my wife asked me why at my age do i hunt alone??, so my question is why do others hun
- Thread starter cant_rope_the_wind01
- Start date
Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
So,here we are almost exactly 3 years later and there's been some dramatic changes like buddies are now retired,the old gang has been re-formed and things were really looking up,at least, until this Covid-19 crap showed up. As long as we keep our social distances,keep our hands clean and stay out of crowds and wear face covering when we can't,we'll all be good. After going back through the thread,the less dramatic change I notice is the number of posters who have since been "pinked".
When I started hunting in my late teens, no one in my suburbanite family was into it. I started with a friend, going for rabbits or grouse then a few feeble attempts at deer with the rifle. He dropped out fairly quickly but I championed on alone for many years. My youngest brother joined me sporadically over the years but not for the last several.
The clock is about to strike 70 and I'll still go solo but I leave a map in my vehicle outlining my daily intentions and now with wireless phone the norm, I call the wife nightly to "check in" to allay her concern. Seems logical. I keep chiding her that I'll blow a gasket dragging that big-ass buck out of the bush and the recovery boys will find both the deer and I stone cold dead as mackerels, side by side. Not the worst way to go I guess.
The clock is about to strike 70 and I'll still go solo but I leave a map in my vehicle outlining my daily intentions and now with wireless phone the norm, I call the wife nightly to "check in" to allay her concern. Seems logical. I keep chiding her that I'll blow a gasket dragging that big-ass buck out of the bush and the recovery boys will find both the deer and I stone cold dead as mackerels, side by side. Not the worst way to go I guess.
98% of my hunting is alone. Good hunting friends are hard to find and keep. I like listening to the sounds around me but it is hard when someone wants to talk and ask questions. I have sat there listening to a mouse in the leaves for 15 minutes. My father didn't hunt. So I am self taught. No better learning curve than to spend a week in the bush.
I want to be a hermit. But the betterhalf says we need groceries every two weeks.
I want to be a hermit. But the betterhalf says we need groceries every two weeks.
I hunt alone because most of my friends have turned into “Lumbersexuals” ... they wear the Flannel clothes , have beards , wear outdoor boots and act all macho ...but never actually come hunting or into the outdoors. One of them (the most lumber of the lumbersexuals) doesn’t even like camping FFS !
Anyway I just go on my own , easier that way and I don’t end up wasting half the morning waiting for a$$holes to get their $hit together.
PS: Lumbersexual is an actual thing ...look it up lol
Anyway I just go on my own , easier that way and I don’t end up wasting half the morning waiting for a$$holes to get their $hit together.
PS: Lumbersexual is an actual thing ...look it up lol
You hit the nail square on the head there !Great thread. Common among us is the appreciation of peace and quiet, being outside for your own reason(s), and so on.
I've mostly hunted alone over the last 60 years, although I do have a very few people I will hunt with. Being rather old fashioned, I don't care for the $10,000 quad, rangefinder, bazooka armed, must get a B&C record crowd. Each to his/her own. I am quite happy to drive to one of my favorite spots and set off on foot with my old .32 Special, maybe an apple and a bottle of water. Whether I even see anything, let alone get a shot is down the list from just being out and about, carrying a rifle. As someone posted above, to feel the fresh air, see the sights and do some reminiscing is what has become important.
To have the time to light a small fire, maybe cook a bit of sausage, toast a bun, maybe share with a buddy - that's life at its finest!
I’m one of the lucky ones, I married my hunting partner. This year we hunted grouse, wolf, deer, bear, and moose. Spending quality time in the woods, enjoying the life I was given back 8 years ago after a botched cancer operation and a bad recovery leading to 12 pints of blood and a second surgery 10 hours later. This year our 13 year old daughter passed her hunter safety course and has her hunting licence, grouse, and wolf tags.
I can and do hunt alone. I enjoy every second of it. I enjoy being out in the bush for the smells, the sights, the quiet, the wildlife, and the challenge. I enjoy being away from the city, which I am unfortunately tied to for career reasons.
But I also hunt with two others. My father being one, my wife the other. In the last 3 years my wife has joined me less as she has spent additional time being pregnant/fantastic mother that she is to our two small children. However, this year we have a full week of whitetail hunting planned. She came from a family of men who all hunt, but she hadn't participated until we were together so she learned mostly from me. I was lucky to marry a great hunting partner. I also hunt with my father about 50-75% of the time. He's an excellent hunting partner and like-minded. Plus it's something that I get to do with him.
It's going to be a few years, but I'm hoping that I get the opportunity to have my daughter and son become my hunting partners as well.
But I also hunt with two others. My father being one, my wife the other. In the last 3 years my wife has joined me less as she has spent additional time being pregnant/fantastic mother that she is to our two small children. However, this year we have a full week of whitetail hunting planned. She came from a family of men who all hunt, but she hadn't participated until we were together so she learned mostly from me. I was lucky to marry a great hunting partner. I also hunt with my father about 50-75% of the time. He's an excellent hunting partner and like-minded. Plus it's something that I get to do with him.
It's going to be a few years, but I'm hoping that I get the opportunity to have my daughter and son become my hunting partners as well.
Truly.touch. as a woman hunter. This blew my mind and heart thank you
Thirsty_Fox
Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
Very enlightening reading through all the posts.
I'm new to hunting but a very large part of the appeal to me is to be out in the woods getting fresh air and unplugging.
Having said that, I've only hunted alone because I don't come from a hunting family or background. I'll have to learn on my own and right now I'm committed to only hunting small game (which so far means keeping an eye out for rabbit) and see where it goes.
I'm new to hunting but a very large part of the appeal to me is to be out in the woods getting fresh air and unplugging.
Having said that, I've only hunted alone because I don't come from a hunting family or background. I'll have to learn on my own and right now I'm committed to only hunting small game (which so far means keeping an eye out for rabbit) and see where it goes.
I hunt alone because I find most are unreliable and have waited for too many who had slept in, gotten drunk, etc, over the years. I don't have friends who are into hunting as much as I am and quite frankly I prefer being alone.
I am looking forward to taking my children with me when they are old enough and I do cherish the occasional hunt with family members.
I am looking forward to taking my children with me when they are old enough and I do cherish the occasional hunt with family members.
It is interesting, because there was a time, not so long ago, that the discipline of silence and solitude were considered virtues and those who were able to practice contemplation were more focused, more thoughtful, and more peaceful people. Unfortunately the past few decades have relegated being alone to something akin to a disorder, disease and social awkwardness. Nothing could be further than the truth. Look at how so many people crave attention, and will do stupid things to get others to notice them. I HATE facebook for that and many other reasons. It is like the days where you have one or two solid lifelong friends is no longer considered something that brings personal satisfaction. Similarly, going to enjoy dinner alone, going to a concert alone (when concerts were just that - with an orchestra), and hunting alone seem to bring out questions like "are you ok?" or "are you anti-social?"
In my view, there is nothing wrong with being out there in quiet solitude. You lose sight of things like the songs of birds, the quiet rustle of the wind, the gentle sound of water rushing, and the movement of animals when there are people in the vicinity (whether close or afar), yapping away (also a sign they don't know the benefit of just being quiet) - just test this out sometime - go out with a bunch of people in the woods, tell them to all be quiet and see how long that lasts. Some people do not know anything but noise and distraction (these are people who always must have the TV or music in the background while doing something else). And of course there is the fresh air aspect (sometimes that is even missed unless you realize that hey, this air is awesome, when there is nothing else taking your attention. Being alone in the outdoors affords one an opportunity to reflect, and to enjoy the beauty of nature that otherwise the distraction of electronics, traffic, people congestion, etc. would curtail. There is nothing wrong with it; I would go as far as saying it is good for the soul.
In my view, there is nothing wrong with being out there in quiet solitude. You lose sight of things like the songs of birds, the quiet rustle of the wind, the gentle sound of water rushing, and the movement of animals when there are people in the vicinity (whether close or afar), yapping away (also a sign they don't know the benefit of just being quiet) - just test this out sometime - go out with a bunch of people in the woods, tell them to all be quiet and see how long that lasts. Some people do not know anything but noise and distraction (these are people who always must have the TV or music in the background while doing something else). And of course there is the fresh air aspect (sometimes that is even missed unless you realize that hey, this air is awesome, when there is nothing else taking your attention. Being alone in the outdoors affords one an opportunity to reflect, and to enjoy the beauty of nature that otherwise the distraction of electronics, traffic, people congestion, etc. would curtail. There is nothing wrong with it; I would go as far as saying it is good for the soul.
My condolences to you, Harold. At 78 years of age have lost a few friends and relatives, but never a child. May the Good Lord bless you with Peace and the best of memories as you continue to hunt.
Ted
“This season will be tough with the recent loss of my son this past May.........he was my outdoor companion since he was old enough to follow me.I'm going to shoot a deer with his gun on the same trail he took his first deer at age 12 then sprinkle some of his ashes on the spot.So many fond outdoor memories......this I have to do alone...........Harold”
My deep condolences to you both Harold and SdF250, the best hunting times I ever had were with my Father and my Son. To lose a child would devastate my wife and me, I truly empathize with both of you.
In summer 2020 I lost one of my hunting partners of 40 years, it was very sudden and totally unexpected. Tomorrow will be the first time my other hunting partner and and I will be back to the hunt camp we all owned together. I have some ashes in my pocket right now that we will spread at one of his favourite deer stands, it is going to be a very tough week without his humour, and good cooking!
We always get back together back at the camp each night whether it is a rough building, wall tent or spike camp and share in the workload and camp laughter. But I have always actually hunted in the field alone, I enjoy the quiet and opportunity to do and go wherever I hanker to. I find it really de-stresses me, better than any vacation. WK
I deer hunt alone but as part of a larger group ranging from 4-7, depending on the day of the week. We all take separate stands in the morning, but usually there's at least 2 of us on the same property and within a 5-15 walk from each other. The entire group is just a phone call and 15-20 min away, and will come straight over to help if someone can't find a wounded animal or they anyone needs help hauling one out of a tricky spot. We meet up at camp for a late morning brunch, then do some bush drives as a group in the afternoon. After that we'll all head out to our own stands again for the late afternoon evening. Back to camp to help hang deer and a few beers after that. For me, it's really the best of both worlds.
The last few years I have been hunting bit more big game with my son, and enjoy his company, but for the most part I still enjoy hunting big game alone .
I have a few friends who I really enjoy hunting birds with the dogs, but also enjoy hunting with a dog alone. I guess it comes down too WHO I am hunting with.
Cat
I have a few friends who I really enjoy hunting birds with the dogs, but also enjoy hunting with a dog alone. I guess it comes down too WHO I am hunting with.
Cat
