Hunting Solo by choice or circumstance

[nrpate05]

I do both by choice and by circumstance. I'm in a phase of life where I have young kids and so do most of my hunting buddies (of which there are only a few), so coordinating time away from family responsibilities is pretty tough. I've come to enjoy sharing camp together and then splitting up during the hunt.

 

[noharleyyet]

Need to double back and thank the gents who showed me the ropes of out of state public land elk hunting over 2 decades ago. Patient and generous gentlemen all, most passed.

 

[TransplantHunter]

I kind of go solo by both...

I would love to have a big pool of hunting buddies that I could count on to join me for various seasons, but that doesnt seem to ever happen. Instead, I have a core group of guys that may or may not be available and if they cannot make it, I go solo.

That being said, I am always looking for more hunting partners! Hit me up if you want to get to know one another and go on a hunt!

 

[rjthehunter]

I kind of go solo by both...

I would love to have a big pool of hunting buddies that I could count on to join me for various seasons, but that doesnt seem to ever happen. Instead, I have a core group of guys that may or may not be available and if they cannot make it, I go solo.

That being said, I am always looking for more hunting partners! Hit me up if you want to get to know one another and go on a hunt!

So is it Trans Plant Hunter? Or Transplant hunter? Just curious! It might deter some from joining if you aren't a CO native!

All jokes. CO is in my near future. Either later this year or next. I have not hunted it yet and am looking forward to chasing an opportunity there.

 

[gouch]

I started big game hunting with my dad. We would camp together but would go our separate ways to hunt. Then I started hunting solo or with my friend Bill. Same thing, we camped together but hunted separately. Then I started going with my friend Paul. I primarily hunted archery season, and he only hunted rifle season so he would camp with me while I hunted during archery season. Then during rifle season, I would tag along while he hunted because he didn't like hunting alone. I've always felt that hunting should be just me vs. the animal with nobody else around. Now I don't know anyone I even want to camp with so its solo all the way, but I don't hunt nearly as much as I used to.

Bird hunting, I always prefer hunting with someone else, but I would go solo when I had a dog.

 

[TheTone]

I hunt solo the vast majority of the time but love the one big camp hunt I get each year with some long term friends and any chance I get to hunt with my wife. I think I enjoy hunting with others more when I don’t have a tag and am just along to help. I’ve had a few hunting partners come and go over the years just in small differences in opinion that weren’t communicated well. Worst of which was an elk hunt where the partner decided on his own that he was the shooter for every day and every situation. He also promptly decided we were done and heading home as soon as he tagged out

 

[JohnBud]

My experience may be a bit different than most. I grew up hunting the wetlands, marshes, and swamps of Southern Wisconsin. My dad and my uncle were both quite the alcoholics and there was really no exception when guns were involved. It was very common to do a deer drive, and after a part of the property was driven, a can of beer would get handed out to everyone who participated in the drive. The guys would sit around and BS, have a beer, talk a bit, then drive the next property. Then the next drive and the next beer, and so on. By the end of the day, quite a few in our party would be considered easily intoxicated if they were ever asked to take a breathalyzer. The whole experience was dangerous and really turned me off to hunting with my own dad. I never participated in this "tradition" of drinking while hunting with my family. It actually caused a lot of tension when gun season rolled around. It is a big reason why both my brother and I don't drink. 4 years ago, both my dad and my uncle suffered some pretty serious health complications which pretty much ended their hunting careers. I became a public land hunter at that point and started creating my own memories which have been a hell of a lot more fun than it ever was hunting with my family. I also bought my first bird dog and trained it myself, not having any experience with that as well. I'm not afraid to say it...my dad was an awful influence on me when it came to hunting. At the time, as a 12 year old boy, you didn't know any other way and thought that these practices were normal. I've learned more about what makes a good hunter and woodsmanship in the last 4 years than I ever learned in the entire time I hunted with my dad and my uncle. I had to figure a lot of this out on my own and quite honestly, I don't want another person holding me back from my hobby ever again, which is why I prefer to hunt solo. I just turned 50, my best years are probably behind me when it comes to my ability to walk, hike, drag, and endure so I do not want nor will I allow anyone else to slow me down and not let me enjoy what good years I have left out in the woods.

I get you. I also grew up in Wisconsin and had similar experiences. While it may be a sad commentary on our state culture, I have also moved on to become a "scientific sportsman" and hunt solo by a choice. Last November I killed a bull elk solo, diy, public land at the age of 64. Not planning to stop hunting the west anytime in the foreseeable future. At 50, you have plenty of years to do this as well. While I hunt solo, you would certainly be welcome at my camp at the end of the day.

 

[Keep'er Movin]

I get you. I also grew up in Wisconsin and had similar experiences. While it may be a sad commentary on our state culture, I have also moved on to become a "scientific sportsman" and hunt solo by a choice. Last November I killed a bull elk solo, diy, public land at the age of 64. Not planning to stop hunting the west anytime in the foreseeable future. At 50, you have plenty of years to do this as well. While I hunt solo, you would certainly be welcome at my camp at the end of the day.

Thank you. Best of luck to you this season. I appreciate the offer. If you are ever in Southern Wisconsin deer hunting and you need a hand dragging one out, just message me.

 

[Charlie Bob]

I hunt alone mostly because I have poor taste in MEME’s and a sick sense of humor , I’m beginning to think .

To be honest I envy people that have a real hunting partner.
I’ve had a few in my life , but we moved apart , retired or died .
I miss them all .
But I still hunt , so I go alone .

 

[BuckhunterBen]

Met a friend/hunting partner on hunt talk about a year and a half ago(@Cwarda15), we formed a great friendship fast and believe it or not he's actually gonna be my best man in '26.

That being said he's in Michigan, I'm in Colorado.

With the amount of hunts I go on yearly I have no choice but to go solo.

If I hunted elk i'd want some friends near by but muleys are generally pretty manageable to take care of solo.

 

[MS 9x56]

My experience may be a bit different than most. I grew up hunting the wetlands, marshes, and swamps of Southern Wisconsin. My dad and my uncle were both quite the alcoholics and there was really no exception when guns were involved. It was very common to do a deer drive, and after a part of the property was driven, a can of beer would get handed out to everyone who participated in the drive. The guys would sit around and BS, have a beer, talk a bit, then drive the next property. Then the next drive and the next beer, and so on. By the end of the day, quite a few in our party would be considered easily intoxicated if they were ever asked to take a breathalyzer. The whole experience was dangerous and really turned me off to hunting with my own dad. I never participated in this "tradition" of drinking while hunting with my family. It actually caused a lot of tension when gun season rolled around. It is a big reason why both my brother and I don't drink. 4 years ago, both my dad and my uncle suffered some pretty serious health complications which pretty much ended their hunting careers. I became a public land hunter at that point and started creating my own memories which have been a hell of a lot more fun than it ever was hunting with my family. I also bought my first bird dog and trained it myself, not having any experience with that as well. I'm not afraid to say it...my dad was an awful influence on me when it came to hunting. At the time, as a 12 year old boy, you didn't know any other way and thought that these practices were normal. I've learned more about what makes a good hunter and woodsmanship in the last 4 years than I ever learned in the entire time I hunted with my dad and my uncle. I had to figure a lot of this out on my own and quite honestly, I don't want another person holding me back from my hobby ever again, which is why I prefer to hunt solo. I just turned 50, my best years are probably behind me when it comes to my ability to walk, hike, drag, and endure so I do not want nor will I allow anyone else to slow me down and not let me enjoy what good years I have left out in the woods.

Trust me your best years are ahead of you. Enjoy every one of them.

 

[Wolfshead]

I’m a late onset hunter.
I’ll be 65 this fall and my first hunt I was 53.
I’ve hunted out of state with Brother and some friends, which was good. Loved hunting with my Brother.
He is a stand hunter, and he and his friends have a lease about an hour north of me. They invited me but I just don’t want to drive that far especially early in the am, as well as the cost….

I started hunting actually with my Brother In-laws. We lost Stu going on two years ago and this will be the second season without him.
Jeff and I hunt a lot together, but I probably hunt 70% of the time alone.
There is state land near me that I love to still hunt through and I can get to quickly and then I can go when I want and where I want, and for as long as I want.
So I would say by choice.
I would consider my self lucky to have it pretty good in both worlds.

 

[R.K.]

I like to archery hunt elk with a partner. It’s just a better experience and a bit easier.

Bird and small game hunting- preferred with company (especially waterfowl), so long as everyone is safe. I have no patience for lax safety with guns, especially around dogs.

Other big game- I really like a camp with a few people and break off to solo hunt during the day. The exception is my wife- she’s new to it, and I enjoy being with her while she hunts. But being able to come back to camp, share some laughs, maybe drinks, and the chores? I really enjoy that aspect of it, with the right group of people. It’s a big part of what I miss about deer season back home, and I’m trying to get something similar put together here- sadly, my friends either don’t hunt or already have their own group they join.

 

[Birddoggin]

I used to hunt prety much exclusivly with my dad until he passed away. Even then we would seperate often and i would be hunting at the same time but solo. I hunt with my kids now when they can get the time. When not with them I prefer solo. I have hunted with freinds, and even though I like them, their goals seem to be different than mine. This adds a little stress to me for some reason. I don't care if I kill a giant buck, fill my tag, or limit out on birds. I like being outdoors and absobing everything and decompressing without pressure. With my adult kids, I can anticipate where they will be and am usually right. If I see a buck I like in a place I like, I try to harvest it. I don't care about scores or success. When bird hunting, I like watching my dogs work. Killing birds is just as much for the dogs, if not more, as it is for me. Hunting solo or with my kids who hunt like I do is much more relaxing and enjoyable.

 

[IDiot]

Growing up I hunted alot with my dad, brother and uncles. Once I could go on my own I spent more time in the woods than they all did. When I was in the Army I didn't hunt at all which sucked. In college I had a few buddies I duck hunted with but that ended after graduating and moving away. Now a days most of my hunting is solo, I love having just myself to worry about, and making instant decisions. The last couple of years I have been focused on getting my wife into hunting so I can have a hunting partner, but she isn't nearly as motivated as me. I always offer but she wants to go only occasionally. I'd like to find or start a group to have an annual deer or elk camp here in ID, I'm just new to the area and need to meet people. The act of hunting is better alone, all the other aspects of being in the field are better with others.

 

[belshawelk]

Both. Out of state hunts with my buddies. My own property about 50/50. This year solo for an elk.

 

[geetar]

Usually hunt solo at home except for squirrels and doves which is usually family and friends. When I go out west I usually take someone from home or meet up with a friend out there.

 

[NM_Hawkeye]

I grew up hunting in a big family of hunters! Lots of siblings and cousins and uncles!! But the older ones have passed on and the cousins and siblings all have families of their own to hunt with. My kids never took to hunting so now I usually hunt alone. My wife offers to go for me to have company in camp, but the hunting happens alone. It makes me sad that I don’t yet have someone to share the hunt with. I have a couple of very young grandkids that I hope I can spend time with once they get older but time is not on my side!!! Being 56 and them 7 and 4 creates time issue. For those with others to hunt with, take that as a blessing!!!

 

[schmalts]

I prefer solo by day, but shared camp unless the second person is just a helper and not tag holder. Just like to do what and where i want. Always willing to help others in camp if needed.

 

[WVmike]

I will be doing more solo hunting until my oldest gets to the age he can go out west to tag along.