Solo hunting

[OKHunter84]

I'm about to do a solo hunt out west for the third year in a row. I've hunted out west several times in a few different states over the last ten years. I've hunted whitetail solo in Kansas and Oklahoma most my adult life. The whitetail hunts are usually just day hunts, now that we don't have a cabin in Kansas anymore and not seen as dangerous or risky I guess.

Does anyone else catch grief from your family or friends about doing these hunts alone? I'm only 40 and I'm in good shape and not a new hunter by any means. I always seem to get comments from my wife or Dad like "it makes me nervous" or "I really wish someone was going with you".

I have tire chains, Garmin inreach, the insurance if you have to press SOS and all the usual safety precautions western hunters do. Just curious if anyone else experiences this as well or maybe has an idea how to set people's minds at ease.

 

[BravoNovember]

I had said something along the lines of “take a week of PTO and come with then”. The response was something along the lines of “I can’t or I wish I could”. I asked for it to be dropped then and didn’t catch anymore grief.

 

[Cedarsavage]

I'm about to do a solo hunt out west for the third year in a row. I've hunted out west several times in a few different states over the last ten years. I've hunted whitetail solo in Kansas and Oklahoma most my adult life. The whitetail hunts are usually just day hunts, now that we don't have a cabin in Kansas anymore and not seen as dangerous or risky I guess.

Does anyone else catch grief from your family or friends about doing these hunts alone? I'm only 40 and I'm in good shape and not a new hunter by any means. I always seem to get comments from my wife or Dad like "it makes me nervous" or "I really wish someone was going with you".

I have tire chains, Garmin inreach, the insurance if you have to press SOS and all the usual safety precautions western hunters do. Just curious if anyone else experiences this as well or maybe has an idea how to set people's minds at ease.

Usually a week or two before you go everyone tells you to be careful and a bunch of stories about people dying. You’ll be fine

 

[magtech]

I just go and ignore peoples stupid comments. They worry because THEY arent prepared to go alone.

If you are prepared, the hardest part is just being alone... even if you enjoy being alone.

Carry a pistol if it makes you feel comfortable..... but the random things that happen when youre alone are what make the trips special.

 

[ozyclint]

Men have have been leaving their family to go hunt for millennia.
Everything will be fine

 

[WhiteTree]

I find being out in nature alone to be a completely different experience to being out with other people. I wouldn't say it's better, but it's definitely a different experience that I like to be able to have.

 

[chanson_roland]

Just don't text photos of mountain lion kills and bear tracks back to the wife (ask me how I know..)

 

[COJoe]

Just don't text photos of mountain lion kills and bear tracks back to the wife (ask me how I know..)

Or the fresh mountain lion poop just up from your camp. I usually tell her the stories after I'm home sitting safely on the couch beside her.....

 

[NealS02]

I reassure my family by having a solid built-in safety plan (which it looks like you have) and keeping in contact while I am on my hunt. You could ask what else you could do to reasonably and realistically make them more comfortable. If they say things like: you should be going with a hunting partner, stay in a hotel, etc. just explain why that cannot be accommodated. Good luck!