Alaska Hunting buddy - Harder to find than a wife

[Bdjones]

I've been here in Alaska for a year and connected with several fine local people, but let me tell ya - finding a hunting partner that will work hard, communicate, and stick to a plan is harder to find than a good woman (I'm married and it wasn't this hard lol)

With that being said, I'm taking apps for a hunting partner in AK - I live in the Palmer area.

I have one bait station running, but will be running the hills soon for some spot and stalk bears.

 

[YellCoAR]

Most have to enroll the wife to play that role.

 

[Bdjones]

Most have to enroll the wife to play that role.

Lol thats no doubt - My daughter would gladly fill it at 9 years old, but she isn't ready for the big hunts just yet. I'm hoping to get her a bear over bait this season to start her off right in AK.

 

[Elkhntr08]

Finding a good hunting partner period is tough.

 

[Slickhill]

Anyone who has been there a while and has it figured out doesn’t want a new guy knowing their spot and any new guys want to go with someone who has been there and has a good spot.

It has a longer learning curve than places outside and you’re potentially stuck in the bush at the mercy of the weather and river levels/flying conditions with someone who you don’t know and don’t know how they’ll react to being stuck or how you’re going to get along.

My best solution was to have my dad/uncles/lifelong buddies from outside come up for a big flyout trip every fall.

BTDT. Good luck.

 

[IDVortex]

Finding someone who enjoys the same style of hunting as you, someone you can enjoy being around, and someone that'll actually help instead of making the hunt only about themselves is pretty much non existent.

 

[Britt-dog]

I have the same problem in the lower 48. I've been hunting almost exclusively by myself for 20+ years. Baiting bears is one of the hardest tasks. I'm currently running two bait sites 120 miles from home.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yeah I work in an industry where just about every other guy is a hunter and there are a bunch of serious hunters. I have 1 buddy I occasionally hunt with from work. I have 1 real hunting partner and a few others who I hunt with but not often.really finding someone you click with, agree with on tactics, have similar hunting styles and can get along and have fun with especially after 5-7 days in the back country is something special.

 

[medvedyt]

Most have to enroll the wife to play that role.

and the best of both world ...

 

[mostlybirch]

I find my hunting buddies through work. We already suffer outside in the weather sleeping in tents so it makes it easy to see who you would want to do that with recreationally .

 

[schur7559]

Anyone who has been there a while and has it figured out doesn’t want a new guy knowing their spot and any new guys want to go with someone who has been there and has a good spot.

This is the truth. The first time I planned an elk hunt with a buddy we had another friend that was on the fence about going, which he decided against because he was afraid it would be a waste of time and money. A couple years later after we had been into elk every year now he’s all gung-ho on going. If he wants to go in 2026 I’m going to tell him sure we can go and learn a new unit together- I’m sure he’ll bail.

 

[mostlybirch]

Tip toeing around in the mountains with your buddy glassing the same brown rocks over and over is a waste of time and money? I must spend my money very poorly.

This is the truth. The first time I planned an elk hunt with a buddy we had another friend that was on the fence about going, which he decided against because he was afraid it would be a waste of time and money. A couple years later after we had been into elk every year now he’s all gung-ho on going. If he wants to go in 2026 I’m going to tell him sure we can go and learn a new unit together- I’m sure he’ll bail.

 

[MuleyFever]

I hunt alone unless my wife draws a tag. I decided am going to AK this year for Caribou. I reached out to people about going with me. A few said yes but then backed out. Now I am going solo. Should be a blast.

 

[elkliver]

have you considered a mail order hunting partner? I really want to come up and go moose hunting

 

[IDVortex]

I hunt alone unless my wife draws a tag. I decided am going to AK this year for Caribou. I reached out to people about going with me. A few said yes but then backed out. Now I am going solo. Should be a blast.

I'm in the early stages of finding where to go, and who use to charter me in for a DIY moose hunt up in AK. Anyone I've asked has said no, or showed interest but not to comment and plan for it.

 

[AKBorn]

Although I only did 1 remote AK flyout hunt every year or every other year, I had great success for a 15 year period finding partners on here or Hunttalk. The guys I found on here or Hunttalk were better prepared than the childhood friends I knew and took with me on a few hunts, and had better backwoods skills. I thank the Lord for all the good partners I found for my hunts.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

and the best of both world ...

I'll tell you what it sure is nice to get back to camp and not have to do any cooking.

Wife is the best hunting partner I've had though, she's got that chip on her shoulder like she's got something to prove so no matter how stupid my idea of climbing straight up vertical slopes or damn near having to rapel down into a canyon she just sends it. My buddies usually try to talk some sense into me.

 

[TheGrayRider]

I met a good friend on this forum by sending out a very similar post about 6 years ago. We ended up hunting together DIY moose out of Bethel, Alaska in Unit 18 and both killed very nice moose well over 50 inches in 4 days. We still stay in touch weekly.

Finding a great hunting partner who is committed, hard working, and willing to spend the time and money is much more difficult than setting up dates with attractive women. Probably easier to just pay for a date to go on a premium hunt!

Best of luck in your adventures, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[Robster]

Any of you guys single and looking for a quality woman? they are about as rare as hen's teeth. I've been looking since 2018 and haven't found her yet I'd probably have better luck finding a hunting partner.

 

[Buckshotaz]

I have had much better luck finding hunting partners than wives. I have a pool of guys to hunt with, and after three wives, I decided to go solo in that endeavor