Best option, IMO, is to plan on hunting alone.
Lots of reasons for that...and I'll list a bunch.
1. Its really tough for people to commit. Many want to go, but make up every excuse they can to not go when it comes down to it.
2. If you're applying and drawing tags that arent OTC, it can take years to draw them. When you do, its tough enough to find ONE quality animal, let alone 2, 3, 4 of them.
3. When you finally find some areas, they will be YOUR areas. Its pretty rare to find a hunting partner that will keep their yap shut about your spots. Even worse, many will horn right into spots you've shown them and not even feel bad about it when they do. Some even get upset when you call them on their bullchit.
4. When you hunt alone...you make all your own decisions. If you feel like waking up at 3 a.m. and hiking 4 hours in the dark you can. If you feel like sleeping in until noon and just do an evening hunt you can. YOU control the outcome of your hunt and how you go about it.
Take it from someone who has been there and done that, you'll never hunt more effectively on a serious hunt than when you hunt alone. I spent wayyyy too much of my time in the past worrying about hunting with others and making sure they filled their tags. It wears you down...and I felt exactly like a guide. I put pressure on myself to make sure they were successful. Rarely was that reciprocated.
Dont get me wrong, I still enjoy helping out some friends and tagging along on their hunts. I just dont make any hunting plans revolving around someone elses old lady, schedule, kids, money issues, etc. When I apply for tags, I plan on doing all those hunts solo. If a friend is available and wants to go...great. If not, no big deal either.
My 2 cents.
Good post by Buzz. For the most part, agreed.
Ditto here.
I have mentored quite a few guys and have shown them when/where/how to hunt.If someone is new to hunting, I don't have a problem helping them fill thier tag.A few years ago,I helped three others fill thier tag and then I filled mine. This year,I am helping my dentist who will only be able to getaway for a few days and he has only hunted elk last year in an area I sent him to. Shootinmg an elk isn't all that important to me any more.
My main hunting partner has been hunting wth me for over 16 years now.We have differnt hunting styles.He likes to sit,I like still hunt.It works out great.We both know that we can count one each other if things go wrong.
The last coule of years, physical ailments have impeded us, and I have ended up hunting alone, but I still like to have him go. Normally we decide what we are going to do and if schedules or desires don't click,each of us show up at different times or days at camp and we may leave differnt days. Each of us has done it and there are never hard feelings.
Another fellow might show up for only 3-4 days depending on his work schedules.I have hunted with him on and off for over 35 years. Same deal. I welcome him to my camp .
We each have our own camper or tent so there si no imposition and we each bring meals for 3-4.
