Thread: Solo hunting; managing risk

I used to assume hunting alone would definitely make hunting easier, but the amount of times a mate has spotted a deer that I would have missed or vice versa really makes me wonder whether I would actually get more alone. I think having the extra noise risk is probably worth it for the benefit of having two pairs of eyes to glass etc. Probably depends on the terrain and whether you are bush hunting etc.

Having a PLB and an inreach is really good. You can put the Inreach on tracking mode so it sends your location out every 10 mins or something like that, so someone with the internet can see where you have been (where to find your corpse etc....). Can also message out if you are held up by weather. I still carry the PLB because I don't fully trust the Inreach SOS to always work 100% of the time as it has trouble picking up satellites/getting messages out occasionally, plus it's always possible that it has a flat battery when you need it most. I've also heard it's helpful for authorities to locate you with both the PLB and the Inreach signal simultaneously going.

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

Mine are 100% solo. Always have the Garmin inreach in a pouch in the front of the main bag, and hunting belt bag. If it's dodgey, I turn around/avoid it. Also conscious of having food/jacket should I need to spend a night out. Have definite turn around times planned. Concur with the comments around mates would struggle to actually hunt where I go - I like the struggle. I have to be intentional about joining mates on their trips as it's the only way they'll see me at the start/end of the day. There is something to managing yourself, hunting free with rifle in hand, not restricted by others.

Took a mate out hunting. He had a PLB on his waist. Went into a prick of a gorge. Shot a stag. Hauled it out. At the truck exhausted he complained he had lost it. He went back the next day with a friend to find it . Have shot 11 stags with him now. He never takes it anymore. LOL.

TwinNeedle do excellent gps pouches with a solid clip and elastic. Super reliable

Reason to wear in front is so that it is "in reach" excuse the pun. Never forget the story about tge hunter a few years ago who took a tumble in the Kawekas - and trapped could'nt reach his comms device inside his pack

Do you find that you talk to yourself more when hunting solo ? I tend to I've noticed. Don't know why but could be it's a sort of self assurance mechanism ... ? These days I tend to hunt more solo, which I enjoy, but don't have issues hunting with a companion either, especally my one hunting son. Sadly though, with his work demands, he only gets out with me once or twice yearly.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Do you find that you talk to yourself more when hunting solo ? I tend to I've noticed. Don't know why but could be it's a sort of self assurance mechanism ... ? These days I tend to hunt more solo, which I enjoy, but don't have issues hunting with a companion either, especally my one hunting son. Sadly though, with his work demands, he only gets out with me once or twice yearly.

Yeah talking to yourself is ok as long as you don't answer yourself back as that is the sign of madness

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Yeah talking to yourself is ok as long as you don't answer yourself back as that is the sign of madness

OK.... not at that stage yet, thankfully, haha. Think there's more risk of going mad if I don't hunt, so the more I hunt the more sane I am. Admittedly that's my theory but it sounds good, to me.

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Yeah talking to yourself is ok as long as you don't answer yourself back as that is the sign of madness

its a worry when you still cant win argument and only a worry when cant get a word in edgeways.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Do you find that you talk to yourself more when hunting solo ? I tend to I've noticed. Don't know why but could be it's a sort of self assurance mechanism ... ? These days I tend to hunt more solo, which I enjoy, but don't have issues hunting with a companion either, especally my one hunting son. Sadly though, with his work demands, he only gets out with me once or twice yearly.

Sometimes you need adult advice and your the only adult around

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Do you find that you talk to yourself more when hunting solo ? I tend to I've noticed. Don't know why but could be it's a sort of self assurance mechanism ... ? These days I tend to hunt more solo, which I enjoy, but don't have issues hunting with a companion either, especally my one hunting son. Sadly though, with his work demands, he only gets out with me once or twice yearly.

Yes but I try not to. As age advances the talking more often than not turns to arguments, mostly because Im going deaf and I misinterpret something Iv said. The good thing is memory loss means I forget which side of the argument I was on.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Do you find that you talk to yourself more when hunting solo ? I tend to I've noticed. Don't know why but could be it's a sort of self assurance mechanism ... ? These days I tend to hunt more solo, which I enjoy, but don't have issues hunting with a companion either, especally my one hunting son. Sadly though, with his work demands, he only gets out with me once or twice yearly.

Thank god it’s not just me.

I keep thinking I’m going nuts, but it’s become the norm for me to debate the best route or the plan for the where to stalk next.

Short answer, being wary or "feeling vulnerable" is good, that's your instinct watching out for you and maybe gently tapping the warning gong to alert you.

I do 99% of my hunting alone and whilst I've yet to get into what I feel is really grunty country, some of the routes I've taken have raised the odd eyebrow. We all have individual levels of acceptable risk and I surely push mine on occasion, not heroically but I feel it's the only way to increase/improve my skill set and confidence/resilience. Staying in my comfort zone will only get me more of the same!
For me preparation and awareness is fairly critical (even on day missions, I've gear to spend the night out if I get bushed.) Checking weather forecast and having the gear and food to wait out a storm or swollen river if I need to. That being said, you can only prepare for so much the rest you just have to deal with as it presents itself, common sense and mental agility and resilience will get you out of the shit 99.9% of the time, for the remainder thats what the PLB is for and I never go bush without it.

Have hunted by myself mostly forever. In the days when meat was part of my living and I had a young family I taught myself to make good decisions under stressful conditions. I learned to be calm. Part of that was when to call it a day and biv on the spot with a deer rather than carry on in the dark and risk an accident. If you are relaxed in the trees and go with it rather than fight it you will be a lot safer.

Im not as relaxed now and do get a bit anxious at times while hunting and it is beginning to erode my enjoyment a bit. Mainly while traversing new country coming home in the dark.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Have hunted by myself mostly forever. In the days when meat was part of my living and I had a young family I taught myself to make good decisions under stressful conditions. I learned to be calm. Part of that was when to call it a day and biv on the spot with a deer rather than carry on in the dark and risk an accident. If you are relaxed in the trees and go with it rather than fight it you will be a lot safer.

Im not as relaxed now and do get a bit anxious at times while hunting and it is beginning to erode my enjoyment a bit. Mainly while traversing new country coming home in the dark.

Stick to one projectile rather than carry 20 different ones. LOL. The deer get a bit "anxious" when you are floating around.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Stick to one projectile rather than carry 20 different ones. LOL. The deer get a bit "anxious" when you are floating around.

Variety is the spice of life ya boring old git.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Have hunted by myself mostly forever. In the days when meat was part of my living and I had a young family I taught myself to make good decisions under stressful conditions. I learned to be calm. Part of that was when to call it a day and biv on the spot with a deer rather than carry on in the dark and risk an accident. If you are relaxed in the trees and go with it rather than fight it you will be a lot safer.

Im not as relaxed now and do get a bit anxious at times while hunting and it is beginning to erode my enjoyment a bit. Mainly while traversing new country coming home in the dark.

I too get a wee bit anxious at times. Especially on a couple of blocks in the Blueis.
I’m not a superstitious person, but there have been a couple of occasions when I’ve been really freaked out for no reason I could fathom.
One particular occasion kept me out of the bush for months