solo or with a buddy?

[LittleJohn]

I have a "Spot" for insurance and to make mama feel better. I go solo 100% of time when its over night in the backcountry. Havn't found the right person I guess. I do like the time alone by myself. 

[PlateauNDN]

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.

Met and hunted with some guys from here and they're some stand-up gentlemen.  Making plans for another trip but, longer next year in hopes of filling their tag once they draw it.   Also, hoping to meet up with others as well on here that share the same interest in hunting next year as well.  You'll find somebody and a lot of my hunts whether day trip or multi-day trips are solo, though I love it when I get to be a pack horse, guide and share experiences with a buddy.

[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.

Met and hunted with some guys from here and they're some stand-up gentlemen.  Making plans for another trip but, longer next year in hopes of filling their tag once they draw it.   Also, hoping to meet up with others as well on here that share the same interest in hunting next year as well.  You'll find somebody and a lot of my hunts whether day trip or multi-day trips are solo, though I love it when I get to be a pack horse, guide and share experiences with a buddy.

seems like there are stand up guys here. ive hunted solo or with family. but now ive gone archery im mostly solo...

[fillthefreezer]

its tough having to compromise on pace and plans and so on but once animal hits the dirt its nice not to be alone...

[netcoyote]

Been traveling backcountry solo most of my life. I traveled with others when I was in my climbing days, that was almost mandatory. Most all my backpacking, scouting and hunting trips have been solo. I always left my detailed itinerary with someone and usually tried to stay on route but the temptation to change plans is always strong.

Traveling with a partner always seems to raise the PITA factor beyond my comfort zone. I've had to compromise my plans too many times and I really like the freedom of just going by myself. It seems to sharpen my awareness. I need to think about everything I do and temper it with a "what-if?" But I really find it exhilarating...to a point. Traveling alone has a way of messing with your head. After three or four days I start to get a little batty and long to get back to civilization. The older I get the less I like solo travel but I still get out for a day or two on my own. My longest recent solo trip was a 4 day elk hunt trip last year.

For you guys that mentioned emergency beacons...I think they are a good idea. I had a SPOT beacon for awhile and they are a POS. Avoid them at all costs. A bad beacon is worse than no beacon. Better to travel as if there will be no help available than rely on a false hope that your beacon will bring help.  There are other better beacons on the market...I'll probably get one one of these days.

I believe this would be a better world if more people would take the time to spend a few days in the wild on their own. Nothing like it.

[kentrek]

For you guys that mentioned emergency beacons...I think they are a good idea. I had a SPOT beacon for awhile and they are a POS. Avoid them at all costs. A bad beacon is worse than no beacon.  There are other better beacons on the market...I'll probably get one one of these days.

why do you say there junk ?? did you test it ?? which ones are better ??

[Alan K]

The only reason I'd really like someone else along for the trip is to help pack out an animal in one trip if possible!  Of course there is always a chance of something going wrong no matter how conscientious you are, but if you make yourself aware of all the things that can go wrong ahead of time you'll find yourself not taking any chances and being much more careful. 

[Salmo]

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.

Yep.  A son or brother would be best or a daughter or the likes.  I thought I had picked a great partner with the same goals.  It started as 180"  or bust.  Then the internet chest thumping started.  And now 7 yrs later its all about the meat.    Very disapointing to say the least.  Yes we had sucess but its been a headache.  And now its about the meat.  Meat never was or will be my goal.  180" or bust!  I'll gladly eat a tag and enjoy the experience along the way.  I have a new partner.   My son!   

[netcoyote]

For you guys that mentioned emergency beacons...I think they are a good idea. I had a SPOT beacon for awhile and they are a POS. Avoid them at all costs. A bad beacon is worse than no beacon.  There are other better beacons on the market...I'll probably get one one of these days.

why do you say there junk ?? did you test it ?? which ones are better ??

I actually bought two of them, one for me and one for my wife who rides her horse solo a lot of times. I used and tested mine before she used hers and I decided to take the one back. I tested mine in the field for a whole season so I gave it a fair shake. They have a very weak transmitter and just cannot get a signal out unless they have a totally unobstructed view of the sky. No trees anywhere near. That ruled out about 90% of my travel. The version that I had did not have a way to verify that a signal was sent, not very reassuring. Probably the worst feature of the SPOT is their terrible customer service. I won't go into details but if you don't believe me just read some of the customer reviews on the websites that sell them. Why anyone buys these anymore is beyond me.
I have planned to buy a better beacon but just haven't pulled the trigger yet. The research I have done led me to probably settle on this:
http://www.406link.com/
http://www.rei.com/webservices/rei/DisplayStyle/798479?source=19113&cm_mmc=aff_cj-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na&mr:trackingCode=0758F68E-26B8-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&siteId=cjIsd2x-it3792&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2FOM%2Fstyle%2F798479%3Fcm_mmc%3Daff_cj-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na%26mr%3AtrackingCode%3D0758F68E-26B8-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB%26mr%3AreferralID%3DNA&PID=2640533&AID=10456937&cm_mmc=CJ-_-Aff-_-2640533-_-10456937

[kentrek]

For you guys that mentioned emergency beacons...I think they are a good idea. I had a SPOT beacon for awhile and they are a POS. Avoid them at all costs. A bad beacon is worse than no beacon.  There are other better beacons on the market...I'll probably get one one of these days.

why do you say there junk ?? did you test it ?? which ones are better ??

I actually bought two of them, one for me and one for my wife who rides her horse solo a lot of times. I used and tested mine before she used hers and I decided to take the one back. I tested mine in the field for a whole season so I gave it a fair shake. They have a very weak transmitter and just cannot get a signal out unless they have a totally unobstructed view of the sky. No trees anywhere near. That ruled out about 90% of my travel. The version that I had did not have a way to verify that a signal was sent, not very reassuring. Probably the worst feature of the SPOT is their terrible customer service. I won't go into details but if you don't believe me just read some of the customer reviews on the websites that sell them. Why anyone buys these anymore is beyond me.
I have planned to buy a better beacon but just haven't pulled the trigger yet. The research I have done led me to probably settle on this:
http://www.406link.com/
http://www.rei.com/webservices/rei/DisplayStyle/798479?source=19113&cm_mmc=aff_cj-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na&mr:trackingCode=0758F68E-26B8-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&siteId=cjIsd2x-it3792&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2FOM%2Fstyle%2F798479%3Fcm_mmc%3Daff_cj-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na%26mr%3AtrackingCode%3D0758F68E-26B8-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB%26mr%3AreferralID%3DNA&PID=2640533&AID=10456937&cm_mmc=CJ-_-Aff-_-2640533-_-10456937

ive had one for two years now....dont like hearing these types of comments toward a product that is only used when life is on the line..il have to dig into it more

[boneaddict]

Thanks for you opinion on the thing.  I was going to ask for one for Christmas.

[300rum]

It is hard to find a really good partner.  I find the backcountry both physical and mental.  At some point in time you will be exhausted cold and hungry with cramps or worse all over your body, that is where the mental part comes in.  You want to find someone who breaks long after you would!   

It is hard to find someone who won't complain.  Complaining and tempers really bother me.  When they fall in a creek and soak everything on them and in their pack, will they want to go home or tough it out?  When they shoot an animal early in the hunt and you want to hold out, will they get up every morning and try to help you find/get your animal?  Will they do everything thing they can to try to get home early?

If you have a lot of woods sense and some experience solo is ok.  If you can find that person who is an animal like you are, a tandem team can be real fun too!     

[LittleJohn]

my Spot has never failed to transmit, EVER, I guide in the wilderness and use it twice a day a lot of the times.. It does take up to 20 minutes to verify transmission in thick cover, but I'm good with that. Amazing product as far as I am concerned.

[kentrek]

my Spot has never failed to transmit, EVER, I guide in the wilderness and use it twice a day a lot of the times.. It does take up to 20 minutes to verify transmission in thick cover, but I'm good with that. Amazing product as far as I am concerned.

 

[netcoyote]

my Spot has never failed to transmit, EVER, I guide in the wilderness and use it twice a day a lot of the times.. It does take up to 20 minutes to verify transmission in thick cover, but I'm good with that. Amazing product as far as I am concerned.

I had the first version of their product. Hopefully (and sounds like it) they have improved their transmitter. Still, 20 minutes to transmit seems like a long time.
I just checked Amazon reviews for them and they show 77 reviews with 4-5 stars and 49 ratings with 1-2 stars. That would signal a red flag for me. Obviously some people like them.
http://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Inc-SPOT-1-Personal-Tracker/dp/B000YTZV74
One problem I had with them unrelated to the unit itself was canceling their contract. They have enough weasel-words in the contract that you almost have to cancel your credit card to get out of it. That was after giving them 6 month notice of cancellation. Shouldn't have to be that hard.