Solo Hunting Tips

[WVmike]

For those that solo hunt. What are the biggest challenges you face going out of state for a hunt? Just looking into seeing what others do for their out of state hunts. I hunt solo at home and hunt with my oldest two kids but nothing more than that. I primarily would be out of state hunting in the west for elk and mule deer. Mule deer would be similar to whitetail I would imagine, other than the out of state piece. For those that have experience, correct me if I'm wrong.

Logistics of packing an elk out solo vs with someone is significant, camping by yourself for multiple days is a challenge for more psychological reasons not only physical and the other huge aspect is the logistics of driving time zones at a time and the financial aspect of that.

I'm getting to a point in my life that I want to hunt out west every other year and if I can do every year that would be great but finding someone to go with proves to disappointment more than anything which leads to not being able to go this year since someone backed out on me about a month ago. I'm in my 30s and still very active and I'd like to think one day I can take my oldest son who is 12 now on those trips but I'm in between those years where he would be able to assist and truly enjoy the experience of hunting/camping for multiple days out of state not just on the hiking trip a few hours from home. Especially how demanding it is physically.

 

[deer_shooter]

I've hunted almost exclusively solo for many years and prefer the solitude. Like most I'm sure, I don't get much downtime between work and married life, someone always want something from me, so its nice to step away from that for a bit.
I can't really think of anything that is challenging about it tbh. I enjoy the planning part - deciding on a unit, how I'm going to approach it, when and how long I'll go for, etc. I even enjoy the drive even though its usually about 28 hours. The time changes are not really an issue, on the way out you gain 2 hours and lose them on the way back. I try to leave here (SW Pa) after work and put in about 8 hours, pull over at a rest stop and snooze a few hours. Drive a bit more, grab breakfast, nap then put in another 12 hours or so. That more or less will do it. This way, I'll leave Friday afternoon and I'm in Wyoming or Colorado around 8 or 9pm on Saturday.
There are a few options for how and where you camp. I've done tent on BLM, established campground, KOA Cabin and hotel. You could also employ a travel trailer if you had one.
There are far better mule deer hunters than I but in my limited experience, glassing the best way to cover ground. For elk, the distance you are willing or able to pack one is the biggest variable. Only you can answer that one.
Camping solo for me is no problem at all. If in the rare instance I need a break, I'll run into the nearest town for a beer or lunch. Happy to answer any questions.

 

[WVmike]

I've hunted almost exclusively solo for many years and prefer the solitude. Like most I'm sure, I don't get much downtime between work and married life, someone always want something from me, so its nice to step away from that for a bit.
I can't really think of anything that is challenging about it tbh. I enjoy the planning part - deciding on a unit, how I'm going to approach it, when and how long I'll go for, etc. I even enjoy the drive even though its usually about 28 hours. The time changes are not really an issue, on the way out you gain 2 hours and lose them on the way back. I try to leave here (SW Pa) after work and put in about 8 hours, pull over at a rest stop and snooze a few hours. Drive a bit more, grab breakfast, nap then put in another 12 hours or so. That more or less will do it. This way, I'll leave Friday afternoon and I'm in Wyoming or Colorado around 8 or 9pm on Saturday.
There are a few options for how and where you camp. I've done tent on BLM, established campground, KOA Cabin and hotel. You could also employ a travel trailer if you had one.
There are far better mule deer hunters than I but in my limited experience, glassing the best way to cover ground. For elk, the distance you are willing or able to pack one is the biggest variable. Only you can answer that one.
Camping solo for me is no problem at all. If in the rare instance I need a break, I'll run into the nearest town for a beer or lunch. Happy to answer any questions.

How far in advance do you start saving for the trip (tag, fuel, extra unexpected expense, etc)? I feel like if I go every other year, I have pretty much two years in between to save and have set aside for tag, fuel, etc. I have been planning on paying for the tag prior to the hunt, in my case over the counter elk in Colorado which opens in August the hunt is a few months later. Which usually adds up to about double the actual price of the tag for the trip just to have a buffer in case I need to make a stop somewhere and get a hotel due to weather, etc. I usually have to spread my gradual savings out over a while since I have kids playing sports, school, etc.

 

[ccc23454]

The biggest hurdles is the actual trip cross country or total trip time. Being solo you have no backup when your tired of driving and have to know your own limits and act accordingly. Time is something most overlook but it can significantly improve odds of success and will with-out a doubt improve trip enjoyment if your not always in a hurry. When i have guests i always have them arrive days early to acclimate (altitude and humidity) and do some fun scouting or fishing just to have some basic trip tourism. The hunt itself is easier to me solo, its my way and no complaining/whining possible other than me challenging myself and questioning my own decisions. Keep it fun and until your confident in ability keep hikes shallow and learn your own limits (thats rewarding part). Gear and equipment wise you dont need everything to be made by sitka or kuiu, just avoid cotton. Over time and trips you will upgrade knowledge and equiptment to match your style. Good luck, travel safe

 

[brymoore]

Mule deer are not like whitetail hunting. It’s closer to elk hunting.

I’d be more inclined to backpack in for mule deer than elk. MD bucks like high country solitude. If you kill one miles from the truck, packing out a buck and camp is manageable. Although I shot a mule deer once 5 miles from a wilderness airstrip. Camp and deer hike turned into a 15 miles of packing.

Elk are elk. I don’t backpack for elk because packing out an elk and camp solo would be crazy. I can find good bulls within 3 miles of my truck.

 

[deer_shooter]

How far in advance do you start saving for the trip (tag, fuel, extra unexpected expense, etc)? I feel like if I go every other year, I have pretty much two years in between to save and have set aside for tag, fuel, etc. I have been planning on paying for the tag prior to the hunt, in my case over the counter elk in Colorado which opens in August the hunt is a few months later. Which usually adds up to about double the actual price of the tag for the trip just to have a buffer in case I need to make a stop somewhere and get a hotel due to weather, etc. I usually have to spread my gradual savings out over a while since I have kids playing sports, school, etc.

Sounds like you have the budget part figured out pretty closely. I figure around $1200 for a trip, not including tag. Gas is usually $600 - $700 depending on vehicle milage, cost of gas, etc. I plan on $100 each way for food, another $300 for a hotel room the night I get out to where I'm going and the evening I break camp and start back. Then maybe another $100 for incidentals. Its wise to have a bit of extra cash for just in case and/or a credit card for emergencies. All that said, I think you'd be ok with $1200 - $1500 saved so however long it would take you to get that tucked away. I know its not always easy but if you could push $100/month into a hunting fund, you'd pretty much always be ready ever 2 years with some left over.

 

[44hunter45]

How far in advance do you start saving for the trip (tag, fuel, extra unexpected expense, etc)? I feel like if I go every other year, I have pretty much two years in between to save and have set aside for tag, fuel, etc. I have been planning on paying for the tag prior to the hunt, in my case over the counter elk in Colorado which opens in August the hunt is a few months later. Which usually adds up to about double the actual price of the tag for the trip just to have a buffer in case I need to make a stop somewhere and get a hotel due to weather, etc. I usually have to spread my gradual savings out over a while since I have kids playing sports, school, etc.

This.

Even with a knowledge base available here on HT, it can take a couple trips to be successful. Deer and Elk hunters success stats make it plain that a small percentage of first time hunters will be successful.

Get your head around having an enjoyable trip even if you don't punch the tag.

 

[pabearhunter]

Try and hunt closer to camp if possible so pack out is easier. I always carries an INREACH incase of an emergency or just to keep in touch at home. A good compass and GPS is a must. If you get into a situation and your gut says don't do it !! DON'T DO IT. Keep a notepad and write down good and bad. First trip will mean a lot for your next trip .

 

[WVmike]

The biggest hurdles is the actual trip cross country or total trip time. Being solo you have no backup when your tired of driving and have to know your own limits and act accordingly. Time is something most overlook but it can significantly improve odds of success and will with-out a doubt improve trip enjoyment if your not always in a hurry. When i have guests i always have them arrive days early to acclimate (altitude and humidity) and do some fun scouting or fishing just to have some basic trip tourism. The hunt itself is easier to me solo, its my way and no complaining/whining possible other than me challenging myself and questioning my own decisions. Keep it fun and until your confident in ability keep hikes shallow and learn your own limits (thats rewarding part). Gear and equipment wise you dont need everything to be made by sitka or kuiu, just avoid cotton. Over time and trips you will upgrade knowledge and equiptment to match your style. Good luck, travel safe

I do enjoy hunting by myself but the cross country trip is the part that I have no experience with. I'm not too worried with gear. I have most of the basic stuff and it's not all one brand specific either. I have the personal locater beacon, tent, rifle with good glass, experience hunting and from the military a good pack that works fine for me. Went out west in 24' but we flew and rented a truck and I learned a lot of things from that trip.

 

[WVmike]

Mule deer are not like whitetail hunting. It’s closer to elk hunting.

I’d be more inclined to backpack in for mule deer than elk. MD bucks like high country solitude. If you kill one miles from the truck, packing out a buck and camp is manageable. Although I shot a mule deer once 5 miles from a wilderness airstrip. Camp and deer hike turned into a 15 miles of packing.

Elk are elk. I don’t backpack for elk because packing out an elk and camp solo would be crazy. I can find good bulls within 3 miles of my truck.

I was referring to the packout part for mule deer and whitetail hunting not in general as I've never hunted mule deer.

 

[WVmike]

This.

Even with a knowledge base available here on HT, it can take a couple trips to be successful. Deer and Elk hunters success stats make it plain that a small percentage of first time hunters will be successful.

Get your head around having an enjoyable trip even if you don't punch the tag.

I have been out west once, we got into some elk just not a legal one. I feel like I learned more from that trip than I have in any other hunting trip I''ve ever gone on.

 

[pabearhunter]

I just thought of a couple more points. I see you are from wv. If you go west and are going up in elevation start one month before you go start drinking a gallon of water every day. Also make sure you have some way of getting weather updates. When I went the first time after I figure out where I wanted to go I called the biologist and game warren with the list of question. What part of pa u from?

 

[ccc23454]

I do enjoy hunting by myself but the cross country trip is the part that I have no experience with. I'm not too worried with gear. I have most of the basic stuff and it's not all one brand specific either. I have the personal locater beacon, tent, rifle with good glass, experience hunting and from the military a good pack that works fine for me. Went out west in 24' but we flew and rented a truck and I learned a lot of things from that trip.

Years ago when I traveled cross country every fall i kept a note book. There is fancy ways electronically now but my book had notes from my annual trips. It had favorite places to stop, places to avoid, good and bad rest areas. Fuel prices, some states are way more than others so would gas up prior to state lines etc. I had favorite restaurants including all night places like truck stops where I could get a decent meal. Every fall I would try slight variations of trip route and developed a good plan that shaved time offtrip. Even if I didnt stop I would make trip notes so atleast I could make educated decisions in future. Learned dry ice places, not to drive thru nfl and college towns on gameday (thats a big one) things like that and was easy to maintain.

 

[WVmike]

I just thought of a couple more points. I see you are from Pa. so am I. If you go west and are going up in elevation start one month before you go start drinking a gallon of water every day. Also make sure you have some way of getting weather updates. When I went the first time after I figure out where I wanted to go I called the biologist and game warren with the list of question. What part of pa u from?

I'm from WV. I'm usually drinking anywhere from 2-4 liters a day depending on what I'm doing. I have a zoleo that I purchased following my first trip out west, along with basic survival supplies, med kit and a compass.

 

[WVmike]

Years ago when I traveled cross country every fall i kept a note book. There is fancy ways electronically now but my book had notes from my annual trips. It had favorite places to stop, places to avoid, good and bad rest areas. Fuel prices, some states are way more than others so would gas up prior to state lines etc. I had favorite restaurants including all night places like truck stops where I could get a decent meal. Every fall I would try slight variations of trip route and developed a good plan that shaved time offtrip. Even if I didnt stop I would make trip notes so atleast I could make educated decisions in future. Learned dry ice places, not to drive thru nfl and college towns on gameday (thats a big one) things like that and was easy to maintain.

That is a genius plan. I keep a little notebook every year for hunting, essentially a hunting journal but didn't think of doing this.

 

[nrpate05]

I can't really help with the driving aspect, but have battled some of the mental demons on solo trips. I would say just check your expectations. It is way easier to get discouraged and be hard on yourself when you're solo. A couple of days of that and you'll be ready to pack it up. My advice would be to...
1) Not pick a super remote area. Have a nice camp by the road and maybe not too far from a town that you can go into a couple of times to restock or get dinner.
2) Only get one tag. I know it's enticing to pick up as many tags as possible, but I'd focus on one
3) Think of it as a learning experience for when your kids are older rather than having to fill a tag.
4) Listen to podcasts, read books while glassing/napping.

I guess the gist is don't take it too seriously. It's fun to be solo, but it can also be a battle.

 

[Hunters Intel]

Personally, I don't like solo hunts because being alone for too long gets to me, and I always push my limits farther than I should, which leads to some desperate situations.

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

First of all everyone is different, hunts differently and is motivated by different things. While there definitely is some great advice on this thread take everything you read with a grain of salt including what I write below. You have to find what works for you and what you enjoy the most. My fun and enjoyable might not be your fun and enjoyable or vice versa.

I hunt solo a ton. It is fun and I love it, but I take it incredibly seriously. I train all year specifically for hunts with the mindset that I most likely will be solo. I don't want to look at the map, find a good spot, then decide I can't go there because its too tough. My goal on every hunt is to be successful on a mature animal. If that doesn't happen I view that hunt as a failure. I have some buddys that I will hunt with but the solo aspect doesn't bother me at all.

I drive out west 4-6 times a year from SC. I listen to audio books while driving which I enjoy. I don't drink caffeine often so when I drive, I'll drink caffeinated coffee and its like a drug. I'm so awake I don't know what to do. I can basically stay awake as long as I want to with caffeine. With that said when I do get tired, I stop and sleep. That is a deal I have with my wife because no hunt is worth dying over. I built an off-road mini camper so I always stay at rest areas, walmarts or public land. I can park my truck and be in bed in a minute. It eliminates the planning where to stop portion of the trip and I know I'm going to get good sleep because I'll have a comfortable bed. I always try to park directly under a light. Before I had my mini camper, I would take the front passenger seat out of my Frontier so I could lie down at night to sleep. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it got the job done. I eat clean so I take food with me. I almost never stop at restaurants. I stop to get gas and to pee. That saves money because I'm not splitting the gas with someone 50/50.

I regularly stack hunts to make the most out of my trips. For example: in late September I'll be elk hunting and leave from that hunt to drive straight to my antelope hunt. In November I'll mule deer hunt and drive straight to my elk hunt. I e-scout hard and then arrive 1-5 days early to scout. I will go wherever the best looking spot on the map is. It doesn't matter if its 7 miles in or 1 mile in. I intentionally focus on remote country because I don't want to see other people (the animals don't want to see people either.) Obviously, with elk you have to have more of a plan for getting out meat if you are 3+ miles in solo.

I guess you need to be mentally tough, but the way I look at it is it eliminates excuses. If I'm successful its on me. If I don't punch my tag the failure is on me. I primarily backpack hunt so you just need to be in pretty good shape and have all your ducks in a row with gear because you are carrying everything. For example: if you forget a charger you can't used your buddys, you are going back to the truck (ask me how I know).

An elk is 3 loads usually, sometimes 4 or 5 if its a real big bull. Smaller animals (muleys) you can get out in 1 load. I'm not a hangout around the campfire guy so I get back to camp in the evening and eat then I get in my tent and watch shows I downloaded on my phone. Honestly the big hunting camp thing isn't appealing to me. One or 2 other guys max.

Carry emergency gear - emergency blanket, UL tarp, first aid kit, fire starter etc. All these things don't have to be heavy but they are important. I even carry Amoxicillin and Toradal. Heck I've never gotten elevation sickness, but I still carry Diamox. Drink plenty of water. Don't be stupid or take unnecessary risks. If you are packing meat and you are exhausted stop and take a break. We all push ourselves sometimes but it's so much easier to get hurt when you are drained. Carry a zoleo or inreach even if your phone has satellite texting for emergencies and for weather/communication.

 

[noharleyyet]

The one truly solo elk hunt I took deserves an asterisk...hunted private ground I was familiar with. Were I to kill a an elk, which I did, I had a good plan to take care of it. That was over a decade & a half ago...no way I go now without our son.

Keep looking fwd to that 12 year going with you, nothing better.

 

[WVmike]

First of all everyone is different, hunts differently and is motivated by different things. While there definitely is some great advice on this thread take everything you read with a grain of salt including what I write below. You have to find what works for you and what you enjoy the most. My fun and enjoyable might not be your fun and enjoyable or vice versa.

I hunt solo a ton. It is fun and I love it, but I take it incredibly seriously. I train all year specifically for hunts with the mindset that I most likely will be solo. I don't want to look at the map, find a good spot, then decide I can't go there because its too tough. My goal on every hunt is to be successful on a mature animal. If that doesn't happen I view that hunt as a failure. I have some buddys that I will hunt with but the solo aspect doesn't bother me at all.

I drive out west 4-6 times a year from SC. I listen to audio books while driving which I enjoy. I don't drink caffeine often so when I drive, I'll drink caffeinated coffee and its like a drug. I'm so awake I don't know what to do. I can basically stay awake as long as I want to with caffeine. With that said when I do get tired, I stop and sleep. That is a deal I have with my wife because no hunt is worth dying over. I built an off-road mini camper so I always stay at rest areas, walmarts or public land. I can park my truck and be in bed in a minute. It eliminates the planning where to stop portion of the trip and I know I'm going to get good sleep because I'll have a comfortable bed. I always try to park directly under a light. Before I had my mini camper, I would take the front passenger seat out of my Frontier so I could lie down at night to sleep. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it got the job done. I eat clean so I take food with me. I almost never stop at restaurants. I stop to get gas and to pee. That saves money because I'm not splitting the gas with someone 50/50.

I regularly stack hunts to make the most out of my trips. For example: in late September I'll be elk hunting and leave from that hunt to drive straight to my antelope hunt. In November I'll mule deer hunt and drive straight to my elk hunt. I e-scout hard and then arrive 1-5 days early to scout. I will go wherever the best looking spot on the map is. It doesn't matter if its 7 miles in or 1 mile in. I intentionally focus on remote country because I don't want to see other people (the animals don't want to see people either.) Obviously, with elk you have to have more of a plan for getting out meat if you are 3+ miles in solo.

I guess you need to be mentally tough, but the way I look at it is it eliminates excuses. If I'm successful its on me. If I don't punch my tag the failure is on me. I primarily backpack hunt so you just need to be in pretty good shape and have all your ducks in a row with gear because you are carrying everything. For example: if you forget a charger you can't used your buddys, you are going back to the truck (ask me how I know).

An elk is 3 loads usually, sometimes 4 or 5 if its a real big bull. Smaller animals (muleys) you can get out in 1 load. I'm not a hangout around the campfire guy so I get back to camp in the evening and eat then I get in my tent and watch shows I downloaded on my phone. Honestly the big hunting camp thing isn't appealing to me. One or 2 other guys max.

Carry emergency gear - emergency blanket, UL tarp, first aid kit, fire starter etc. All these things don't have to be heavy but they are important. I even carry Amoxicillin and Toradal. Heck I've never gotten elevation sickness, but I still carry Diamox. Drink plenty of water. Don't be stupid or take unnecessary risks. If you are packing meat and you are exhausted stop and take a break. We all push ourselves sometimes but it's so much easier to get hurt when you are drained. Carry a zoleo or inreach even if your phone has satellite texting for emergencies and for weather/communication.

Good advice, thanks for the input. I train throughout the year for the same reasons and usually do a loaded pack hike a few times a month and as it gets closer to season, I increase the frequency of those and usually do 12 mile loop with a loaded pack a month or two out from a trip. I tend to be more of solo person in regards to working out, hunting, hiking except with my kids because when I ask someone if they want to go on a hike with 60 lbs in a pack or when it's raining or cold they tend to not want to where I live. It sounds like we have similar mindsets with excuses and what not. The military helped me with that and that is part of the reason why my elk hunt in 2024 didn't go like we had planned because the hunting partner had some less than stellar ideas about where to go with some pretty nasty weather coming in and not being able to keep up with hiking when we were at elevation. I was limited by what he could do and vice versa, I was willing to go some places that seemed reasonable, but physically and mentally it didn't work for him it seemed. Part of the reason why I'm looking to do more solo hunts instead of with partners out of state. Most people where I live think hiking 5 miles in and shooting an animal the size of an angus cow and putting it in your pack think I am the next coming of the devil and think I'm the dumbest person on the planet.