Solo mental prep

[williamson88]

Well I'll be moving to Alaska this spring and plan on doing a lot of hunting for the few years in there. Most will be solo and as I haven't stayed for long periods of time in the woods on my own I was wondering if you guys had a mental prep you could share for those night out? I've slept in the Rockies, Texas, desert and the mountains of Afghanistan but I had others with me.

 

[direwolf]

Best advice is to go with a group or at least a partner until you have some idea what to expect. Even when you are really experienced, the best you can hope for is to have some idea what to expect on any given trip.

People go out up here and are never heard from again - it happens so much that it barely makes the news.

 

[williamson88]

Dang that's crazy I'll test the waters up there on my bou hunt before digging deeper into the tougher hunts

 

[7mag.]

The first night solo is the worst, it gets much easier after that. The simple fact is, some people just don't like it at all, some don't mind it, and some prefer it. There is no way to know for sure, until you do it a few times.

I like to take a book, or listen to a podcast on my phone at night, before crashing. It helps with the downtime, when you would be talking to a partner.

 

[jtw]

I do fine solo until after dark until I hit the hay. I have to keep myself distracted during that time or I go a little bonkers. I bring a book usually and that helps.

 

[kodiakfly]

So I'm assuming military? Where you going?

As far as staying out, the biggest thing is prep ahead of time, as was mentioned. Enjoying it is up to you....you'll either be happy or not. That's 100% up to you. If you have to motivate yourself to spend a night out alone, chances are you'll not enjoy yourself. What's not entirely up to you, is your survival...but it's "largely" up to you. You can be having a great day that goes to hell in about 30 minutes and the time you spent preparing and training ahead of time will help decide if you make it home to have a beer, spend the night comfortably or die. If you're military and on flight orders, you'll be required to attend a survival school. I've done the Kodiak school twice and the arctic school in Fairbanks. I'm not Les Stroud, but I'm comfortable on my own (which is how I hunt) and THAT'S what makes me comfortable doing it and enjoy it. Does that make sense? I mean, I know I can go do it and be safe and take care of myself...and therefore, I have relatively few worries, and therefore I can enjoy it. If I'm not confident in my survival, nav, and travel skills, I'm not going to enjoy my time out alone. As far as spending time alone, I can sleep pretty much anywhere, so if it's tent time, I eat and then pass out until time to hunt again. If I'm on a fly in, I'll take a book or something in case I get weathered into my tent for days at a time. If I'm walking in and I'm getting weathered in, I just go home and try again later and don't need reading material.

Get a Delorme or Spot or something to talk to satellites, good boots and shelter, quality clothes and you'll be fine. And with the Delorme, you can text your wife and that makes it not so "lonely." Heck, a lot of places have cell coverage now and you can call and talk on the phone.

Don't worry about bears. Be bear aware, but more people are hurt by moose than hurt by bears. I'm more cautious around sea lions than I am bears.

 

[IanF.]

Just a personal journey to go on and find your own answers.

 

[tttoadman]

I listen to music on my phone for a few hours every night. It quiets the voices in my head. I would like to spring for an Delorme this year.

 

[williamson88]

Yes I'm prior service combat infantryman and thanks guys I mean iv slept out alone back home but that's Delaware nothing really to worry about just wasn't sure about bear and wolf country thanks though helps a lot for my prep luckily I won't be to freaked after my deployment nights lol

 

[charvey9]

Just do it. Get a book or kindle to pass the time, keep your sidearm close for piece of mind. I love camping/hunting solo, it seems like there is just always so much to do/worry about that you completely forget about the "real world".

 

[danarnold]

I went to montana last year with 3 other guys, ended up solo for 8 days that wasn't planned, so I really didn't have time to think about it before hand. Aa
All in all it worked out great for me, I woke to a wolverine? Making some crazy screaming close by but I was so tired I didn't give a shit. By the last couple of days I did get lonesome for company and noticed I was answering myself, but I got into the elk and that's the reason why I was there

 

[BroodBuster]

The wood burning backpack stoves make a great companion. With the axe it's like a five pound tv. And is great for motivation in lousy weather. Either hike five or more miles to the trailhead in a storm or pick a spot and feed the tv.

 

[Bighorse]

Count me in the Solo hunter category. I went out yesterday fly fishing for Steelhead solo. (Fish hunting). I called, texted four people with no availability. Lots of interest but adults are hard pressed to break away from their responsibilities. I enjoy the company of another outdoors person.
Many times though I'm heading out by myself. I'd say if you got the drive to head out the door your 95% there. Most failures start at home. Psychologically speaking....
Visualize your trip, every detail. Then execute!

 

[Jazzdog]

I'm in the same boat, looking at my first solo into the holy cross area in Co for early september. My first time in that area as well so i'm looking at it as a long walk with my longbow for company. Seems a little overwhelming right now with all the planning and infinite second guessing about location, gear and strategy but i'm pretty sure it will all fall into place between now and then.

I'm looking forward to the time alone but hunting with a friend is never a bad thing.

 

[tttoadman]

The important thing is to already have a contingency plan for any circumstances that you can foresee possible. Already knowing your plan B...C... improves your efficiency. Time in the field is too valuable to be doing research in the middle of battle that you could have done from the armchair.

 

[marc]

Being infantry you are used to having your team with you. I did my first backcountry trip with a fellow 11B and I didn't really like it. We were good buddies but had very different ideas on hunting hard. From then on I always go into the backcountry alone. Just prepare yourself and use the skills you have. First time you go 4 or 5 days without talking to another person is kinda cool!

 

[williamson88]

Yea did nothing alone in my old world, and I'm pumped to go I can't wait might do a back pack into mountains next month for turkey or sheds for the weekend

 

[BroodBuster]

^^^That's the best way to start. Weekend or longer trips will just build confidence!

 

[williamson88]

Thank you

 

[tipsntails7]

The only thing I've seen that prepares you is doing it. Start with over nighters, then long weekends and go from there.

Some guys cannot do it, or don't commit to do it and either get freaked out or find a way to blame it on something so they can get out of it. it's not an easy thing being alone for 7 straight days, start small and work up.