Do you prefer to hunt alone?

[Duckslayer100]

I like both. When game is plentiful, I especially enjoy going with others. Why not share the wealth? But when birds are harder to come by, I'd rather go alone. Not because I want to be greedy, but because I always feel bad asking a friend to go hunting and having to leave early before we get a limit. I have young kids, so all-day hunts are few and far between. If I'm chasing ducks or pheasants, I plan on a half day regardless of what I shoot. Lot of my buddies won't quit until they either get their birds or the sun sets. I don't like being "that guy" who ruins everyone else's hunt because he has commitments at home.

 

[fj40]

Hunting is kind of a social thing for me anymore. I'm pretty picky on who I will go with and do not like going with big groups.

 

[db-2]

along except for the son or a small group (4 total) and a dog when shed hunting up north (might get lost in those big woods up north and then may never be found, wolves, bears, a lot of water to go through, no landmarks for bearing and all, no way by myself up there).
Just a lot more found, fun and safer with a group at those times.

There was a time in my younger years with 7 or so in a group but in time that just had to many issues. Nothing like walking in the woods in the dark by oneself. Sometimes ones blood can start flowing good with the imagination of what is next to you. db

 

[zoops]

I guess I'm like most of you; sometimes I prefer a group, but have no problem going alone.

Sometimes I prefer by myself & dog. I don't have to be on anyone else's schedule that way and I don't have to worry that we had enough action to keep the others satisfied (with most of my hunting/fishing buddies I'm the "guide"). It's nice to just be able to follow the dog wherever he wants to go when pheasant hunting. Sometimes it's fun to just wander around and I really don't care if I shoot a lot; often you feel as though you shouldn't do that with others. A pothole duck hunt is pretty fun with just the dog - sit back and relax - but certainly fun with a buddy or two. Field hunting for waterfowl is a lot of work without a group generally. Even so I'd rather not hunt in a group of more than 4. I don't think I'd deer hunt alone as I don't want to gut and lug one by myself.

 

[Flatrock]

I like to do some pretty strenuous big game hunts and the list of people that are willing to work as hard as I do is incredibly short. About 1 friend is it. I don't want to hunt with someone that is ready to go to town and go to a sports bar after 1 hard day of hunting.

When it comes to ducks though, I'd rather go with a couple buddies.

 

[wildeyes]

I hunt alone most of the time, I do go with people sometimes but i find myself wondering if they are ok or trusting they won't do something stupid. I prefer to hunt by myself for a lot of the reasons people have said. I like sneaking around the woods so having someone else with messes me up.

 

[KDM]

I used to like to hunt with other guys until I started finding those guys with "Other Guys" already hunting the spots I took them too. Now I have a couple hunting partners that can keep their mouths shut about the spots I take them too and we hunt those together. We have a blast regardless of the success of the hunt. Other than that, hunting is a solo event for me most of the time.

 

[Account Deleted]

It depends. If I have a good field lined up, I like to have several guys with that can’t hit shit with a scattergun so I can shoot all their birds. When I’m elk hunting, I like to have a whole squadron of guys with. They can wait in camp until I have one down.

 

[Putz ND]

Bought a mega cab dodge a few years back, and that thing makes one kick ass badlands setup - alone. Plenty of space to sleep in the cab, has a guy waking up right where he needs to be. Add a jetboil, some coffee, and you've got the ultimate weekend warrior setup. If I'm going for more than a few nights, I prefer to have someone with (tent or camper) two can cover a lot more ground glassing than one.

 

[Retired Educator]

Sitting in a stand alone is one thing and I prefer that. But Ido like to have someone to visit with on the way to and from the stand. So I guess there are times I like to hunt alone, but not be alone. What's important though is who I hunt with. It's mostly family or very close friends and as someone mentioned, they are able to keep the location of the hunt to themselves. Don't understand people who are invited on a hunt and then the next time you see them they are hunting that location with some other friends.

For me sharing stories about a hunt is a very big part of the whole experience. Therein lies the answer to why I like to hunt with a partner or two.