How much company do you like when hunting?

Bird hunting is my alone time; time to recharge the battery. I have done the group thing once and that's enough for me. My wife will accompany me sometimes but she usually dumps me and a couple of the dogs out at one spot and then drives the truck around to a designated pick up point. This is helpful to me because I don't have to hunt part of the time with the wind at my back. I have hunted with my cousin and his son and that was okay but they did a lot of talking while we were trying to hunt. So to answer the question: No more than three.
 
Grouse hunting at home in Northern Michigan, alone with my two dogs.

Pheasant hunting in Western ND, group of 4 guys with 4 dogs. Good men, good dogs. No whiners (guys) , no runners (dogs).
 
I without a doubt kill more game when I'm alone. I'm not much on the big group thing myself. Seems like there's always too many boss's who think their way is the only way or worse yet. The classic game hog who will shoot clean across the front of everybody to try and say he killed everything. There's no room for that kind of competitiveness in hunting. That's how people get hurt.

I will hunt with 3 maybe 4 if they are truly trusted safe hunters that I know and know well.
 
I had three friends I'd trust enough to hunt with.

One died, the second moved to look for work, and the third is on the road so much he gives frequent flier miles and Holiday Inn freebies to his relatives for gifts. :(

At my age, I'm more inclined to enjoy the company of old friends, one or two, when I hunt.

But I hunt alone these days. Training Mick helps a bit, as he learns the program.

Some days are just perfect, birds or not. Others, it becomes work.

sort of like life. :)
 
I do love hunting alone. Most times I hunt with my two boys or one buddy who i have hunted with 20+ years. It's fun to give each other crap and see if we can imitate each others shortcomings. I do enjoy taking newbies, as long as they are willing to learn I will share what little I know about hunting. The most important thing for me is a safety meeting before hand to protect both man and beast. It is nice to shoot the chit in the evening or turn a few cards. I know the older I get the easier I am to hunt with. There was a time I was probably pretty tough. I do enjoy an occasional 7-8 man party, but no more than that. No 10-15-or 20 guy party for me.
 
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i do enjoy just me n the dogs but with the prices at the pump carpooling is nicer on the wallet:thumbsup:. when you get to the field just split up pinching corners and cattails is a lot of fun:D. the size of the group does'nt matter it's the shot hogs that bother me:mad:. there is more to hunting than just simply killing the birds. :cheers: (p.s. good grief reddog how many guns can you shoot at one time:D)
 
I've taken a few friends hunting behind my dogs. One of them is a friend no longer. Quite frankly it scares the hell out of me.

The only person I really trust is my 73 yo step-dad. He knows and understands and is the one who got me involved. I dread the year that he won't get to go out with me.
 
Ive had this talk with people before.
I do most of my fishing by myself. I used to fish with a guy and i always drove,my boat and so on. I was cool with it until one day i asked for $20.00 for gas. He got pissed and we havent talked in years. Also,i got fed up with people being late. Nothing worse than sitting in front of someones house and all the lights are still off. Ive left people at home on a couple of occasions.
As far as hunting, i have a real problem with letting anyone else but my son or close family to hunt behind my dog. Dogs part of the family.
I had trouble at Bong Recreation one time with a couple of clowns hunting behind my dog.
So yeah, i dont like company. When i go, i leave when i want, stay as long as i want, and run the program the way i want.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
I like to have another friend along but usually one is enough. My dog works better with me by myself and I don't get as uptight if she does something a bit wrong. I think sharing a hunt is kinda like eating a meal...it is better with a friend. That being said I have learned to pick friends carefully. I had one shoot my dog on point while flushing a bird from the other dog that was along. He was quite competitive and always tried to "beat the other guy" when shooting. This was immediately after being cautioned to be careful because my dog was on point about forty feet away and to his right. We were shooting singles on quail. I was so mad I never said anything because it could have escalated to a point I don't even want to think about. He only caught her in the ear. No excuse for that what so ever, and it could have killed her at that range.
 
I enjoy a hunt when it is just the dog and me. So quite so peaceful. I dont hate small groups of 3 or 4 but it is just different.

Andy L
 
I hunt with the same 3 guys most of the time with a few loner hunts mixed in. I am not much for groups over 4.

If your like OldandNew you are so negative and pessimistic you do not even like to hunt with yourself.
 
I'll hunt by myself with my labs, or with a few others, or with a small gang--if I know most of them and we have a strong safety meeting. If I had to pick one answer it would be with a friend and his dog--as another poster noted, it makes the windshield time pass faster and eases the burden on the wallet.
Tom
 
I usually hunt with 1 or 2 others but more and more I just enjoy hunting alone with my dogs. I just went to SD for a few days alone and had a great time. Since it was just me I took a car to save on gas, but I had some ground clearance issues and will have to take the truck next time.
 
Pretty much just me or one friend from time to time. Or a person wanting to see the dogs. I work so dang much for one thing so I go on a whim. I make a bunch of last second decisions when to go. So I am hard to plan a hunt with.:D Just ask ZEB. And I have done the big group, "I shot that one", thing. It makes land owners mad, it is dangerous, and just all around not fun to me. The only way I would do it again is if I did a british style hunt with dogs ran and the dog handlers drove birds with no guns to a line of handicap or elder folks.
 
Anymore then another guy or two and I'm uncomfortable. I have a close circle of friends I'm comfortable hunting with and that's it. But usually we just chat and follow the dogs and let them work. They know me and my dogs, and vice versa.
Anyone else, and any more folks more than that and I'm not real comfortable.
 
I do a lot of visiting with other hunters on my trips. I hunt alone with the dogs however. Had many chances to join a group and do the surround type thing or post at the end of the patch type thing.:eek: Nope not for me.
I don't like piles of dead birds. 1 hard earned bird is all it takes sometimes.
I don't like planning on certain dates for my trips. Don't like it to hot, to cold, to windy. I'll just postpone a few days. Doesn't work for most people.
I've been know to call my Wife from out in ND somewhere on my way to MT. Telling Her "weather forecast is perfect, I've gone hunting":cheers:
 
moellermd said:
I hunt with the same 3 guys most of the time with a few loner hunts mixed in. I am not much for groups over 4.

If your like OldandNew you are so negative and pessimistic you do not even like to hunt with yourself.
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Ha Ha, I'd hunt with you but you'd have to sit one of your regulars out! Either the Monsanto Rep, the USDA ditching and tiling consultant, or the local fertilizer/pesticide salesman. :cheers:
 
Does it get better than you and your dog ? Big groups are fun if it flys it dies but solo hunts are so peaceful just follow the dog they know more than any hunter :D
 
oldandnew said:
Ha Ha, I'd hunt with you but you'd have to sit one of your regulars out! Either the Monsanto Rep, the USDA ditching and tiling consultant, or the local fertilizer/pesticide salesman. :cheers:
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That is some funny stuff.:beer:
 
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