Hunting Alone

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plainsman

New member
Sometimes I wonder if I am the only guy that likes to hunt alone. Actually I prefer it, unless my dad wants to tag along. I spent years guiding and hunting with groups of people, but anymore I would rather spend the day following my drahthaars solo than to have someone yacking in my ear. Now my kids are getting old enough to tag along and I don't even want to carry a gun, just watch them and the dogs and enjoy the hunt.
 
I have found it both rewarding at times and frustrating at times. Depends a great deal on the cover and how it is laid out or divided. I do enjoy being there with my dog and watching her lights come on!
 
Like quite a few other guys, I'm pretty particular about who I hunt with. I hunt with a small group of guys (usually one or two buddies), but once or twice a year I get out and hunt by myself. Usually over Christmas vacation it's just me and the two dogs out in Western Kansas chasing roosters. I really enjoy these hunts and look forward to them every year.
 
I enjoy hunting alone as much as I enjoy hunting with others that I like. It's at camp when I'm not hunting that I start to feel alone sometimes. The good news is that I finally have a few good friends, family and before long, sons, to keep me company on a regular basis. But I was thinking just the other day that I'm not sure that I always want someone else with me. Also, I do get nervous about injuring myself out there when I'm by myself and far from civilization and cell service.
 
I hunt with others but really enjoy hunting alone. Whether being in the open fields chasing pheasants, the north woods pursuing ruffed grouse, hunting alone really gets me connected with God, nature, and my dog. ;)
 
I hunt alone, especially on Sunday when my usual huntin' partner has other things going on. I truly enjoy being out there with just the dog. We wander around as he scents -- his nose is actually in charge.
 
I can do both. This is hard to explain but here goes.
I like hunting with people who knows what is coming next. Who knows or is willing to learn The Dog Knows Best! I have 2 friends that I have hunted with that hunt this way. My whole point is I guess I do not want to be or am a guide. I just want to hunt my dogs and Any else's dogs.
 
I have to say I absolutely love hunting alone. I'm from Northern, IL and I pretty much hunt by myself, and occasionally with my dad. He's almost 80 and can only walk for an hour or so.

I've been going to South Dakato with 3 to 6 guys for 17 years, and last year I went by myself for 4 days. It was incredibly peaceful and enjoyable. Just me and my setter, no noise, and nobody yelling at their dogs the whole day.

I'm doing the same thing this year. I didn't even call anyone to ask them to go. The only thing I missed was somebody to split the gas bill with!!!
 
ehudgens said:
I have to say I absolutely love hunting alone. I'm from Northern, IL and I pretty much hunt by myself, and occasionally with my dad. He's almost 80 and can only walk for an hour or so.

I've been going to South Dakato with 3 to 6 guys for 17 years, and last year I went by myself for 4 days. It was incredibly peaceful and enjoyable. Just me and my setter, no noise, and nobody yelling at their dogs the whole day.

I'm doing the same thing this year. I didn't even call anyone to ask them to go. The only thing I missed was somebody to split the gas bill with!!!
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I have been thinking about heading up there solo myself. No worries about if someones tired or hungry and most of all no one elses dogs!
 
I hunt alone most all the time but if you have a good partner it is sometimes more fun. I go out to ND every year by myself, my wife doesn't like it but i do.
 
I like to spend the last half hour of the the day with just my dog. I probably get to do that 2 or 3 times a week. Out side of opening weekend and when we get hired to guide, that is about the only way I hunt any more.
 
I hunt alone pretty much all the time. The partnership & working as a team towards a common goal with the mutt is 90% of my enjoyment in this sport.

Having somebody else there almost always gets in the way of that connection. To me fishing is an outdoor pursuit more conducive to socializing.

Things will change though as my kids get older. They will be the exception to the rule.

DB
 
I'm a loner in general, so don't mind hunting by myself at all, just wandering along behind the dog. Like somebody else said, having somebody along that knows what is coming next is not an issue either, for me thats my dad and brother in law. We pretty much work off of each other, know without really saying how we're going to hunt a patch.

We'll bring a couple of friends along for opening weekend, and its always fun being told how we should do something, by guys that have only been out once in the last 10 years....
 
There are gps/satelite units geared for solo outdoor acitivities. www.spyassociate.com is one site which describes the 'spot' unit. This unit will email/text the recipients of your choice with a predetermined message and location; also a 'panic' button to assist your rescuers to find you (helpful if you fell into a draw/animal hole ending up with a fractured femur!) the major downside is... drop it somewhere and your overexcited family member will panic if that message is late. Be very careful of whom you wish to send your message too, mothers usually are NOT a good choice!
 
I tend to hunt alone quite a bit. I enjoy hunting with the dogs that way if I miss a shot at a bird the dog is the only one laughing at me. My husband just doesn't show any interest in hunting and there aren't a lot of women in my area that hunt.
 
Steelshot Loaded Gun said:
There are gps/satelite units geared for solo outdoor acitivities. www.spyassociate.com is one site which describes the 'spot' unit. This unit will email/text the recipients of your choice with a predetermined message and location; also a 'panic' button to assist your rescuers to find you (helpful if you fell into a draw/animal hole ending up with a fractured femur!) the major downside is... drop it somewhere and your overexcited family member will panic if that message is late. Be very careful of whom you wish to send your message too, mothers usually are NOT a good choice!
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interesting-
I learned when I was 8 nobody pannicked if they couldn't find me-
pretty much been doing that ever since- when I go out- I'd just as soon nobody has a track of me-
 
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