Solo vs Party Hunting
- Boss Crewmember Eli Rooney
- Aug 18, 2015
- 4 min read
With hunting season right around the bend, some of us already have our time planned out. What days off we have collected, the amount of time we are dedicating to scouting, setting up camp, and then to the actual hunt. If you’re like me though, you may struggle with trying to decide whether or not to hunt by yourself, or with others. There are benefits and obstacles for both avenues. Personally, I like to switch it up to keep me at the peak of my game. The type of hunting style chosen has to be the perfect fit for the species that I am hunting as well as the time of year with the weapon season available. I feel that being able to hunt in any situation and to be successful is what truly defines one’s ability to hunt.
SOLO HUNTING
What are the benefits of hunting solo? Well there are many different things that can be beneficial that I may not even touch on, but the things that I will be describing are going to be coming from personal experience or from experiences that have been shared with me through those that I cherish their wisdom. The biggest plus I have for hunting solo is that this is the time that I feel closest to my Creator. No matter what the world is doing or going through, when I crest that mountain ridge, the landscape is so surreal; it’s then that I feel how truly small I am compared to an unforgiving backcountry. The lands we hunt we sometimes forget that man is not the top of the food chain, and nature itself will not hesitate to show who the true Backcountry Boss is.
The most popular hunting in the state of Idaho for solo hunting I would have to speculate to be archery elk. The benefit for a solo hunter is that a single person can cover much more ground quickly and quietly. When more than one person is involved, that’s another set of feet to crack twigs or move just when you don’t want them to move. Another benefit to any hunting situation is making decisions. Arguments with hunting buddies about what the next move needs to be can be frustrating. Hunting alone opens the door for you to receive the best advice you’ll ever get…from yourself. YOU choose the strategy, the direction, the game plan, and the method. If something goes south, you then have no one to blame but yourself. This style of hunting is not for the faint of heart. Novice or less skilled hunters may lack the experience level to effectively make the right decisions to be successful. A word of caution for those that hunt alone,know your limits. Plan ahead of time, and let someone know your plan with a time frame so that if something goes south they can take affirmative actions to assure your safety. Plan how far you are willing to go, but also what is realistic for a pack out. For example, a single hunter may choose to shoot a calf instead of the herd bull when he/she is further out in the backcountry than intended or the weather is hotter than preferable to pack out all the meat without spoiling. Understand that you don’t have any help if you were to get hurt or get something down. Because of these overlying occurances, it is imperative to pack the proper gear for signaling, gps/maps, lights, first aid kits, etc. These items should already be a part of your pack at any time, but become all the more useful when hunting alone.
PARTY HUNTING
Party hunting is anytime you are hunting with one or more people. When hunting with new hunters, or you’re new to others, be aware that you are now a part of a team. The team may have goals, and it is notall about one person. Some party hunts people like to stick together. I am the type of hunter that I like to maximize the amount of ground covered. This is especially beneficial to those that hunt with others. It is very simple for a group of 3 to split up and work a ridge line separated bottom, middle, and top. Also beneficial of party hunting is calling in animals. A calling setup is a science in itself, but success more often than not can find itself among a well designed calling scenario with a designated shooter, a caller, or even multiple callers beyond the sight range of the shooter. Reflecting on the aspect that an individual hunter can cover a lot of ground quietly, a group of hunters can cover a greater span of ground more thoroughly but can’t do so quickly because of differing physical conditions. When there are more hunters however, this makes a pack out a breeze compared to hunting by yourself.
The most successful party hunters I can almost guarantee, have been hunting along side one another for many years. Not only do they get along with eachother, but they have learned to think the same, and work the same through the woods. Get to know what your fellow hunters’ calls sound like; how fast they move; and also know what the strengths and weaknesses are of each person. These things will only benefit you into developing the most efficient team in achieving success.
No matter what your hunting style, best of luck this season and may the game be plentiful!
- Eli
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