone else who might need it.

You might be hunting alone, but these days it's a rare thing to really be alone.
 
I can't help but wonder about some of the responses to this question. A lot of guys here seem to think that it is fine to hunt alone, even when they have heard over and over that it is not a good idea. In fact I seem to remember it being a major point that was stressed during my stint in Hunter's Education.

They also told me not to climb a fence with a rifle, loaded or otherwise, they told me to be sure of my target, they told me to keep my weapon clean and functioning safely, they told me not to point my weapon at anything that I was not intending to shoot, they told me to keep my muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times, they told me to treat every weapon as if it is loaded, they told me that the safety on my rifle was a mechanical device that can fail, etc, etc, etc.

My question is this- Why pay attention to some of these safety points and not others? It is in fact NOT SAFE to go on extended hunts alone, but many people here don't seem to care.

It makes me wonder if those people pay any attention to the other warnings that they were given as they were taught about the fundamentals of safety. I understand that some people just can't find someone to go out with, but does that make it ok to ignore the rule of safety? If you had a rifle that unexpectedly discharged from time to time would you hunt with it just because it was the only rifle available?

It just seems odd to me that people choose to ignore this safety rule like it shouldn't exist, but those same people would probably profess to be safety minded in all other aspects. One guy even seemed to be bragging about being alone and hurt in the field on previous trips. I wonder if he brags about accidentally discharging his weapon in camp too.
 
Well, in my situation - my hunting partner(I hate using that word) is a school teacher and can only get a few days off. I'm coming from MN and I'm not cutting my hunt short because of his schedule. I certainly know of the dangers and have already been in a couple of tight spots that I wouldn't have wanted to be in on my own. But again - my alternative is an abbreviated hunt - which is not a good option.

As far as the other saftey rules with hunting...I think I'm a very safe an ethical hunter.

huntertj
 
In my case, hunting with friends usually equals conflict between them and their wives. I've hunted alone for years, and yes, it is not the wisest thing to do.

But if I hadn't gone at all, I wouldn't be me, and I would have missed all sorts of wonderful things.

I'll reiterate what has been said before-mark up a map, tell folks where you're vehicle will be, and I'm going to now pack the extra weight of a sat phone. I am a spontaneous person, and I have trouble keeping to one spot because my brain makes me thing another might be better, so I fully admit I'm not real good at sticking to a 'plan'.

On the other hand, I'd much rather die hunting than at home!
 
HEY LISA, I USED A SAT PHONE IN THE YUKON...THERE REALLY NEAT. MIND TELLING ME WHAT BRAND/SETUP YOU BOUGHT, AND JUST A BALLPARK FIGURE ON COST &/ PER MIN. COST. I'VE BEEN LOOKIN ALL OF THE OPTIONS OVER....STILL NOT SURE. THANKS, YD.
 
Canoe I think most of us solo hunters here have a passion a desire. Does it drag you down when your partner dosent have the drive you do? You bet. I hunt solo because I dont want to baby sit anybody else. I hate complainers that want to go home, or back to camp or are too tired. If I step on a stick it was me, nobody else. LOL Russ
 
Canoe,

Give me a break. Just because people hunt alone doesn't mean they're unsafe. I hunt alone 98% of the time and I have never accidently discharged my firearm or had any other accidents of that sort. When you're alone you are even more cautious. As a matter of fact I don't even tell anybody where I'am going most of the time. If I was still married that would be different. And another thing, when I'am out hunting with my rifle or shotgun and come across a fence, I jump it, what do you do? turn around and go home. Not everyone is scared to be alone in the woods.
 
I hunt and scout alone 90% of the time (with family, friends, girlfriends, boss, co-workers, strangers, etc.) busting my chops about what an idiot I am as I lurk out of town. But I have a buddy I let know exactly where I'm going and I check in by cell every couple of days to let him know I'm alive (and to change my fantasy football line up). But I wouldn't give it up for the world. Hunting with a partner or group is fun, but like polarbear said, it's just more effective. You can follow your instincts without having a LONG, awkward discussion and then compromising with your buddies (with your heart screaming at you that you should go the other way...). Anyway, huntertj, about two years ago Dwight Schuh wrote an excellent article in Bowhunter magazine about solo hunts. I think it was in the July '04 issue, but I could be wrong. Had some great tips, pros, cons, ect.
 
Jim- I set the rifle on the other side of the fence and then climb over. Remind me not to hunt with you, I don't want to pack your body down off the mountain, or wose than that get shot in the back while your behind me playing jungle jim with a loaded rifle.


To clarify:
I am not saying that you need to be with someone every moment in the field, but to spend long periods camped out alone is just foolish. Someone else hit the nail on the head when they brought up the scenario of a 9 or 10 day hunt and the lone hunter with many people at home who know his location. What happens when you get injured or lost on day 1? Its not gonna do you much good when your relatives start looking for you a week after you are already dead. If you are at least camped with someone else they will know it when you don't return at night. It might be the difference between life or death.

Of course, some people have pretty good systems worked out to let loved ones know they are ok from day to day and new technology like sat phones can help you if you get into trouble and need help, but to go out by yourself with noone to notice if you're in trouble is just plain stupid.
 
I have gone out for a day or so by myself a couple times and don't really like it all that much. Luckily a couple of the guys that I hunt with all the time like to hunt the same way. I really like the camp atmospere of having other people around so I don't go out by myself much. Plus my wife would probably freak out. She isn't big into the whole hunting thing anyway. She grew up back east and her idea of camping is the local KOA campground with showers and running water.
 
Canoe,
Do you spend every waking moment in the city telling people where you are? The city is much more dangerous than the wilderness. More people are killed every second across NA in car accidents than are killed in the bush in a year. Do you live your life in such paranoia that you don't step out of your house for fear of getting hurt or worse, killed? I laugh at the thought that city slickers think the wilderness is a dangerous place because they put their lives on the brink every minute they live in the city.
http://sdana.photosite.com/DanasHuntingPics/
 
Canoe.......although it seems like this is the minority opinion, I've got to agree with your thinking 100%.

Interesting that you brought up the Hunter Safety classes. I've been a Hunter Education Instructor for about 15 years now and yep, that's absolutely positively something we're asked to teach; never to hunt alone. Course, that's part of the reason we call the class "Hunter Safety" not "Hunting strategies" or "Hunting techniques".

I also believe that my beliefs aren't the same as others. I have to weigh the risk against the rewards. I don't have a big desire to put myself in a compromising situation over any hunt. I'm not as tough as the outdoors and neither is anyone else I've ever met or read about, so I tend to error a little on the side of caution because I want to be around for a few more years.

That said, I also rarely choose to actually hunt the same mountain or draws as my camping buddies (unless I'm showing them around the area or scouting, etc.) because hunting an area solo is the best way to go unnoticed by the critters who live there. Less noise, less detection of movement, less stink when you're hunting solo. I also think your senses are at a higher level and you truly are a better hunter when you are on a mountain by yourself. Solo hunting is a whole different way of hunting, no question. But solo hunting and camping is at a risk level that I won't compromise the love of my family and friends to, that's all.
 
freediver - Thank you.

BCBOY - Yea, your a rough and tough mountain man, we all get it. Us city slickers got nothin on a chest thumping tough guy like you. You win. Satisfied?
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-06 AT 02:04PM (MST)[p]I'm going to agree with BCBOY. How many people actually get lost or hurt while camping/hunting. Before long we'll all be wearing orange helmets and flack jackets with a gps system monitoring our vitals. I think the biggest fear that people have of hunting/camping alone is loneliness, and subconsiously blame it on the fear of getting hurt/lost. My biggest fear is lightning, I figure if I get hit by lightning I'll be dead anyways. I'll be scouting/camping by myself this weekend in Northern NV, out of cell range, and looking foward to some alone time.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-06 AT 02:06PM (MST)[p]I hunt alone mostly for one reason. No one else that I know has the desire to hike five miles at midnight on a friday night to go sleep in a bivy when its 20 degrees and snowing.

I have taken people with me quite a few times, but they only go once. More often than not its babysitting them that is more of a risk than taking care of myself.

So if you want to read the warning label on everything and do exactly as it says, be my guest. Remember to watch yourself around five gallon buckets, they could have some liquid in them and you might drown.

Id much rather take my chances in the wilderness by myself than drive for ten minutes on the freeway.

Good post COSA, if your scared of being eaten alive by a ravenous badger you probably shouldnt be out there alone.
 
IF I HAVE TO GO WELL.........

I much rather fall to my death seeing a beautiful valley below rather than some paramedic trying to stop the femoral bleeding on my badly mangled leg in a twisted wreck car(truck) or stuffing my guts back in me on a hospital bed in a ER...
I want to hit the ground dead while hunting from a heart attack rather be eatting alive from cancer and the treatment in a hospital!
no one chooses how they die however if you live in the city
and choose never to be risky then that where you will always
be!
rm
 
Canoe,
Please tell me what is soooo dangerous about hunting by yourself? I really want to know how is it that we are at risk of killing ourselves if we venture in the wild alone. It has nothing to do with being a tuff mountain man. It has everything to do with being more comfortable in the wild than anywhere near people ie. a city.

http://sdana.photosite.com/DanasHuntingPics/
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-06 AT 07:21PM (MST)[p]I hunt alone quite often, especially for chasing mountain lions, not so much for deer, elk etc. I prefer to hunt alone actually, and have deer hunted many times alone. Elk hunting has been with my dad only. I will hunte birds when I feel like it, and may or may not hunt with someone else. The main information I give is the place I am starting. I say "I will be going over here, this is where camp will be (on the first day)." That's not to say camp will change, especially on a multiday hunt where I need to move around to find animals. I usually have weekend hunts, but this winter will entail a 5 day lion hunt and a 5-9 day lion hunt depending on how long I really feel like staying out. I give when I will be back, and my parents (who I usually tell), know that I may not call right away when I get back, but I tell them when I have to be back to work, so they know if they get a call from work then something is wrong. I know how to survive if I have to, and everyone I have hunted with knows that. My parents and some friends who I deer and bird hunt with know the area, and know what to do if something goes wrong. I have a cell phone, but don't rely on it. I don't even carry it when I leave the truck, just more weight that I can't be guarenteed will even work, so I rely on my practiced skills and common sense to keep me out of trouble and keep me alive if something goes wrong.

One thing also, as an afterthought, is that I have a hard time getting the same time off that other people have, so it is only on limited occasions when I get to hunt with someone else anyway. Also, hunting alone, I am on my own terms. I don't have to worry about Joe needing to be home at 2. I can hunt all day long, and chase the dogs all over if I need to until they are all back in the box. THEN I go home, not when someone else needs to be home.
 
This site is filled with many hardcore hunters. People who are hardcore with any sport take it to the extreme. To say that hunting solo is foolish is a little harsh in my opinion. Is it as safe as hunting with companions? No, but I don't think it's foolish. Just make sure to take extra precautions and be as safe as you can. Unfortunately in today?s world of having to draw out for tags and hectic schedules it's difficult to always have a hunting partner. The average weekend warrior has plenty of companions, because they only go for a weekend or two out of the year. Most of us on this site go waaay more than that! So if I have a tag in hand, but I don't have anyone to go with me....you know where I will be!
 
Man Canoe!

Who are THEY? And since when did THEY decide what is safe and what is not? Motorcycles are dangerous...Skiing is dangerous. Heck, riding a bike is dangerous too but people do these things all the time without being called reckless. I hate getting into these debates on here but at some point we all have to stop judging eachother and stop being so dang critical. Camping in the woods alone is no more dangerous then just about anything. The only difference is that you might be on your own if you ARE hurt but the odds of getting hurt are not much greater then doing anything else in life.

As I said, I do hunt alone sometimes but I still prefer to be with someone. I'm just not afraid of going it alone in the wilderness.

Live your life, not fear it!

Mike Henne
 
For those that are set on following the "hunters safety rules" to the letter, do you also treat other rules the same, say traffic laws and such? Have you ever jumped into a boat without a life jacket? That is far more dangerous than the average solo hunting trip. Sure there are morons that go bombing aimlessly through the woods and get hurt. Sure, there are "experienced" woodsmen that get hurt, but like as with everything, you do what you can to minimize the risks and be a careful as you can. But to say that you can only hunt with a partner, can greatly limit your opportunities. If you are scared to go into the woods alone, you might as well stay home and hunt on you kids playstation.
Eric
 
Canoe, I will tell you how you are more likely to die and it is statisticaly sound. Driving your rig to the trailhead. I know from personal experience that about the most dangerous thing most folks do is drive the highway on a long weekend. So if ya are really concerned about safety, stay home.
And I'll just pop a couple more Ibuprophen for my sore back from the rollover last year caused by a friggin Albertan in a hurry to get home and watch survivor.
 
You know what? I don't care what you do.

I probably shouldn't have posted on this matter in the first place. I obviously have a different opinion than many of you, but to tell the truth I don't care if you hunt alone or not.

Go and have a great hunting season, alone or otherwise.
 
ah, nice try anyway, Canoe. You got answers by some, and other "regulars" on here wisely chose not to post......or hunt with a guide, who knows.....

For me, though, I'm one of those city slickers waging war daily out here amongst all the capsheet and concrete. And because of being in the city, one thing we need to do to survive here is interact with other city slickers all the time. Maybe that's the reason why I enjoy the company of my friends in camp every evening after a day in the field. Maybe it's the peace of mind they bring when I think of my clumsy (or stupid, yeah, I'll also admit I make my share of mistakes and am not the best outdoorsman by any stretch) butt screwing up and wrecking my body out there somehow.

But I can say that the last thing I hold is being at all anxious when I enter the peace of the Aspens and Black timber, it's the closest thing to heaven that I know (sans the blue water outside of a good kelp bed.....sans Makos). Being alone on a mountain is just a totally special feeling in itself.

Canoe, let it all roll of your back. Most posts here with ANY level of difference of opinion gets wolf pack mentality status quickly. Those are the times I think they need to change the name of this place to either Monsteregos.com or Monsteropinionsandyouropinionstinks.com :)

All that craps aside, may we all hunt our butts off and have a great hunting season this year!
 
Canoe,

You have not only made some excellent points, you have also managed to fill my head (which isn't used too much) with some great ideas.

To be safer I am now committed to:

1- I will never go to the grocery store by myself again (I could run off the road, into a deep secluded ravine and be lost for days)!

2- I will not shed hunt the foothills of Kalifornia for the elusive 2 point shed (I could possible fall on one and be unable to stop the bleeding).

3- And finally, I am through with road hunting on my own (since I drive a dodge some wacko ford owner may just start shooting at me.

Thanks

The only bobcat who feels A LOT safer!!!!!!!!
 
And I will employ the buddy system when in San Francisco to watch my ASS just in-case my shoe needs tying!
and need ever use toe nail clippers again alone!!
from now on you all have to watch me clip away and I am BLEEDER!
I drive a Dodge! "gulp!" wacko FORD owners shoot Dodges?
rackmaster
 
I'm gonna say that given a choice I would certainly not hunt alone. I dont know how many "partners" have bailed out when it comes down to it and I end up going alone anyway. Or they just wont hunt. I really dont like hunting alone. There is nobody to share lies with at the end of the day. It sucks coming back to a cold lonely camp especially after the first couple nights. It can be a pure test of will power to keep on it when conditions are bad and you arent into game. Anymore I would take a crippled old man that wants to hunt as a partner rather than hunt alone. But if I dont have a partner I am going anyway.
 
Cowboy-

My thoughts exactly.

In a perfect world one of my kids, a brother-in-law, or buddy would be with me during every hunt. The fact is, either times will not coordinate, no one else drew a tag, or the other party has some commitment that takes precedent. I have for about five years decided to hunt alone if there is no other alternative. Only so many hunt seasons we get to see, and I will not let any more pass due to a lack of a partner. I take all the safety precautions I can, but in the end, I need to be there regardless. My wife and family understand totally,

Ed
 

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