Hunting Buddies

B

Bob Peters

Well-known member
I would say that when memories of pheasant hunts past roll through the projector in my mind it's usually of an afternoon or evening alone with a dog in a remote place when I was lucky enough to pick a spot and put her in the right position to find and work and flush and retrieve birds as was ingrained in her from the start. But also, I'm really thankful for all my human hunting buddies. One guy took me along repeatedly when I didn't have a clue. To be honest I kinda invited myself and he put up with me😁. But I showed up on time, split in for gas, and tried hard to show the affectation of being a good hunter. I'm sure he saw right through it. But I never gave up, never complained when my hamstrings burned or picked up my leaden feet mile after mile. I always packed a snack and drink to share. I complimented his dog, which was easy to do, since this was a guy who got out a lot and that old black lab knew the game, and knew it well. R.I.P. that lab is gone now, but I still hunt with my buddy several times a year and he has another blackie. Steve winters down in Florida now, and always has some good fishing stories. He's going for his turkey grand slam as soon as he can draw an Osceola gobbler tag. Anyways, not sure why I felt the need to post this, other than I always appreciate those good people I have been fortunate enough to share a field with. Steve's current dog Kylo. He is a finished dog that he bought in Florida, but has since finished two seasons pheasant hunting in MN, and has earned his stripes. Someone once told me "don't forget your friends." With a good buddy you've hunted with, I don't think it's possible to forget them.
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A good friend is someone who you've been friends with a long time. Someone who you trust and enjoy being around. Someone you've might have had a few brews with or just a childhood friend you've kept in touch with. But a guy you've hunted with hundreds of times and shared many, many campfires with is on a different level.
 
Some of my most cherished hunting buddies are guys I met for the first time on our first hunts, one, two or more decades ago….have hunted with many, many dozens of guys, never had any major issues with gun safety, drinking during the day, etc…certainly some I didn’t care if I hunted with again, but it’s always been worth the risk or uncertainty to make new friends afield…my existing hunting buddies know what my standards are, and have done a really good job upholding them when they ask about inviting someone. Sure, it’s nice hunting with guys you know well, and have an unspoken language with while hunting, but it’s fun making new friends as well.
 
My hunting buddies are my South Dakota pheasant hunting buddies, my Georgia rabbit hunting buddies, my North Georgia trout fishing buddies, and my golf buddies.
 
My oldest and best hunting buddy now lives in Iowa. We began hunting together over 40 years ago and don't really care if we kill anything anymore. We usually hunt together a couple times each year, opening day and one other time during the season. We don't get out early or stay out late in the day but we like to watch the dogs and if we kill a rooster it's a bonus but mainly we get together to visit.
I hunt every year, usually at least twice in South Dakota with Brad. He's not much of a walker but does much better since he quit smoking but he's game to drop me off at one end of a field and pick me up at the other. He likes to road hunt in South Dakota so I drive him around so he can shoot a few birds. I don't road hunt so it works out for both of us and he is very entertaining.
My favorite hunting partner is my wife. I like spending time with her and enjoy seeing her get to shoot roosters over our dogs. She doesn't have the passion for hunting that I do so she doesn't go that often.
The rest of the time I just hunt by myself, just me and my dogs. I've had a few bad experiences with others so it's just easier to go do my own thing. I can start and end when I want.

The only exception to this is taking youth hunters, each year I try to take a couple of kids. It's more difficult now since our bird population is way down but I have a couple of honey holes on private land that will usually give up a couple roosters.
It's hard to keep kids interested if they don't at least see something and get a shot or two.
Over the years I've had a few young hunters continue on in upland hunting but many have migrated to waterfowl.
While I'll take most any kid, I like to find ones that might not be able to afford to go hunting. I collect hunting gear and lower priced but quality shotguns and have gifted them to young hunters that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to go hunting.
 
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