How to stay calm in the woods!

Wiseguym70

Wiseguym70

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GunNutz
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Saskatchewan
I love hunting and hunting alone.....but when im alone I always get nervous and jumpy after I go in about 1 km but if I am with someone I can go in for weeks set up camp and hunt with no worries crossing my mind... now that I have my drivers license I would like to start hunting alone when no one else is available and I am just looking for tips or possible reasons why I am like this..i was even raised as a farm boy (Please no rude responses)
 
I've tawt me yung ones to remember where north is.
Always locate yer nogg'in with north. Or at least with a common land vision.
A river, mountain, highway and such.
Learn to read a compass or at least have a wee bit oh faith in a GPS.
Bring spare batteries if you use a GPS to any extent.
I've been twisted around a few times out in the bush and can admit me tete got all mixed up.
Long talk to meself and some serious scolding tah bewt.
When I got back to base, the ease of thought to where I was misdirected was stewpdifying.
All part of the learning process and experience of traveling out in the bush.
Bring stuff to make yer sense oh loss more comforting.
The chit that keeps you alive.
 
what are you afraid of? Night is different when you're alone. It's a much easier walk back to the truck after a sit in the bear stand when you have a buddy with you. If you are worried about the animals that always seem to be lurking around you after dark just look at the stats and how few actual wild animal attacks there are.

If you are afraid of being lost the best antidote is learning to navigate your way out. Be proficient at starting fires and making shelter and navigating without the aid of a compass or a gps. IMO being alone in the bush is an experience that just cant be beat.
 
What makes you jumpy? When I first started hunting I used to hunt alone and it didn't really bother me. I wasn't really scared of getting lost nor did animals scare me as I was usually carrying a weapon. Are you scared of getting lost or of predators? or something else?
 
I guess scared isn't the word. I was followed by a black bear the first year I started hunting...I yelled and threw sticks and nothing deterred it till I got to dads stand where he fired a shot. so I guess I just have SUPER high situational awareness so I can never relax. that's the best I can explain it
 
I like to look an area over on google maps to find coulees, streams, gulleys, powerlines, or something that I can follow to a road if all else fails. If you find yourself getting excited or nervous, just stop and sit down and listen for a few minutes. Start with short trips and build your confidence. I have spent nights in the woods on my own and it's easy to get spooked and your heart start racing. Don't let these guys put you down, too many "hunters" never get out of the truck.
 
You will loose your fear when you realize that you can not only survive in the wilderness but actually flourish... enjoy the moments, do not allow your mind to project negative scenarios... plan and prepare and then deal with what comea along... and always make sure someone reliable knows where you are going and what your plans are.
 
kamlooky said:
I've tawt me yung ones to remember where north is.
Always locate yer nogg'in with north. Or at least with a common land vision.
A river, mountain, highway and such.
Learn to read a compass or at least have a wee bit oh faith in a GPS.
Bring spare batteries if you use a GPS to any extent.
I've been twisted around a few times out in the bush and can admit me tete got all mixed up.
Long talk to meself and some serious scolding tah bewt.
When I got back to base, the ease of thought to where I was misdirected was stewpdifying.
All part of the learning process and experience of traveling out in the bush.
Bring stuff to make yer sense oh loss more comforting.
The chit that keeps you alive.
Click to expand...

before I was aloud to hunt my dad made me learn to use a compass. find north, start a fire, make a shelter and handle a rifle safely.
 
The only thing I'm afraid of when I hunt alone is injuring myself and other hunters LOL mostly the road hunters
I think the most dangerous thing to have happen to me hunting so far was getting charged by a pack wolves a couple years ago. The adrenalin rushes like that must be like heroin to a junky LOL
 
45ACPKING said:
The only thing I'm afraid of when I hunt alone is injuring myself and other hunters LOL mostly the road hunters
I think the most dangerous thing to have happen to me hunting so far was getting charged by a pack wolves a couple years ago. The adrenalin rushes like that must be like heroin to a junky LOL
Click to expand...

WOW! that would be crazy! I have only have seen 1 pack of wolves in my life and they were chasing a group of elk while I was glassing them from the other side of the valley!! that must of been absolutely terrifying
 
In truth, I wasn't alone, a buddy was 50 yards away but didn't see what was goin on till I had already started pumping aimed shots at incoming animals. I didn't have time to be scared or anything else for that matter. I just started shooting LOL
I posted about it in detail in the days following that blacktail hunt in pemberton BC. I really wish I had a gopro camera, the footage would have been worth huge.
 
One thing I was taught, and it's a good secret, is to set up your camp in the daylight and then just lay in your tent or hammock for a bit with your eyes closed. Do it during the daytime, and just listen to what is going on around you. It gets you familiar with the sounds of the area without the dark of night to spook you. Work your way up to half an hour and its amazing how much less stressed you'll be when you bed down at night. Hope that helps.
 
Determine exactly what makes you nervous

FInd a way to mitigate that

Scared of getting lost? Get a compass and map, learn how to use it. Get a GPS and learn how to use it. Get a SPOT or INtrech...and learn how to use it. Before going int o an unfamiliar area, study maps so you know what is there.

Concerned about bears Read Gary Shelton's books and work towards bear avoidance. Buy a bear tag and start hutning bears. Once you kill a few you will calm down.

But determine your fears and work to deal with them.
 
I am mostley worried about bears and the unknown. i come up with such odd things when i am still hunting. if i am glassing or in an open area i am totally fine and same if i am at camp. its the heavy timber that gets me one edge.
 
No shame in that. It is difficult for animals to move in the woods without making noise especially without squirrels or other animals to warn. The only animals that don't make noise aren't really worth worrying about. Hope you can learn to enjoythe woods. I went bear hunting by myself and it was pretty fun but I do like my away tines from the wife and kids.
 
Solo hunting is an unique experience, because if you break your bone, you are done! You cannot walk back to your truck with one leg. The forest is getting darker, the wind is chilly cold,and your broken leg is hurting. You don't have much food, nor water. Your injury prevents you from getting any supply.
Then you will hate those guys who encourage you to hunt alone in this thread!
 
If heavy timber is your achilles heel, then go spend as much time as you can in it outside of hutning season. By the time the season rolls around it will be second nature to you
 
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