solo or with a buddy?

[addicted2hunting]

Hey guys, I want to start bowhunting the backcountry and was wondering what the typical scenario is for you guys that are experienced backcountry hunters? Is it feasable to do it solo or not a good idea? I dont know a lot of bowhunters so getting a partner to do a lot of backcountry hunting is tough for me. I dont mind going solo just never been backpacking alone.

[boneaddict]

Solo, but you can get into trouble very fast. 

[boneaddict]

I have noticed its also not for most people.   Its a mental thing as well as being a seasoned confident outdoorsman.  Cameron touches on it in his book.

[brocka]

Solo is tough, mentally & physically. But unless you can find a hunting partner that shares the same goals & motivation solo is the way to go.

[addicted2hunting]

Solo, but you can get into trouble very fast.

Yeah, im sure it can be very unforgiving. is weather the most dangerous aspect would you say?

[addicted2hunting]

I will be buying cams book shortly. I really want to challenge myself mentally, face my fears. I dont know if its the solitude or what but it just seems so alluring. I just didnt know if I was being dumb by going by myself or not? haha. what duration is the average that people spend on a solo?

[boneaddict]

No, you can prepare for weather.   Walking, or health.   Slip on a rock, slip on a limb.  Have a limb come back in your eye.   Having an allergic reaction to a bee or a flower.  Cut yourself, back go out, that sort of thing.

[kentrek]

For me its mental,doesnt take long before ya really mis your huntin partner...somethings are too good not to be shared

[bobcat]

Maybe just me but the way I would look at it is if you have a family that depends on you, then I wouldn't risk going solo. All kinds of things can go wrong. Having a partner could be the difference between coming out alive or not.

[boneaddict]

I slipped in a slide shoot and lost about a 1,000 feet of altitude at full speed one time. I slowed to a halt right before I hit the boulders at the bottom.   I had to climb back up and get my bow though.  A broken leg would have been devastating. Let alone anything else that could have happened.

I killed a buck and was packing it out and it had been freezing rain.  I rolled off the mountain with my buck on my back and twisted my back really bad once.   I crawled to the trail and another pair of folks happen to hunt by.   He carried my pack out for me as I limped along behind.

I rolled a log I was straddled one time.  Killed my camera but I was fine. 

Was standing next to a creek and the next thing I knew I was face first in it.   Bank gave way.   It was about a 10 foot drop.  I had a 100 pound pack on.   That was more than just refreshing. 

Those are just a few examples, and no, I wouldn't really consider myself a clutze.   I suppose the country I hunt I am just one step from disaster at all times.

[Jingles]

If you have been fortunate enough to have a regular hunting buddy then solo will be a different and maybe a disappointment but if like me been hunting solo a majority of the time it is just another walk in the park. A big deciding factor is how confident are you in your abilities to handle an emergency if by yourself?  Personally anything this side of death I feel I can handle.

[Holg3107]

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

Think about one of these as insurance. They aren't cheap but for a solo high hunt in the wilderness it may not be a bad idea. I haven't hunted the high hunt yet, but do hunt solo on multi-day backpacking trips and have had similar occurrences as Bone. Slipped off a log and had a sharp branch go through the sole of my boot and into my foot. Was 3 miles in on day one of five and was able to get back out relatively unscathed since I had a good med kit with me but it wouldn't have taken much for it to end worse. (also changed my footware after that)

[boneaddict]

I've been thinking about them, especially now that they are half what they were priced.   Price is really coming down on them

[addicted2hunting]

wow, some pretty close calls. I guess i really never thought about slips and falls. It doesnt take much to keep you stuck and injured. have any of you went on trips with guys from here? It is tough to find someone with the same goals and desires to hunt the backcountry with. I only have one of my hunting buddies that is a bowhunter.

[Holg3107]

Addicted, shoot me a PM and we can talk. Its something ive been wanting to do just a bit shaky about the solo aspect (and thats almost all i do is solo) so we may make a good team.