Free: Contests & Raffles.
I don't think you'll find your future hunting partner on "real match.com hunting forum." Where you will find a person with like qualities is out in the field. When your scouting and run into someone else who's scouting and that person(s) you'll have a connection for lack of a better term. As they are out doing the same thing you are doing and perhaps have the same burning desire to get better and harvest trophy's.
This is something I have been contemplating for a few years now and haven't been able to bring myself to publicly seek out a new hunting partner. Not because I'm embarrassed or afraid, I'm just VERY skeptical and cautious of who I'll spend time with and trust in the mountains. A little about myself. I'm passionately addicted to hunting (mostly archery). Some would call it obsessive. I'm always looking for ways to learn, improve, and up my chances at being successful year round. I'm 27 years old and workout 5-6 days a week, all year long in an effort to never fail physically when afield. In the off season I constantly shoot my bow (100 arrows a week) and am the guy driving down the freeway rippin' out bugles from my tube (PHELPS of course, only the best will work for me ). After work if I have an extra hour before my usual 9:30 bedtime , I'm usually cruising the forums and Google Earth scouting new areas to venture in to. I try to learn a new hunting area every summer. Some have turned into honey holes and some have been a simple walk through the woods. I'm an aggressive hunter. I call until I've worn out my reeds, and then open up a fresh one and call some more. I target active animals and believe that somewhere in the area I'm hunting, there is an animal that is willing to fall victim to my arrow. That being said, I have the patience to sit behind my spotting scope for 4 hours if I feel like I'm in promising country. Mentally, I don't quit until I have gotten what I came for, or the law says it's time to go home I get away from roads and other hunters and critique my gear and only take what I need to live for 2 weeks and successfully harvest and pack out my animals. I could go on for quite a while, but I'm sure you get the point and enough about me....What I'm looking for in someone to share my hunts with. MENTALLY: First and foremost, you MUST know wrong from right, and in the heat of the moment you must have ethics that hold up. I have no interest in any people that bend the rules, hunt as a group to fill tags, shoot animals they don't have a tag for and then want to drive to town and buy a tag, give up on blood trails when they get tough to follow, and don't respect the animals they're willing to kill. This individual needs to be mentally tough and focused on what they're there for. One that doesn't pack it up on day 10 of a 13 day hunt because they're home sick, hungry for a burger, what ever the reason may be. I understand emergencies and family obligations, but being soft isn't an option. Equally as important, somebody that is trust worthy. If things go south and lives are on the line, I need to know you're going to do whatever it takes to help eachother survive. Backpacking into the wilderness you are assuming responsibility for your life as well as your partners. Someone that knows how to not take I calculated risks. PHYSICALLY: Take your health seriously. Don't get on an elliptical machine in July for your upcoming hunt in September. Always be able and ready to get that phone call on a random Thursday evening asking if you want to climb over these 3 ridges to take a look at this basin on Saturday morning. I won't say don't eat like crap, some people are absolute beasts and eat nothing but Oreos and pizza. Whatever works for your conditioning, do it. Just share that intensity for a good blood pumping workout as I do, and when you're out of breath think of that bull you want to chase. "The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle" mentality. HUNTING STYLE: I'm always open to successful suggestions, but for the most part, I'm looking for someone similar. Cover ground looking for animals, yet knows when to slow down and creep based upon terrain that looks or feels gamey. PLEASE know how to quietly and stealthily stalk an animal. Be aware of where each step is being placed. Stay on top of your game with calling and always look to get better. Don't take risky shots or shots above your ability. Not afraid to be down in a hell hole until 15 mins after dark. Practice shooting so that it becomes second nature to lace an arrow at whatever range you will shoot at. That's up to you. Know when to move and bust ass when needed to catch up to animals, but also know when to sit down for 20-30 mins and reflect on the God given country that we get to explore. Take pictures and be ok with that being your trophy if you've hunted hard and couldn't seal the deal. Nobody is perfect. I'm sure I've left out some important details about myself and what I'm looking for in a new hunting partner, but if you share the same passions and intensity about hunting maybe it could turn into something fun to chase these critters through these steep hills and waist deep snow. Shoot me a PM and maybe we'll meet up at the range sometime and BS a bit. If I respectfully say "thanks but no thanks", don't take it personally. That's just my gut feeling talking and it's probably best we just stay off the same hills -Logan
Don't be running away to far. Steve, pops and I like hearing your stories when you come out to restock. W
