Is Your Partner Solid?

[Indian Summer]

Is she? Or he? Anyone will tell you that's a huge thing. What is a solid partner anyway?

I talk to guys all the time that are interested in buying a hunt plan. The one who contacts me is always the most motivated. The ring leader. From time to time they'll say I'm in 100% but I'm trying to get my partners to commit. So the partner is sometimes a person who likes the idea of a big 6 point elk rack on their wall... but are only 99% sure they want to spend the money or put forth the effort to actually hunt and kill one. 99% is pretty good though. After the first year they will be either 110%... or done elk hunting.

One thing I always tell people is be clear and honest with your partner. If you intend to live like an animal under a rock eating berries for 10 days make sure your partner is aware of that. Especially if their idea of camping is Super 8.

In reality it's not very often that 2 hunters are an exact match. Sometimes it comes down to physical ability but the fact is it's usually a difference in mental toughness. Your mind can get your body through some abuse and that's a big part of staying positive.

So I think it's a really good idea to sit and talk about actual daily hunting scenarios a little. Talk about the what ifs. What if I feel like sleeping in tomorrow and you feel like hunting a 99 mile loop? Sometimes hunters can have problems with that. One guy says my partner gave up. I was forced to hunt alone. It limited where I could hunt and pack out elk from. The other guy might say I felt like a 3rrd wheel. I knew she was going to hunt harder than me. I felt bad about it. Then I got kinda lonely bored and homesick... so I left early. That's tragic. It ruins things for everyone. It can even ruin friendships.

Instead plan for such things. Learn to laugh things off. I'd say well if you have to hike 99 miles to try to kill an elk then you better go back and try the search function on Wapiti Talk brotato chip! I'm waking up at the crack of 8 and killing my bull behind camp. So don't go gettin' lost out there because I'll be needing a packer by noonish. But my partner needs to know that no matter where he kills an elk I will kill myself helping him to get it packed out. Even if I'm half worthless physically the mental support alone is a big help. And THAT is what makes friendships and partnerships stronger!

So everyone needs to put themselves in the other guys moccasins. Realize each others strengths and weaknesses and deal with them. Talk about each other's goals as far as hunting and also the overall enjoyment of the trip. As with most things communication is key.

This is one of my partners in crime. Will Cushner. Easy going guy from Satesboro Georgia who guided for me in Montana for about 4 years and currently guides for the outfitter I book for in Wyoming. We have fun hunting hard in the day and laugh our butts off every night. Solid dude!

MeNWill.jpg (177.03 KiB) Viewed 3522 times

So.... do you have a partner? Are they solid? No potential backer outers??? Do you hunt solo because you think partners can only lead to problems? Or solo because you just enjoy it more? What is your elk hunting partner status this season?

[Swede]

Joe, you are absolutely right. No one has the time available to hunt with me the whole season. I understand that, but it is discouraging that they want to leave after only two or at the most three days because they miss home and the hunting is less than great. Finding a partner is difficult. I can deal with the weather and all sorts of things, but I can't live under a rock 10 miles back in the wilderness, and run 99 miles fueled on Pinion seeds and berries anymore. Finding a partner with matching interest, physical ability and commitment is difficult. I have not done it.

[stringunner]

I tend to like how our camp is now. This past year there were 5-6 guys at any given time, at least through the first 8-10 days. None of us are dependent upon one another to stay or go but will no doubt jump in for whatever while at camp. A couple of us have wives and young kids so going for 2-3 days then running home for a night to help check in or whatever is a nice trade off for me trying to hunt but also lead my family well. My dad might stay for 10 straight days and if I run home for a day or two he doesn't care but knows I'm just 3 hours away if he needs help. I'm finding my brother comes simply To hang out with dad and I and could take or leave the hunting, there was a time that would have driven me crazy but he doesn't hold back my hunting style and knows I'm probably not going to be back till dark. It's fun to hang with him while he is there. A couple years ago I use to get frustrated if everyone in camp wasn't as intense as I was about it, or didn't put in the time like I did/do. But now I'm learning to appreciate the time spent in fellowship particularly as it hasn't disrupted my time to hunt. Now if there was a partner in camp that needed babysitting, that would obviously change up the scenario we currently have and I might feel differently.

[husky390]

Nothing worse than a "gung ho" hunting partner who folds like origami after the first hill. I know I'm in trouble the second they start asking or guessing our elevation. And this is after we've poured over topos and I've explained in detail the type of terrain we'll be going through.

[Indian Summer]

"How much further to the top?"

"You mean this top or the next one?"

[Swede]

I like what I see with Stringunner's party. I have observed his operation, and it is solid. Everyone going in knows what to expect. You and your group can be considered partners.
I do not feel the same way. Many of those that come to camp with me, have not gotten anything since the 1990s. They hunt here and there, in different parts of the State, but only for a few days. Most of their hunting season is spent at home. I have no problem with them, but they are just not partners. When things don't look "hot", they pack up and leave. They may have discussed and planned for a week but be gone after three days. That is fair if you want to hunt that way. They are good friends, but I just don't consider them partners.
I have also witnessed another situation: Having worked and hunted around different people; it is easy to see how life in the forest is not as glamorous as some expect. It was easy to read and feel the excitement of the hunt as they spend time on W.T. or other forums. You get the same thing from magazines, or hanging around some successful hunter. What I think is, that a lot of new hunters, especially, don't have realistic expectations. They expect every day to be seeing game, and hearing bulls bugle. Its all fun and they will be comfortable. They expect to come home with a big bull. It is hard to tell folks that it is rare to get an animal the first time out. When reality finally hits they go home. I wish I had a dollar for every ex-bow hunter I have dealt with. The plus side is that yard sale bows are sure cheap. The problem with them is that it took the owner 20 years to realize he was not going back, so the bow is totally out of date.

[saddlesore]

One partner who can't hunt anymore,I hunted with 20 years,the other ,off and on for 30+. Once you get a good one keep him/her,. Thru the years I have tried to take younger guys and start them off.They all tell me I hunt too hard. Others I have taken and showed them really good spots,only have them show up the next year with their other buddies.

Guides who work for outfitters tend to be nice guys. One because it is their business and the outfitter wants return customers and two,the guide wants big tip.

Salty guides do not last long in the business

[bald9eagle]

My guy is 6'4" and 300lbs so I'd say he's pretty solid...

We've had the talk about how we want to hunt. We've also agreed that if need be that we would go solo in order to locate the elk. We've also acknowledged the fact that we may get out there and find that we won't always be on the same page. The big thing is we are both committed to going however far we need to get it done.

[mongopino915]

I am blessed to have a hunter partner that is as hard core and just as motivated. Together, we make a great team. We are at a point where we can read the elk and react separately to engage without giving any signal.

The key is to not be selfish. He is always eager and looking forward to bring any elk my way and I do the same.

We are now at the age where we take youngsters into the wood to teach the rope.

[husky390]

"How much further to the top?"

"You mean this top or the next one?"

"How high up are we, 10,000' or higher "

Me. "Naw dude, probably 9,000'"

"No way. " Checks GPS. " Hey, you were right"

Me. Roll eyes.

[Stick]

There are 7 of us in our camp. We come a long way and everyone is there for the long haul. Usually stay 2 -2 1/2 weeks. We are all sad to leave most of the time. Some are more motivated than others but we match up and hunt with each other based on that motivation level. Myself and another fella are definitely the high motor guys. It all seems to work itself out. One of our older guys is a great hunter but basically a solo guy.

Me and the fella I spoke of already we live it breathe it and sleep it. Pour over the maps, search Google Earth, and talk long hours on the phone strategizing. I've had people tell me they don't like hunting or fishing with me because I'm to Intense!

We are all self employed and own our own businesses which makes staying possible too!

[Mike_Parson]

i have no friends so i hunt alone, so my hunting partner is truly perfect!