my wife asked me why at my age do i hunt alone??, so my question is why do others hun

I have spent 60 hours walking the bush alone, since Oct first. The only time that being alone sucks, is when you have to haul something big out. Life is short and adventures are memories.
 
Well, over the years, fighting to get lazy folk out of bed, putting up with bad, and sometimes disgusting habits were part of it. Being that guy who really worked at hunting in the camp meant that it was quite often my deer that was divided up to ten ways, so little meat too.

Now that I have my own property, I hunt alone most of the time, but it's much safer than I did years ago, as my wife can walk out and check on me anytime she pleases.

About ten years ago, I deer hunted alone out of our moose camp. That's a 10 mile ATV ride and in an area of limited cell coverage. Dangerous? I suppose it was, although nothing serious ever happened to me. You learn to be extra careful that's all.

There are zero hunters of any type around back there, so it's quiet, and I can sit in my stand and watch deer, bear and moose all I like go out early with no hassles getting people moving, and come back at end of legal without folks #####ing how cold they are etc..

I got some of my biggest bucks from there.

I'm 69 this year, and I'm going back in there, by myself for a few days, mostly I think just to prove I still have it in me. Just for a bow hunt, so not expecting to score, as the ranges tend to be longer there. But we will see what we can see.
 
I have over the last bunch of years been able to hunt with one or more of my children. Always nice to be able to teach the new generation what it takes, and what its all about.

As the kids get older and move on, I find that I hunt more alone. The odd time the wife will come out, and that is an awesome time as well. I really just don't get the mentality of "no women" in camp that I hear more and more of. Some of the best times were with my daughter out hunting.
Its comments like that that turn the wife off from coming out with me. We were supposed to be out moose hunting this year, just the two of us, but with an unplanned trip from the kids/grandkids coming into town, she opted out to be with them. I told them plainly, I wait all year to go hunting and it is a few short weeks in the fall, so if you plan trips to see us then you can bank on me not being around.

I love my grandkids, and wish I had more time with them, but hunting is hunting. I did get you bag a moose on day 3, and was able to make it back home early, and did have a great time with the grandkids this year though.

With zoleo type devices the norm now, there is no real reason not to be able to be out hunting alone, and enjoying your time out there. My elk and moose hunts were solo this year, and I'm okay with that.

Normally when hunting in a group we do split up, and cover more ground, and then meet up, help each other out when required. Sure while at camp its usually everyone, but come hunting time we split up and head to our own corners, so not really together, unless it is one of the teens and they can't hunt alone.
 
It's getting tougher every year for me to haul animals out of the bush by myself, and my hunting buddy is the same age as I am, so we tend to stick together or at least be within helping distance of one another if one of us puts a deer down.
Another reason why I don't mind hunting with the young fellas these days! LOL
Cat
 
Last edited:
Alone gives me time to read or listen to books. To make it easy for the wife I set up goggle earth on the computer so when opened it goes straight to my location and possible alternative spots. I'm rolling around the idea of a cellphone booster in the future. I've given up on packing in and limit myself to where the truck and quad can go. I like tooooo many of the creature comforts like a bed off the ground. Going to try pulling the kids tent trailer into some spots next year. Also thinking of making one like they make for motorcycles but a little bigger.
 
I am pushing 70 and also like a bit of comfort. I don't walk any farther than I am willing drag a deer out. Sitting in a pop up blind is not as much fun as it used to be. I am building a 6x6 blind on a 6x6 trailer that has as much room as I need and will have heat. I will spend the night in the blind and wake up ready to hunt or to shoot depending on the way you look at it. Sometimes I think I am getting lazy but my knees say that is not so. I don't want to quit hunting but I need to change the way I hunt. Also hunting is my time only to be shared with what I see when I am out in the bush.
 
Last edited:
I have hunted mostly solo since I was a young lad, like 17, 18. There were years back like 1989-1992 I hunted with a gang of hunters, which was mostly cuz my dad and brothers wanted to hunt with me, but even then I'd break away from the group and hunt solo.

And today I still hunt solo for the main. In Sept I had a buddy come hunt with me for 4 days (could've been much longer except he WASTED vacation time on his wife!!)(his words!!).

Why? Cuz I'm selfish.

Another guy immediately cramps my style, I hunt intuitively, instinctively, go with the flow type deal.

When I get up in the morning I seldom know where I'm going hunting on that day. It just 'comes to me', and away I go.
So my wife never knows where I am, wouldn't know where to send a search party.
And cuz I detest Google, I always shut down location services on my cell phone.

And Monday I'm finally going to get out after deer.

Solo.
 
I am pushing 70 and also like a bit of comfort. I don't walk any farther than I am willing drag a deer out. Sitting in a pop up blind is not as much fun as it used to be. I am building a 6x6 blind on a 6x6 trailer that has as much room as I need and will have heat. I will spend the night in the blind and wake up ready to hunt or to shoot depending on the way you look at it. Sometimes I think I am getting lazy but my knees say that is not so. I don't want to quit hunting but I need to change the way I hunt. Also hunting is my time only to be shared with what I see when I am out in the bush.
 
I missed the 2024 solo backcountry elk hunt due to age/moguls/stupidity-related knee injury. Yikes!!? End of an era?? Might make a day trip for 304 meat-hunt mule does. I love your adapt to age approach. thankyou
 
Hard to find good hunting companions. I figure if you find one or two you click with in a lifetime you're doing well. I'm 65 now and usually go alone. Prefer the solitude and sometimes hunt from a friend's camp where you can enjoy company in the evening . My grandfather used to describe the odd fellow as " a good fellow to go hunting with." Not many met his mark.
 
I hunt alone as well for pretty much the same reasons as you.

If you can, read a story about... The Road To Tinkham Town...it was published in a Men's magazine in the late 60's, I think the author was named Ford.
The Road to Tinkhamtown by Corey Ford

https://www.fieldandstream.com/hunting/fs-classics-road-to-tinkhamtown

The Road to Tinkhamtown,” by Corey Ford, first appeared in the October 1969 issue. The version in the above link, however, is the original, written in 1964 (returned in 1993 by Laurie Morrow from Corey Ford’s handwritten manuscript).
 
Last edited:
My hunting partner (my brother) is why I am still looking for something to shoot. Some people just aren't any good at it but being nice is a thing sometimes.
 
My hunting buddy is about 25yrs older than me. We hunt solo but help each other to set up new spots and to find them and them out and cut up. Most of our spots are within an hour drive or less. Makes for a busy day when we each get one the same day.
We’ll also use each others spots depending on what’s moving.
 
Last edited:
I hate hunting with others that just don't understand the words Shut-UP! every person I have hunted with over the years always talk.

I like to post or stalk when hunting & I never say a word. use hand signals if I have too but that's it. I won't say a word once I leave the vehicle and until I return at the end of a hunt. solitude and silence of the bush, like member elkoholics said just listen to the sounds around you. So I only go alone.

The only problem with that is if you get lost or hurt alone you could be screwed.
 
well after a 1/2 a day I came up with her answer
I said honey
you asked why I hunt alone at my age
I told her
I wish I had someone to share some of the finer moments and joys I encounter out there
In my younger days I had three friends I hunted with , for 25 years
then as life would have it , with in a year my friends all passed away , due to accidents at work, cancer or some other illness
I have tried unsuccessfully to find new hunting partners over the years
I have never found what I call true sportsmen, outdoors men type of partners,
oh they all lay claim to be in the beginning
but after a few outings, their true colours come out
some are just guys wanting to shoot and kill something
some are and most of them are lazy,
none of them can appreciate, just being out there,
a beautiful sunrise, a quiet afternoon in the outdoors on a sunny hillside,
they all whine and snot and sniffle ,it costs to much, or its to much work and effort, or they have some kinda ache or pain
they have no heart , or drive , or incentive to educate themselves on hunting regulations, or ethics , of fair play , or the species of wildlife they are hunting for,
some want everything their way, when they cant have it their way every outing they throw a pout, and become want to argue and be miserable and ruin the day for themselves and others around them,
and mostly not one of them know the value of being a true friend or hunting partner
so I told my wife , I appreciate the solitude
the time alone, the time to reflect on life and appreciate all that life has offered me, the time to find me again
the time spent with my dog (who by the way is my best friend and best hunting partner I have ever had)
and if I ever had a heart attack or injured myself and passed away out in the outdoors all alone, don't cry
because I was alone,
that's the way I would rather have it then in some sick bed under a roof
and that's why I hunt alone
and besides life is to short to hunt with #######s
there was more said but in general that was my answer
then that blushing bride of mine looked at me and said
well you put like a dream of some sort , or a story in romance novel,
she said she now understood, and wouldn't bug me to take someone again
I'm adding this because I for got to mention this to my blushing bride
every year now since my grandson was 10 years old
on thanksgiving weekend
my grandson comes out for a goose hunt
we have turned it into an annual ordeal
he is now 19
it has changed from 3 days to 7 days
he is all about hunting, fire arm safety, is not lazy when it comes to setting up, or dressing out the fallen birds
and prefers bird hunting over big game hunting
he has strong ethics and respect for wildlife and nature, that's hard to find in todays youth
and wise beyond his years,
his mother and him are the only two I have hunted with in over 30 years now
and enjoy to spend time with out in the fields or the bush
this year he has asked if he could bring his two cousins, my other two grandsons
both are 14,
I think he is trying to get the other two into the sport
of hunting and has in a round about way picked me as their mentor
which I have no problems with, and look forward to spending some super quality time with my grandsons
as their mothers ( my daughters) are both single and the really don't like hunting
but my 3rd daughter is an avid hunter
and they spend an enormous amount of time with her, in the outdoors
so I'm hoping that maybe this year will change things and I will finally find my hunting group
if ya cant meet good hunting partners then raise them
is my view on it
so I hope you all have a safe, and prosperous season
I get asked the same.
I tell them "because I don't like people."
 
Starting hunting at 10 with my dad and older sister, we hunted together for many years, our thoughts and styles were very similar so it worked.
As I got older and life takes different directions, I started hunting more on my own.
For the last 20 years I hunt solo except for one week a year I go back home to hunt with my sister, we have hunted 54 years together and understand each other, my son and daughter never were interested in hunting, possibly one of my grandchildren but their not showing much interest either.

My preferred hunting solo is mainly to get as far away from people as I can, people are fine in little bits, but most are too needy, clingy, entitled. My hunting time is to decompress from aggressive over entitled pressuring people, I have been very successful over the years but really could care less if I harvest anything or not, best hunting partner I have is my 3 year old Lab!
 
I also hunt alone. Not by choice, my divorce changed everything. It is hard though to drag out big game alone. It is rewarding when all is done though. I do enjoy the breakfasts after the morning hunts to analyze. It's always fun.
 
Back
Top Bottom