What Makes A Hunting Partner?

[Swede]

Indian Summer's thread has got me to thinking that we may have different definitions for "hunting partner", or different ideas on what one should be. I have a number of people that are friends and relatives, I enjoy hunting with, but don't consider them "partners". Sure, we may share a camp together and help each other while we are together, but to me that is being a good neighbor. Here is what I believe is generally involved in being a "partner:

We plan our hunt(s) together.
We prepare and/or scout together, or do different things that compensate for our lack of involvement in one area or the other.
We share hunting expenses for things like food, fuel that is consumed together. At the end of the hunt, what is left over is shared.
We generally hunt the same time in the same area(s).
Even if we are not together during the day, we coordinate and generally agree on our hunts. If we want to move camp and hunting areas, we do it together.
If something happens to one person in the partnership, it impacts both. We are partners. If one has to leave early due to something unforeseen, we pack up and leave together.
At the end, we share our game.
To me it is not important that we are equally equipped, or have equal knowledge, but we are in it to hunt together.

There could be small differences, but these are close.

What do you think? Is that your idea too, or do you have a different one?

[Texasdan]

That's pretty much on the money swede. I'm abroad and can't hunt the Rockys for the next couple of years, but we are still planning hunts, point strategies etc, from now until we are old men. To me that is half the fun. I would enjoy it solo, but the great mountain west is like playing music or anything else worth doing...better with a friend.

[Indian Summer]

It sounds like you have a very different situation than most Swede. A camp where several different people are coming and going. I've had camps in Montana where friends who worked all week showed up on Friday nights and sometimes took Monday off. They live there so we don't really plan our hunt throughout the year. We just hunt. But they are partners because no matter what id I send a text that says bull down they are coming. Same goes for me. It's like being in the military.... when duty calls you strap on your boots.

In Wyoming I have what you might consider a dedicated partner. We plan together. We drive out together and split all of the costs. We hunt solo but we know where each other is in general and we might have a couple designated check in times on the radio. We each plan and bring our own meals but we share in camp duties which can be a lot if we are taking care of horses every morning and evening. We also talk about next years plans. So that partner is more of steady ongoing thing.

Next year I might need to use some of your elk points Jon! Now that's a good partner!