hunting buddies drama

checkrog

WKR
Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
467
Looking for some different points of view.

So I hunt mostly solo and did entirely this season. I was very successful and found a killer new spot to hunt.
The only problem is my two hunting buddies are no longer getting along with each other. One is a childhood friend who basically just hunts all the spots I find. The other guy is a hunter who has his own spots and we’ve shared back and forth.
My longtime friend basically gave up hunting this season until he saw my success. And the other dude also wants to hunt the new spot. They talk shit about each other to me, and the kicker is my friend introduced me to the other hunter even though I told him we don’t need a bigger crew.
I am the most successful of us and hunt better alone. I do appreciate the company on a tough hunt, but they’re much more interested after I did all the suffering to find the king spot.

Think I already know what to do but thought some of you guys would have some wisdom I didn’t think of.
 
How did they find out about the spot? My rule is if you don't summer scout with me finding new spots you dont hunt with me let alone know what unit I am in.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk
 
Looking for some different points of view.

So I hunt mostly solo and did entirely this season. I was very successful and found a killer new spot to hunt.
The only problem is my two hunting buddies are no longer getting along with each other. One is a childhood friend who basically just hunts all the spots I find. The other guy is a hunter who has his own spots and we’ve shared back and forth.
My longtime friend basically gave up hunting this season until he saw my success. And the other dude also wants to hunt the new spot. They talk shit about each other to me, and the kicker is my friend introduced me to the other hunter even though I told him we don’t need a bigger crew.
I am the most successful of us and hunt better alone. I do appreciate the company on a tough hunt, but they’re much more interested after I did all the suffering to find the king spot.

Think I already know what to do but thought some of you guys would have some wisdom I didn’t think of.

Send them both into a gar hole with stories of big bulls; the pin you share for a campsite should be the same for both of them. Glass the interaction from a distance. They will either sort it out or stop talking to you.
 
Twos company, threes a crowd. I actually prefer to hunt alone most times. Very few guys will match the effort or expense to equally contribute to a good partnership. I don't mind helping folks out, but I'm not going to hand feed anyone.
 
Tough spot but sounds like it's likely migrating to the point where you'll have to gravitate to spend more time with one or the other. Nobody wants to share a camp with dudes who don't get along. You may want to have a little conversation with both of them (separately) and explain that it's tough on you the way they act and that it's affecting your interactions with both of them. As for the new spot, I have found so many spots and areas that produce and put my friends and family there and never hunted them myself it's not even funny. It does sometimes feel a bit dirty, but I like everyone else to kill more than I like to kill so it works out. I have one spot my wife, son, buddy, and buddy's buddy have killed good bucks (for the area) on public in a place I scouted and brushed in for them and I've never even been there since. I just walk them to the entrance and point them to it. There will always be new spots and drainages and honey holes, but you can't always have new friends and family. If I send somebody to a spot I found and they make a kill it feels like a positive to me. Having said all that I think I'd offer to camp with them (separate trips) but hunt your new honey hole alone.
 
If you trust the other hunter to keep stuff to himself and be someone to share with you in the future, i wouldn't hesitate too much to share with him.

The buddy who is just in if someone has animals to shoot lined up for him.. I wouldn't be in a hurry to bring him anywhere if you're already done for the year and aren't looking for someone with a tag to be your excuse to be in the field more.
 
Sounds like at least the one guy is using you to get them hunting spots. Friendship is give and take, does he give anything? Pay for the gas? If not, sounds one sided.
 
Sounds like both are a liability in one way or another.
Don’t share the new spot with either.

A sweet spot is invaluable nowadays, what’s it worth to you?
 
How did they find out about the spot? My rule is if you don't summer scout with me finding new spots you dont hunt with me let alone know what unit I am in.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk
I might start being that strict. They know the unit I was hunting and that I found a good spot with big bucks.
 
Thanks for all of your advice. Pretty much cementing what I was already thinking.
I guess I felt a little guilty about being selfish or something. But F that. I don’t need any grown man drama in my life and I don’t need help hunting. I only bring people to share the experience with them.
 
Thanks for all of your advice. Pretty much cementing what I was already thinking.
I guess I felt a little guilty about being selfish or something. But F that. I don’t need any grown man drama in my life and I don’t need help hunting. I only bring people to share the experience with them.
Good for you. Drama only escalates to more drama.
 
Back
Top