TO HUNT ALONE OR NOT

[ridgerunner]

Just wandering what people thought on this subject?

[madduckdog]

in our part of the country it may be the only choice

few bird hunters left.

fewer willing to go on a boon doggle "trip up north"

[GWPtyler]

That's a tough question, and for someone who does both frequently, I'll weigh in.

Now that I have a dog, I'm much more willing to hunt along than before. That, and my wife doesn't worry as much about me if I'm solo.

But I also like to go hunting with others, especially waterfowling. Setting up a few dozen decoys while brushing blinds and getting it all done before shooting time is a tall order by yourself. Have I done it? Yes. But after two or three times, it gets tiring. Besides, sometimes it''s nice to have someone to talk to in between action. And an extra pair of eyes watching the horizon for birds is never a negative.

What IS a negative, at least to me, is the actual shooting. For some reason, I'm an absolutely horrid shot when hunting with others. I chalk it up to pressure. If I'm along, I'm not really thinking about someone firing before me, so I have time to run through proper shot placement. But when you're with four of five other people, it's almost a battle just to get the barrel up and shoot your three rounds before anyone else.

Then there's always the proverbial "I shot at that bird, too." When everyone limits out, that's usually not a big deal. But I've seen more than one scuffle over a banded bird that didn't end pretty. Egos get in the way of a lot of things, and when it comes to hunting I don't believe there is enough room in my party for much of it.

But while I do like the camaraderie and memories made while hunting with others, there is just something almost mystical about a successful solo hunt. When all the pieces of the puzzle come together and it's just you and your dog, there is NO better feeling in the world. To just sit back and watch a dazzling fall sunrise light up the landscape and have just the sound of your own head to muddle up things is the closest to paradise I've ever been.

So there is a time and place for both. I enjoy hunting with friends and family once and a while, but you can bet I'll be making several solo trips, too, just to get out for some one-on-one time with the pooch. And because I can...

[Mountaineer]

Depends upon how you mean the question.

Hunting alone is preferred by many for the solitary experience and practical freedom of choice afforded to man and dog.
There are tho areas where traipsing alone can be less than wise should injury occur.
Likely also depends upon hunter age and health.
As well, there are the newest GPS units that offer much more security and confidence than the old map and compass...and the SPOT units can indeed be lifesavers.

As far as hunting itself goes, whether it be a plains bird or one deep in the woods...a maximum of two hunters and one dog down is my preferred choice and very efficient in harvesting birds or memories both.

[Ryman Gun Dog]

Ridgerunner,
I hunt and train my Grouse dogs in the Pa state forest most times alone. As I have aged my wife now worries that I might be injured. I do go a might slower these days but because I grew up in the Pa forest, I am careful and now invite someone else along more than I use too. Hunting alone is one of the most enjoyable times a man and dog can have, there is nothing like the peace and quiet of the forest, especially on a light snow cover mountain.
RGD/Dave

Harold one of my Grouse hunting buddies


One of my favorite hunting buddies

[displaced_texan]

I greatly enjoy hunting alone, although I'm a very social person, there is just something about being alone out there with the dog, or dogs now that I have two...

I don't do it much, just a few times a year. Mostly because of the chance of injury, for myself and the dogs. I'm young, strong, and in excellent shape, but accidents happen. Especially with the dogs, I've dealt with many injured dogs over the years, hurt dogs are generally scared dogs. Scared dogs are harder to care for alone.

I'm not generally a worrier, but I do try to be cautious and responsible, as much as I enjoy my time in the wilds alone, I tend to only go a few times a season for safety, and to keep my wife from worrying to much.

[dualsetter]

Love being in the grouse woods with just the dog, It is a liberating experience for sure. I have a great hunting buddy who comes into town to share a week of woodcock season every year, we always look forward to it. Wouldn't say I prefer hunting alone, it is more out of necessity.

[MO_GSP]

i hunt alone some, seems to be when my dogs are at the top of their game. most of the time i take 1-2 ppl with me usually alternate between my 2 brothers, bro in law or dad, and i invite one of the landowners that gives me permission to hunt.

i really enjoy hunting alone but my favorite is to hunt with my dad we always carry his fathers old side by sides and have a great time, never a dull moment hunting with my bros either they cudnt be any different if they tried lots of laughs and ribs at each other as lifelong memories are being made, as the oldest it prides me to bring us all together a few times a year and chase down a few birds

[jimssetters]

When i started hunting it was always with my uncle and dad. Dad now has problems with arthritis uncle moved to Texas. I enjoyed the quite time alone until my son started hunting. Now iam back to hunting myself , son moved off to school. All times are enjoyable, memories to be made both ways.

[CHJIII]

It seems like I do more hunting alone the last couple fo years. My hunting partner, my step-dad, hit 72 this year. He still goes out with me when he can. I don't really trust any of my "friends" shooting over my dogs. they have demonstrated that they don't have a clue.

[ACooper]

Though I rarely have to hunt alone, it does not bother me at all. Sometimes its even enjoyable.

[Max2]

Max & I are the team. We hunt most every day of the season. Woodcock & grouse are what we hunt. Once in a while the folk's that got me into bird dogs will come for hunt visit. Which for me is very enjoyable . Were fortunate to live where we hunt.

[SetterNut]

I like to hunt with the dogs, alone or with a Trusted hunting partner. Hunting with a partner that you enjoy being with is best, but hunting just you and the dog(s) is something that I really like to do as well. But I let people know where I am going to hunt and take the cell phone.

If I am hunting alone it will be on quail or Prairie Chicken, where I can take pictures of the dog on point and then walk in and shoot the bird.

[jimssetters]

I like to hunt with the dogs, alone or with a Trusted hunting partner. Hunting with a partner that you enjoy being with is best, but hunting just you and the dog(s) is something that I really like to do as well. But I let people know where I am going to hunt and take the cell phone.

If I am hunting alone it will be on quail or Prairie Chicken, where I can take pictures of the dog on point and then walk in and shoot the bird.

Are you trying to say pheasants dont want to be photographed with your dog?

[Thinking]

I do both, and like each for different reasons. Hunting with a buddy is always fun, and the comradarie is great, but there is the issue of having witnesses for your bad shots. I enjoy solo hunting for the solitude. After spending the better part of two decades in EMS and several years doing SAR, I've seen what can go wrong, even with experienced outdoorsmen. When I hunt solo, I leave a trip plan, and don't deviate from it unless I have to, and when I do I make an obvious trail that is easy to follow.

[Onk]

Sometimes you just have to hun alone.....that is if you want to hunt!

[gspguy]

I love hunting alone. I can do it my way and I love the challenge of bagging a rooster with just me & the dog. The satisfaction is tremendous when it works the way you want it to. You have to tip your cap to the bird when it doesn't.

[GWPtyler]

I love hunting alone. I can do it my way and I love the challenge of bagging a rooster with just me & the dog. The satisfaction is tremendous when it works the way you want it to. You have to tip your cap to the bird when it doesn't.

Amen! Couldn't have said it better than that!

[timhambidge]

i love to hunt by myself. Get into the north-woods of Wisconsin just me and the dog. Now have a 2nd dog debating whether to hunt them together or separate. part of dilemma is i can concentrate on one dog much more than i can when both are down. I enjoy just me and the dog. trying to figure out the topography, habitat, etc by myself. That all being said...I am getting older and try to hunt where people know where i am going. some of those north-woods, if you break and ankle you are on your own...not a lot of cell coverage in Northern Wisconsin.

[MikeAZ]

I mostly hunt alone. I can hunt for awhile, sit under a tree and take a nap and basically do whatever I want.

Before I leave I leave a map to the area I am in. Even here in AZ, most of where I bird hunt is within cell phone coverage so people can reach me. If I am out of cell coverage I give a time that they need to hear from me before they worry etc.

Don't get me wrong, I like to hunt with others, but 90% of my hunts are solo.

[Sue]

Alone, especially pup's first season. Last thing you need is buddies firing off 12 guages repeatedly around a new hunting pup.

Once you get past that first season, be very choosy about who you hunt with. Some folks are not as careful with their shots as others. The dog's safety comes first for me, not getting a bird...

[Sharon]

I used to worry about my 70 year old Dad going hunting on his own. I talked him into taking a cellphone. He always said that he couldn't imagine a better way to cross over, then having a heart attack in the woods.

[Upland Point]

Alone, especially pup's first season. Last thing you need is buddies firing off 12 guages repeatedly around a new hunting pup.

Once you get past that first season, be very choosy about who you hunt with. Some folks are not as careful with their shots as others. The dog's safety comes first for me, not getting a bird...

Exactly!

[jimbo&rooster]

I prefer too hunt alone. I have 1-2 friends that will join me from time to time but for the most part it is more enjoyable for me to spend time with my dogs and move along at my own pace doing it my own way.

I have also found that when I hunt wild birds on my own it doesnt really make a difference to me if I come home with an empty bag or a limit. I bird hunt because I ejoy watching the dogs work, fried quail breasts with biscuits and gravy it a pleasant bonus.

Jim

[SetterNut]

I like to hunt with the dogs, alone or with a Trusted hunting partner. Hunting with a partner that you enjoy being with is best, but hunting just you and the dog(s) is something that I really like to do as well. But I let people know where I am going to hunt and take the cell phone.

If I am hunting alone it will be on quail or Prairie Chicken, where I can take pictures of the dog on point and then walk in and shoot the bird.

Are you trying to say pheasants dont want to be photographed with your dog?

No, its not that I don't take pics when hunting pheasants, it that we don't have many around here, and when we go west to hunt pheasants several of us drive out.

[Prairie Hunter]

I like hunting with other so we can share the experience. However, sometime I like to hunt alone, just me and the dogs. My only concern about hunting alone is one of safety. When I was young, and thought I was immortal, I didn't hesitate to hunt alone. However, I was hunting deer alone once, got my foot tangled in a downed barbed wire fence that was covered with wet leaves. I lost my footing, and fell. I managed to dislocate my shoulder. Because I was by myself, I had to put the shoulder back in myself, and walk about a couple of miles back to my car. I had climbed a couple of fences getting into my spot, but couldn’t climb them to get out the same way because of the arm. I had find an easier route, but it meant going the long way around. I thought about how it would have turned out had I broken a leg or had a more severe injury out there alone. It would have been much tougher to get out of there. It was cold & rainy. Hypothermia probably would have set in pretty quickly if I had been unable to get up and get moving. I’m much more careful about hunting alone now.

[Mike50]

Reason for your question is ? New pup? I myself hunt when when work allows so if it's alone so be it. I do enjoy hunting with others just so they know. I can hit a bird on the fly The season only last so long then what?

[2dogs]

I end up chukar hunting alone most of the time, not by choice but one hunting buddy moved and the other one lost his dog and thinks he is to old to get another so its either hunt alone or don't hunt chukar and we know that's not an option! I do generally let someone know the general area I will be and that I will be back by dark.

[ezzy333]

I end up chukar hunting alone most of the time, not by choice but one hunting buddy moved and the other one lost his dog and thinks he is to old to get another so its either hunt alone or don't hunt chukar and we know that's not an option! I do generally let someone know the general area I will be and that I will be back by dark.

I have friends, sons, and neighbors without dogs so it is seldom I go by myself since I can get youngsters and oldsters involved in hunting by asking them to go along.

Ezzy

[Chukar12]

I have friends, sons, and neighbors without dogs so it is seldom I go by myself since I can get youngsters and oldsters involved in hunting by asking them to go along.

Ezzy

this stuff and the work you guys do on the training days is very cool...

[gonehuntin']

I hunt alone 95% of the time and always have. I'm an old duffer but never worry about getting hurt. I like having other people in camp, but prefer to hunt alone. That way, no one is witness to the disgustingly easy shots I miss.

[QuillGordon]

Hunting alone is preferred by many for the solitary experience and practical freedom of choice afforded to man and dog.

Well said.
I prefer it for the above reasons. We are now in the habit of going two separate courses with hunting buds. You take that ridge & I'll take this one sort of thing. It's hunting alone with the benefits of carpooling