Who has had a hunting buddy back out?

[NEWHunter]

I've never hunted out west before, so I made a plan a few years ago with some buddies and family members to hunt antelope in WY this fall. Unfortunately, all four of them couldn't go for one reason or another. I decided I'd try and pull a 2nd choice tag and go by myself. I pulled the tag and will be going solo. At least this way, we all still have our points. I told them if my hunt goes well, we'll all try and go next year on 2nd choice tags. If it goes poorly, I told them I'm burning my 5 points on a good unit.

I've asked just about everyone I know, and none of them are interested enough in committing the time and money necessary to start hunting out west limited entry tags . I'd definitely prefer not to hunt alone, but if this first solo western hunt goes well I may start planning more. Might be time to start applying in New Mexico. Good luck to everybody - hopefully your dedication pays off.

 

[missjordan]

Its not fun when you have a hunting partner back out but its also more miserable when you talk that same person into going and their terrible mood ruins the entire trip

It is hard sometimes to find the right hunting partner. Its rare that we hunt with friends anymore that isnt close to home, our family is very close and remained reliable over the years. Its really a blessing being able to hunt with mom/Dad/and brother all in the same camp. Two factors that I?ve found to be the most difficult is finances and getting the time off. Not many people have the luxury to be gone for 5-12 days or more if needed. Even driving across your home state can be expensive for a resident. Fuel, food costs, and equipment purchases add up quick


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[DH56]

Good luck- I was fortunate to have a few good friends that went out West with me many times. It gets harder as you get older since some hunt less or just don't hunt that much anymore. In any case, I would still go even if I didn't have a partner and that may play out that way in the years to come. I hope to get a few more hunts in before it's too late to do it anymore and to have a partner enjoy the experience with me, but am preparing to go solo if needed. It's been a great ride hunting out West and many good memories and hopefully a few more down the road......

 

[Sawfish]

After having hunting "Buddies" back out at the last minute, and causing me to lose points in two instances, I have been hunting sols for the past ten years. Never regretted it for a minute.

 

[luckynv]

I have had to be that guy a couple of times over the last two years. My wife got cancer in August 16, and numerous complications along the way. I have eaten quite a few tags and I am prepared to eat more if I cant go at the last minute. I do communicate with my buddies though and give as much notice as I am able to. So sometimes there are two sides to a coin. I have 2 cow tags and a deer tag this year. one I intend to do solo and hopefully will be able to make it on the other one. Good luck to ya'll and God Bless

 

[SouthForkguy]

Yeah, it happens. Saddle up and get ready for a solo hunt. Vacation time and life screw up hunting plans, plan to travel solo and if your buddies can come thats great! I will say planning for draws is hard enough for one person let alone 2.

 

[ffd061]

I unfortunately will be going solo this year as well. My hunting buddy was killed in a car accident 2 weeks ago. Really sad situation for his family. We had 9 deer points each going into the draw and ended up getting our second choice whitetail tag. Gonna be tough going solo when I finally draw that mule deer tag. He was always up for a Wyoming adventure and loved hunting out there.

 

[mallardsx2]

I unfortunately will be going solo this year as well. My hunting buddy was killed in a car accident 2 weeks ago. Really sad situation for his family. We had 9 deer points each going into the draw and ended up getting our second choice whitetail tag. Gonna be tough going solo when I finally draw that mule deer tag. He was always up for a Wyoming adventure and loved hunting out there.

Thats really sad right there.

Best of luck to you this season!

 

[mnhoundman]

I unfortunately will be going solo this year as well. My hunting buddy was killed in a car accident 2 weeks ago. Really sad situation for his family. We had 9 deer points each going into the draw and ended up getting our second choice whitetail tag. Gonna be tough going solo when I finally draw that mule deer tag. He was always up for a Wyoming adventure and loved hunting out there.

Sorry for the loss, very sad situation for sure.
See your a firefighter.. I assume Fargo Fire. I'm a volunteer about an hour east.
When you do draw that tag be sure to reach out on here, lots of good people willing to help for sure!!

 

[robsev]

I had a "friend" who I wish would have bailed. We finally drew an elk tag after applying for 10 years. During that 10 year period he gained 80-100 lbs. He seemed all excited when we drew - going to exercise and lose a bunch of weight, and get himself a new rifle because he didn't have one. Well, after I hounded him for several months he called me and told me he started walking, a week before we were scheduled to leave. Then he asked if he could borrow one of my rifles, and maybe a sleeping bag. OK, I did have extras, no problem. The day we were to leave he called and said he absolutely couldn't leave on the specified time that we had agreed on earlier so he would meet me out there. OK, so I drove the 300 miles, set up camp, even set up his cot and rolled out the sleeping bag for him. He showed up about 10 minutes after I was finished. He actually stayed there for 5 days, but all he could do was road hunt. He also wanted to sit in camp and drink a lot of beer and was a little upset with me when I told him I didn't wait for 10 years to get this tag so I could sit in camp and drink beer. The only time we really hunted together was when he would give me a ride to a certain area and then pick me up at the designated pick up spot. On the 5th night he sat in camp and got totally shite faced. He got up in the morning, looked at me and said, I'm going home today, and by the way, something is wrong with your sleeping bag. I got a rash on my feet. (couldn't have been the fact that one thing he did buy himself was a pair of 1000 insulated boots and it was in the 70's all week) I left to hunt, and when I returned he was gone. Took what little he brought and left my now nasty sleeping bag on the cot, just like I left it for him. I ended up shooting a 6 point bull. Loaded it alone, took down the entire camp, and went home. Funniest part about this whole ordeal is for whatever reason the guy ended up being mad at me. He hasn't talked to me since ( it's been over 10 years).

 

[Slugz]

Reading this thread makes me more glad to live in WY. Common practice in my experience is to text a friend, "Wanna hunt this weekend?" Even if the other guy doesn't have a tag, the answer is usually, "Sure, where do we meet and what time should I be there?" or "I can't, but if you get something, let me know and I'll help you pack it out." We typically don't even share meat (don't really need to since everyone fills enough tags to fill his own freezer). The hunt is its own reward.

Yeah after reading all this I guess I should count my blessings. Granted its easier being out here and takes a lot less planning, logistics and overall cost out of the equation.

 

[mallardsx2]

Its not fun when you have a hunting partner back out but its also more miserable when you talk that same person into going and their terrible mood ruins the entire trip

It is hard sometimes to find the right hunting partner. Its rare that we hunt with friends anymore that isnt close to home, our family is very close and remained reliable over the years. Its really a blessing being able to hunt with mom/Dad/and brother all in the same camp. Two factors that I?ve found to be the most difficult is finances and getting the time off. Not many people have the luxury to be gone for 5-12 days or more if needed. Even driving across your home state can be expensive for a resident. Fuel, food costs, and equipment purchases add up quick


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I had this happen when I went to Colorado in 2010. The trip turned into a total nightmare. The guy I went with acted like a lunatic the entire time. It was the WORST trip of my entire life. He was a close friend at the time but after that trip we never spoke much again. I never went hunting with him again. Ever ride with a guy 27 hours straight who wont listen to the radio? I can say I have done it.... Then when we got there he tried to run me over with the truck in the parking lot. Knocked me to the ground with my door and almost ran me over with the drive tire.

These are the reasons why I never go hunting anywhere without wheels. I dont like feeling like I dont have a way out of any situation.

 

[Spudman]

In my younger years I've had "hunting buddies" not back out, but made hunts less enjoyable due to their poor attitudes. Once I took some "first timers" out to a place and asked them to keep it to themselves as to not ruin the area. Saw them the following year with their new buddies in the place I took them. Had some other poor experiences and only hunt solo now. I hope my son grows up to enjoy hunting so he can be my new hunting buddy.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Yep' only three people I count on are me,myself and I.Grandma asked me last Javelina season who was going with me and I told her,the only three people I can count on!She says"Isn't that dangerous?"It's safer than hunting with an idiot.

 

[Redbowman]

I am still not happy my buddy backed out but things have a way of working there selves out. My son got some extra days off and will be hunting with me his first ever western hunt (I'm excited) and the wife said if we take the motorhome she will come also (I'm nervous)!
It will be a great time family and the great outdoors. I have them both hiking now with weighted packs.

 

[Wyoming Hart]

I know that there are things in life that come up that causes plans to change, but I know of a lot of people that when asked are gung-ho on going west to hunt, but that is as far as it goes. When it comes down to it, they have no intentions or interest. Just like a lot of other things in life.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

If you have never hunted out here,you don't know what hunting Is...Bite you...Sting You...Scratch you...Eat You..Spray you...Shoot you...Run you over...Back up ,run you over again!Welcome to Az. Oh Yea!Flash flood your AZZ.I will gladly guide you for a nominal fee...

 

[taskswap]

Do you guys tend to hunt "with" your "hunting buddies"? I have a couple people I "hunt with" but not during the day. They're just extra bodies for a joke around camp and to split the camp chores, maybe play a couple rounds of cards or Yahtzee if it's not quite bedtime yet. When we actually go out to HUNT it's always in different directions. The most we do is work out quadrants where we'll be in case somebody gets hurt, and to avoid accidents...

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Always give coordinants/time in or out..better safe than sorry.Hunting alone saves worry.Unless I don't come Back.Clint Eastwood:"Coyotes Gotta Eat Too"

 

[Wyoming Hart]

If you have never hunted out here,you don't know what hunting Is...Bite you...Sting You...Scratch you...Eat You..Spray you...Shoot you...Run you over...Back up ,run you over again!:

I always say this about summer. I hate summer. Everyone around here says about how they love summer and can't wait for it to get here during winter. It is miserable in every aspect to me, just like what you said about everything is out to get you!