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

[jjohnwm]

My deer hunt this year ended exactly like last year; I got a nice buck, then damned near killed myself dragging him out on dry, snowless ground...only to wake the next morning to the several inches of fresh snow that I had been waiting and hoping for throughout most of the deer season. My neighbour's son had told me last year after the season, and reinforced the idea before this season, that he would be happy to help me with the retrieval if/when I needed it. That sounded great; hunt alone as I prefer, then have help after the fact... but when the moment actually arrived, it was accompanied by the realization that I needed to admit to myself that I did need help. Stubborn pride stepped in; whaddaya mean I can't do this myself?

I'll bet that of the guys who cash in during the deer drag, there's a significant percentage who just couldn't or wouldn't admit that, maybe to themselves or maybe to the rest of the world. I'm not saying that as any kind of indictment of them, either. The truth is often a bitter pill to swallow.

I've got a personal rule about hunting around the house: there is no shooting at game (varmints/predators not included) from any position that isn't at least 100 yards beyond the edge of my mowed lawn. If I were willing to shoot a doe, I could have ended every hunt since I've lived here within a day or two, right from my back deck. That rule was created by "yesterday's me"; I'm starting to think that "today's me" will have to re-visit and re-consider that rule (along with the whole want-a-buck thing) sooner rather than later.

 

[Noisymouse]

I hunt alone because my friends are on atv's and I want to walk. Its quieter, less expensive, I can get further into the woods. Also I'm a terrible shot and don't want people to see how many shells it takes to down a grouse...

 

[hoobdydyadad]

this thread is quite sad though i am in the same boat. hunting is only something to do with family or someone you are very close to. those people unfortunately do not exist in our time, especially with age. alone is still valuable.

 

[bunny]

I hunt alone because my search for a 24 year old nymphomaniac super model red headed hunting partner has been unsuccessful so far, I should add female and conservative just to be clear.

 

[rajczak_kashka]

…and the old wolf…now alone …wanders off into the woods …on his final hunt …(kinda think this is what worries her) ..

 

[murph83]

I hunt alone ( not all the time) because by the time its september, I just want to have some peace and quiet. I work in the social services field, I deal with addictions, mental illness and trauma 5 days a week, hunting allows me to go sit under a tree, have a big ol' dirty man cry, get out all the crap thats buggin' me, watch the sun come up, feel a bit better and try and fill the freezer. Maybe that was too honest of an answer, but I dont give a sh*t....

 

[TheCarpenter]

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

Thanks for the words. enjoyed reading them.

I hunt by myself and do it strictly to put meat on the table.. As the leader & man of my family I provide first and foremost. That being said, I love the woods and waters. I don't ever get "buck fever" or anything, just a small excitement that I imagine a predator would get going after prey. I get the shakes after shot and I really enjoy the tracking of the game.

I wish I could spend my life in the woods in a cabin. hunting trapping fishing homesteading, logging and woodworking... like the 1700's and left alone but I do understand the missing of friends. i'm only 34 but I have one or two very good friends that life would feel almost incomplete without. I could talk for a year with them and still miss them the next day.

I think you've found your next calling though. Teaching. Every generation is different of course but you could pass ethics and so forth onward and his friends could end up like you & your friends with wonderful times and memories.

God bless,

Carpenter