That's a rough day!!! I'm a recluse when it comes to hunting. It's not that i take myself to seriously, I take my hunting very serious, it's all that i do, all that i want to do, no other hobbies. I occasionally hunt public land with my dad, but far away from him because he doesnt care about the wind or scent control. I also hunt with my son, but again he has his area and i have mine. My son and I only hunt together on thanksgiving morning as a tradition. We have a double ladder stand that we only hunt maybe 2 times a year. It's somthing I look forward too, and neither one of us take it serious like we plan on killing a deer that day. The only other person i know who is exactly like me is my Illinois hunting partner, we are one in the same. I'd bring the guy again Ashaid, but in a totally different area. no good deed goes unpunished!
I've always solo hunted, mostly because I never had anyone in my family that hunted to actually hunt with. I've taken a couple girlfriends out hunting, and you have to expect them to fidget. Especially if they haven't been out. I always have them sit in a groundblind, and let them play games on a phone or read a book etc. They still fidget a bunch and odds are we will still get to see deer.
I hear ya Swamp and we are good friends ... Play on a mens softball team during the spring and all so def will go back out with him but under different situations... 1. Being get as far away from me as to not even knowing where he is lol.... and bgusty that has to be pretty cool taking GF... My Wife even when we started dating 18yrs ago wouldn't go near hunting with me, I mean even to a Hunting store, shop etc.... And still is that way but not nearly as bad lol.... My 11 Daughter wants no parts of it either (but like I say to her all the time) let a boy you date someday hunt and I bet with me and your brother and him you will get into it lol...my 8yr Son is different though lol he has a hunting bug better then I do..
I hunt alone, when I tag out I let others hunt my land and my stands. I cringe when I see a guy headed out to hunt without a shower, or wearing the camo in the truck, the same camo they intend to hunt in. I have gotten to the point where I just say no I don't want people getting busted by deer in my stands those old nanny does have a long memory
I've been a loner all my hunting life, so I enjoy the occasional hunt with a friend or family member. Having said that, I rarely do this because most of the hunters that I know are the traditional type. They'll dust off their bow the day before the opener, throw corn out even though it's illegal, hunt the same stand day after day, and just don't have the proper equipment. This year I put in a food plot for one of my friends because he didn't have much experience. I tried to give him some pointers to how big it should be, where to hang a stand, etc. But after I gave him my opinions he just treated me like I had no idea what I was talking about. Then later his brother showed up with a couple of bags of corn to throw out so I just left. My point is that not everyone is that serious about hunting, so be prepared for that when taking a friend out.
trust me I don't take myself to serious...and not that I have to keep beating a dead horse here, but when your expectations were filled with excitement cause of the dawn of a new season upon us 1 would think anyone who has hunted or does hunt would be a bit upset over a spooked doe in September caused by something that maybe just maybe shouldn't have been the reason why that occurred right? But to each their own I guess
I take it all very serious I plot the death of deer I see I wait all year for that 1 week of peak activity I will be damned if I will compromise anything to facilitate another hunters enjoyment, once I am done sure I try to help others out but I am selfish as hell until then
Really??.........anyone would be upset over spooking a doe in Sept? C'mon man, you have almost 3 months of good hunting ahead of you and the best is still 6-7 weeks away. Lighten up and enjoy the time in the woods with your friend and use it to help take some of the rough edges off his approach. You're bent out of shape over a single doe encounter in Sept and you insist you don't take things a bit too seriously?? Who cares about a single doe encounter in the first week of Sept?? Were you always such a master of the woods that you never made a mistake or spooked a deer in your life?? Give the guy a break if he's just starting out and help him instead of going all unibomber and secluding yourself from human contact until deer season ends. It's just a doe dude..........last time I checked there's a few more out there so I'm guessing you'll get another chance. Relax and enjoy the company.
People can have fun at deer camp and still take hunting seriously. Actually, that's how it is in a lot of deer camp settings. It doesn't have to be one way or the other.
One thing I'll say about hunters is this: as a group we are a bunch of selfish pricks who generally take ourselves way too seriusly. I'm not directing that at you Ash just a general comment that most of us (myself included) are guilty of at some point or multiple points in our hunting lives. The fact that you took somebody is a pretty good indication you're not being selfish. Many hunters have completely bailed on the concept of a hunting party or camp or just the simple comradery of it all. It has become about me, big bucks, my deer, my spot, etc. Anyone or thing that doesn't fall into line with that is a hindrance and obvioulsy more of a handicap than an asset. Someone with this mentality has a taste of success and watch how quickly they become an expert you can barely stand to be in the room with. Kind of like your buddy on the golf course that hits a few good drives and putts and next thing you know he's spouting off swing tips and practice drills..."shut up and flag down the beer girl". I have always liked taking people hunting. One of my main goals this season is to take my kids, nephew, and buddy from work as often as possible. Will it cost me some hunts and likely some deer? Absolutely, I just don't care. Don't get me wrong....I really enjoy the solitude of hunting and hunting by myself but if I as a hunter am not making a very real effort to take kids and others then who will? I take them, I enjoy it and have some great memories many of which involve no deer. I try to make sure we have fun first, see some deer second, then if they get a little better understanding of what it's all about and are really into it we can get serious. That may take a season or two or never, depends on the person. Turn that day into a funny story you'll both laugh about later, call that stand the The Water Bottle spot and move on. Of all the things you mentioned about that day the only thing that would probably have irritated me a bit is punctuality. If any of my hunting buddies read that last sentence they would laugh and laugh...we've all been late before hopefully it won't be a regular thing.
Very well laid out and thought out response here...greatly appreciated too... Trust me reading this and all the others responses I will walk away knowing there is room for improvement on my part as well, I mean when my Step Father 1st took me hunting at the age of 12 I'm sure I was getting on his nerves as well... Sorry I really don't and never have thought myself to be a master of the woods, didn't mean for this post to come off like that. Thanks Guys for responding and shedding some light on this matter
Deer camp of 1, I have friends the rest of the year I don't need them to hunt, it is a solo challange
Other than hunting with my own kids I also choose to hunt/film solo. I gave up hunting partners along time ago! Maby I just got all the bad ones LOL But my sucess went way up when I went solo!
