Maybe we need to define "hunting with friends". In my world - together means we left the truck together. Most cases we walked or ride for a few miles. However, at some point, we reach a point of dispersion. At that point everone takes a differant ridge and hunts alone for the rest of the day only to eventually meet up at the point of dispersion at a predetermined time to go back to the truck together.
Under those rules, I really hunt alone closer to 90% of the time. Time spent partnered up and hunting like raptors is pretty much minimal.
I usually hunt “risky”. I don’t carry much for first aid, just some Tylenol and Benadryl. The only thing I carry is an inReach and a pistol, but I find myself in grizzly country at least 80% of the time, so I don’t want to mess around being completely out of touch because they can seemingly count from nowhere.I have hunted alone since day one of moving out west. I dont usually carry a gun and dont own any of the emergency devices. My wife never knows where I am. Its a risk I'm willing to take for now. I just stay within my capabilities and dont pretend I am invincible. As I get older I am more careful and I will probably end up with an emergency device sooner or later.