Really having 2nd thoughts about all of this...

Yep, ya gotta move on, find a group, or even just another like minded individual that you like being around and shares your perspectives and goals, at least a for the most part.

A buddy of mine and I went out for a week at a Camp location that served as essentially a central meeting point for a bunch of guys from all over Canada, mostly ex or currently serving Forces guys, and we slept late, hunted when we felt like it, and generally enjoyed ourselves a great deal, very relaxing! A drink or two around the fire, and early to bed, sleep late, and do it again the next day. No shenanigans, no headaches, no stress. Not self induced, anyways.

Figured we should make up some signs calling ourselves the Half Day Hunters. :) And for all that, we saw some great country, got a deer and generally enjoyed our time there. Met some great folks too.

As opposed to one fella that was there, whose kid was shooting at the squirrels in camp, he generally thought a good fire to sit near was at least a 15 foot tall flame, and a few other aspects that left us pretty happy to see him head out.

Takes all kinds, and there are all kinds around. Just gotta find your own kind to hang around with. Obviously, the Camp you went to, isn't it. Is it Normal? Maybe for some places. But if you chuck away the whole idea of being out in the woods because of them, it's you that misses out.

Chalk it up as an experience, go to the next place you are invited with an open mind and a backup plan for your time, and keep trying.

Personally I like going out with either just one or a couple guys that I know and trust. Or alone. But I have lots of opportunity here, maybe more so that if you are out in Eastern or Central Canada.

Cheers
Trev
 
Hunting seasons are too short to waste on idiots.

I'd rather hunt alone and do my own thing than have to put up with morons that don't know enough to focus on the hunt.

As a new hunter I suggest you focus on finding a good hunting partner that is on the same page. A second set of hands will cut all the work in half, double your chances of sharing some meat and keep you safer than hunting alone. Don't rule out an older fella that can teach you the finer points while you supply the youth and vigor.
 
To parallel a Jimmie Carter statement . . . "you can pick your friends but you can't pick your kinfolk" . . . equally applies to your friend's hunt group.
Along the same vein, two new hunters introduced to a friend's group at a pre-hunt meeting in respect to rules that included alcohol and safety, every rule was violated the first day and after two days the group packed up and left for a new territory without the new comers! An after dinner drink and no loaded firearms within 100 yards of camp would not appear to be unreasonable.
 
I gave up on the "hunt camp" aspect of hunting 2 years ago and have never looked back..I hunt for myself and my son. I share my experiences with my brother in laws and a few close friends. I work too hard and treasure my hunting time too much to waste time with delinquents, alcoholics and lazy unenthusiastic slob hunters. It has enriched my enjoyment of and the time I invest in the sport of hunting
 
If after reading events of guys and gals who post on CGN and your asking if your experience is normal than I think you need to find a different group to hunt with or give up the sport.
If the camp was as described I would have been going home the next morning ...
That’s just me though and you did ask.
Rob
 
The fact you don't want to hunt with guys like that speaks volumes about you, and it's all good.

There's only three other guys I ever hunt with for the same reason. You'll find a decent hunting partner eventually.
 
Diablo7101 said:
You just have to find a group that is like minded to your style of hunting. The group I hunt moose with are all different. If you feel like getting up and out before day break...go for it. If you want to sleep until 10am....go for it.
Not a big deal, some are their more for the hunt than a holiday, some more for the holiday. It's all good but general gun safety is a no brainer at all times but it's never had to be mentioned the whole time we've hunted together.
One bonus to the guys who spend more time in camp is they cook more and clean up more so I can come in late from hunting, eat, a couple of toties, off to bed and up early to do it again.:)
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This is exactly how it is at my camp everybody does what they want to do as long as they all pitch in with the chores all is good!
 
what i learned over the years is that i am simply not compatable with people who need to drink while hunting like they are on vacation. A couple beers with dinner or whatever , I don't care. Heck I carry a flask with aged rum in a 2parts rum/1part pure smokey maple syrup..... but I don't think I've ever caught a buzz. It's a nice treat sometimes. But the drinkers need not apply, in hunt camp.... or in my close circle of friends. I don't concern myself with what people choose to smoke, as long as it grew with roots in the ground and didn't come from a lab. LOL so ya.... no drunks, junkies, people who blow off limitted entry tags, people who show up unprepared, people who leave early from not being prepared.... and lastly, people who's significant others don't like them hunting and are constantly on the texts with said spouse while in hunt camp.
haha.... I hunt alone a lot as well LOL
 
Good hunting friends are defiantly hard to come by. I had a few select people out west I always hunted with and we all took it seriously. set timings for the morning if your not out and ready you get left behind. Always had people begging to come out with us but if they were unsafe or dicked around they didn’t get invited back.

I would say shop around for the group. I don’t think age has anything to do with it. Plenty of old and young guys drink their faces off or spend the days driving. Find those rare people that find enjoyment in the miserable conditions and good stories. Because they don’t happen drunk or in a truck.
 
Find a new group those guys are not what its all about - with what went down am surprised that no one got shot - alcohol and guns don't mix nor does guns and weed - again find a new group
 
Don't give up hunting just be very choosy who you hunt with. You were invited to hunt with these fellas and it did not work out obviously for many reasons. Live, learn and move on. Gun safety must be a first priority. Personally over the years I have found the smaller the hunt group the less personality conflicts. My old moose gang was 4 fellas, two teams of two. We were best friends and our lives often depended on each other, especially where we were hunting. Old age and death's broke that group. At my deer camp we started off with 3 fellas myself included. Each year we chose a new hunter to join us, the vote had to be unanimous, until we had 8 fellas plus a cook.
We had some basic camp rules. Safe gun handling was a given at all times. - No smoking, anything. - No drinking during the day. If you chose to stay in camp and have a few say if it was raining fine, but your gun stayed in the rack and you ventured no father out the door than the out house. - And "what goes on at the camp stays at the camp". Never had one issue with anyone in the 20 years I ran the deer hunt. Being very choosy who you hunt with I think is the key to the success of any hunt gang. You all must be of like mind.
These days I hunt alone 99% of the time due to age and lack of suitable hunting partners.
 
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I will add voice to the majority here. This is not normal. The guys I typically hunt with often have a few drinks in the evenings but never to the point where it has a negative impact on the next days activities.

As mentioned earlier, I believe that the majority of those who go to "hunting camp" and drink excessively are those who are looking for a break from "life" be it work, their partner, family, or kids.
 
Thanks for all the replies folks. After this one-day experience I now have a new appreciation for why seasoned, experienced and safe hunters don't let just anyone come along.

I am definitely not giving up!
 
patriot1 said:
Thanks for all the replies folks. After this one-day experience I now have a new appreciation for why seasoned, experienced and safe hunters don't let just anyone come along.

I am definitely not giving up!
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That's the spirit. There are good folks out there to hunt with, you just have to find them. Maybe a thread in the "networking" forum?
 
Is it really essential to hunt with a group?

I have a handful of guys I will have a hunt camp with, sometimes two or three or even four of us will set up camp together, but for the actual hunting part, I go alone. We meet up in camp later or stay in contact by radio in case one or the other requires assistance.

I actually prefer to go alone but with the places I hunt in BC plus my current age, my Mrs. prefers I go with a companion.
 
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I've always been pretty lucky with anybody I've ever hunted with. Most are great guys. The only incident I ever had was one time we decided to go skeet shooting. A friends younger cousin who had just got his license was with us. Anyway after we were finished a couple of us sat down up against a maple tree in shade. I just noticed the cousin kinda waving his shotgun around and pointing it in our direction. I didn't even get a word out and kaboom. Bark from the tree fell down on our heads. The main part of the pattern was about 6 ft above our heads and if he would've been standing even 5-10 ft further away we likely would've got shot.Needless to say it did not go over well at all and that was the last time I ever even spoke to him
 
LawrenceN said:
Been hunting for close to 50+ years now, and I made my mistakes (as have we all) when I was younger and much stupider. For about the last 35 years, all my hunting buddies were of a like mind; that is, we hunt well and responsibly, respect firearms safety, respect the game and the environment, eat well, enjoy each others company and try to put game on the table. None of us over-indulge in drink, 2-3 beer and maybe a nice small burst of single malt after dinner MAX. Early to bed, out at first light (I spend the whole day out there), back at last shooting light, good dinner, good conversation, maybe a movie, and repeat. My friend, either find a new group or form one of like-minded individuals. You'll love your hunting much more.
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This is what hunting should be about.
 
Booze is for when your processing the meat at home smoking or cooking the meat not for when your out hunting just my opinion maybe I’m wrong
 
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