When did you know a hunting partner wasn’t going to last? I’ll go first…

[RealMuddyboots]

If you are from cave painting era, you will have had similar experiences already discussed. I got stiffed so many times on expense sharing I had to develop system to insure sharing. When I go elk hunting its a long drive, lots of expenses that I require to be shared. No more just ignoring it. Started a process to manage these hunts that has eliminated most of the money issues. Usually three of us. So before anything is confirmed, we all agree to this trip money management. We all put $200 into gas money bag that I keep in center console. When it goes dry, we all pony up. Same with overnights. Eliminated holding hand out or on my ass.

Good hunting friend decided to invite someone I didn't know. We went thru the process months before trip. Seemed ok until it wasn't. He ran out of cash and said I will send you a check. He said he didn't trust ATM's. That was 2017. If anyone here got it please PM me. Not huge amount $175, but enough to piss me off over principle. So no more tag alongs I don't know personally.

I hunted and fished locally with best friend. We went on salmon fishing trip and on way home (5 hr drive) we stopped for nice meal. One of those steak franchise places but still decent meal. Waitress comes with our 2 bills. He grabs both, I protest. He says my truck and boat took beating and least he could do outside of sharing expenses. When you have a friend like this, cherish every moment. He was my age and we just knew what each other needed when we hunted or fished. He passed 2 years ago from prostate cancer. I still miss him and it's now hard to go alone. He was like a brother.

 

[ODarrow]

Eventually I just told guests to meet me at the marina at a certain time. If they didn't show or where late I left the dock on my own.

I had to do the same thing. If your not at the meet up by the time we agreed upon and you haven’t contacted me that your a tad late I’m rolling.

 

[NR_Hunter]

One of my longest hunting partners and best friends from high school went to prison for molesting a 14 year old girl and having all manner of the most disgusting child sex abuse material on his phone. Maybe the worst way to lose a hunting partner. It was quite unexpected, can’t imagine how his now ex-wife felt, cause I was spiraling for a hot minute when I found out.

 

[Wildabeest]

I ran into that with people who bugged the crap out of me to go fishing. I tried to work guests in if my regular buddies couldn't go. Initially I would pick them up at their house and take them to my boat. More times than I can remember I would be waiting on them in there driveway. I would make one call to their cell. Wait a few minutes then head to boat with them or without them. They would ask why I didnt knock on the door. I just told them I wasn't beating on someone’s door at 4 am in the morning. If you made a commitment to go and didn't get up that was the last invite you got.
Eventually I just told guests to meet me at the marina at a certain time. If they didn't show or where late I left the dock on my own. All my main hunting and fishing buddies are always on time. I hate people that are always late.

We all put $200 into gas money bag that I keep in center console. When it goes dry, we all pony up.

May wanna start with $400 each this year…

 

[2rocky]

I was his (company) guest on a pheasant hunt. I watched him drop his shotgun and have an unintentional discharge. I made sure to never turn my back on him or walk in front of him the rest of the weekend.

Another guy was a guest to a pheasant club that had defined fields for hunters. He told another guest it was ok to go in the neighboring field and then yelled at him to get out of the field when the folks in that field showed up.

I can usually vet a hunting partner by spending a day at the range with them.
that has saved me some heartache for sure.

 

[Wildabeest]

I did a bird hunt once with a professor, a lawyer, a lobbyist, a biologist and a mapping geek. None of whom had ever met in person. What could possibly go wrong?

It was a great time! I’ll refrain from tagging them all here. Sorry to be a contrarian to the thread topic.