Why Did You Quit?

[Swede]

I know this is a pet peeve of mine, that I just can't get used to. Why do so many hunters quit hunting so easily? Every year I have people come to camp prepared to stay for xx number of days. This year was no exception. As a matter of fact, it is my observation, that many if not most hunters leave early. Most have nothing to show for their expense or their efforts. Most make a call then claim something has happened at home. One told me their pet rabbit was sick.
This is not unique to my camp. Trailers and loaded trucks from other camps were commonly seen leaving the woods, just after the rains started. Do they not know that getting an elk is never easy? It is not a "slam dunk". Over the years I have killed many animals after others have given up. I might think I was the reason some leave, except they nearly always come back the next year. I wonder is it reasonable to "throw in the towel", so to speak, and why do hunters give up so easily? I am not including life threatening emergencies, just things like sick rabbits, or "I need to fix the barn". Does it make good sense to rush back home? Maybe you do not do this, but just know folks who do. In reality, I am beginning to believe hunting is not near as much fun, for most people, as those of us who are enthusiastic about it, make it sound like, or it is just too hard. What do you think?

[cnelk]

I have experienced what you mentioned.

I have also experienced guys committed to stay the whole hunt, but once they have animal, POOF! off they go home...

I actually like the fact that many give up & leave early. I plan some of my hunts accordingly.

In fact, I believe the biggest reason I was successful this year was that guys had left due to rain or other 'people' factors.

I will take their laziness or non-commitment all day long and use it

[pointysticks]

hahahha..

my brother's friend, always plays his daughter card. my friend is just never physically ready. his body and mind both give up. i love it. on long hunting trips..if i get exhausted, i might take a half day off and sleep in. i never leave early.

but you are right. every single trip, someone leaves early. i have too much invested. time and money. i go to the end. even if i kill something early, i stay. i help the other hunters. (it bums me out, when a hunter scores and leaves)

[ORelksniper]

I quit because ODFW said I had to. Just when the rut starts heating up here in Oregon we bow hunters run out of time. I do wish more people would quit early, though. Doesn't bother me at all to see them pack up and go home.

[otcWill]

What does quit mean? Somethings gotta separate the consistent tag punxchers from the rest!

[elkmtngear]

I have to stay till the last minute, and I hunt dawn to dusk, regardless of weather or other factors. I will stay until the last man tags out, that's just me.

My ex hunting partner has a very short attention span...to get him to stay for the duration was always a challenge for years.

Things are not always going to go the way you want it on an elk hunt; sometimes you just have to enjoy the simple pleasure of being out in the elk woods!

[mtnmutt]

Swede and everyone have very valid points.

I am a quitter. I am also a person that is pigheaded and stays out when safety should come first. In other words, I have a bad habit of making poor decisions when I tire myself out.

I do not mind if anyone wants to critique my decisions on quitting.

Here are 3 Scenarios where I quit and my Monday morning quarterbacking conclusions.

Scenario #1
I scheduled myself to hunt opening week for 9 days straight. Base camp only. I have never camped more than 4 days. I was camping 10 nights/9 days. Opening weekend had 3x number of hunters than past years. Elk went silent by day 3. After my morning hunt on day 6 (Thurs), I discovered my one rain fly corner chewed through and permanently damaged and detached from tent body. I made some repairs. I knew it would not hold in >25 mph winds. More rain and wind was forecast. I was not looking forward to the weekend warriors returning. The storms of the week were frustrating, but at least mornings were ok. I hunted the next morning and the rain fly held ok. I had 2 more long weekends in September to hunt so I decided to pack up. My 9 day hunt was only a 7 day hunt.

Conclusion: It was stupid to leave early. I wish I had dug out my duct tape or gorilla tape and made better repairs on the rain fly. Some of those weekend warriors were not coming back the 2nd weekend. I regret leaving early.

Scenario # 2
3rd weekend. I left for mountains on Wednesday evening knowing that some rains on the Front Range started to cause problems. I got into the mountains before they closed the highway. There were virtually no hunters. The elk were silent and it rained a lot. Monitoring the road situation, I knew my primary route was closing at times due to flooding and one secondary route was closing due to multiple rockslides. With more all day rain coming for Sunday and good possibility the roads would close, I left for home on Saturday after a morning hunt.

Conclusion: With all flooding problems with US 24 since the Waldo Canyon Fire, coming back one day early was the right call. Maybe I should have never gone, but I would have regretted not going. Who knew we would have a 100 and 1,000 year floods?

Scenario #3
Last year for closing weekend, I was determined to do a 5 mile backcountry hunt. The weekend before, I had developed a very nasty blister which had never happened before to me. I did 5 days TLC on the blister. I went on my backcountry hunt. By Saturday, it was clear that both my feet were in bad shape. I pondered staying for the last day. In the end, I packed up and left one day before closing day. I have never not hunted on the last day of the season.

Conclusion: Leaving one day early to trek out 5 miles back to the car was the right call. I never want to call SAR. However, my stupid decision was to do the backcountry hunt (pigheaded person here) in the first place. If I had opted for a base camp hunt, my feet may have done okay through the entire weekend.

Since I am a solo hunter, my decisions to quit only hurt myself. However, I would never abandon another person while hunting if I had a hunting partner. Safety trumps everything. Leaving someone behind is not an option and I have never done that with any of my outdoor adventures.

I hunted more days than any other season. 15 days elk hunting. 2 days on a backcountry deer hunt. It was rewarding in its own way even with an empty freezer. I have 10 months to ponder my "quitting" opening week. I hope I remember my regret. Maybe Swede will remind me next year.

[Trophyhill]

What does quit mean? Somethings gotta separate the consistent tag punxchers from the rest!

agreed. quit and can't are not part of my genetic makeup

[JohnFitzgerald]

Did you quit or did you concede? Dynamics in camp not good? Responsibilities at home? I would hunt every day of the season if I could. But those who leave early aren't always quitters. Some can't hunt till the last minute of the season.

My definition of a quitter is someone who doesn't learn from their season mistakes and/or someone who doesn't strive to be a better elk hunter. I would readily take a hunter who's spent a lot of time in the off season preparing than someone who hasn't but can stay longer.

Quality over quantity......any day!

Just my 2-cents.

[welka]

Have never and would never want to hunt with someone who might quit. However, it happens for valid reason albeit in rare occassions. Happened to me this year. I have pushed 1/2 an ankle for 4 years and finally had to take a day off on day 6 of this years hunt. Would have hunted day 7 if not for heavy rain and snow, but that probably would not have been a wise choice. Goal for next year will be build as much strength back as possible and then decide what type of elk hunt will work. Might have to switch to monkey mode and hang out in the trees more, but time will tell.

[cnelk]

Here is a true story

I hunted with a guy one year for a week. We would hunt together sometimes, other times we hunted alone.
After a couple days into the week, the times I hunted alone I was seeing elk and he wasnt.
He got disgusted and went home.

No idea why

[JohnFitzgerald]

Here is a true story

I hunted with a guy one year for a week. We would hunt together sometimes, other times we hunted alone.
After a couple days into the week, the times I hunted alone I was seeing elk and he wasnt.
He got disgusted and went home.

No idea why

Since you were alone, how do we know you were really seeing elk? Just hacking, picking on Swede was getting to easy.

I've hunted with guys that made me want to go home. Lot's of "What the hell did you do that for?" came out of my mouth during those times.

[cnelk]

Since you were alone, how do we know you were really seeing elk?

I would come back to camp with less arrows than I left with

[JohnFitzgerald]

Since you were alone, how do we know you were really seeing elk?

I would come back to camp with less arrows than I left with

Grouse for dinner?

[Swede]

I guess we could define what a "quitter" is. After reading Mtnmutt's stories, I would not criticize any of her decisions. None. The fellow whose ankle became too sore to continue is not a quitter in my book. I am concerned about unrealistic expectations, and am trying to warn folks here that real hunting rarely goes the way we read about in the magazine articles. It is not like the outdoor shows we watch. The weather can become miserable. We can easily go 3 days, 6 days or even 10 days without getting within range of an elk so we can make a good clean kill. We should be prepared for reasonable weather and other variations. There were about 27 of the 29 days I hunted where I had no opportunity for a shot. It was a tough hunt and a tough year for me.
To my way of thinking a quitter is wanting to go home, mostly because they are not living the outdoor show. They may come up with a myriad of excuses, but deep down it is disappointment based on unrealistic expectations. Worse is the character who wants to leave because they have their kill, and a "yeah for me and screw you" attitude.

[WapitiTalk1]

Ouch.. This thread hit me in the oysters. I am always the one that wants to fish a bit longer, see what's over the next ridge when hunting, locate bugle at night instead of heading back to camp, stay in the elk woods till after dark, set the tent up after the snow caves it in, etc. I can remember two times when I honestly quit. Both times involved the "R" word. Living the last 25+ years in WA (off and on due to the Army thing), I am used to the rain but two separate times it beat me down. Once was on the WA peninsula 16 or so years ago. I hunted for a week solo in a multiple week downpour in late SEP (back when WA gave us a bit of the rut) waiting for a friend from AK to come down to hunt. He showed up a few days late and by the time he pulled in, I was through. This was not a robust camp by any means with big tents, cots, and wood stoves. It was pickups and small sleeping tents. I had been soaked to the bone for a week when Ken showed up. We hunted for several days with minimal action and I was done. The next time (and hopefully the last) was this year in ID. The first week was good with vocal bulls (plural) every day and mostly all night long serenading us at camp. When the rain hit (and hit big for 5+ days), the elk shut down verbally almost completely. It rained constantly for many days and the elk never woke back up. My hunts were mostly a long ways in on long game trails and thick brush and with the bulls going silent, I lost my drive to go after them and conceded. I think the thing that frustrated me the most is that I'd invited a friend from KS to come out and hunt with me and of all years, this one had to have the nasty rain and silent elk. After so many days of just sitting around, waiting for the weather to change even a bit, I'd lost my drive to go after them. I feel bad about quitting several days early but honestly, I doubt if we would have gotten into much if we'd stayed a few days longer and beat the cold, wet brush... I don't want to talk about it anymore

[Swede]

Phantom: I can see you need help regaining your self esteem and confidence. Call me to also help rebuild your self respect. I only charge 2.98 per minute as a consulting fee. At 2.98 per minute, I guarantee you will very quickly come to understand you have no reason to be feeling bad. Some times things just don't go well at all.

[BrentLaBere]

Bad attitudes are like a virus in camp. Once one has been bitten by this awe full disease it can be contagious. We hunted hard and some were in better shape than others. Once the elk went quiet in an area we found ourselves splitting up a long ways.....this led to new territory and the confidence level started to drop. I found myself hunting a wallow near a trail head, maybe 3/4 mile in, and for the first time I experience road callers. I heard people joke about this but never did I think it was this bad. Threw our hands in the air and made excuses to make ourselves feel better. We had 1/2 day left to hunt (morning hunt) and opted to break the long drive up back to ND and head out early. I am carrying this regret with me in the off season and using it as motivation. I have taken notes the two years I have been elk hunting and compared things I noticed while hunting. Two most important to me I wrote down in my playbook:
MIND THE WIND & BE PATIENT!!
NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!

[JGH]

I've quit during rifle season mostly because I don't really enjoy it.

In fact, I'm thinking of giving up rifle hunting for elk altogether.

Archery hunting is such a blast ... then to be in the woods when there are so many other hunters ... and the elk are not in their natural patterns ... it's a let-down.

Rifle hunting, it seems to me, consists of wandering around in the woods hoping to happen onto an elk. For me, it's not been an effective method of take, and as such, I don't like it. I don't mind coming home without an elk ... but to come home without stories of screaming bulls, close encounters, or at least peaceful meadows at sundown ... well, it's nearly a deal-breaker.

For some reason, I find it tough to NOT go out during rifle season, but then when I get there, I don't enjoy it, and quit early. Perhaps I'm missing something ... I know some go for the large camp or "reunion" of friends that occurs every year. For the most part, I hunt alone, and have just short bits of time during rifle season (having taken most of my vacation time for archery).

As for quitting during archery season, I of course try not to ... but when it is "time" I just repeat to myself that Clint Eastwood line: "A man's gotta know his limitations."

[AmericanBwana]

I'm guilty! Having unreasonable TV expectations, out of shape, wife got bored in camp, snain (rain snow mix that soaks everything), ran out of beer, partner abandoned me on the hill, blah blah blah!

I finally decided that for me the hunt is time to get away, and seeing what is over that hill. Harvesting a critter is secondary. Heck I've called them in just to watch em, then passed on the shot. When I'm done having fun, I go home.

I learn every year, then start planning on the trip back home (sometimes while still out hunting). Then spend the next 11 months tweaking, begging momma for more money (and patience), and trying to prepare physically. Planning and preparing for the hunting trip is a lot of fun.

For several years my 'hunting trip' was really a camping trip where my wife could get away for a week. I'd go hunting in the morning, come back to take a shower and nap mid day, then head out for a couple of hours in the evening.

Maybe the better question to ask, is why did you go in the first place?

[ctdad]

There was a thread on here last summer talking about hunting smart. The veterans kept pointing out that when the wind is not favorable, you are better off just calling it a day. This year I hunted a new area that was more wind dependent than anywhere I've ever hunted. When the wind howled on the hill tops, it swirled in the draws. When it was quiet up high, you could actually count on it in the draws.

Our group left the mountain Saturday night rather than Sunday afternoon and there were still some tags to be filled. Howling winds on Saturday that we hunted in hard all day. Four opportunities on elk all blown by wind. Forecast was for the wind to howl like that for 3 more days. We realized we couldn't get within bow range in that wind so we headed out. None of us have any regrets. We had a great hunt when the wind was our friend, which was most of the trip. I don't think we "quit". I think we used good judgement.

[Z Barebow]

Not sure if I quit or not.

I consider myself pretty tough and can put up with a lot of cr@p. I am a distance runner and have learned to deal with long term "discomfort". I am from ND and one of my running peeps has a saying "No such thing as too cold to run, only bad clothing". While hunting, I have handled multiple consecutive days of being wet by 9 AM, clothes freezing over night, etc) Never quit.

Well this year the quitter demon made an appearance on my elk hunt. For the most part I ignored him. After three days in the constant rain and snow, he was chirping on my shoulder. Let's skip the fact that that I wasn't hearing any bulls, I wasn't even cutting elk tracks. (One purc of snow). I was down on stove fuel and out of emergency fire starter (I had to start fires to dry out). I pulled up spike camp 3 days and that quitter demon was chewing on my ear.

But I completed the 6.5 mile hike back to the truck, and got my s#!t together. Slept in the truck and used truck as sleeping quarters the rest of trip. But I had originally planned on staying until Sat AM. After hearing the weather forecast earlier in the week, I made the decision to hunt until Thurs AM. And that is what I did. Again, elk sign was minimal with only 2 bugles heard entire hunt. 10 elk total spotted on a 12 day hunt. Zero chances of an opportunity. 6" of snow on the truck when I left with storm predictions of 14-18" where I was. At best, I could have only driven out of there on Sat IF the road would have allowed (If I had not left when I did).

In my mind I left for the right reason, my own safety. Could I have stuck it out until Sat? Very likely. Would have I had a chance at killing? Sure. Was it likely? I don't think so as I had the previous 9 days in this area and the closest I came was 80 yards from a herd that I stumbled into. This was my sixth elk hunt and I have never hunted anywhere where I had the futility that I felt on this hunt. I spent around 10 days "hunting for elk" or being in the survival mode with only a couple of days where I actually "hunted elk" (In the area whereI bumped the herd)

I look at it like this. Do I have any regrets with my actions? No. I did the best I could in the area I was hunting. Do I regret not hunting/finding and area with more elk? I sure do. Did I short change myself on my research/scouting this area? No. The elk just were not there at the time I was bowhunting them.

[JohnFitzgerald]

There was a thread on here last summer talking about hunting smart. The veterans kept pointing out that when the wind is not favorable, you are better off just calling it a day. This year I hunted a new area that was more wind dependent than anywhere I've ever hunted. When the wind howled on the hill tops, it swirled in the draws. When it was quiet up high, you could actually count on it in the draws.

Our group left the mountain Saturday night rather than Sunday afternoon and there were still some tags to be filled. Howling winds on Saturday that we hunted in hard all day. Four opportunities on elk all blown by wind. Forecast was for the wind to howl like that for 3 more days. We realized we couldn't get within bow range in that wind so we headed out. None of us have any regrets. We had a great hunt when the wind was our friend, which was most of the trip. I don't think we "quit". I think we used good judgement.

Two thumbs up!

[Olympus hunt]

I know this is a pet peeve of mine, that I just can't get used to. Why do so many hunters quit hunting so easily? Every year I have people come to camp prepared to stay for xx number of days. This year was no exception. As a matter of fact, it is my observation, that many if not most hunters leave early. Most have nothing to show for their expense or their efforts. Most make a call then claim something has happened at home. One told me their pet rabbit was sick.
This is not unique to my camp. Trailers and loaded trucks from other camps were commonly seen leaving the woods, just after the rains started. Do they not know that getting an elk is never easy? It is not a "slam dunk". Over the years I have killed many animals after others have given up. I might think I was the reason some leave, except they nearly always come back the next year. I wonder is it reasonable to "throw in the towel", so to speak, and why do hunters give up so easily? I am not including life threatening emergencies, just things like sick rabbits, or "I need to fix the barn". Does it make good sense to rush back home? Maybe you do not do this, but just know folks who do. In reality, I am beginning to believe hunting is not near as much fun, for most people, as those of us who are enthusiastic about it, make it sound like, or it is just too hard. What do you think?

There is a very simple solution here Swede. You need rid your camp of people like that.

[quarbles]

i think some peeps romanticize the backcountry and daydream about the experience they want to have.... when reality doesn't align with their fantasy they second guess their relationship with nature. i've watched guys and could tell they were thinking up an excuse to bounce. you can tell when someone isn't in the moment. peeps need to expect less and accept more.
when valued (not in the monetary sense but importance to survival sense) gear fails or someone gets injured it's totally different than quitting. then it's more of a 'smart decision' or 'tough call'.
regardless, it's all educational....

[ishy]

Being in shape, weather, bad attitude...not my issue. It's a wife that just doesn't get it, and constantly questions any time I spend. My oldest son was disabled and was always in and out of hospitals, and it was a constant war inside me about getting a little time to hunt. He has since passed, and I wondered if anything would change for my wife...it didn't. For me being out became that much more important. I have come to understand the "healing balm" that Theodoore Roosevelt talked about that the wilderness can provide.
We still have 3 small girls at home (two in school fulltime) and she said that she was fine with me being gone this year, but the "girls" were having a hard time after I spent a mon-fri in the woods. I probably hunted solid eight days total this year, but could easily put in more trying to limit my weekend hunting as the girls were home from school. I'm a church goer and feel obligated to my family, but have trouble balancing/understanding where that line is between my wife's perspective (a few morning hunts) and mine (absolute minimum of 10 days) for a decent hunt. Every year she questions comittment to family and questions our marriage each fall. Every summer she'll say she wants me to hunt, but when it comes down to the actuall going she changes her tune. I've tried doing 10 days solid, and breaking it up over a season and it doesn't make a difference. I offer anything and everthing the other 335 days during the year. I even spent just as many days off this year going to twighlight movie sights in Oregon (very painful) and it just doesn't ever change.
The divorce rate for couples who loose a kid is over 90% so we are already fighting an uphill battle already. My stomach starts churning just writing this because of what family and hunting both mean to me. I would love any advice...we are trying counseling, but she didn't like the one we went to. Then her husband ended up hunting with me through a common friend which was totally unknown to us until I went to pick him up. So we have to find another.

[G Posik]

This year as a group we left early. When you see more hunters than animals, no matter how far you went there were hunters on foot hunters on horseback and just more hunters. We did go to another unit for the last couple of days. This year going to get into some nasty country where few will try. May not see elk but doubt I see other hunters.


Glenn

[Vanish]

There is a very simple solution here Swede. You need rid your camp of people like that.

This is where things can be tricky. When I hunt alone, I can push myself much harder and farther than when with my partners. I am also far less apt to quit.

When with my partners, if something is going wrong, we tend to death spiral rather than give each other confidence. This is definitely not ideal.

I can't break with my partners, they are my father and wife.

[Swede]

Ishy: It is obvious you have a tough situation. Your wife is claiming you don't love her, if you go hunting for anywhere near enough time to get a refreshing break, and have a descent chance at an animal. She is holding up the prospect of divorce if you do not submit to her wishes. I am not a councilor, but I doubt that is the only situation where she uses the prospect of divorce to control your actions. Ultimately you have to decide if the risk of divorce is enough to allow her to control you or not. I suspect if you are a good husband and father for the rest of the year, she will think long and hard before she pulls the plug on her marriage.
You mention going to Church. Have you talked to your pastor about this situation? I do not know what flavor of Church you attend or if you are a member, but I would talk to a fundamental Bible believing pastor who is serving the Lord. I would avoid a pastor that is officiating over a social order, which considers the Bible just a guideline for better living.

[Swede]

This post is to address getting rid of my hunting "partners". The first thing I need to point out as I have in past posts is, I have no partners. I have folks who come and go on their own. Leaving early is only a problem when I have told others not to come because my camp is full, but it isn't. My peeve in the matter is not in how it affects me at all. I get exasperated with hunters in general who go have such unrealistic expectations. They regularly go hunting for two to four days and expect to bag a bull and go home with a great trophy. They believe the hunting is poor if they are not in elk several times a day. I am not exasperated because someone does this once in a while. This is a ritual. That is why, as others have pointed out too, I believe many hunters have unrealistic expectations. I believe every hunter needs to head out knowing what they are in for, and not some video affair or what someone wrote in a magazine.
It would be fair to say Swede, "you have no reason to feel the way you do. They are not hurting you". To that I would say "I generally agree", but it still irritates me. It is like seeing the lady, I passed on the highway, putting on her makeup while driving and talking on her cell phone. It just irritates me. I brought up this subject to point out this habit by many in hopes someone would carefully assess their upcoming hunt and be better prepared mentally for what they will likely encounter. That way, I believe you will enjoy a better quality, longer, and more fruitful hunt. Isn't that what this forum is really about? BTW: It is ok to irritate this old Swede.

[Olympus hunt]

......... it still irritates me. It is like seeing the lady, I passed on the highway, putting on her makeup while driving and talking on her cell phone. It just irritates me. I brought up this subject to point out this habit by many in hopes someone would carefully assess their upcoming hunt and be better prepared mentally for what they will likely encounter. That way, I believe you will enjoy a better quality, longer, and more fruitful hunt. Isn't that what this forum is really about? BTW: It is ok to irritate this old Swede.

Ahhh....I understand better know. It is your altruism that is showing itself. Saving those hunters in your camp from an inferior quality, short and unproductive hunts. That's cool. I would bet though that some it not most of those hunters that irritate you and leave early are completely fine with it. You really think they are ampted up on video hunts and articles, expecting a 360 bull to come in two days and if they don't it's time to leave? I'm guessing they know that type of hunt quite well. As long as they are happy with their decision, you should be too. Do they really complain to you and point fingers as to why they didn't score if they left early???? Wow if they do...
I get if they are preventing others from visiting your camp. I agree with you there. Has that reaaaaally been a problem? I get it too the person who earlier said they don't like when their buddies leave as they push harder and hunt longer when they have others around. I do too....but is that a bit selfish? Maybe. Not saying that's wrong either. My point is....hunt to make yourself happy and let the others worry about what will make them happy. They way I see it....they leave....more bulls for me!

[Swede]

Oly: Altruism or arrogance, thinking I know what is best for others. I don't know for sure which it is. I really don't disagree with you much, but if they understand like you say, then why do they get exasperated and talk of quitting bow hunting altogether? One does that, while others don't. Some leave, but want me to call them when the elk hunting gets hot. I genuinely like these folks, and it is just a peeve of mine. As far as leaving more for me. I really don't think that is ever an issue. ODF&W regulates the number of elk per management unit, so they will not exceed agree upon numbers. If you come hunt with me, and get an elk, the next year there will be 2,100 elk in that management unit, just like there is each year, unless there is a disaster. Even then your elk will not make to any significant difference.

[Olympus hunt]

Is it possible your pet peaves come from expectations and priorities that don’t match people you hunt with? Do you have people in your camp that might favor fishing, family, golf etc over elk hunting? It is difficult to understand if say, you are retired and obsess the entire year about one thing…..elk hunting and they don’t. I get that. I don’t understand how on God’s green earth somebody would enjoy wacking at a tiny white ball multiple times to get it to fall into a silly cup. No offense golfers…..but just because it isn’t my cup of tea. I couldn’t care less if they told me they would rather do that and leave my camp early to go golfing. I would be less than thrilled if I was depending on them for my hunt and I would not be able to continue my planned hunt if they left. As long as they didn’t ruin my chances or hunting opportunities I wouldn’t have a prob with it. Would I be disappointed they were gone…sure. I like my hunting partners but I understand they have other obligations and priorities that differ from mine. Calling them quitters is a bit harsh. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, is getting an elk the most important thing in life? I certainly would have a hard time calling my hunting partners quitters, calling them out in a public forum and saying their propensity to leave early was a pet peave of mine. Maybe they wouldn’t come back and that would suck too. I take the good with the bad and get happy in the same pants I got mad in.
For me personally, I am not retired and I don’t have one main obsession….elk hunting. I know….more sacrilege…. I have a full time job (actually more than full time with call) and I have commitments to home. I have two little girls and a wife than mean more to me than any 350 class bull ever will. 360 inches??? Ok…maybe… lol…no in all seriousness, my 4 and 2 year old girls are only going to be this little once. They think I am their personal horsey and I was put on this earth for horsey rides. I love it….and am soaking up every minute I can. Sadly…..it won’t be long and they will have other interests, their school, friends….not boys (let me have this one delusion PLEASE) and shopping. It will make me sad but I hope I don’t beat them up too much publicly over their decisions to bail on me. Oddly enough I too had a sick rabbit in the family this past hunting season. I get a call from my wife and my 4 year old is bawling because she has never experienced death before and isn’t quite understanding it. The rabbit died and things are tough on her. I hated not being able to be there….even worse when she tells me, “Daddy daddy, please come home….I miss you.” Now my wife had handled it perfectly but it made me want to pick her up and tell her it was ok. At that moment, elk hunting was not the most important thing in my life. I can (and did) hunt later. At four years old she says things that make me buckle at the knees. She asked me to not go to work the other day because she wanted to play with me. I told her I had to work to buy all the nice things we have….the toys and the food we eat. She then tells me that she doesn’t need toys or the food. Ahhhh….how do I reply to THAT? Anyhow….I didn’t leave my camp specifically because of a rabbit…..more that I had to work the next day. I didn’t stay until the lights went out because driving for 6 hours and getting home only to get up 4 hours later after a full day would suck.
Somebody on here earlier in this post put his brothers friend always pulled the daughter card. Good for that man. I personally want to spend a ton of time with these turkeys. I know I will have a bunch of hunting days later. I’m not saying there is a right or wrong way of thinking but if you can’t get over it as your post suggests maybe you should not invite said offenders to your camp. Many may not agree with me but to each his own I guess.
There were a few things that touched a nerve with your post(s). Maybe I am being to self centered and this wasn’t directed my way. I hope I have never suggested I won’t come unless it is hot hunting. I know full well what it takes. It doesn’t mean I won’t hedge my bet if things are better hunting conditions. Secondly, I do take offense at you suggesting you don’t have hunting partners! Whaaaaaa? I would think elk hunting with you for 20 some years would count fer soooooooomething. I just don’t want you getting your panties in a knot over trivial stuff. Quit trying to make others happy. A better pet peave would be being annoyed at people stealing your tree stand sites and playin it off as if they found them with their own hard work. Or....getting crappola from your boy. You know I like yanking your chain Swede. Hey….I learn from the best.

[Swede]

Oly: Thanks for the reprimand. I think this thread has gotten off coarse. The original question is why do hunters leave earlier than they planned? Obviously some have very good reasons. Their reason may even be a matter of life and death. Other reasons are harder for me to comprehend. The question was intended to focus on our expectations, and are we being realistic. There is no intent to publicly embarrass anyone. If you do not consider yourself a quitter, then don't worry. I do not want anyone to quit or to hunt less. It is just the opposite. With realistic expectations, I believe more hunters will be better prepared to deal with whatever comes their way. I believe fewer hunters will succumb to sick rabbit syndrome.
I worked with people that quit the Forest Service. Sometimes I believe it was because the work was not the romantic experience they expected it to be. Sometimes the work was tough and the conditions were miserable. I wonder if that happens with hunting more than we think? Is that why we quit, or is it deeper? Even though I am usually told by people they will be around xx number of days, most do not last that long. Why?
You are correct that this is a public forum. Mostly I try to use it to share my observations and knowledge of hunting, and life in the forest. My intent is to help whoever wants to engage in the conversation, as well as lurkers.
Oly: I think you misunderstood my point about hunting partners. I have no hunter who comes with me to hunt. I have no one that stays with me for very long either. We come together as friends and hunt from the same camp. We may leave from camp to the hunting area in the same vehicle, but rarely ever hunt together. These friends are all welcome to come and stay as long as they want. It is ok to go also. For me it would be better if they let me know in advance how long they plan to stay and stuck with that, but it is not critical and was not what this conversation is about. In a previous post I wrote; "this post is to address getting rid of my hunting partners." That post was designed to clarify my situation and counter your assertion that I should get rid on my "partners". That seems rather heavy handed to my way of thinking.
Remember; many people here have never elk hunted or have just one experience. If you step back and look at it from that perspective and the intent to advise those people, I think you will better understand why I have written what I did. It goes along with another thread where I was suggesting to newer hunters that their success was not likely going to be as good, on average, as that of experienced hunters. The key is to just be realistic, be prepared, and hang in there. The better prepared you are the more likely you are to eventually succeed.

[Olympus hunt]

[ishy]

Swede we did the counseling thing recommended from a pastor for a few times but not the right one for the wife. Still looking for another that she'll go to. We also found a camp for families that have lost kids that has been a huge help. But that's only five days of the year. Just good to be with folks that have gone through what we have.

[Swede]

Ishy: All the best to you Bud. I hope things work out well. You are in my prayers.

[easeup]

well mr. swede, I too have seen pretty much most of everything posted above by the thoughtful contributors.

it pretty much boils down to two things......they don't want to hunt that long really.....or the real deal hunt is actually too hard for what they are really looking for despite what they say.

I quit this year because the season was over. It was a good thing too. I was beat down.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Olympus hunt - Hat's off to you. There are things more important in life than elk hunting.....well maybe that should just be one. Family!

Swede - My hat is always off to you. I wish half the people I meet are as honest and humbling as you.

[Boisedoc]

I am a southeasterner (Georgia) who finally made it to the elk woods for the first time this year. I moved to Boise last summer. I planned to hunt 4 days solo as none of my friends had the time frame of days off that coincidded with my schedule. I'd made a couple o scouting trips up to the area I was hunting this summer. I was just a little more excited than I was green. I'd researched all summer how to hunt and kill these beasts. Well within 1 1/2 hours of hunting I was 45 yards from a cow. Long story short it didn't happen and I did not shoot an arrow. About 2 hours later I came face to face with my first bull, a raghorn 5x5, at 30 yards. He and I saw each other at the same time. I drew but he was quartered to me with his shoulder covering his vitals. I've killed about 30 whitetail with a bow, so I am aware of how to effectively dispatch an animal with a bow but this elk spun on a dime without offering a shot. This was 15 min before dark and about 2 miles from base camp. I spent the next two hours bumbling around in the dark trying to make it back to camp. Tired and dejected I tried to sleep but couldn't. This year I've spent 5 nights in a tent. I've probably spent less than 10 nights in a tent my entire life. I woke up the next morning and shot a few practice shots but couldn't hit anything off the bat. Once I corrected my shooting I headed back to the woods. Still dejected and very homesick and lonely I stopped and sat down. I remember thinking this is supposed to be fun. I was NOT havin fun. I simply was not prepared mentally for backcountry hunting by myself. I left later that day.

I should mention that my left knee was fused as well so all ambulation in the mountains is a pain in the rear. As I write this I am recovering from surgery: an amputation of the fused limb. I cannot wait to get back out the backcountry. It's a lofty goal but I may be one of the first above/through the knee amputees to hunt elk in the backcountry. Thanks for letting me ramble. It's been very cathartic.

[Swede]

Boisedoc: Thanks for rambling. Yours is an interesting post, as you describe several reasons to quit. It is not my purpose to build a fire for elk hunting in the belly of anyone. For those who really want to elk hunt, I believe any and all of these issues, you have, can be overcome.
The first and maybe foremost problem you mentioned was that you were on your own. Your friends could not join you. Apparently you were not afraid to be out alone, so companionship would seem to be the main issue. It is also good to have someone around if you need help. I am no shrink, so all I can say is that even though I like friends around, I have become comfortable being alone. Like you I learned that if I want to hunt, sometimes I am going to go alone. If you are not comfortable alone, I believe you will be as you are not afraid.
You will also become accustomed to not getting an elk on each outing. You will develop a realistic understanding of what is a reasonable expectation for the area you hunt. A reasonable expectation of taking an elk will cause you to see other things out there and focus more on them. I don't mean that you should not be totally concentrating on getting elk. You will just glory in seeing all that is there and being away from everything else that usually weighs on a person. I love my Church, but to be honest, sometimes I need a break from that too.
Your leg situation is not a major problem. You don't have to hike five miles through downed trees and heavy brush, to get into elk, if you don't feel up to it. If you are not up to a full day of calling and running, find a good location to wait for the elk to come to you. I like a tree stand and I have found the afternoon is the best time to just sit and wait. If having one bad leg slows you down, you could find out that can work to your advantage. I have thought many hunters would do better if they slowed down and waited and observed more. I tend to think, that for myself, the time for run and gun tactics is when the elk start shooting. The rest of the time stealth is a better option. Best wishes.

[hornart]

I have hunted with some others who werent as dedicated to hunting as I was, they werent prepared and so it was their downfall that led to them leaving early. I started hunting solo, so I was always ready to do whatever I had to do to achieve success, I grew up in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State so I learned how to hunt in bad weather, I am a stubborn hunter, I have hunted elk on crutches twice in my life, I never filled either of those tags but I was still out there trying to the end of the season. On the second hunt on crutches I was in a strap on boot cause I had sheared off the tibia at the ankle and I had to have a second surgery that set me back from being healed by hunting season. I carried my backpack and rifle and crutched 3 miles out from camp one day and I also had to crutch back to camp at the end of that day, I saw more elk than the rest of my party but was never able to seal the deal. I do understand that there are things that we have to take care of, and leaving early to do some of those things is neccesary, But for me, and Thank God for this, I have never had to leave hunting camp until all tags were filled, or we ran out of season. This is only my opinion so please dont think that I`m taking it out on anybody for the way they hunt, it just doesnt work in my camp.

[idahoghost]

I admit it, I quit this year. I was really excited about hunting too. I had a place scouted form last year. Set my trailcams up in early June and hiked in numerous to check them. Elk everywhere. I had posted some of the photos here. This was to be the year I would finally kill and Elk with my bow.

August 12, the Unit 48 burned to the ground and then some. My 3 trailcams with it or so I thought. The whole area was shutdown. No entry allowed, period.

Finally about three weeks ago I obtained special permission to enter the unit unit and retrieve my cams. Maybe the FS supervisor was just tried of me begging. The day my special permit was to take effect the Feds shutdown. No permit. Finally in desperation I called the local Fed LEO. He made some calls and granted me permission to go and retrieve the cams and made it quite clear I was and had been the only person to gain access.

All three cams were melted, but I got really lucky on one, and was able to salvage the SD card. Elk were shown on the lick up to ½ half hour before the trailcam melted.

I could have changed my tag area, but had no knowledge of anywhere else and was so bummed about the whole thing; I decided the next coming year I would may another attempt. Come to think of it, I still am bummed.

[idahoghost]

1/2 hour before the meltdown

[idahoghost]

Meltdown and another $300.00 gone. Check the time of the previous photo and this one.

[idahoghost]

1 of 3

[idahoghost]

2 of 3

[idahoghost]

3 of 3 the lucky one

[idahoghost]

The aftermath. As I was told, just look at the Loman Fire, you'd never know and it's only been twenty years. I'll be 79 then....

On the bright side I really think in just a few years it maybe better than it was. Just will be a little harder to find good cover ;>)

[N5J]

Swede,

I normally won't quit but this year was different my body wouldn't let me physically go any longer. This year was tougher than most because I was having issues pulling my bow because of neck pain and arm weakness. Still with my condition I never quit hunting I even helped pack out an elk, wasn't going to leave my hunting partner with that task. Had neck surgery 1 Oct to remove bone spurs and 3 disks fused together. Going in next week for more surgery to fix nerve issues for numb fingers. Don't really know if I can shoot a bow again But if not I'll rifle hunt. Either way I'll definitely be back out there chasing elk next year. Quit isn't in my vocabulary so when all the surgeries get done I'll be hitting re-had hard to get ready for the next hunting season.

This year we had the same thing happened to us. After a hunters in our camp harvest his elk he left camp early. No reason...but he did make the comment that he had his bull and really NO reason to be in camp any longer! As he was packing up to leave he said if we get an elk down to call him. We looked at him in disbelief and needless to say he is no longer welcome in our camp.

N5J

[Swede]

I see there are some powerful reasons to "quit". I was going to harass ghost a little about quitting when the only thing that had happened to him was, his equipment was destroyed, his area burned over, and there was a legal order prohibiting him from going in, but I have been misunderstood enough on this thread. I am not sure it is really quitting when your area is effectively destroyed and the place is covered with fire fighters, or when you are physically disabled. Of coarse if ghost had started the fire or if someone does something deliberately to cause neck injury, they have more than earned their excuse. That would be pretty extreme. As I consider the fire or injury situation, I think "there, but for the grace of God go I". Anyway N5J I hope your surgery goes well and you don't have any excuse next year.

[Indian Summer]

"I was NOT havin fun."

"my body wouldn't let me physically go any longer'

Big difference but it IS supposed to be fun. Keeping in mind that elk hunting is, or can be more mentally and physically demanding than ANYTHING you've ever done. Not to mention that the weather this year in September was as ugly as I can remember. But while we're using the word "quit" let's not forget that if you really had legitimate issues a better choice of words would be "reached my limit". It happens unless you're Superman or Wonderwoman.

Realistically on a 10 day hunt you might as well just plan on 1 day mid hunt to sleep in and re-group. Running yourself into the dirt is just counterproductive.

Boisedoc: I have a friend here in Pa... we met when he was a client. His mother passed at 37 of cancer and at 7 he was diagnosed with cancer in his leg. They cut it all out and now he has zero muscle on that leg. They say he's not a candidate for a prosthetic limb because of the severity of the damage and the fact that it runs all the way up above the knee. He is truly an inspiration. Hooked on elk hunting the guy is an animal and is living proof that what's between your ears is probably more important than anything else. I've seen him punish himself. You don't say "Jeff how about a short break?" He'll look at you, say "Why are you tired", and march on. Instead you just take the break knowing he needs and appreciates it. Inevitably one day he will lose that leg. He says that when they schedule the amputation he will first go on an elk hunt knowing that years of rehab could put him on the bench for awhile. I know that when that happens he will wear that leg down to a nub before they remove it. There will be no quitting. People with real limitations always seem to be mentally tougher. No excuses ever.

In the meantime those who flat out quit because of discomfort do just that.... quit. Most likely many will decide elk hunting just isn't for them. Most are rookies who just didn't realize the nature of this labor of love. Labor it is! I've lived in tents for months and the homesick factor can be as bad as anything if you rarely leave the family for extended periods. But instead of bashing ourselves or others let's remember.... we're only human. Let's also remember that radical decisions are rarely wise. Especially if you have partners who are depending on you. Do NOT think of yourself an nobody else! Just being there helps your partners. Instead of leaving back off. Hunt easier terrain or take some time to ponder the situation in camp.... not on the way home.

One thing I tell myself and others who need a little coaching.... next week we will all wish we could be back here for some self inflicted punishment. Right? Right!

This year I was skunked. Holy crap I can't believe I'm saying that! But a true elk hunter has a way of finding the positive aspects of things and I've said to myself more than once... I hope this makes all of my Elknut family who came up empty feel a little better knowing it can happen to anyone. Funny how we ignore the success rates thinking we'll all end up in the successful category. But we do... or we wouldn't be elk hunters. At some point reality has to rear it's ugly face for many of us. Numbers don't lie.

Despite the hardships though I bet we all wish we were there right now.... minus the snowflakes between the raindrops of course!

These forums and the people on here are evolving. Next season when life gets tough, and it will, we can think back on this and other threads and maybe it will make the difference in persevering instead of throwing in the towel. I think we're all a little tougher than we were last winter and this spring. It's a good thing & we have each other to thank for that.

Stay thirsty my friends!

[ishy]

Boise doc...I haven't heard the story behind it, but in Sandpoint there's pic in the Big R store with an amputee with a great archery bull, and a bear. Sorry but you may not be the first. Anyway hats off to you and him, the rest of us should quit wining.

[easeup]

thanks guys!
I am already to go back.

[cnelk]

We returned early from hunting last night. Leaving a couple days early due to a personal health issue.
Hunting was poor. And the weather didn't help.

Below is the weather report for the area we left... Wouldn't be much fun in a wall tent



Saturday
Mostly cloudy with snow in the morning, then overcast with snow. High of 30F with a windchill as low as 0F. Windy. Winds from the West at 40 to 45 mph with gusts to 75 mph. Chance of snow 70% with accumulations up to 3 in. possible.

Saturday Night
Overcast with snow. Low of 14F with a windchill as low as -9F. Windy. Winds from the West at 25 to 45 mph with gusts to 65 mph. Chance of snow 80% with accumulations up to 7 in. possible.

[>>>---WW---->]

Pansy!!!!!!!!!!! LOL! I think I'd be out of there also.

[Swede]

I had no idea they had elk around Nome Alaska. If Brad had not copied their weather information, I would have figured he was out hunting somewhere near home. Of coarse Brad did not say he was hunting elk. I just made that connection because he posted a weather forecast on this forum. I sure hope no one feels they need an excuse if they just feel like returning home.

[LckyTylr]

Very Well Said IndianSummer!