Hunting alone is crazy?
- Thread starter Dimitri
- Start date
If you cant hunt by yourself what business do you have involving a friend in your circus act..? Unless someone is still learning the basics? Im with most of the rest of you, sometimes by yourself is the only way to hunt. Sometimes with friends or family, sure...But beeing comfortable in a wilderness environment is an important part of hunting, and if you can't do it alone how comfortable are you?
I hunt alone about 50% of the time because I am a shift worker and all my hunting buddies work Mon-Fri. It seems that everytime I am able to go, its a tuesday or something like that and they are all working. So if I want to hunt, I have to do it alone.
I also seem to have great luck when I am alone as I am not distracted by anything and can keep "my eye on the ball".
I got a 400lb black bear last fall by myself and let me tell you, the stalking/shooting part is easy by yourself, but trying to roll a big bruin over and over to skin it by yourself is no easy task. I really wished I had a backup to help that day. I mostly do this out of necessity, as any cutting/gutting and skinning is infinately easier with help.
I also seem to have great luck when I am alone as I am not distracted by anything and can keep "my eye on the ball".
I got a 400lb black bear last fall by myself and let me tell you, the stalking/shooting part is easy by yourself, but trying to roll a big bruin over and over to skin it by yourself is no easy task. I really wished I had a backup to help that day. I mostly do this out of necessity, as any cutting/gutting and skinning is infinately easier with help.
I always hunt alone. Do you know what your odds are on getting a deer when you are walking through the bush with another person? Especially when they don't know how to hunt..... I'm pretty much the only person who hunts in my family/circle of friends (other than my dad). It just doesn't work. Grouse/goose hunts I enjoy having other people along.
- Location
- Oromocto, NB
all my buddies left me 
....the only option i have is hunting alone now!
....the only option i have is hunting alone now!
I'm pretty comfortable with hunting alone or with friends and have done my fair share of both. For certain types of expeditions (i.e. somewhat deeper into the woods than normal, waterfowling on larger lakes or during a more inclement period of the year) it does however seem prudent to either go with a friend or take a few extra precautions, such as advising people of where I'm going and what to do if I don't return within a reasonable time.
Unfortunately, living in the rapidly developing area of Southern Ontario, I think that it can be especially prudent to hunt with a partner in some of the county forests, crown land tracts in cottage country (especially meccas for people from Toronto) or other areas where one may come across people who are not used to or comfortable with hunting. Some people who don't understand the Trespass Act or are extremely upset by the sound of gunfire might be prone to call the police, confront you, and at times make wild claims about your behaviour. Hunting with a partner, especially when exploring new areas offers a wise insurance against having to deal with a he said/she said scenario in front of a CO or constable. If I'm hunting within an area that I know extremely well (such as all of the property lines, neighbouring cottages, many of the locals, all of the prominent geographical features, etc) I'll be less on guard and comfortable hunting alone.
From the preference stand point, I find that hunting both in groups or alone to be equally rewarding, offering differing pros and cons depending upon the locale and conditions. In any event I've lately been successful in getting a good number of friends interested enough to get their licenses in the past year or so with more to follow, so it looks as though I'll be busy enough introducing them to the sport. Especially when it comes to showing them places in increasingly developed parts of the province, I think that it's best for a new hunter to go out a couple of times with someone more experienced until they are familiar with the lay of the land, identifying game and other tricks of the trade. I get a great deal of pleasure helping others out in that manner, though I would hardly begrudge someone for taking a more solitary approach to the sport.
Regards,
Frank
PS. About a week ago I had the opportunity to fish for two day in a row all alone, and was amazed at the effect that it had on recharging my body and soul. Hunting would have had the same effect or even greater.
Unfortunately, living in the rapidly developing area of Southern Ontario, I think that it can be especially prudent to hunt with a partner in some of the county forests, crown land tracts in cottage country (especially meccas for people from Toronto) or other areas where one may come across people who are not used to or comfortable with hunting. Some people who don't understand the Trespass Act or are extremely upset by the sound of gunfire might be prone to call the police, confront you, and at times make wild claims about your behaviour. Hunting with a partner, especially when exploring new areas offers a wise insurance against having to deal with a he said/she said scenario in front of a CO or constable. If I'm hunting within an area that I know extremely well (such as all of the property lines, neighbouring cottages, many of the locals, all of the prominent geographical features, etc) I'll be less on guard and comfortable hunting alone.
From the preference stand point, I find that hunting both in groups or alone to be equally rewarding, offering differing pros and cons depending upon the locale and conditions. In any event I've lately been successful in getting a good number of friends interested enough to get their licenses in the past year or so with more to follow, so it looks as though I'll be busy enough introducing them to the sport. Especially when it comes to showing them places in increasingly developed parts of the province, I think that it's best for a new hunter to go out a couple of times with someone more experienced until they are familiar with the lay of the land, identifying game and other tricks of the trade. I get a great deal of pleasure helping others out in that manner, though I would hardly begrudge someone for taking a more solitary approach to the sport.
Regards,
Frank
PS. About a week ago I had the opportunity to fish for two day in a row all alone, and was amazed at the effect that it had on recharging my body and soul. Hunting would have had the same effect or even greater.
I enjoy a card playing, beer drinking, deer hunting vacation with 20 other guys in Northern Ontario each year but for real deer hunting in Southern Ontario I do it all by myself from a tree stand or blind. If you can't go into the woods by yourself and fill your tag you're not really a hunter.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
Plus all the help is great when you are cleaning and gutting a 1500 lb moose!
I've done a few moose without any help it's a lot of work, even more when they are in a big swamp. But I still hunt alone 90% of the time.
- Location
- Keswick, Ontario
It's called personal responsability.
Taking care of yourself, by yourself, in the woods is a skill. It's learned. Over time.
Hunting alone is a good skill to DEVELOP. Don't just wander off with a rifle and a pocket full of nut mix.
Taking care of yourself, by yourself, in the woods is a skill. It's learned. Over time.
Hunting alone is a good skill to DEVELOP. Don't just wander off with a rifle and a pocket full of nut mix.
I don't mind being in a camp with two or three other guys, but when it comes time to hunt, I want to do that alone on my own terms.
We have our own vehicles or I bring my bike and get dropped off somewhere "see ya tonight" and that's it.
I don't like being with another person, then splitting up for a couple hours "you go this way, and I'll go that way, meet you back here at 11:00" kind of deal and then he doesn't show up or I want to stay and sit all day but I'm obligated to go back. Nope. too much bull####.
Or go with guys who say they're big outdoorsmen and once you get out in the bush all they want to do is road hunt. Nope.
We have our own vehicles or I bring my bike and get dropped off somewhere "see ya tonight" and that's it.
I don't like being with another person, then splitting up for a couple hours "you go this way, and I'll go that way, meet you back here at 11:00" kind of deal and then he doesn't show up or I want to stay and sit all day but I'm obligated to go back. Nope. too much bull####.
Or go with guys who say they're big outdoorsmen and once you get out in the bush all they want to do is road hunt. Nope.
