Hunting Alone

[lostinOregon]

I knew it would happen some year but didn't think it would be so soon. I have a 3rd season colorado deer tag this year and my hunting partners (2) didn't get a tag. I used to hunt with a group of friends in Oregon who were happy with fork deer and spike elk, we had great camps but that just doesn't rev my motor. So several years ago I started applying for tags in other states, doing research, you all know the trend. I have until this point always had someone to go with me until this upcoming season. I actually don't mind going alone and see some huge advantages and a few disadvantages also. I was wondering if you guys have the same problem as you attempt to play the lottery on the western states. It just kind of hit me yesterday and was wondering if you guys/gals had the same experiences and what you think of going it alone. I never hunted side by side it was more of the comradarie at night, comparing notes, scouting different areas. I would like to hear some of your thoughts on this matter.

Rich

 

[bschnoor]

Hi Rich, I have had the same problem on a lot of hunts. I also am from Oregon and usually go with friends here!! When I go out of state tho, more often than not I'm prepared to go alone. I usually do out of state hunts where I stay in a motel, makes it a little easier! Good luck - Brian

 

[wadsworth]

Rich,

Due to a bunch of unique circumstances, I have hunted and fished alone now for about 10 years. I am an avid chukar hunter (run a GSP) but I also fly fish, raft, backpack, spot & stalk hunt for spring bear, and apply for big game in about 7 or 8 states--all solo. I agree that there are advantages to going it alone, and over time I have just about grown to prefer the solitude. All things being equal, I would rather have a compatible hunting pal. But sometimes it just doesnt work out that way. I have asked, literally, hundreds of guys to apply for hunts or tag along on various trips but everyone is wrapped up in their own familes, already have buddies and so on--which is great. It just gets to a point where it is too hard to try and find someone you are compatible with, so eventually you give up. Jack O'Connor wrote about this. Finding the right hunting partner can be a real challenge. It sounds like you are where I was about 8 years ago or so. Good luck and Godspeed in all your efforts.

--DHE

 

[Zim]

Almost all my big game hnts have been solo since 1996. There are good and bad points about going with friends. As a rule I've found little difference. I'd say solo is pretty nice in that I like changing my plans on a moment's notice, and I feel this helps me when seeking trophy class animals. I got used to trusting my own judgement. Study topos more closely and set my sights. Also I am in great shape and my hunting spots are not limited by someone else keeping up if in a pair or group.

Bad thing is I am more careful about where I am willing to take game as I must think about packing the meat out alone.

 

[Bowtecher]

wadworth couldn't agree more with the compatible hunting partner comment.
I hunted with a "friend" for a few years and last year he decides he has a bigger need for talking s#!t behind my back then to be a friend.So there really should not have been any shock when I packed up and moved my camp.
I enjoyed the rest of my hunt met some other nice hunters in the woods and chatted with these guys and it was nice.
It all boils down to "to have a good friend you must first be one."

This year I'm hunting with a family member who enjoys the outdoors just as much as I do.And for the first time in a couple years I'm really excited about going hunting.No worry in my mind about what could happen or be said.Just relax and enjoy the hunt.
I would rather see her harvest her first animals than me even have a shot.

 

[JB48]

Rich,
I am also from Oregon. If I can't drag my brother or another friend I go alone. As it has been said I enjoy the solitude and adventure of going alone, but on the other hand it is good to have someone along to push me when I start getting tired. If you do go alone make certain the area you are in has cell service, if not rent a SAT phone. In 2001 on a broken ankle I spent 6 days in the northern Nevada desert, a friend bailed on me the day before we were to leave on my antelope hunt. I killed a great buck 81 7/8's, my disappiontment was not being able to share that great hunt with someone else. Make certain you scout hard on the phone to narrow down your best areas. JB

 

[RACKMASTER]

I "hunt" solo but enjoy camp!(camp fire, cooking, chit chat, havin a few beers!). I like making my own calls, judgement decisions and hold myself accountable and do not want to have a buddie making them for me! Sometimes we disagree..
I hate duck hunting with some one who will pull up on greenhead and we both shoot and I hit it and he claims it..
I have honed skills and know what I like and if I want to let a small buck go I want to see walk away instead of a buddie wanting it!
I like hunting camp but will hunt solo or now with my son who wants to go. my hunting time is limited and all the calls i decide are mine and I can't feel like I need some else to decide decisions for me that really never paned out ......
most all unsucessful hunt were when I hunted with other guys!
Its been a learning experance!
I hit very hard draws and am very lucky and ask all buds if they want to put in for draws and every year they say yes and dead lines come and it never happens and when I hit it they say well......... THEN ##### because I drew the though one, and points systems and LE's tag kinda ruin large group of 5 or 6 chances of getting drawn any way!
I do put my son in all draws I want to hunt and Jr hunts!
good luck
rackmaster

 

[huntindude]

Rich,
Been there many times, it used to bug me because I grew up in a camp of freinds and relatives every fall since I was 5. but now as you said hunting out of state by myself is the norm, I'm lucky because my wife likes to go sometimes if it's an area she thinks she'ld like to see. the motel deal I buy into also when it's possible, it saves a lot of hassle hauling and setting up a camp when it's just you.

One thing I will say and I'm not trying to sound like a boy scout but when you're hunting 1000 miles from home with nobody knowing where you are or what you're doing in bad weather saftey is a concern. you could lay somewhere for a week before anyone knew you were missing, and even then no clue as to where you are. buying or renting a Ridium phone isn't a crazy idea , my buddy who hunts chuckar by himself all the time in the winter bought one and while he's never needed it I see the logic.

 

[crcountry]

Rich-
I believe you can get a refund (virtually 100%) from CDOW....minus the app and search and rescue fee....give'em a call

 

[manny15]

i had no idea they were affordable...

Iridium Airtime Rates

What are the Iridium Airtime Rates?
There is a one time activation charge of $60.00 to activate an Iridium phone (includes an Iridium SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card). In addition there is a monthly access fee of $29.95 which gives you call forwarding, call barring, numeric messaging, and email address for SMS (Short Message Service). Voice mail is available as an option for an addition $4.95 US per month. The contract is month to month and can be canceled with 30 days notice.

Infosat has a number of monthly plans available including:

Rate Plan Codes North America (Canada & USA) * International **

Basic (0?59 minutes/month)
Iridium phone to landline
ISU to PSTN $ 1.39/min $ 1.59/min
Corporate 60 (60?240 min/month) +
Iridium phone to landline
ISU to PSTN 1.29/min $ 1.39/min
Corporate 240 (over 240 min/month) + 1.19/min 1.19/min
ISU ? ISU $0.89/min $0.89/min

 

[lostinOregon]

I wouldn't give up the tag for my left toe, it is a good one. I am tossing around the motel/camp thing and will decide soon. My hunting partners are damn good hunters and were that once in a lifetime match. We have never had problems, but they like to bow elk hunt and i will crawl across glass to hunt muleys. I have tossed around the phone thing and will do some research. The concerns I had were driving alone and no one knowing exactly where I am on any given day. Thanks for everyone's input.

Rich

 

[blacktailBC]

I too engjoy hunting alone. It is cool to make your own decisions and get that buck or bull by yourself. However, it is kind of anti-climactic later on, when you are telling the story and nobody really knows exactly what you are talking about. It is cool to have a good friend along to re-live the experience with later.
It is tough to find a buddy who is really into it hardcore like a lot of us on this site. Most guys are good guys, but dont't want to spend the money to go out of state, and do it right. Many don't want to put forth the effort to go after the big boy, they just want to go huntin. Obviously this is fine, but if your styles don't match it makes it tough. The "buddy" that is the worst is the one who wants to go real bad, but then skips out on his share of the fuel bill or something. That is a shure fire way to get fired as a hunting partner.

 

[fatrooster]

The compatible hunting pard IS a hard thing to find. Right now I have a great partner and if anything is true, I probably slow him down. I'm 44 and he's 31 so sometimes he has to slow down for me but we both love to bivvy hunt and its hard to find anybody willing to do that. We made a video of our hunt last year and due to the deer we got on film it sparked a couple of guys interest. But a spark is just a spark and it requires a commitment to hunt as hard as we do for it is hard on the body. This year I have a brother-in-law from Florida who put in with me as a group for the first time and so my regular partner and me will most likely get different tags although we plan on hunting together when we can. But in reality when my Bro-in-law has to go back to Florida I'll most likely have a few alone days and nights due to my regular partner having to save vacation days for his owne hunt. I don't mind hunting alone and actually love the challenge but I seem to always hear things in the night, lol. We'll see how that goes, ha ha. I will also be looking into the sattelite phone because I don't think my wife will let me hunt alone without one. As far as my Bro-in-law goes, he is an animal and I know he is up to the challenge of anything I can throw at him. He is 41 years old but tough as nails physically and mentally and I'm looking forward to hunting with him again after about 15 years. Anyways, goodluck to all of you. fatrooster.

 

[Daxter]

My wife isn't a fan of me going alone. I usually try to have a buddy or two to camp with, although I do most of my hunting alone. I enjoy shooting the bull with the guys back at camp in the evening, and think it can be mentally challenging to spend extended periods of time alone in the back country. I have done it and think I prefer having at least limited contact with other people. I am sure that this isn't the case for everyone, but it is for me. I have more fun when I have friends or family along.

I also drew deer alone in CO this year. I might try talking a friend or two into coming along and buying an elk tag. I have lots of friends that talk the talk, but when it comes time to apply or put up the money for tags they won't walk the walk. I am not going to let their lack of commitment stop me from accomplishing my goals. Although, I wish they would step up and come along.

Good luck to you, hope you have a good, safe hunt.

Dax

 

[BIGOLMULEY]

I drew WY G two years in a row a couple years back. Both hunts I had a buddy bail on me the night before we left and an hour before we were to leave. Ended up going alone. Backpacked in for both, (nothing like climbing for hours and sleeping in a deer bed on a ridge right at dark) Ended up killing the biggest buck for me on the first one and a decent buck on the second. Those two hunts were my most rewarding. Packing out those bucks I fell a few times and actually slid down a rock slide a ways. That made me think of getting the sat phone. If I do it again, I definately will do that.
But, a most wonderful time. It is a huge mental game, and if you win out on it, there ain't nothing better.
Good Luck, and kill a big one.

Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"

 

[Torch]

I have hunted on my own a lot, although I would much rather have a hunting buddy with me. It seems to be hard to work out everyones schedules and always have someone to hunt with when you hunt as much as many of us do on this site. If we only hunted for a week out of the year, then it wouldn't be a big deal. However, I end up going a lot more than that.

I hunted in Colorado and Idaho by myself for part of my hunts last year and I met some really good people out there. I would go over to their camp fire and tell stories and they also kept an eye out for me, because they knew I was by myself. I even took a couple guys down in after a bear that I had seen since they had a tag. I also had another gentleman pull my truck out of an icey river I got stuck in.

So a little advice I would give you is to stop and talk to people and I would be willing to bet you will meet some good people that might keep an eye out for ya and you might even make some new friends. In my experience hunters are usually some dang good people. Good luck.

 

[Califelkslayer]

I regularly hunt chukar 50-75 miles from the nearest town for 3-4 days at a time but I'm not really alone cause I have my bird dog. I've done 2 big game hunts by myself, archery elk and late archery mule deer. Being alone wasn't the problem, hunting off of horses and worrying about going down under a horse was my biggest concern.

With the way draws are set up these days, if you're serious, you'll be hunting alone or have to have a dedicated hunting buddy that will apply every year. About 50% of my applications are with a partner and 50% by myself.

My best hunting partner spent up to 60 days a year bird hunting with me in the late 70's and through the 80's. Duck, goose, pheasant, chukar, whatever. Spent another 30-45 days a year commercial salmon fishing together. Solid, dedicated, trustworthy!

In about 98 we drew the first late Rubys deer hunt since the winter of 92/93. Season went to Nov 11 that year. 5 days into the hunt he tells me he wants to be back in time for the pheasant opener on Nov 9 in Kali, meaning we have to leave on the 8th. I took a 26" buck on the 8th but wanted something better and didn't feel like I gave that hunt justice. We quit applying together for some years and just huntd birds.

In "04" we applied and drew a controlled elk hunt in Idaho. I hunted with my son on a youth hunt for 10 days, got home and 36 hours later we were on the way to Idaho. Scouted hard for 4 days and hunted 4. Lying in the tent that night (Mon) he told me he wanted to be back for the NE Kali waterfowl opener the following Sat. I'd passed lesser bulls 3 of the 4 days. I laid in my bed and thought it over. My truck, horses, wall tent, equipment, I could just refuse to leave and lose a great friend. I came to the conclusion that although I had 2 more weeks off and the season ran 3 more, I'd take the next bull I saw and avoid hard feelings. If by Thursday I hadn't filled, we'd revisit the issue. I took a small 5 point the next morning and avoided a confrontation. Since then we haven't hunted together. We talk about 4-5 times each hunting season about his duck hunting and my chukar hunting but never discuss big game.

I look back at the great times we had and am thankful for them. I also realize his priority was carrying a shotgun and mine is carrying a rifle.

Damn that was long, and the SAT phone is a great idea.

 

[PleaseDear]

I always hunt alone on almost any fall hunt I go on.

Sure there are day hunts where a bud or my Mrs go with me but most hunts are good bye solo..

I have pack in 7-8 miles with my llama packstring solo hunting the Holy Cross in Colo.....
to FS road side camp in Nv. and using the 6x6 for travel hunting bow bucks solo...

You can do it easy... just hunt your normal way and you will be fine.

Be sure ya know how to use the 'Go To' function on your GPS for those late nite returns in the dark! It has saved me a few times to find my 'Mark' when I left and to use the Go To to get back!

Robb

 

[QtrHorse]

I have my Dad who will go anywhere with me and help on any hunt drawn, but does not get into applying for himself. Sometimes I apply for hunts with a really good friend who goes as hard as I do, but he lives quite a ways from me. Bottom line, when my Dad finally gives it up almost all of my hunting will be done alone. I'm fine with that because of the difficulty in finding a compatible hunting partner with the same goals and attitude as me. I've been left hanging on hunting plans more times than I care to remember. People generally are not worth the effort. Time with my horses and a loyal hunting dog convince me of this more and more. The advantages of going it alone are numerous. I think there are advantages to applying alone also. Good luck and be safe.

ps - We do things that are more dangerous on a daily basis than hunting alone is.

 

[califhuntn]

Having a family member or loyal hunting buddy must be a wonderful thing. Unfortunately I don't have anyone that shares the passion for hunting as I do. I thought I had one of my buddies into it but his heart isn't into it like me. Growing up all I could do is dream about someday going all over the country on different hunts.

After graduating from college and starting my career I have the financial means to hunt game I always dreamt about. I have been going guided on most hunts to gain the knowledge and experience but I really look forward to hunting on my own because I think it will be much more rewarding.

I have hunted deer here in California alone and look forward to hunting other species in-state and out of state. The solitude can get to you a little. Saftey for me does come to mind but with SAT phones (rentals) and PLB's one can venture into remote areas alone and have a safe feeling that if trouble finds you, you can get help reasonably quick.

There is something about about being out in nature just you and the elements that truly puts you in touch with your primative self. To push yourself when things start to get discouraging or difficult and to finally succeed provides a feeling of self-accomplishment like no other.

JR

 

[Califelkslayer]

Quarterhorse, ditto your thoughts. My dads 73 and we still apply together. (come on NM) I realize that I have to help him which takes away from my intensity but I also realize that he did the same for me and thats why I hunt. He's got more heart than most. Who knows a 72 year old guy that would jump on one of your horses for the first time and follow you down a steep mountain in the dark?? he did that last year.

There are always a few moments on a solo hunt where I wish someone was with me to share the experence wether its a sunrise, unique sight like a bull moose that thinks you're a cow or the hundreds of other things we all experence that non-hunters never do. Thats my only regret on solo hunts is that others I care about don't get to have those experences.

 

[lostinOregon]

I appreciate everyone's input. I reserved a motel room today and can't wait for November.

Rich

 

[jvgunner]

again done many times. going out of state 800-1000miles sucks by yourself. I have talked my good friend to go a few times as he was able to by otc tags. also from oregon with the same problem. sounds like us guys from oregon should talk. good luck I will be hunting unit 62 1st season & still waiting on wyoming deer & arizona deer also on alternate list in montana.

 

[mtnview]

All of my most memorable north american hunts I have done alone. I keep a journal which becomes a story when I return home. I have good buddies and good family to hunt with and share a camp, but still nothing like going it alone. This year is Utah deer, Colo elk, and hopeful a couple of tags from here in NV.

If you want to challenge yourself and find out more about who you are and what hunting means, go it alone. The success and experience will be like none other.

 

[Squirrel]

I couldn't agree more mtnview. Most people don't get it and if they get it they don't like it. The part I find amusing is that they try to convince others it's because of the "danger". The most danger they'll be in is when they pull out of the driveway till they hit the trailhead. One thing I notice is that the last song I listen to sticks in my head whether I can remember all the words or not. Once I hunted goats for 30+ days with "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" replaying endlessly in my otherwise empty brain. Some of my solo hunts are actually quite social seeing people all the time like Ks. whitetail hunting. Other hunts in rough country I go weeks without seeing anyone except my dog and the llamas who become conversation partners- pretty damn intelligent ones at that- they always agree with me- how could that be bad? It's like a religious experience and like religion it doesn't "take" with many people.

 

[WapitiBob]

From Oregon also. I'm headed to NM this Sept by myself for 2 weeks. I did it a cpl years ago too. The 27 hour drive, only stopping twice for 2 hrs really wasn't too bad. Wife wants me to fly, we'll see. I have never thought about a sat phone. I guess after 20 years of loggin you don't worry about the outdoors too much.

 

[Califelkslayer]

Went down on top of a horse in both 04 and 05 plus the lil train wreck packing elk out in Colorado last year. Never so much as a bruise but the SAT phone sounds pretty good. If I'm lying there 10 miles from a trailhead with a broken something, at least I can make a call and have phone sex before I go. LOL