Loneliness and Fear

[justin davis]

I can relate to the fear, but the fear comes when I'm at the grocery store or out in the city. Haha

I love being solo and hunting solo. One of the reasons I enjoy hunting so much is the excuse to be out in the woods by myself.

 

[justin davis]

The one thing I think about when solo is having an accident and severely injuring myself. I don't have a Spot, and I usually hunt where there is no cell service.

Yea that is true, but for me. If I could pick how I could die it would that way. I would want to die out on a mountain hunting and not in a hospital bed dying from cancer.

 

[5MilesBack]

Yea that is true, but for me. If I could pick how I could die it would that way. I would want to die out on a mountain hunting and not in a hospital bed dying from cancer.

True that......but there is lots of room in between dieing and solo hunting. I'm 48 and have taken some pretty good tumbles, slides, and everything in between over the years while hunting. Yet, I still go out there every year by myself most hunts.......I think that's part of what keeps me doing it all........the challenge........heading out into the unknown, the possibility of bad things happening, and then making it back home on my own.......especially if I'm also bringing home a trophy.

 

[Shrek]

Yea that is true, but for me. If I could pick how I could die it would that way. I would want to die out on a mountain hunting and not in a hospital bed dying from cancer.

My idea of how to go involves a smoking hot chic 80 years younger than me and a final massive stroke in the aftermath.

 

[dotman]

My idea of how to go involves a smoking hot chic 80 years younger than me and a final massive stroke in the aftermath.

your odds are probably better at winning the lotto, haha.

 

[T43]

My idea of how to go involves a smoking hot chic 80 years younger than me and a final massive stroke in the aftermath.

Hopefully you plan on living to at least 98 otherwise thats illegal in most states.

 

[justin davis]

My idea of how to go involves a smoking hot chic 80 years younger than me and a final massive stroke in the aftermath.

Haha true that!! You be surprised how often this actually happens. More than you would guess! I dunno about the 80 year younger thou.

 

[Shrek]

I'm counting on at least 105 years and the lotto is my retirement...counting on both !

 

[Shrek]

I actually have a plan to make it happen. Since my parents will be gone and my son old enough to understand the plan includes a bottle of viagra , an eight ball , and a very expensive Vegas prostitute...

 

[Nick Muche]

Those ones from Vagas are no joke, nothing like the ones in Vegas

 

[Jon Boy]

Anyone who plans on hunting with shrek, plan on these conversations to come up quite regularly lol

 

[5MilesBack]

Hopefully you plan on living to at least 98 otherwise thats illegal in most states.

What does he care.......he's dieing of a massive stroke right after so no big deal.

 

[Shrek]

I wouldn't want one too young. Nothing like your partner running training wheels on your last go.

 

[JoshTX]

A little bit of fear is always with me, but I'm good with that. It keeps me on my toes and when I'm by myself it usually causes me to stop and really think before I do something.

For me the solitude is the toughest part. I like being around my friends/family/kids laughing, joking etc. That said, the first 2-3 days of a solo hunt are, for me, the toughest. After that, I get into the groove and don't really think about the loneliness.

One thing that has kept me from quitting is the need to teach my kids about the importance of hard work and dedicating yourself to the pursuit of something worthwhile. When the kids see me shoot my bow every day or so, hit the gym, work on my gear, pour over maps; over the course of a year, all in pursuit of the game, that's cool. When they see me do all of that and be successful, then it hits home in their minds that they too can accomplish what they put their minds to. It is simply a decision to do so...and a question of how long it will take.

All of this said, I generally like people, and being alone for 10 days does not come naturally to me.

 

[Akshphntr]

Me too shrek....nice way to go!

I have hunted half my hunts solo and seriously had some struggles with loneliness/fear. I remember packing way into a glacier and still being able to see a light from town to give me comfort. Or a moose hunt in the oil fields where I set the tent in sight of the burning well to give me comfort. Other times things were not so confident and I came out early. It's a mental game you don't need to win. Some hunts you got your A game sometimes you don't. Just do your best and enjoy the hunt!

 

[CrzyTrekker]

Nice to hear most of you experience some fear out there and I'm not alone. I went on my first solo backpacking and climbing trips as a teenager growing up in Utah. I lived on the edge of the Wasatch Mountains and walked from my doorstep up the street into the mountains. I experienced plenty of fear back then, and while I now feel very confident, having spent hundreds of nights in the field in the Army and on backpacking trips, the fear still exists in some small measure. It's a primal instinct and reminds you that you're living!

 

[Akshphntr]

Well, and the fear and excitement is also part of why I do it. I mean I don't go hunting to be bored. I like to challenge myself and live a little. And also you know if something you are doing is too scary maybe you ought to listen and find a different route or campsite!

 

[Elkfitness]

I love the solitude. In my job I am around people all the time. Getting up in the mountains is refreshing. I grew up with just one or two close friends so I don't have the need / drive to be around someone. In addition, I like to hunt solo. Aside from a day here or there, Only person I've ever really hunted with was my dad. When my 5 yr old gets a big bigger I will take him up, but until then it's just me. Something about being solo deep the mountains makes you feel alive. From the posts on other threads a lot of you agree. I find it funny that I need coffee down in Denver everyday but don't miss it at all in the mountains. I have my phone and can see pics of the family if needed but I know I'm gonna see the in a week so it's no real issue.

I've only had 2 fear episodes up in the mountains so far. I was walking around a rocky area that would be great for mountain lions and had the hair suddenly stand up on end. That got me for about 15 min but it passed. The other was a lightning storm I was caught in on the side of a mountain. That was not cool. Found a depression where a tree had been a hugged the ground away from my bow and trekking poles.

 

[Rucker61]

I actually have a plan to make it happen. Since my parents will be gone and my son old enough to understand the plan includes a bottle of viagra , an eight ball , and a very expensive Vegas prostitute...

It worked for the Ox.

 

[Mikeha33]

GREAT thread. This fall I did my first backcountry hunt with a guy I went to HS with, but hadn't seen him since HS, so we weren't exactly friends (Hadn't seen him in 13 years), he just put something on FB about going elk hunting in CO, I responded, and he invited me, so I said what the hell. Fear and loneliness took the enjoyment out of my hunt for the first several days. We were several hours of travel away from any cell service, and the anxiety took it's toll on me. I have 2 young kids, and had not ever had to go more than a day without talking to them. On the 2nd day of our hunt, I was hunting by myself, several miles away from my partner (which I won't do again) and I had a very, very, close call with a cougar stalking me, and from that point forward, I was no longer elk hunting first, I was in survival mode, looking for potential dangers first, elk second. Because my hunting partner was not a close friend, it was almost awkward at points in our adventure.
What really helped me beat the loneliness was writing. I kept a pretty detailed journal that I will never let anyone other than myself read. I wrote of experiences, thoughts, fears, joys, letters to my kids and wife, and basically anything that crossed my mind. I also powered my phone on several times a day and flipped through pics of my family and good times, to help distract myself from the negative thoughts (there may have been some "good" pics of my wife in the phone as well ).
My approach to hunting moving forward will change somewhat, as I'm going West with my best friend this fall, and he's a certified bad-ass (Alaskan hunter, Army special forces, bonafide killer) but he's also very smart, and the best friend a guy could want. Just having the closer camaraderie will help immensely I think, but there will still be fear. Fear breeds respect in most situations, so I don't wish it away, I just pray that it doesn't consume me again, and it helps in decision making, and ultimately, a great back-country experience.