Been planning this years hunt for a year my Hunting Partner of many years has been all in. He got the time off , purchased new boots, new pack, exercising etc and today he backs out. His loss, we cashed in 11 elk points and pulled a deer tag and the hunt will go on. My concern is spiking out alone and once the animal is down getting it to the coolers before it spoils. Now I'm thinking about packers and reaching out to other hunters in the same unit.
Who has had a hunting buddy back out?
- Thread starter Redbowman
- Start date
LCH
Very Active Member
I've had it happen several times with extended family members. Now I just plan a hunt, and if someone wants to go along they can, but their participation has no bearing on whether I go or not.
Back in 2014 I had 2 guys I met on another hunting forum say for months that they were going to meet me in the unit for a hunt. One of them had a tag, the other lived fairly close and was just going to tag along. I exchanged PMs, texts, and phone calls right up until time for the hunt. I drove out to Wyoming, set up camp, etc. and nobody ever showed up. After a couple of days I drove down out of the mountains and called each of them.. Lame excuses about something coming up and not being able to make it. Crazy! I killed an elk and a whitetail on that trip solo, so it probably turned out better without them.
Back in 2014 I had 2 guys I met on another hunting forum say for months that they were going to meet me in the unit for a hunt. One of them had a tag, the other lived fairly close and was just going to tag along. I exchanged PMs, texts, and phone calls right up until time for the hunt. I drove out to Wyoming, set up camp, etc. and nobody ever showed up. After a couple of days I drove down out of the mountains and called each of them.. Lame excuses about something coming up and not being able to make it. Crazy! I killed an elk and a whitetail on that trip solo, so it probably turned out better without them.
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
If I was close I would definitely go along,Az.is too far even for me.Had a buddy come along on my once in a lifetime Mogollon Rim Bull Elk hunt."seasoned hunter,plenty of kills under his belt" so he said.As soon as we got up top into serious fog banks he had a panic attack.I thought it was altitude sickness.It lasted for three days.Drove him all the way back to Phx.-He was fine as soon as he got out of the truck!Drove all the way back to camp only to find a big gut pile in the meadow the next morning.Plan alone,hunt alone.Probably never draw a Bull tag again.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
I can relate to having others cancel. I too now plan for myself. If someone is interested fine.
Only once have I had to cancel a hunt due to a ailing family member, but was able to turn in my tag and provided all the info to my partner, but he chose not to go, but was understanding and in-turn got a tag refund. I felt bad for him, but I had him all setup so it was his choice.
Only once have I had to cancel a hunt due to a ailing family member, but was able to turn in my tag and provided all the info to my partner, but he chose not to go, but was understanding and in-turn got a tag refund. I felt bad for him, but I had him all setup so it was his choice.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I organize hunting and fishing trips with friends every year. Things come up- stuff happens. I always plan on people cancelling so it never has a negative impact on my hunting or fishing.
Mule3006Elk
Active Member
- Jul 3, 2013
- 264
- 82
PlainsHunter
Active Member
It’s happened to me many times. That why I started to solo. It was difficult for a few years but just had to be ready for multiple trips and not going too far then I could safely get the meat to a cooler.
BAKPAKR
Active Member
- May 10, 2018
- 194
- 121
My brother and one of my friends were going to go with me on a moose hunt near the head of the Selway River in Idaho (five to six hour drive from home). At the last minute, they decided that there were elk to chase with their bows in the North Idaho hotspot we had found two years earlier. I ended up shooting a small bull with my recurve a little over a mile from the road early on the the first morning of the trip and packing it out by myself. Between camping gear and moose, the bed of my Mazda B2600 was pretty full.
I can’t hold a grudge because it wound up being a fun experience and they have joined me on many, many hunts after that.
I can’t hold a grudge because it wound up being a fun experience and they have joined me on many, many hunts after that.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,917
- 3,235
I have had several people back out on me. Mostly due to financial reasons.
I did have to take a friend to town because he got altitude sickness in 2016. I had two other guys with me so it wasn't a huge deal but I hate hunting elk with three people. Then after the one guy killed a bull he decided it would be cool if he just left to go home early and save vacation. I'll NEVER hunt with that guy again.
As of right now nobody has backed out on the hunting trips we have planned for this fall.
If they do, I'm still going with or without them.
I never put myself in a position that I dont have wheels under me when I go on hunting trips for this very reason. If you go with me and plan to leave early, my suggestion is that you A, either find someone else to hunt with, or B bring your own truck.
If you do plan on leaving early you better bring that up before we go. I want to know what your intentions are...If I know, I'll be ok with it. I dont like surprises after driving across the country.
Gotta be careful who you hunt with and who you plan trips with. Thats a fact.
I did have to take a friend to town because he got altitude sickness in 2016. I had two other guys with me so it wasn't a huge deal but I hate hunting elk with three people. Then after the one guy killed a bull he decided it would be cool if he just left to go home early and save vacation. I'll NEVER hunt with that guy again.
As of right now nobody has backed out on the hunting trips we have planned for this fall.
If they do, I'm still going with or without them.
I never put myself in a position that I dont have wheels under me when I go on hunting trips for this very reason. If you go with me and plan to leave early, my suggestion is that you A, either find someone else to hunt with, or B bring your own truck.
If you do plan on leaving early you better bring that up before we go. I want to know what your intentions are...If I know, I'll be ok with it. I dont like surprises after driving across the country.
Gotta be careful who you hunt with and who you plan trips with. Thats a fact.
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Fink
Veteran member
I'll be in the Bighorns the same time as you. Quite a few units in the area, not sure what one you're in, if you want, you can PM me. not sure what, if any help I can provide, since we're most likely in different units.. But, send me a PM, we can compare units, and then at least you'll have some people that are decently close by..
Team Kabob
Very Active Member
- May 9, 2014
- 793
- 148
I?ve had it happen with buddies backing out early before tags are bought. Most had good reasons on change of plans. So the options were still open for me to go or not.
One place I have failed at was not being prepared enough for my first elk hunt I did a few years back. I was not ready physically and it pulled on me mentally later in the hunt. Mountains are no joke. I hope it didn?t ruin my buddies hunt. It isstill one of my most memorable hunts even with the struggles, you still learn from it.
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One place I have failed at was not being prepared enough for my first elk hunt I did a few years back. I was not ready physically and it pulled on me mentally later in the hunt. Mountains are no joke. I hope it didn?t ruin my buddies hunt. It isstill one of my most memorable hunts even with the struggles, you still learn from it.
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JimP
Administrator
I have given up on 90% of my old hunting partners. They know that I go hunting every year now and that if they want to tag along it is fine but I don't count on them showing up. We even had one back out of a out of state hunt one year because he couldn't bring his horse for some reason and he didn't want to hike. He ate quite a bit of money on that tag.
prhunter
Active Member
I can relate to hunting buddies backing out. My buddy and I drew NM deer tags under the same application. I took off a day early to get a nice camping spot, left him directions on how to get there. The guy never showed up and I ended up shooting the nicest mulie I've shot to date with my muzzleloader.
Also, I always here guys at work asking me about deadlines to put in for hunt draws. Its funny to me how they always ask when its too late. I've figured over the years that they have no real interest in hunting.
Only a handful of people have expressed true interest.
Also, I always here guys at work asking me about deadlines to put in for hunt draws. Its funny to me how they always ask when its too late. I've figured over the years that they have no real interest in hunting.
Only a handful of people have expressed true interest.
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.
Yell Co AR Hunter
Very Active Member
Only a couple people I would plan a hunt with. The buddy I came to Wyoming last year is one of them. I have hunted with him for 20 years. Way to much time and money invested in a hunt 1200 miles from home. I heard of the shoot mine and go type. Nothing worse than that kind of partner. You have to know the person very well. To many guys give up to easy. Hunting out West is just to much for the casual hunter. You hunt till everyone fills their tags no ifs, ands, or buts. If I did go with someone else I did not know that well. I would dang sure have my own vehicle or I might get left.
JEandAsGuide
Active Member
I have one friend that I don?t worry about when we plan a hunt together. He has proven it but hasn?t kept up with his points like I have. After the last 5 years, everyone else makes me a bit nervous when they ask to come with me. I still have only been solo out west once and will be doing a lot more of it in the future. Being from the south, the most common thing that has happened to me is guys not being prepared mentally to be that uncomfortable and disconnected for a week or more which usually ends up in them wanting to leave early. Even if they don?t say it, they send every signal possible that they are ready to go. The other is not working hard enough during the off season and then they can?t keep up. It?s easy for guys who grew up in a tree stand to watch dvds and tv shows of elk and mule deer hunts and dream of doing it. It?s just like anything else in life that looks amazing but it?s not until you get involved that you realize just how much time and effort it takes to make it amazing. I enjoy spending time with them but I will probably starting hunting more solo in the future simply because none of my hunting buddies or family members have kept up with their points like I have but what the past has taught me is if some of them want to join me on a general hunt, I have to be up front with expectations. I spend too much time during the off season, spend too much money on applications and tags and vacation time on hunts I could be spending with my family to have a hunting partner cry about being tired or scared and want to go home. As far as them backing out, it wouldn?t bother me one bit. I would respect that decision. Rather them back out than feel obligated to come and have a poor attitude that drags me down.
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