Going solo and the worried wife

[DaveC]

Some good advice thus far. I'd just add that if you have your head screwed on straight, hunting solo is way safer than hunting with someone who is unreliable.

 

[mtnclimber]

some good advice thus far. I'd just add that if you have your head screwed on straight, hunting solo is way safer than hunting with someone who is unreliable.

this

 

[BAT]

You can rent a lightweight PLB for$40 per week. You can't contact her but she will know that you have an option if you get in trouble. Has worked so far for my wife.

 

[jb79]

Good stuff! I am in the same boat, hunting partner showed up to pick me up with nothing to help the hunt( no map, GPS,calls,ect) long story short I'll be hunting solo again the rest of this year and the next few
until I find someone that's dedicated to the style of hunting I enjoy or my
Boy gets old enough to go. Looks like I'll be getting a delorme!!

 

[ytlogger]

A sat phone does provide the opportunity for security and also, when you are sitting under a tarp in the dark, in the rain/snow at 8 pm, for the 3rd night in a row, a call home or to a friend can brighten your outlook. Before such conveniences were available my wife got used to the fact that I would be home when I got home and that every calamity that extended a trip was not an emergency. No reception, phone crapped out, batteries dead; it is still good to instil some confidence that most times all is well, even though a call is not received.

 

[charvey9]

Been said already, but SPOT is a great option for piece of mind. I check in every night, and that seems keep my wife satisfied that I'm safe.

I will also say that the more you do it, the more comfortable they get. When I first started solo backpack hunting she was more than a little worried, now it is no big deal. My wife and I also had a heart to heart about my hunting addiction and passion to be out there by myself that went a long way. I didn't lay the law down or anything like that, but just made it very clear that this is what I need to do to be happy and that I am very lucky that she supports it.

I just spent 8 days solo in the mountains hunting elk about 8 miles back. The only gripe I got was not cleaning up the kitchen before I left. She kind of wears the "hunting widow" title like a badge of honor now.