Advice about hunting alone

[jmock87]

Hey TBHers,

Been doing a lot of thinking and I wanted to bounce this off you guys, get your opinion.

First some background. I'm military, grew up in OR mostly hunting elk but deer as well. Ive spent the last four years in NE and this is my first full season in TX, I caught the tail end of last season here. Im hunting the San Angelo public lands and have a draw hunt at Matador in December. I normally hunt alone.

Somebody I know from work's husband wants me to go hunting with him...I originally thought this would be a good idea but the more I think about it, Im changing my mind. I told him Id go with him on Saturday but now I think its a good idea if we go it alone.

Its not because I think he's a bad guy- its that my methods are a bit unorthodox and I respect his time. One of my "things" is that I have a tendency to pick up my pop-up and move if I dont like a spot and walk around until I find a better spot. Sometimes I go without a blind at all. It pays off for me sometimes and other times I get busted. Granted, it makes things more challenging for me but its the way I like to go. The guy I was going to go with hunts out of a stand and is committed to his spot.

My actions will almost certainly affect the other guy and I dont think its fair to him. I am a perfectionist for better or worse, and half the time I cant resist the urge to be mobile to at least a certain degree. The last thing I want to do is cause him to miss out on an opportunity to harvest because of me.

Im not looking for a critique of my methods. Just want to know your opinions about if Im right about declining this guys invite. Thank yall.

[SOTXBOWHUNTER]

Not sure if you should cancel on your friend. But im kinda like you, i prefer to hunt alone. I like hunting where I want when I want.

[trophy8]

everything you just posted asking us, should be asked to him.... He will understand i am sure. I would appeciate anyone that has concerns voicing them with me, so id assume he would like the same. That would be my advice. Certainly not a thing wrong with any of it, and its good you repect his time enough to not hinder his hunt!!

[Thumper]

That's one of the best things I like about bowhunting. A group of hunters can each hunt alone while hunting together.

[Bloodhound]

Before you break your word to the guy, explain your concerns and consider modifying your MO at least slightly just this once. If you are at all a "people person," or if you simply care about people, you may be able to benefit this guy in some way.
A lot of Texans simply sit over a feeder and call it hunting. Maybe he was raised that way. If so, I personally would use the opportunity to try to expose him to a more primitive way of hunting...spot and stalk, etc.
If your priority is only yourself (i do not assume this is your perspective,) then you will probably have no interest in accommodating this guy. However, if you care about other folks, then go along, with the stipulation that you are not a couch potato when you hunt!

[Bloodhound]

That's one of the best things I like about bowhunting. A group of hunters can each hunt alone while hunting together.

That is a beautiful thought!
I can't wait for Saturday! (Getting out for the first time this year)

[iamntxhunter]

Just talk to him and lay it out to him. He might learn something that he may want to try himself. Just go have fun. You might find as differently as you two hunt you might make a good friend as well as a good hunting partner.

[3rdShot]

Was the invite to go hunt his place? If so, talk with him about their setups, and his expectations. If it's a big enough place, if he's on one side of the place, and you are on the other, that should work for both of you. Good luck!

[SB09]

He's wanting you to actually hunt his stand with him if I understand correct? He's not just inviting you to hunt his lease, I.E. you in a different stand than him?

I would personally just call him up, or go see him, and explain the methods you use to hunt. Who knows, he may be interested in learning your way of hunting? Just also explain that you can't sit confined to a box for extended periods. Neither of the methods are wrong, they both work. But, if you don't feel comfortable with hunting under your friends methods, it is probably best that you guys hunt alone. So, you've got the situation figured out. If sitting in one spot is going to affect the fun for you, don't do it. Your buddy will understand the reason you want to hunt alone.

[jmock87]

He's wanting you to actually hunt his stand with him if I understand correct? He's not just inviting you to hunt his lease, I.E. you in a different stand than him?

I would personally just call him up, or go see him, and explain the methods you use to hunt. Who knows, he may be interested in learning your way of hunting? Just also explain that you can't sit confined to a box for extended periods. Neither of the methods are wrong, they both work. But, if you don't feel comfortable with hunting under your friends methods, it is probably best that you guys hunt alone. So, you've got the situation figured out. If sitting in one spot is going to affect the fun for you, don't do it. Your buddy will understand the reason you want to hunt alone.

You are correct. He wants to hunt the same place on public land. I will talk to the guy, like others have mentioned I should do. Not trying to be selfish here, just trying to do what's right.

[SB09]

You are correct. He wants to hunt the same place on public land. I will talk to the guy, like others have mentioned I should do. Not trying to be selfish here, just trying to do what's right.

I'm sure he's a reasonable guy. Just explain your side of the situation. I know if I was in the same position as your friend and you told me that I would understand. You guys can always meet up after the hunt and talk about what all happened.

[flywise]

I think you should explain to him how you like to and everything you just said here and just maybe he'd like to learn a thing or two from you and your technique.

You might be exactly the kind of hunter he has been silently been hoping to run into one day

[buckmastertexas]

I do a lot of what you do. I would say just have him hunt about 2 miles from you, if the country is big enough. It brings benefits to have a hunting buddy, such as having help on dragging big buck out.

[GarGuy]

If you are hunting public land, do as you please. If you are going to his lease, do as HE pleases. I had a guest on my place last year that I really wanted to kill a good buck. I have a piece of land designated as sanctuary that we go into for no reason other than to track a deer. Late season it is full of deer and it had a huge buck coming in and out every morning and evening. I set him up in a perfectly hidden stand. Wind perfect, walked the long way around and got him in without anything knowing it, told him where the deer came out and showed him pics so he wouldn't shoot the wrong one.

When I came to pick him up, he was about a mile away and on ANOTHER stand where the wind was exactly wrong. Said since I knew they were in there he decided to lay a scent trail with doe in heat all the way across my sanctuary and hunt the other side. He literally moved that group of deer for the rest of the year.

[camo_cowboy55]

We got some [B]one man wolf packs/B] up in here! Lol