Hunting Partner

[BrentLaBere]

Does anyone have an elk hunting partner that likes to go about the hunt a little differently than you do? How do you decide to hunt? Together or separate?
Ive always read online where elk hunters will choose hunting partners according to hunting styles. What about the other guys that don't have much of a choice/option of choosing someone else to hunt with.
One example would be one of you that isnt comfortable or able to call. Do you take time out of your hunt to be the caller or do you just go your own way from the start?
For me it isnt much of a problem. I like calling elk and its one of the reasons I like hunting them so much. If I get my elk I would be more than happy to hike along and call for someone as long as it would take, and if they wanted it. Some hunters might want to stay away from the calls all together. Would you still share a camp with someone that hunted like this?

[Swede]

Some hunters might want to stay away from the calls all together. Would you still share a camp with someone that hunted like this?

Absolutely.

It is not often I think of someone as my hunting partner. No one has to hunt the way I do, and normally they are free to hunt when, where and how they like. They are free to arrive in camp and to leave as they choose. I really don't like it when people say they are going to do one thing and then they don't. I guess that is just me.
I will go and call once in awhile, but I prefer to tree stand hunt. I don't want someone to tell me how, when and where I should hunt as long as I am not bothering you. I will give you your choice of stands. If you want to hunt an area that I have been tree stand hunting, that is OK. But, if you say you are going one direction and I choose a stand in another, it irritates me for you to come around especially if you start calling nearby.

I will hunt with someone that can not pack out their own critter or even a quarter. Just let me know up front. Can you cook? That sounds like a fair trade off. I would not hunt with someone too lazy to pack out their beast. I really don't care for hunters that stand around and look at their elk and wait for someone else to gut and skin it. It is your elk, I will help.

[saddlesore]

The guy I hunt with likes to find a good spot and sit there all day.He can sit from before shooting hours until dusk.I like to still hunt thru the timber. My patience runs out about an a hour after sitting. We both kill our share of elk. If we hear shooting, we turn out radios on and check in. If one of us connects, the other goes to help.

[BrentLaBere]

You both make great points on how to go about hunting with someone in camp that doesn't hunt the same way you would. Hunting the same area and how someone chooses to hunt it is the gray area. There should be an understanding if someone is going to still hunt, tree stand hunt or run and gun. That is how we have come to an unspoken agreement. There is a great area that can be still hunted for days on end but there should only be one person hunting it. It just makes for a stealthier approach. We take turns and I cant imagine how upset someone would be if the other hunter in the group decided to run and gun the same area. I would view it as a slap to the face. I agree about the packing elk part. I view it as a victory lap and gladly help any hunter with packing meat.

The part that is difficult for me could be viewed as selfish one? For a few years I had no problem taking the backseat and doing the calling. Its fun and its rewarding doing it. I've also come to realize there is no return favor and the days of running and gunning with vocal elk can be limited. I am slowly finding out that I would rather hunt solo in these situations. But there is no reason I cant share a camp and help others if I get an elk or if they get one down and its time to start packing.

Hypothetical situation. The hunter I am with doesn't feel confident in his calling. There is a bull that is fired up early in the season. Doesnt have a harem of cows but there is cows in the area. You feel good about going in and calling to this bull. Obviously not the only way to hunt it but is a possibility it would be the best tool applied. Do you back off? Go after the bull as a team and do the calling for your partner? Do you make your case and try to go after the bull solo?

[RAMMONT]

I've only hunted twice with people that hunt differently than I do, most of the time I just hunt by myself. Of those two times, one was a total bust and we went our separate ways by the second day (we even moved to separate camps). The other hunt worked out where we would go to the same place but then we'd split up when we started walking. Before we split up we just talked about our general plan for the day. We carry Garmin Rino 650s so we agreed to answer the call for help when the other hunter gets his animal.