Finding a reliable hunting partner

[gelton]

That's impressive, especially for a first hunt. You mention Cam Hanes...he and Mike Mitten (trad bowhunter, wrote a good book called "One With the Wilderness") are the only two that came to mind for me when I thought about extended solo backcountry hunts. I know there are others, I'm sure a lot of the guys that started RS do solo hunts quite a bit.

There are plenty of folks on rokslide that hunt solo for extended hunts. Went on my first last year, eight days, loved every second of it and could have stayed for longer if I didnt have to get back to work. The solo trip was only my 4th year to backpack hunting in the mountains. It was way more enjoyable than any other trip I ever had since I didnt have to deal with people whining and crying the only person that could hold me back was me. My dad may come out with me this year but if it was anyone else I would ask them to stay home

 

[Trial153]

I am in NY, and finding a reliable partner has been next to impossible over the years. I just about given up and just do what I want on my own. I am sick of the excuses I get, and the fact guys dont follow through. All I seem to hear is next year from them...and their next years never come....if they are lucky they find themselves sitting in the same tree come November as they always have been.

My solution has been to make my own plans and just go in my own, been like that for years and I don't see any change coming soon.

 

[Blinginpse]

I am in NY, and finding a reliable partner has been next to impossible over the years. I just about given up and just do what I want on my own. I am sick of the excuses I get, and the fact guys dont follow through. All I seem to hear is next year from them...and their next years never come....if they are lucky they find themselves sitting in the same tree come November as they always have been.

My solution has been to make my own plans and just go in my own, been like that for years and I don't see any change coming soon.

If you was closer and I had the money and time from the farm to keep up you'd not half to worry bout a hunting partner again. We'd buddy up and go ravage North America killing shit

 

[ofl0926]

just a heads up, i am willing to be someones hunting parter
on a serious note, i am actually trying to meet new people that i could hunt with.

 

[hunting1]

As hard as finding a good wife! Good luck!

 

[ofl0926]

As hard as finding a good wife! Good luck!

i found my wife and she is the bomb!!!
hopefully one day i can link up with some new hunting partners

 

[HunterHawk]

I am lucky to have an awesome hunting partner but he lives in AZ and I live in colorado so that is always tough! one of us is always buying out of state tags.

if you are in this discusion forum and you dont have where you live filled out in your profile it would be a lot easier finding people to hunt with if they knew where you lived..

 

[ofl0926]

I am lucky to have an awesome hunting partner but he lives in AZ and I live in colorado so that is always tough! one of us is always buying out of state tags.

if you are in this discusion forum and you dont have where you live filled out in your profile it would be a lot easier finding people to hunt with if they knew where you lived..

updated

 

[chas]

I live in PA and I'm looking for a western hunting partner. I have a great friend whom I''ve hunted with in WY, but I'm looking to expand out to other areas. I anyone is interested shot me a pm.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Every hunting partner I have has either emailed me photos of successful hunts and/or posted em online. These are the guys getting it done over and over again and the kinda guys I wanna hunt with. They will take time off to hunt, even if they don't have a tag themselves. They live for the hunt and enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience. I just make sure I'm the perfect partner. No pussyfooting around, no complaints, no giving up, I push myself AND treat em to steak dinners, hotel stays and Happy Hour when we aren't hunting. I make sure they enjoy the time away from family and work and I pay for everything. So far it's working fine. Gotta few guys that I can rely on to join me on any adventure.

 

[Bighorse]

I have a good core group of hunters I trust to share a hunt with. I run through the list and see if schedules line up. My list for Mt Goat is short. I do not want to watch another man fall to his death. It's a rare skill set to be able to safely travel the high peaks. So I do and will hunt goat solo again this year.
I'd say a well trained military personnel is a good start. Whoever it is should be confident and honest.
This year I head solo onto the Cleveland Peninsula after Mt. Goat, solo, 7-10 days.

Don't let a "buddy, partner, friend" keep you from making meat. You'll find soon enough how real of a hunter you are by going solo.

 

[Chopper333]

Here here Bighorse. My problem was that I came to the game late. I grew up a fisherman, my old man hunted when I was little then quit...quitter...lol. So all my buddies hunted growing up. I traded fish for meat so my freezer was always full. Finally got off my ass and started hunting. Addicting to say the least. My buddies were cool took me out when they could, but their annual trips were always with their partners they had for years. I was cool with that. They taught me a lot and were always up front about their partners and that I was a fill in in case someone was unable to go on a trip. After a couple of years, I wanted to plan trips of my own with someone. With all my buddies already taken, I branched out. And....I'm still looking. It is frustrating looking for a partner that has the funds, mindset and ability to take the time off. This year I was invited with a group of guys (9 guys total). A lot of guys, but I thought hey, I might find a partner and I can hunt alone if I prefer. But, once the draws came in, I was uninvited...now 4 guys going. I thought, WTF??? 5 guys are left our because of no luck on draws!! Long story short, I will be doing a lot of solo hunting again this year. But now, my mindset is to become a mountain machine. To be the best I can be and then when they come knocking to hunt with me...I will tell them that I am busy cutting my toenails....

 

[TNArcher]

I can't even find someone I could hunt with locally here in TN, much less go out west. It would be Nice though! I do have some Marine Corps buddies out west and we've met up a couple times. This will be my first time meeting them for a western hunt.

If any TN or KY guys want to discuss future plans, or just simply talk hunting hit me up!

 

[jmez]

I'm lucky in that my main hunting partner shares the same passion as I and we also happen to be good friends. He takes it as serious as I do and it is a year long undertaking for both of us.

There are a couple of other guys that go with us every year, neither are anywhere near as serious as we are. One thing I would offer is to not let your hunting partners get in the way or your hunt. Tell them the rules and what you expect up front and then stick to it. Be an ass if that is what is needed. Both my buddy and I drive ourselves. The others are welcome to ride along but will we will leave on time and there will be no coming home early. May want or need to leave early, drive yourself.

We hunt long and hard. Don't want to hunt that way then don't come with me or get left somewhere during the day and you are on your own. I'll leave camp at x time, that means at x time, not 5 or ten minutes later. Be ready to go or get left. My buddy and I both call and both practice calling all year, listen to Elknut and Chris Roe often, neither of the other two know how to call very well nor do they practice. My buddy and I hunt together calling for each other and the other two are on their own until we kill an elk.

It may seem harsh but I get to do this for 10-14 days a year, I'm not out there to accommodate my hunting partners. We've had the same group for 5 years now and all get along well and have a great time. Everyone knows the ground rules and are ok with them. Like most things, communication is the key.

Your partner doesn't have to be as into as you to share camp and have a good hunt. Just don't be afraid to tell them that.

 

[bobhunts]

Finding a hunting partner for the backcountry is crazy hard. I have had 2 great ones, my son who plays elite hockey every fall/winter and then next year is off to university and my buddy who moved to Montana 3 years ago. I can get my son out on scouting trips but that's it... I had it good with my buddy, liked minded and committed, while hunting we could read each other like twin brothers and harvested a lot of trophy animals together. Since then I am 0 for 3 on finding a new hunting partner but things are looking good for next season met a guy on this site who is liked minded and committed.

I know what you are saying! I have bow hunted with the same guy for maybe 15 years and there came about a problem between us. We no longer hunt together. He and I were closer in the woods reading facial expressions and had movements than i would have been with my own brother! I am still trying to find the guy to hut with. I have a younger guy I go with during rifle season but having a hard time getting him in the woods scouting for archery, Seems he just wants to go along and not scout or get in mountain shape even though he is 20 years younger.

 

[rodney482]

I am fortunate to have several.. In several states. They have all become really good friends!

 

[oct71]

I am fortunate to have several.. In several states. They have all become really good friends!

That's because your so Awesome Rod.

I haven't had much trouble finding hunting buddies, with the wilderness rule in wyoming. They need me.lol

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

That's because your so Awesome Rod.

I haven't had much trouble finding hunting buddies, with the wilderness rule in wyoming. They need me.lol

I may have to try that. Ha

 

[KClark]

I acquired an awesome hard hunting partner the old fashioned way, I raised him! My son started tagging along as soon as he could halfway keep up, by the time he was 14 we were doing 10 day+ backpack hunts and now it's progressed to I'm the one trying to keep up.

I've tried hunting with several other guys but they always left me hanging and the last several who begged me to take them I reluctantly did but with the warning "If you ruin my hunt I will never hunt with you again". We're still friends but we don't hunt together anymore, my thinking is that this is the event I look forward to all year, I plan, dream and spend lotsa $ to be able to do it and when I get there I'm not as leisure as these guys would have liked. The can sit in a camp drinking beer and hiding from bad weather anywhere but that's not how I roll and I made sure these points were very clear from the beginning.

My brother is a damn fine hunting partner too but for years his time has been extremely limited, hopefully that will change to where we can do at least one good hunt a year.