hunting solo

[CouesWhitetail]

Some great ideas here....

 

I love hunting alone for many of the same reasons as desertbull mentioned, but I also enjoy some company at times. When I have killed bucks by myself, I try and wait to shoot it in an area where I am less likely to loose sight of him after the shot. Of course you can't always wait until it's all just right, but if you have the option, choose your shot to happen when you have the best odds of seeing where he goes afterward. One time I had watched a doe and a buck for many hours during a very windy and cold day. I was on the exposed side of a slope facing them. They were out of the wind and staying bedded most of the day. So I waited, shivering on the slope. When I finally got my shot, the buck was a few steps away from thick brush. After I shot him, I wasn't sure where he went. But the doe stayed there and was looking toward him. I eventually could see a bit of a leg sticking out of the brush. But it just of easily could have happened that I wouldn't have been able to see him laying there. So in that case, I would have waited an hour or more with my gun at the ready at all times in case he came out of the brush. That is what I had to do on my Mexico hunt this past year. I shot the buck, he disappeared into the brush and we couldn't see him fall. But he never came out. I waited over an hour to make sure he wouldn't make a run for it. In that case I had the guide as a spotter, but it made no difference because we couldn't see him in the thick brush anyway.

 

Marking the spot where he was when you shot and your shooting location is great advice. I like the idea of pointing the optics (binos or scope) at the location so you can essentially take a back bearing to see if you are on the right track.

 

Remember, most archers hunt alone and end up following all the same practices as we are talking about, it's just on a smaller scale due to the shorter shot distances.

 

Amanda

[lookinfor110]

Good Topic. Hunting solo is cool and good for the soul. I hunt with friends/family mostly but every so often a solo hunt fits. A couple of points come to mind; 1)if possible, before shooting, carefully identify a unique landmark near your buck, 2) after the shot and before leaving your shooting perch, study the landmark again-the whole area and the landmark will look completely different once you get over there...completely different 3)a boned whitetail is much lighter and easier to haul out than a gutted deer. When working solo, carry ~8, two gallon plastic bags, butcher and bag the deer on the spot. This works especially well if you're solo and a long way from a road.

[TREESTANDMAN]

I primarily hunt solo and I love it!!! I have had many very spiritual experiences while hunting solo that I don't think I could have had if I were with anyone. It is also a lot of fun hunting w/ family or friends sharing the joy of sighting or harvesting game. A lot of good info here.

[TAM]

A good portion of my scouting and hunting is done solo. Often times the time alone in the outdoors is very theraputic and refreshing. There are certainly some additional percautions when hunting alone like telling someone exactly where you'll be. As mentioned above it can be good for the soul. I think it's a great way to test your strength of mind. I once hunted elk for 9 days, 6 of wich I was alone. I really had to have a lot of will power to get up early, hunt hard, pass on smaller bulls, etc. I think the experience made me a better hunter and a better person. I also like hunting with others. It's especially nice to have people back at camp to talk to and help with the chores. For me the best of both worlds is to be alone in the field but have friends back at camp.

 

As far as keeping track of your animal after you shot it? I've never had much of a problem with it. Most of the time after the shot there's another deer or two standing around looking into the patch of grass where the buck was just standing. If that's the case your buck is usually laying there on the ground. Just get a good land mark and work your way towards it. If your deer runs off before dieing your going to have to track it in which case you'll still need to mark it's last known location to get there. It's always a good idea to mark your shooting postion, but I don't like the idea of leaving your stuff there. I once did that and by the time I was ready to go back for my Swarovski 15x56's and I had a REAL hard time finding them again in the dark!

 

I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about all this stuff anyway. I usually worry more about all the man eating Sasquatch's running around looking for solo hunters!!!!

[az4life]

Great topic and comments. I would like to emphasize that the landmarks you pick are very important. You must realize that the tree, or bush will often look a lot different from up close, uphill, downhill etc, thanwhat it did when you shot from 300 yards away.

 

Pick several landmarks and use ones that are more solid, Rocks, Open areas, Yuccas, Dead deer, yup. sometimes even the obvious landmarks are hard to fine.

 

Solo hunting is rewarding at times but you must realize you are on your own and be careful every step of the way. Coues hunting is often in extremely rugged country and it is easy to see a rockslide, fall or loose foothold causing an injury that could immobilize you. Think ahead before you put yourself in a predcament you cannot get out of on your own.

 

Be safe solo hunters

[catclaw]

You could find and meet some new friends from this forum and then you wouldn't have to hunt alone!

[ichiban43]

Personally--I prefer to hunt alone. I'm not depentent on anyone to to be here or there at a certain time. But- I camp with people for the comararderie and campfire BS and helping get game out. But I prefer to walk up or spot and stalk my own game. I guess you might say it is with but separate--if you get my drift.

 

BOB

[billrquimby]

It depends upon what you mean by "hunting alone."

 

If you mean lcamping or staying in a motel, driving to a hunting area without a buddy, that's what I call "alone." I've hunted deer and elk a couple of times that way, and it's no fun -- especially when it comes time to cut up the game and pack it out by yourself. It's lonely, too.

 

If you mean going out with your partners, then splitting up to hunt different directions, that's the only way I've ever hunted when I'm hunting without paid guides. I don't call that "hunting alone."

 

As for knowing whether you've hit the animal, you often can hear the bullet strike meat or notice the reaction of the animal. Even when I think I've missed, I've always checked the spot where I last saw the animal and often found blood and eventually found the buck or hog.

 

As for knowing where to look, figure that you will have trouble finding the game when you get across the canyon and make sure you have two or three landmarks firmly in your mind before going over there. Also do not leave the spot you shot from without marking it in some way so that you can find it again. A couple of times I've returned to that spot, looked at where I last saw the deer, selected new landmarks, and eventually found the animal.

 

Bill Quimby

[WHT_MTNMAN]

I agree with what has been said. I myself prefer to hunt alone. Besides all of the other good things that were said, I rely alot on the reaction of other deer. Last year the exact same thing happend to me, the two other bucks he was with stopped about 60 yards away and watched the spot of their fallen companian before moving off. I took this as a great sign and found the buck piled up right where he was standing.