Tips for safe solo hunting

[Grousehunter19]

Hey y’all I’m looking to start bear hunting next year and was wondering if you guys have any tips for how to stay safe while bear hunting solo. I heard in hunter Ed your supposed to shoot that bear in the head when you walk up on the body to make sure it is actually dead, seems like it would ruin the skull but also interested if anybody actually does this.

[7mmfan]

Pumping one more in the head to be sure is a bit overkill. Be cautious, have a round in the chamber pointed at the target as you approach. Give it a strong nudge on the rump with the rifle barrel and see if you get any reaction. If you can circle it and get a look at it's eyes you can tell if it's dead or alive without approaching it.

Most of all, just use your common sense. Bears don't play possum, if they're alive when you approach, you'll know it. Bears are tough, but they aren't super natural. Give them healthy respect, but don't be afraid of them.

[trophyhunt]

The skull is too important to me to shoot it, no need to. If a bear is dead, he won’t be moving, I’ve never seen one not dead just laying still. But, approaching a bear you shot on your own is exciting, nothing like walking up on a deer/elk. Just have your gun ready, safety off, and put the barrel on his eye. Don’t worry, if it moves, the gun will go off before you know it!     I solo hunt alone 99% of the time, I love it! You get more out of it, it’s quiet, no one to tell you different on your thoughts of where to go, what to do.  It’s very hard work if/when you are successful, but very rewarding.  Just relax, make a good shot and enjoy the solitude !

[Timberstalker]

Who put the class on, Inslee?

[D-Rock425]

Who put the class on, Inslee?

[Seabass]

I hunt alone 99% of the time...for everything. The most dangerous part of my hunt's are the drive to and from. Accidental falls or other injuries that can leave you stranded are WAY more probable than any mishap with a wounded bear. If you are new to hunting alone it's likely that you will be very naturally cautious...maybe even "over cautious" in some instances.

[phildobaggins]

Who put the class on, Inslee?

[Wanttohuntmore]

Who put the class on, Inslee?

 

Some people just have way too much fear in the woods.   

[Rob]

Been Teaching Hunters Ed in the state for about 12 years.  I can assure you there is no curriculum that recommends shooting a bear in the head upon approach of the body.  More than likely it was an opinion of one of the instructors or someone else in the class.

For that individual, that may be their preferred way to approach "dangerous" game.  And that is fine.  I would not recommend that personally.  Any animal that is down needs to be verified as dead before you touch them.  For example, if you approach a deer that you think is dead, and the first thing you do is grab the rack...  he may not react well if he was just stunned and the act of grabbing the rack made him come to!  He may not have a mouth full of sharp teeth like a bear, but he does have a an arsenal of pokey things on his head for self defense - and I bet he would not hesitate to use them!

As noted above, the way to verify an animal is dead is to tough the eyeball.  if they are alive, the eye will twitch.  Then you either put another round in the animal, or wait it out.

As for safety when solo hunting, I like to carry an in-reach satellite communicator.  Really nice to be able to call for assistance if you run into trouble while outside. 

[Chesterdog]

A buddy of mine is in the military and he recently had a gander at my hunting gear and was shocked that I didn't carry a tourniquet with how remote and rugged the areas I hunt are.  He convinced me to carry one in my pack and in my truck.  "You never know when you'll slip and end up in the *censored*." 

[buckfvr]

I can say what was safe at 40+- is no longer safe at 67.  I still almost entirely hunt solo and call for assistance when and where I can, but recently on a grown over skidder I got my 14ees hooked up in some tangle foot and fell twice in 5 minutes, once forward, then backwards.

Seems as though tripping/falling ( especially in snow ) is now common for me where years ago it just didnt happen.  I still prefer solo as over the years most of my success and my best have been solo.  2 guys make 3 times as much noise as 1.

Funny thing is when I hunted my youngest son as a kid, I always told him to walk like an indian, referring to silent, and now the few times he and I have done any woods stuff, mostly scouting or cams and stands, he gets pithy with me and tells me to try walking like an indian.

[pickardjw]

I carry a satellite communicator (Zoleo) everywhere and an external battery charger for multi-day trips. For those multi-day trips too, remember that your water filter can freeze and your batteries can die from the cold. I keep them in my pockets at all times and in a ziplock in my sleeping bag at my feet.

Need to revamp my med kit though...benadryl, quik-clot and a tourniquet for sure

[carpsniperg2]

Been Teaching Hunters Ed in the state for about 12 years.  I can assure you there is no curriculum that recommends shooting a bear in the head upon approach of the body.  More than likely it was an opinion of one of the instructors or someone else in the class.

For that individual, that may be their preferred way to approach "dangerous" game.  And that is fine.  I would not recommend that personally.  Any animal that is down needs to be verified as dead before you touch them.  For example, if you approach a deer that you think is dead, and the first thing you do is grab the rack...  he may not react well if he was just stunned and the act of grabbing the rack made him come to!  He may not have a mouth full of sharp teeth like a bear, but he does have a an arsenal of pokey things on his head for self defense - and I bet he would not hesitate to use them!

As noted above, the way to verify an animal is dead is to tough the eyeball.  if they are alive, the eye will twitch.  Then you either put another round in the animal, or wait it out.

As for safety when solo hunting, I like to carry an in-reach satellite communicator.  Really nice to be able to call for assistance if you run into trouble while outside.

I will echo this.
Its not just for bear, deer and elk can kill people to.
There was a archery hunter killed last year in oregon that stuck a bull and walked up on it trying to put another arrow in it. The bull gored him to death.

I have walked up and plenty of animals and dangerous game and always come from behind. Make noise first, then I will touch the hind end with the barrel and then move to a postion to touch the eye.

My wife stunned a buck with a high shot. When we walked up we got about 5 yards away and I said hey real loud. I had a feeling he wasn't out but hadn't moved at all. He stood and wheeled towards us and she shot him again. I have no doubt he would have shanked someone who tried to grab him.

[Old Dog]

If you plan to hunt solo let someone know where you plan to hunt, when you plan to be back, and then stick with the plan.  If something happens your folks will have a good place to start their search.   

[Gettin Birdie]

Quickclot and tourniquet or two and know how to use it, practice one handed.  In reach or similar is nice, but useless if you bleed to death with help coming, can take quite awhile, depending upon.  I don't fear animals as much as I would slipping, falling, or some other nasty spill being my end.