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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856 |
How do you get a good hunting partner- find something with real great ole big ole giant monster horns and call me. I will even tote your gun.
Last edited by eyeball; 03/16/12.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.
If being stupid allows me to believe in Him, I'd wish to be a retard. Eisenhower and G Washington should be good company.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
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.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,404 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
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I'll hunt with about 4 friends. I'm always the "leader". I let them know when I'm leaving and that they are welcome to ride with me, or they know where I'm going and are welcome to show up. I pack food and supplies for myself only. They know to bring their own chit and that I will be where I say I will be. Thats it. Sometimes I hunt/camp alone... sometimes I have company but I damn sure dont base my hunts around wether someone else can or cant make it.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,090 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,090 Likes: 2 |
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.
Last edited by saddlesore; 03/17/12.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,264
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,264 |
I prefer not to hunt alone, but I do because it can be difficult planning ahead and sharing the same goals with everyone.
That being said, I've got a couple really good hunting partners.
One is my landlord/friend. We met when I moved to Colorado and moved into his place. He's a pretty serious hunter, but has a lot of demands on his time. Plus his wife can be extremely resentful if he has a lot of hunts back to back. I've helped him out on several hunts where I tagged along just because I wanted to, including a mountain goat hunt and a late bull elk hunt. He rarely hunts out of state, with the exception of Wyoming antelope. So, in this case the favor is not returned, but it doesn't bother me.
Another is a friend I met through a volunteer program (I'll second the notion that you can meet like minded folks in like minded organizations, like RMEF or MDF or similar). He does tag along on some of my other hunts, even when he doesn't have a license, just to scout it out for his future use. I've done the same for him, like when he drew a New Mexico elk tag a couple of years ago. He's married, but has no kids, so is quite a bit more flexible with his time. His wife is also much less resentful of his hunting time.
However, his main interest is really only elk and antelope. He doesn't care much about mule deer, which is too bad, because I'd like to do other out of state hunts with him. We are both accumulating elk points in Utah and Wyoming, but I'm also working the deer angle there and will likely be hunting those alone.
Lastly, I have my girlfriend. She enjoys hunting, but it isn't the most important thing in her life. Still, it's good to have her along, as long as we don't rough it too much. She wouldn't be the type to drop everything and tag along on an out of state adventure, unless it was to Alaska, which is where she's from.
I've got other friends that I hunt with, but there's a lot more teeth pulling involved with getting them to tag along on my hunts. It's never me joining them on their hunts because they mostly don't hunt without me.
Last edited by exbiologist; 03/17/12.
"For some unfortunates, poisoned by city sidewalks ... the horn of the hunter never winds at all" Robert Ruark, The Horn of the Hunter
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,973
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,973 |
I prefer not to hunt alone, but I do because it can be difficult planning ahead and sharing the same goals with everyone.
That being said, I've got a couple really good hunting partners.
One is my landlord/friend. We met when I moved to Colorado and moved into his place. He's a pretty serious hunter, but has a lot of demands on his time. Plus his wife can be extremely resentful if he has a lot of hunts back to back. I've helped him out on several hunts where I tagged along just because I wanted to, including a mountain goat hunt and a late bull elk hunt. He rarely hunts out of state, with the exception of Wyoming antelope. So, in this case the favor is not returned, but it doesn't bother me.
Another is a friend I met through a volunteer program (I'll second the notion that you can meet like minded folks in like minded organizations, like RMEF or MDF or similar). He does tag along on some of my other hunts, even when he doesn't have a license, just to scout it out for his future use. I've done the same for him, like when he drew a New Mexico elk tag a couple of years ago. He's married, but has no kids, so is quite a bit more flexible with his time. His wife is also much less resentful of his hunting time.
However, his main interest is really only elk and antelope. He doesn't care much about mule deer, which is too bad, because I'd like to do other out of state hunts with him. We are both accumulating elk points in Utah and Wyoming, but I'm also working the deer angle there and will likely be hunting those alone.
Lastly, I have my girlfriend. She enjoys hunting, but it isn't the most important thing in her life. Still, it's good to have her along, as long as we don't rough it too much. She wouldn't be the type to drop everything and tag along on an out of state adventure, unless it was to Alaska, which is where she's from.
I've got other friends that I hunt with, but there's a lot more teeth pulling involved with getting them to tag along on my hunts. It's never me joining them on their hunts because they mostly don't hunt without me. Hopefully you'll obtain a mule deer permit in Utah in the near future. There's some really nice bucks in several areas of the state. The extreme southwest corner and the central part of the state has some dandies. The east central region that spills over into your home state has a lot of nice looking bucks and it's a special place to hunt because of the aesthetic value. Best wishes on the eventual Utah deer hunt.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,150
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
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Eh, my hunting partner is a mellow guy that is open to hunting any style as long as we are hunting. He doesnt sweat the small stuff and the number one objective we have is to have fun. Never really had a bad trip with him and he rolls with the punches.
Last season I went with a older guy from work that had hunted here all his life. It was a goat rope from the start and he stressed me out to no end. Unorganized, unmotivated, and in general just lost. Worst trip Ive ever been on.
Yup.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
I have four ways that work, but each has a different goal:
1) Take someone new and plan on doing much of the hard work for them just to be nice.
2) Hunt with family that you know and trust to have similar styles as what you want to do.
3) Go with a group, have minimal expectations, try to have fun and just roll with whatever punches come while maintaining a cheerful attitude.
4) Plan your own serious hunt, and allow others to come if they want to, but don't do the work for them and don't bail them out.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,905 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,905 Likes: 1 |
Ok maybe I'm going about this the wrong way or something. But I been trying to find someone that is interested in doing some out of state hunts. Pray & ask God to send this person to you. There'll be no disappointments that way.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country."
Robert E. Lee
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 904
Campfire Regular
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Posts: 904 |
i always knew the time would come when i could not hack it anymore. i thought i would give out first. well this year the guys i go with have let me down. they say they cant take it any more and wont go west.
bummer, as i still think i got a couple more trips in me, but it sure is a long drive alone. ray
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,549
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Joined: May 2005
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I was mentored by my grandfather and a couple of favorite uncles. They have all passed away, so now my hunting buddies are my brother, my father in law, and the son and daughter of a friend. The kids' father is out of the picture and no one in the immediate family is interested in hunting, so I stepped in and helped out. Not only are they great kids, but they are becoming proficient hunters.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 135
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 135 |
Finding a person that is able to travel is the first step. Then it becomes a matter of being able to get along and being considerate.
I have hunted out of state DIY for the last 15 years. I have hunted with several guys,there has only been one bad apple.
I am not selfish per se and I enjoying seeing someone else be successful, even if once and a while they haven't put the effort in to it that I have.
Don't go in to any thing blindly and cover all your bases but there are plenty of decent people out there.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,831
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,831 |
Besides my old man, I have met most of my best hunting partners from hunting sites like this one. Mostly Coueswhitetail and my top predator hunting partner, appropriately enough on predatormasters.com
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,011 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,011 Likes: 1 |
An older gentleman that my dad knew and has since passed on,
always hunted by himself. He got a buck and a turkey every
and a black bear every two or three years. He always hunted
by himself and gave almost all of the meat away to friends
and neighbors. My dad knew a few guys who approached him
and asked to go hunting with him, his usual response was to
look at them like they were crazy or walk away from them.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,392
Campfire Tracker
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I've done a "big" hunt with a guy I met on here. Great hunting partner and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'd be very careful though about selecting a partner off this site though. Ditto , anytime anywhere. Yeah, nowadays it's rare that someone wants to make the time to mentor someone. Used to be a pretty common thing, but these days and with the self-entitlement syndrome so well entrenched in American society, no one wants to make time for anyone else.
I dont think thats true at all...and I dont think thats what Calvin ment either.
Its a sorry SOB that wouldnt help out someone that is brand new to the sport. I've helped out a lot of people over the years, got them set up with equipment, showed them spots, showed them how to take care of their game, etc. etc. etc. A good many then go about developing their own hunting styles, finding their own areas, etc. etc. Thats great, I'll help people like that all day long.
What I grow tired of, is hunting "partners" that have about the same resources as I do...looking for a handout. It gets old when they dont want to research hunting areas, they dont want to scout, they dont want to drive their vehicles, they dont want to use their camping gear, etc. etc. etc.
But, be sure they're right there on opening day with a rifle and a tag...swirl in, blast the game you've scouted in the area you researched, and then swirl home. If you finally grow tired of that and tell them to pound sand, more than likely you'll find their sorry a$$es the next year hunting the spot you showed them...and again be all butt sore because you arent happy they're hunting your spot.
Hell with that, if I'm going to go through all that trouble and all they provide is splitting gas/food money...I'd rather just hunt alone.
I have no problem sharing spots with people I can trust, and I've been overwhelmed with some of the areas that people have shared with me. I never go back without them or at least without first calling and making sure they are OK with it.
I do believe that you're right about the self-entitlement, but I think its more about others thinkig they are entitled to your areas, your equipment, and your knowledge...and then not even showing the common courtesy to keep it to themselves or reciprocate down the road.
It gets old.
I like that answer I have no problem teaching and sharing with anyone who shows a genuine interest in wanting to know everything that goes into it from start to finish, good bad and indifferent. I have hunted with 2 guys from here and would hunt with either again at anytime neither hunt was no small venture by any means.
I Kill Things......deal with it..
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,758
Campfire Tracker
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I've done probably a little over half of my western hunts by myself. I'd rather go with another person or two but most of my friends either can't or won't take off time for a hunt. I did go several years with a long time friend but we just don't make good travel and camp mates and I think 2010 was our last hunt. I'm pretty flexible on some things but on others I'm not and it became very apparent that we just didn't click as hunting trip partners. I've made friends in Colorado and Utah whom I met while hunting and it is nice to know you will see a familiar face when you make a 1000+ mile drive solo. If I don't draw Utah this year I'll most likely be traveling to Wyoming to hunt with a member of another site. Although we have never met in person he has graciously invited me to come out and hunt with him. I told him a little about myself and my beliefs and he said it sounded okay. I'd much rather have company for the long drive--and the gas expense--but not if the company makes me grind my teeth. 
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,187
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 1,187 |
This is a great thread because hunting partners have to be depended upon in so many ways. I hunted with my Dad and 2 brothers for years but they got old and fat and lost interest. I have a partner of 30 years that is solid but never wants to pay for anything. I have hunted with many people once. Some are whiners, some are not safe, and a lot of them are in it for the party not chasing game.
I value my one partner that is left because I know if it is the middle of the night in a snow storm and I get hurt he will get me out. I will do the same for him. We will be up in the dark making a serious effort every day unless it is a rest day. He will be of good humor. I will do the cooking but he will never complain about it. He will respect the animal that has given his life for us. He will not gloat about his success and will appreciate mine. He will pay his way and never backs out of a trip unless there is a serious reason. Hunting partners are some of the best friends you can have. Fishing partners are a little easier. Camping partners are easier yet.
The only cure for life and death is to enjoy the interval.
George Santayana
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 441
Campfire Member
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I feel your pain and I have decided the only person I can count on is myself. I take this stuff seriously and I have no problem hunting with anyone but you have to take it seriously. Maybe I am being dramatic but it can be life and death.
I have several "friends" that hunt but none I would take on an out of state trip.
The only friend I used to hunt with unfortunately died at 35 from leukemia and I have not been able to replace him, we literally would have given our lives to save the other if need be.
That said, I am planning an antelope trip this fall with my wifes cousin with whom I have bird hunted with and had a good time. Hopefully he can be counted on but if he can't that will be the last time.
Gary
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