Solo Hunt

[paleoman]

#4519

I could go on a solo hunt here in Mi. It would be several hours at the least from here and I’d camp out for the time. I don’t know if my heart’s it it to go myself and I wonder if that’s responsible to go w/o the buddy system? Suppose I ended up in a wolf turd:lol: I wouldn’t care but my wife might. What do ya think???

[grumpy]

#31413

GO!!!

[Steve Capps]

#31492

As long as there are no health concerns, go for it. I’ve always considered aloneness one of the benefits of our sport. A few days with only nature for company cleanses the soul.

[Stephen Graf]

#31957

I think the value of solo hunts is dependent on how much alone time you get anyway.

For me, I can be alone as much as I like, so I like to hunt with friends. Makes the campfires and whiskey drinking a lot more fun.

I don’t think solo hunts are all they are cracked up to be. Even when hunting with a friend, you likely spend most of the day alone. And if/when you should get so lucky as to kill a critter, the extra help should be welcome.

[wojo14]

#32321

stchunter48 wrote: As long as there are no health concerns, go for it. I’ve always considered aloneness one of the benefits of our sport. A few days with only nature for company cleanses the soul.

This is my thought as well. I solo hunt a lot. But, It is not ever an over-nighter, mostly day trips. I would love to do it one day. Or at least share a camp fire with a close buddy or 2 in the evening and hunt all day alone…it is nice to share a camp fire in the evenings with a good friend. Good drink and conversation…and hunting…sounds great! Lets go!!8)

[Dan Jackowiak]

#32690

I’ve been hunting solo for over 30 years and counting and the trips will last many days or weeks. It was either that or stay home… no way I am staying home, ever.

[paleoman]

#33180

2blade wrote: I’ve been hunting solo for over 30 years and counting and the trips will last many days or weeks. It was either that or stay home… no way I am staying home, ever.

I like your attitude! Everyone had something good to say, and yes, I will miss the camp experience with other guys, but “no way I’m staying home, ever” kind of sums it up for me. Thanks for the push..

[David Becker]

#33255

Hey man,

I’ve got a search and rescue background, and I love to go out in the woods alone. I think it is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

I think it’s a good idea to have somebody who will press the panic button if you don’t report in by a certain time. They should know where your vehicle is parked and what your plan is.

It’s also good to have a plan in the back of your head for:

1) Getting lost, and not being able to get back to your vehicle or camp before nightfall.

2) Some kind of injury, usually to the lower extremities, that keeps you from getting back.

I find that I spend a few minutes getting those ducks in a row, then I just go have a good time.

Enjoy the quiet.

David

[grumpy]

#33566

Gee if you don’t think it is a good idea to go alone, I’ll go for you…. And if anything bad happens you can call me an idiot. 😀

[paleoman]

#33677

Mostly I’m just saying my old hunting tribe has kind of fallen apart and I’ll miss the cameraderie of coming back to camp, hearing what the others saw, etc. I have walked many miles in many places and in the dark too:lol: so I’m not spooked to go it alone, just a bit less excited to be honest.

[Steve Capps]

#33701

paleoman wrote: Mostly I’m just saying my old hunting tribe has kind of fallen apart and I’ll miss the cameraderie of coming back to camp, hearing what the others saw, etc. I have walked many miles in many places and in the dark too:lol: so I’m not spooked to go it alone, just a bit less excited to be honest.

Hey, you still got us ??!

[Ralph]

#33783

Walkin and talkin, just you and your spirit a pretty good deal sometimes. Good for the soul it is.

After awhile though it’s good to have some company to go along with that.:D

Go enjoy and be careful.

[paleoman]

#33834

stchunter48 wrote: [quote=paleoman]Mostly I’m just saying my old hunting tribe has kind of fallen apart and I’ll miss the cameraderie of coming back to camp, hearing what the others saw, etc. I have walked many miles in many places and in the dark too:lol: so I’m not spooked to go it alone, just a bit less excited to be honest.

Hey, you still got us ??!

I appreciate that! Anyone up for a hunt to the UP let me know. Will be tough sledding due to some hard winters and bucks only but there won’t be much pressure and that’s what I live for.

[Col Mike]

#34912

Scott

You enjoy that solo hunt–a good bourbon or scotch around the fire at night and you don’t need company–just converse with all those memories. We spent a winter season in the UP back in 03 learning the business at a big kennel, man that Hiawatha national forest is about the most confusing area I have been in–flat, lots of the same trees—take a good compass:D:D.

Don’t forget to give us a report and good hunting.

Semper Fi

Mike

[paleoman]

#35043

I will do that! Being a Slavic man however, I will sip the spirit of the humble potato – vodka. And mostly if I have success. Give me a week to week .5 and I’ll be in Gods country with a stick, string,:and a prayer. I will post pics if I have a connection.

[wojo14]

#35437

Good Luck.

[TMS]

#35762

paleoman, if I were in your shoes, I would go. Like Wose, I have a background in search & rescue (and tons of camping, hiking, and solo hunting). My only advice would be to “go slow, think through the situation, take no foolish chances”. Yes, starting right out, a solo hunt is a chance. But there are lots of things you can do in the prep stage and in the hunting stage to reduce risk. Preparation is key. I’m sure you know all about having good survival gear with you and knowing how to use it.

Is there cell service in the area you plan to hunt? If so, set up a specific time each day to check in with someone. Make sure they have a good map of the area with your intended campsite and hunting location indicated. If you’re doing backpack hunting with a different campsite each night as the hunt dictates, point that out and give your best guesses if you know the area well. If there’s no cell service, you may want to look into one of the satellite locator beacon systems (like SPOT). Just remember, if you activate it you had best be in an emergency and not just hungry for a pizza!

Oh, yeah, and have a great time.

[skifrk]

#35987

GO! and good luck

[drew4fur]

#38359

I’m a big fan of solo hunts and fishing trips. I just did a 3 day fly fishing trip into the Pecos Wilderness in NM and had a blast. The most company/conversation I had was a casual hello/have a good day to some hikers; I also giggled a lot as I hooked some nice brown trout. I’ve solo camped in the Kalahari of Botswana and listned to lions roar in the distance and observed hyena tracks/latrines just paces from my tent. I’ve solo canoed a handful of wild and scenic river ways in the winter time, and wondered what would happen if I took a cold canoe spill? It didn’t happen though.

There is always risk when going outdoors, even if you have company. My motto has always been that I need to have confidence in myself first. My other motto has always been, safety third. I know it sounds silly, but you’d never leave the house if safety was your first priority. The real priorities are being prepared and being practiced/confident in your capabilities. If you’ve stood at the edge of a dangerous situation and decided to back out, then to me, that is safety third, and wisdom in practice.

Go on a solo hunt, bring an ink pen and some paper, keep a journal while you’re out. For me it is a since of satisfaction that is only matched by the next solo trip.

-Drew

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