Drinking at hunt camp

[Gatehouse]

Lol...... at 6' 210 pounds a shot of baileys in my coffee at 5 am followed by a hearty plate of bacon and eggs certainly isn't going leave me impaired when I head out to dog deer at 7........

So really what you are saying is that drinking and guns aren't a good mix "unless you mix guns and alcohol the way I do."

Lot's of people (including myself) subscribe to that concept, and that's ok, at least it's honest.

That said, I rarely drink until the hunting day is over. Not because I think I can't be safe- Most people are able to do things far more complicated than firearm safety after a drink or two, and I'm no different. But it might make me sleepy. And in November hunting conditions, the last thing I want to do at lunch time is sit down soaking wet in the slushy snow and have a cold beer.

 

[Superbrad]

So really what you are saying is that drinking and guns aren't a good mix "unless you mix guns and alcohol the way I do."

Lot's of people (including myself) subscribe to that concept, and that's ok, at least it's honest.

That said, I rarely drink until the hunting day is over. Not because I think I can't be safe- Most people are able to do things far more complicated than firearm safety after a drink or two, and I'm no different. But it might make me sleepy. And in November hunting conditions, the last thing I want to do at lunch time is sit down soaking wet in the slushy snow and have a cold beer.

I guess it's more my personal interpretation of what "drinking" means in the context of this thread based on what the OP layed out..... having a shot of baileys in my coffee in the morning is a treat that I enjoy during my holidays.... It's doesn't give me the slightest "buzz", but I enjoy the flavour.....

When I get back to camp after dogging deer for 5 hours I am usually hot and sweaty and a nice cold beer really hits the spot.... again that beer, and perhaps a second (rarely) with a meal in a two hour period is not going to leave me impaired in any way.....

Perhaps a better statement would have been "impairment and firearms are a bad mix", but I pretty much figured everyone knew what I meant when I said "drinking and guns is a bad mix"......

 

[Amelio]

The problem with alochol at deer camp is if you have one or two beers fine. One or two beers usually leads to way more beers and shots. People can get out of control talking stupid fights arguements. Plus there are usually atv and vehicles around not a great idea.

We had a couple of guys a few years ago come by for a shot and a beer on a atv. I assume they where drinking earlier. On the way home buddy lost control and went into a fence post knocking it down. Broke a bunch of ribs ended up in the hospital for a week and a impaired charge to boot.

Stupid things can happen quickly especially when booze is involved.

 

[Keithjohn]

Hunt camps need to remain one of the last few politically incorrect places us men have. Between wives, schools, jobs, kids, friends etc we are inundated with rules, laws, agreements, boundaries and "new" ways to improve ourselves. At the hunt camp, I'm gonna do what I want, say what I want and as long as I'm not hurting myself or others or interfering with the hunt, anyone looking to correct my behaviour can bag sh*t!

To all the "sister-wives" looking to establish rules or tell us how irresponsible we are, or how we're going to end up in jail or in court just stay home and take your wife to Ikea, grab some more comfortable toilet seats for your sit-down pees.

Ugh! Honestly, its amazing some of you get through the day, what with all the rule breaking and un-safe life conditions out there

Patrick

This is well put

 

[ironsighter]

I actually think the vast majority of us here are on the same page, but semantics are getting in the way.

MOST of us can have a beer at lunch (or special coffee in the morning) and not be impaired to the point of being dangerous with a firearm. MOST of us are comfortable with other people doing the same thing and being responsible for their actions.

One guy I hunted with one time had to have 2 special coffees in the morning and 2 beers at lunch, just to keep his hands steady. He wasn't impaired, and I would rather have him steady than shaky. Would I hunt with him again? Sure. He's got more to teach me than most hunters and he's very safe, despite being an alcoholic. Never walks with a chambered round, for example - because he doesn't need to.

 

[Ltbull01]

Might have a beer with my sandwich midday but leave it to the end of the day once the hunting is done.

 

[Demonical]

I drink all the time, when I hunt.

Water.

 

[Gatehouse]

The problem with alochol at deer camp is if you have one or two beers fine. One or two beers usually leads to way more beers and shots. People can get out of control talking stupid fights arguements. Plus there are usually atv and vehicles around not a great idea.

We had a couple of guys a few years ago come by for a shot and a beer on a atv. I assume they where drinking earlier. On the way home buddy lost control and went into a fence post knocking it down. Broke a bunch of ribs ended up in the hospital for a week and a impaired charge to boot.

Stupid things can happen quickly especially when booze is involved.

That's just irresponsible behaviour. Guys that do that don't need to be hunting to act irresponsible. It's just who they are.

 

[tigrr]

Around me the guns go away when the booze comes out to play. The only exception to that rule is DMAY.

 

[Andy]

This is being hugely over thought. Some people seem to have the impression that alcohol + firearms = Russian Roulette.

I have firearms and alcohol in my home and have never had a problem with that mix. It's no stretch for anyone to extend that behaviour to other locations such as a Hunt Camp.

 

[cheb]

Drink only starts after the hunt is over for the day.

^^^This! Life is too short to hunt with folks that mix firearms and too much alcohol. In my book, they can only co-exist in moderation, as in having a beer over lunch or prior to gutting a moose and that's it. Any heavy drinking is best reserved for after the hunt is over. This is what I do and I expect same from my hunting partners.

 

[marty06]

Two rums while I am making supper after the hunt. I like have a few drinks as much as the next guy, but I five days in camp and do not want to be hung over for any of it. No drinking at all through the day. That's is just what we do, I have no problem with someone having a beer or two at lunch.
I wish everyone good luck this fall.

 

[the spank]

OP,

Boozed up hunters... I have seen ugly things and was told others, enough to now control who I hunt with. For you to write about it shows similar concerns.

Years back I was hunting with good friends where hunting was secondary. For some of them, getting together, away from family, work & problems was the right opportunity to let it loose. If they made it to the bush, they were reeking booze, cigar if not wacky tobacci, their clothes were filled with kitchen odors (small camps with insufficient ventilation) and noisy sobs. If they made it to the hunting spot, they would fall asleep and snored like diesels. So much for being stealth. I stopped hunting with them. I love a good party but when I hunt, I mean business. I fill my freezer almost every years, they don't.

We all know how unpredictable intoxicated folks can be, ranging from full vegetables to full retards including violent behaviors. Firearms don't blend well with stupid, sooner or later...

Bottom line is you have only so many days to hunt. To return safe and successful, choose your partners carefully and make rules clear. And for the records, yes I will gladly have a beer and/or scotch at the end of the day but there is discipline and control.

Back in the 80's I worked at the MNR in fisheries for a year and a half. I was working with one of the CO's one day and he was telling me a few stories revolving around hunt camp checks. In the one he had taken the boat across Nipissing to the Islands around the French River area of the lake to do some checks. He said he was walking through the bush to a known camp when he came upon a fellow on a deer watch sound asleep seated on the ground, leaning against a tree, loaded 30-06 across his lap. He tried to wake the fellow to no avail and realized the guy was passed out drunk. He made a note and tucked it in the guys pocket telling him where he could be contacted to pick up the rifle. A couple days later when the guy contacted him for the rifle he met the fellow, laid a charge and returned the rifle to him. He said the story from him and the members of the camp was the guy was so drunk the night before he was still drunk when he woke to hunt and headed to his watch where he passed out and slept the day. Apparently he was quite confused as to where his rifle had disappeared and never noticed the note tucked in his pocket until he returned to camp later that day. It's scary to think what may be out there around the popular hunt camp areas with multiple camps in close proximity!

 

[umpherda]

we head for the camp a couple days earlier than opening day to make ready the camp and get the sillies out before opening day...after that it is drink only after the hunt day is over..but you better be ready to go by 5 a.m. the next day or stay home and get plastered.

 

[blasted_saber]

Most of our guys have a drink with lunch then a few after dinner.

No one is hunting intoxicated and no one is sleeping all day. We're all up befors the sun rises and ready to go

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

Beer up until noon, then hit the hard stuff at 12:01 , just like my driving, I do everything better when drinking, accuracy improves greatly once into the 40% stuff!!

 

[222Rem]

I don't hunt with anybody that drinks during a hunt period .

 

[mrgoat]

I have hunted in many camps over the years. The basic rule is there is no drinking until after the days hunt is over. If you take a drink at lunch then it is understood your gun stays in the rack for the rest of the day.
I ran my own camp for many years and was very strict with the above rules on drinking. I had to speak with a fella only once. One thing that helps greatly is being very particular on who you invite to the camp. We always screened a new member well before hand and explained the basic rules before the invite was offered. I have hunted in camps where the drinking was an all day activity. I have cut the week short in those instances and never went back. The way I see it a fella is going to have many opportunities to die in his life that are beyond his control, so there is no use creating new opportunities by hanging around with drunks with loaded guns.
There is nothing more unnerving when you have dogged through the bush out to a blocker and he is sitting there watching you through his scope and when you get right up to him there are several empty beer bottles around his stand and he pulls a couple fresh ones out of his coat and offers you one.

 

[Royzo]

Hunting with some guys when they are sober can be dangerous enough. Anybody starts drinking while hunting........ I'M OUTATHERE!!!!!

 

[conor_90]

The way I see it a fella is going to have many opportunities to die in his life that are beyond his control, so there is no use creating new opportunities by hanging around with drunks with loaded guns.

^this is pretty good advice