hunting alone

[carverk]

S

Coon came through the other night and got 6 chickens, exotic one's too. He couldn't breech the fence ( chain link fence stapled to railway ties ) but a group of pullets had taken to sleeping nestled under the edge of a tie. He reached through the fence and wrung the neck / strangled 6 in their sleep! Tried to gorilla the links apart in a few spots, all he did was change them from a diamond shape to almost round...coons are sure strong!
Beggars belief...got the bbl traps out now & another half dozen coming from Marty Senecer in Hays. The yard is going to look like it was carpet bombed with traps. Can't catch a cat or dog with a bbl / egg trap .... go big, I say.
Dad's been getting the odd coon North of the ' Hat too ( I'm east on Ross Creek ). They are becoming more common though, been here 10 years snd last year was the 1st time we have had trouble. Now it's regular it seems.
Filthy creatures...

I have bin attack Twice By those tree rats on Haida Gwaii I hate them but thy make for grate target practice bin working on fast shooting of the hip with a henry 22 lever action I'm getting better at it lol

 

[45ACPKING]

ha! you guys can have the coons hehehe don't think we have any around this part of BC but I do remember them well from my days spent growing up in lowermainland.

on the topic of the solo hunter, do we have a thread for solo hunting essential kit ? I thought there was a thread from way back but can't find it

 

[titch--]

I did all my yote hunting by myself this last year. Thats fine by me, because I can do it however whenever. Dont get me wrong because I do like going out with someone too cause it can get alittle lonely sometimes out there.

I was also looking at the fact that I might have to go out for a whitie this year by myself. Should be a trip!

 

[Demonical]

No, it's not a good idea, but if the only person you can find to go with raises that concern, going alone may be the less bad idea.

I routinely hunt alone.

I travel in remote wilderness alone.

I do not tell people where I go, as if anybody would ever be able to find me anyway.

The only downside to what I do (and I am sure many will relate to this) is I have had some just unbelievable experiences, almost too incredible to explain, and pretty much every one of those situations I was solo.

But I'm not changing a thing.

 

[TheTooner]

I hunt alone, too. It eliminates some potential hazards, and creates others. It is not a good idea for a beginner, but hunting with someone who doesn't handle guns safely is potentially much worse.

 

[Neo]

I hunt alone every year, I quite enjoy it. Don't hold yourself back, good luck you may not score this year but you'll learn. You'll also be stunned how much work it is, and yet you'll be back next year.

Ain't that the truth! I started my big game career solo, and didn't manage to fill a single tag the first two years before finally ending the drought in year 3 with three bears and a whitetail. Looking back on it all, though, a lot of those first two years turned into treasured memories I can still recall clearly two decades later. Even if I could, I wouldn't change a thing about those first hunting trips. There's something about hard-earned victories that makes eventual success so much sweeter. And along the way, a fellow learns that hunting is about a whole lot more than squeezing a trigger...

So don't ever let the lack of a hunting partner get in the way of going hunting!

 

[PureShot]

On the same topic as hunting alone, another great idea which I do is to hunt during the weekdays from Tuesday to Thursday when the vast majority of hunters are working. Been doing that for years and have never run into weekend warriors! It's awesome )

 

[45ACPKING]

On the same topic as hunting alone, another great idea which I do is to hunt during the weekdays from Tuesday to Thursday when the vast majority of hunters are working. Been doing that for years and have never run into weekend warriors! It's awesome )

agreed! I'd also go as far to say that in some popular hunting areas I frequent, the game seems to have patterned the weekend warriors as well LOL
I have a buddy, who because of his job, takes holidays for moose hunting but can only hunt weekends for deer. We often hunt the same spot but I'm only in there on week days. He has managed a couple weekend deer in the decade or so we have been hunting there, I've got at least one buck and often 2 , in the same spot, every year I've hunted there , during the week

 

[jongun]

Don't have any hunter or outdoorsy friends so all my hunting/trapping is pretty well done alone . Might be better with someone else or at least safer but then I wouldn't be able to get out like I want to. I've learnt to be more independent and also not to take unnecessary risks especially when you're 80km into the bush and don't know when you may see another person. I'd probably choose to hunt with another person or persons but for now it's a solo mission.

 

[PureShot]

agreed! I'd also go as far to say that in some popular hunting areas I frequent, the game seems to have patterned the weekend warriors as well LOL
I have a buddy, who because of his job, takes holidays for moose hunting but can only hunt weekends for deer. We often hunt the same spot but I'm only in there on week days. He has managed a couple weekend deer in the decade or so we have been hunting there, I've got at least one buck and often 2 , in the same spot, every year I've hunted there , during the week

Sometimes while I am hunting in areas on weekdays that are hunted hard during the weekend, I feel as though I am hunting on a private ranch, that only I have the exclusive right to hunt on. In the same places on the weekend it's a ZOO. The animals completely go into hiding on the weekends, as a matter of survival, STUPID THEY ARE NOT!

 

[judge329]

I am a loner also , this spring while out setting up the blind for Turkey and Deer. After the blind was up I decided to look for some sheds.
As I was about a quarter mile back in the woods I started with chest pains that got worse and worse.
It took me 3 hours to walk out that 1/4 mile. Could only take about 10 steps then had to rest till the pain subsided , then take 10 more steps.
As you can tell I made it out . Got to my truck and started driving and got lucky and flagged down an ambulance . Since then I have had stents put in the heart 3 different times , total 5 stents so far, .
I am on the mend now and will be back out there come October for deer, and yes I will still hunt alone, not by choice but my grand kids are not old enough yet.
Did not own a cell phone but will get one for this fall hunting just in case it happens again.
That's what happens when we get old , only the rocks live forever.

 

[carverk]

I took a new job but taking a big pay cut to hunt elk in Alberta this year but the job has a grate work schedule for scouting around and hunting
I have always wanted to hunt up around Hinton bin saying for year that I will do it next year lol
Don't know any one to hunt with so I'm on my own
I'm still going on a moose hunt with 45ACPKING and Tony but hoping to bring elk steak to the hunting camp wen you find a good hunting partners it is a lot more fun then going on your own but be picky who with your hunting party will make a big difference

 

[Above49TH]

I have never thought hunting bear with out a backup was a good idea.
On the other hand I like being in the bush alone and you don't have to
worry about a bear shooting you in the butt.

 

[Ganderite]

I hunt alone. If I am in a hunt camp, we each know where the other guys are going, in case Joe does not show up for dinner.

If there is cell coverage, a cell phone is a wonderful safety device. Turn it on after you shoot, so you can answer the "Was that you?" calls.

 

[tokguy]

I hunt alone. If I am in a hunt camp, we each know where the other guys are going, in case Joe does not show up for dinner.

If there is cell coverage, a cell phone is a wonderful safety device. Turn it on after you shoot, so you can answer the "Was that you?" calls.

I'm not old yet ( am I?) , but I'm sure not young, lol.
Still, data phones are pretty wonderful devices. I actually find texting to be much more convenient, it'll get through often when a phone call won't. That and it's like a note on a kitchen table...helpful knowledge most likely, but not insistent like a phone call. Can be perused at your leisure

 

[45ACPKING]

I took a new job but taking a big pay cut to hunt elk in Alberta this year but the job has a grate work schedule for scouting around and hunting
I have always wanted to hunt up around Hinton bin saying for year that I will do it next year lol
Don't know any one to hunt with so I'm on my own
I'm still going on a moose hunt with 45ACPKING and Tony but hoping to bring elk steak to the hunting camp wen you find a good hunting partners it is a lot more fun then going on your own but be picky who with your hunting party will make a big difference

I'm so looking forward to seeing you again in hunt camp man I'd love to come elk hunting with ya too but not sure I'll have time. Big job with Tony starts monday, hope I can get this damn machine built and running by fall.... Fingers crossed

As for the cell phone thing... Heck they don't even work in the areas around my place LOL

 

[sunray]

If the guy is unsafe, leave him at home. That's worse than a buddy of mine who would think nothing of smoking while hunting and he walked like Godzilla. Despite my outweighing him by an easy 50+ pounds.
Do not expect to see game your first time out. Even if you're out every weekend, scouting, between now and deer season. It's called hunting for a reason. Best to get out every chance you get to practice sitting still too. If you aren't already, get out hunting varmints with your deer load(legality assumed. Where you are matters.) and/or shooting at a 9" pie plate, off hand, at 100, until you can hit it every time.

 

[scout_289]

I prefer to hunt alone, it's easier to keep quiet when still hunting.

Also, for me there's a certain magic to be alone in the wilderness with a rifle and a pack.

Just be careful not to get lost, keep an eye on landmarks, pack water and food, a flashlight, headlamp, matches, compass etc.

I always have extra socks and gloves, and in the odd chance you might run into a big bear, extra underwear might come in handy!

Wear good quality clothes, especially footwear that were previously broken in.

Buy a good quality game cart and keep it in your truck all season.

Start with short trips at first.
and leave detailed instructions where you will be,

Do some internet research before, and you'll be fine.

awesome advice and insight.

 

[scout_289]

I am a loner also , this spring while out setting up the blind for Turkey and Deer. After the blind was up I decided to look for some sheds.
As I was about a quarter mile back in the woods I started with chest pains that got worse and worse.
It took me 3 hours to walk out that 1/4 mile. Could only take about 10 steps then had to rest till the pain subsided , then take 10 more steps.
As you can tell I made it out . Got to my truck and started driving and got lucky and flagged down an ambulance . Since then I have had stents put in the heart 3 different times , total 5 stents so far, .
I am on the mend now and will be back out there come October for deer, and yes I will still hunt alone, not by choice but my grand kids are not old enough yet.
Did not own a cell phone but will get one for this fall hunting just in case it happens again.
That's what happens when we get old , only the rocks live forever.

glad that you made and many seasons more to you!

 

[PureShot]

If the guy is unsafe, leave him at home. That's worse than a buddy of mine who would think nothing of smoking while hunting and he walked like Godzilla. Despite my outweighing him by an easy 50+ pounds.
Do not expect to see game your first time out. Even if you're out every weekend, scouting, between now and deer season. It's called hunting for a reason. Best to get out every chance you get to practice sitting still too. If you aren't already, get out hunting varmints with your deer load(legality assumed. Where you are matters.) and/or shooting at a 9" pie plate, off hand, at 100, until you can hit it every time.

Took out some people over the years that were not seasoned hunters. If you want to go for a long walk in the woods without seeing any game take a Godzilla (as mentioned above) with you. Better yet instead of traveling to good hunting areas with them, go for a long walk in the city on weekends and stop in a few bars have a couple of drinks and hunt 2 legged deer together, then go hunting alone on weekdays. hehe