Whys it so dang hard to find a reliable hunting partner?

[tstowater]

I'm not really looking for a hunting partner for a multitude of reasons. I'm sort of like LB in that I generally don't like most people, but the real issue is aligning expectations as well as a true understanding of the time, efforts, desire and money that it takes to do the hunting that I do. I am also extremely fortunate that my wife understands and puts up the the 3 to 5 weeks a year that I am generally hunting away from home. I did buy a hunting trip to New Zealand for next year recently and I did invite her to go along to see the country. When I told her about the trip, she was speechless but has rebounded and is quite excited about visiting the country. No, she is not going hunting, just a vacation for her and a hunting trip for me.

As to a hunting partner, one would be nice in certain scenarios, but I'm not going to stress out about one. My son will be 16 this summer and I look forward to doing more hunts with him. Just don't know whether he is going to be mentally tough enough to deal with some of the hunts. Now, my 13 year old daughter is tough enough, but finding the right hunt and time for her is the hard part. I look forward to getting her out on some of the hunts to see how she handles the killing side. She has that soft spot, especially for killing the females of a species.

 

[dbaker]

Seems like there are a couple people on this thread that are still looking for hunting partners. Any reason you guys don't give it a go together?

That's what i was thinking.
I can never find anyone either. What I hear the most is "can't get time off work" and "it's too expensive". After seeing colorado's tag prices this year i can't blame some people. bull tag is over 600 now and cow tags went up 150ish i think. other states are even more. hunting solo can be refreshing though

 

[Coveyleader]

Very tough to find a partner, very easy to find "leeches" who simply want to latch on to your success. Kill a few big animals and you will have the equivalent of a craigslist post knocking on your door.

I have one guy now who "tags" along, he's not very serious at all and I'd call him a fair weather hunter. It is what it is, but I don't plan my hunts around him.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

dbaker. I was thinking the same thing as well. I am guessing what is holding some people back is the price of hunts. After this year I am going to start venturing out of state (wedding has my funds this year). I guess we could start a thread called man date or something. Hunting people looking for hunting partners. Haha

 

[live2huntelk]

I'd be willing to meet up with some fellow Western Pa Roksliders somewhere (like Wheeling Cabela's) to meet other Rokslider's that share the passion of western hunting. This could be a first step in seeing if there are common interests, personalities, hunting styles that could lead to a future hunting trip.

 

[smitho]

There are so many factors that come into play, people are so different in their beliefs of how things should be done. Ideally my hunting partner would think just like me, be in similar physical shape as me and have similar goals as me. That's why the best hunting partners I have are my dad and brothers, we are all very similar. My dad is slowing down some now but we still work pretty well together. That being said I don't live real close to them anymore so most of my hunting is done solo, my wife tries to get me to take a partner for safety purposes but that hasn't worked that well. So its kind of a treat when I can go with my bros or dad.

 

[mtnwrunner]

You could always make your wife your hunting partner. I hear its twice as expensive, but twice as rewarding too

Yes, it would be at least TWICE as expensive............And besides, who would take care of 10 horses, 5 dogs and 7 cats while we would be out hunting???
You are all very fortunate to have the best of both worlds. My wife---the best woman on the planet--- is very supportive and understands my passion---plus she loves the meat. I have a lot of friends that have to ask "permission" to go hunting. Man, I could not even imagine that. I think that someone said in an earlier post that folks don't understand what you do all year to just hunt for one month. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of a rifle or the high country.

I guess I got a little off thread but if you do find that magic connection, do all you can to keep it. And that applies to a partners of both kinds.

Randy

 

[realunlucky]

You could always make your wife your hunting partner. I hear its twice as expensive, but twice as rewarding too

That's what I tell my wife,She must not believe me yet as she still stays home

 

[Buster]

You could always make your wife your hunting partner. I hear its twice as expensive, but twice as rewarding too

The twice as expensive part seems to stem from her taxidermy bill more than anything.

 

[5MilesBack]

Why? Because we're all so darn bone-headed stubborn and set in our ways. Hard to find anyone except ourselves that is willing to put up with us for more than a couple minutes. Well, that and most can't keep up with me and when they do.........they just don't hunt the same as I do.

 

[Broz]

Why? Because we're all so darn bone-headed stubborn and set in our ways. Hard to find anyone except ourselves that is willing to put up with us for more than a couple minutes. Well, that and most can't keep up with me and when they do.........they just don't hunt the same as I do.

There is a lot of truth in your statement. I refuse to hunt with egg heads or lead sprayers. As for keeping up, if you loose me make a circle back and look for a guy gutting the game you ran past.

Jeff

 

[coOverwatch]

After three years of friends bailing at the last minute and a substantial investment in gear for the base camp I have decided that I will go it alone. Funny thing is they always find the time to come up to the private property but have difficulty heading in deeper where you have to “hunt” for the game. The invite will still be there but I will not count on anyone to show up.

Last year two friends and I planned a 3rd season hunt. I had the traditional elk camp setup; wall tent, big cylinder stove, cots, camp stoves., ect. All they needed to bring was there bags, packs, gun and tag. The night before we were to leave one said his wife pulled his guy card and he would not be going. Great! He was in charge of the food. Had to run and get all the supplies. Later that night the other called and said he got called into work and would meet me at camp for the last 3 days. He had the ATV’s we were going to use to get up to base camp as my big truck was great for hauling horses but not so good on the tight switchbacks.
Long story short I got to set up the 14 x 17 wall tent in a wind and snow storm, almost slide the truck and atvs off the side of the hill getting to the trail head, and neither one showed up.
I did get the opportunity to meet some great people and had a two camps from CA stop in on occasion to make sure I was doing okay so there are some decent people out there. Even got a good tip as to where the elk in that unit hung out. After 4 days of seeing only Mulie’s (and no tag) I ventured into a basin 5 miles away, elk everywhere. They even showed up to help pack out the cow I dropped without me even asking.

Sorry, RANT 2

This year I am looking at a smaller shelter and stove if it is going to just be me and possibly my wife as she has started hunting. Just have to find someone to take care of the kids, horses and dogs.

 

[husky390]

You have your buddies, and then you have your hunting buddies. It seems to be very rare to have both. I've taken friends with me who talked a good game until we hit the woods. Needless to say, my hunt was pretty much ruined. Last year I was fortunate to meet up with some guy's from AT and hunted with them. Luckily, they've turned into friends as well. My suggestion, find a hunting buddy first. I'm sure you have plenty of regular friends so it's no big deal if you only talk 2 months out of the year. I wish I had the technogeek knowledge to start up a matchmaking site. It could be called huntingbromance or something like that.

 

[brettb]

I believe I am starting to see a great opportunity for the folks that had there partners bail, or simply cant find a partener. Why not start a thread about guys looking to head out or meet up out west ? Could be a great way to meet other fellow roksliders. I could be very beneficial to some and for other it could present the opportunity for great life long friends ships with memories to last a lifetime. Just a thought. should we start a new thread?????????

 

[husky390]

I believe I am starting to see a great opportunity for the folks that had there partners bail, or simply cant find a partener. Why not start a thread about guys looking to head out or meet up out west ? Could be a great way to meet other fellow roksliders. I could be very beneficial to some and for other it could present the opportunity for great life long friends ships with memories to last a lifetime. Just a thought. should we start a new thread?????????

I can see the posts like this.

MWM, looking for archery hunting buddy. Prefers all comms by grunting, must have own tent due to violent outbursts of gas from Mountain House meals and bad B.O. after day 2. Send pics of truck, audio of calling ability.

 

[Ray]

I promised two kids at work that I will take them along and show them the ropes for Denali highway caribou. Neither of them remembered to apply for the free permits despite my weekly prompting.

My best friend of 25 years when asked if he wanted to go sheep hunting last year when I pulled a permit said yes and then went and asked his boss for the time off. A priceless friend.

 

[TJ]

I think the hardest thing about it is finding some one who sacrifices as much as I do to have a successful hunt. If you talk an average hunter and you tell him/her what you endure all year long to prepare for one month a year they will think you are crazy. No blaming them at all for thinking that, to the majority of hunters (not just people) there is so much more to life than just September and the elk rut. To me, my entire world revolves around it. Hard finding some one who has that passion. I used to never understand it, now I accept it and realize I'm probably the crazy one. I would have several GOOD hunting partners if I wanted to have a comfy base camp, hunt for just a weekend then get back to work, and kill an elk every 10 years. But after tasting success, thats just not enough.

Well said.

Why? Because we're all so darn bone-headed stubborn and set in our ways. Hard to find anyone except ourselves that is willing to put up with us for more than a couple minutes. Well, that and most can't keep up with me and when they do.........they just don't hunt the same as I do.

Both of these a so true. There doesn't seem to be many guys that really want to hunt the back country when they realize the commitment it takes.
At my age this is a year around deal. Whether it shooting my bow in the garage, going to the bow bow range, staying, or trying, to stay in shape.

I hunted with my brother for decades until I finally got tired of all the camping instead of the hunting.

 

[fillthefreezer]

i have people approach me all the time about wanting to come on a hunt, and theres a few hunts every year where i feel like a 3rd man would be a huge help. of the 3 people that approached me last year, and the 2 or 3 that my approached my hunting partner, NONE showed up at game time. and were already at 2 for this year, we'll see

 

[OR Archer]

Guess I have been pretty fortunate to have the hunting partners I have now. Both are willing to put in the work prepping and aren't afraid to dive in deep when needed. Motivates me to get my ass in shape and pushes me in the field. Hope to continue hunting with them for years to come.

 

[Bighorse]

Lots of answers to this question. Perhaps your really not the hunter that others want to partner up with. Perhaps you bring too much external bagage to the arrangement. Perhaps your too religious. Perhaps your underprepared. Perhaps your not friendly enough. Perhaps you don't know how to shut up.

Dig deep within yourself when seeking to enhance a relationship. Your certainly not going to change someone else.

If your not willing or capable of changing. Go solo!