Thread: Solo hunting; managing risk

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 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.

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.

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

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

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 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.

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

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

There’s definitely positives for going solo - you can do everything on your schedule, and I think I get more animals by myself too. I guess it comes down to individual risk tolerance at the end of the day. The instance that got this to the front of my mind, was when I was walking out yesterday. Heading in there was a technical bit of track high above a gorge section of river. No problem heading in, but shit it got me thinking on the return leg weighed down with a pack full of venison and antlers on top. A fall would have been real messy…. Unfortunately no other way out, just take it slow and careful. Good job my lovely lady doesn’t see where I get to….

I think you found your inbuilt warning system alerted you and you acknowledged the situation with careful thought. As long as you listen to your instincts, that gut feeling of danger, you should be fine. Sounds like you have it all in hand and go forth & enjoy the next ridge.

Good reading other hunters views on the subject. Some enjoy the company of others on the hill and others seek solidarity, its whatever makes you tick. For me the knowledge of having a PLB at hand adds a feeling of backup security, but I never push my own boundaries just because I have it, that would be arrogance and I'd be a fool.

Originally Posted by Boner

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

thats an interesting one when we trialled new hunters in Forest Service and DOC there was a high attrition rate with new young hunters - biggest reason they left - could not handle being out all day on their own - well try this to maybe relax you a little more if you can mid day make a phone call if you have reception just talk to someone for a few minutes - and stop often look at map GPS reasure youself you relly know whre you are all may help just relax one

Originally Posted by Boner

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

Anxiety is a bitch, everyone has it to some degree but its learning how to manage it, that's the hard bit. I suffer from it, like @Tahr commented and it can take a bit of enjoyment away. Probably a whole topic on it's own...