Hunting Bears Alone

[Brbpuppy]

Hey, just wondering what some of you experienced guys think about hunting bears alone, or just hunting alone in the bush in general? I realize its situational. But lets just say for fun, roughly 3 hour drive from home, and with cell reception.

Appreciate any feedback, thanks gents.

[Sask Bearman]

The cell reception thing is good. I'd rather have a partner along but sometimes that just isn't possible. I have done it in the past and will do it again. Just be careful. Good luck!

[Ronji]

90% of all hunting I do alone, and have been for the last 10 years or so. I used to hunt with my buddies, and still do, they might be 10 miles away though. I find with cell coverage, a person can be located pretty easy with "find my phone apps" Cell coverage is nice but not essential. The biggest problem is a person cannot really hide now, as my business requires me to be somewhat accessible.
I always let the better half know where I will be. I have hunted in my same spots for 40 years. And if something ever happened, my hunting buddies would know where to find me.

[Dean2]

I have spent a lot of time hunting alone, mostly because I could always make more time off to hunt than my hunting partners could. When I was young and spry I never worried about it. The older I get the more careful I am about what situations I want to get myself into. Breaking a quad twenty miles from the truck doesn't seem like as much of a no Big Deal as it was 10 years ago.

The danger in hunting alone is not the animals you are hunting it is all the other things that can go wrong. In all my years hunting I have never had to have anyone come in a get me or us. We always figured out a way to get ourselves out but there were a few times when we were as much as a week late getting back to town. A couple of those, had I been on my own, I would have been 2 weeks late but we were way up past the middle of nowhere, 300 miles from the nearest house.

Cell phones and Satellite Emergency beacons makes hunting alone a lot safer than it used to be but make sure you have the resources to pay for the rescue if you need it. Other thing is, hunting with good partners is still WAY more fun than hunting alone. Too bad good and great partners are so hard to come by.

[st99]

You're over thinking, just go out there and have fun. Learn basic bush navigation skills, carry a first aid kit and a survival kit. Analyze the situation before doing something risky and you'll be alright.

[Bub]

I hunt big game alone most of the time and find it to be just as fun or even more so than hunting with someone else. And I hunt the bush, sometimes with no reception. I call in for help if I can after the kill though
Animals are not really the danger in the bush. Like someone has already mentioned, it is all other things. Watch your step, see where you are going and do not take unnecessary risks and you should be fine. Be aware of your gun as well. I always try to tell my wife where I am going and when she should expect me back. If there is reception, there is also communication through out the day, mostly with my cousin about how the hunt is going and he is usually aware off my location. I do not generally see it as a dangerous activity.

Water fowls is definitely fun to hunt with a buddy or two and I actually find it a bit boring at times doing it on my own. Upland birds is probably the same as big game for me.

Edit: And definitely what the guy above my post said.

[Sooner]

I hunt 3 hours away to the North, only get cell reception at Moose camp if I stand on a log. Some of my best trips were day trips out on my quad and alone. Cold Nov too. Just have to be careful. I plan on getting a "spot" type device one day. Now I have my 19 yr old in tow so not alone much. Once he finds some friends who hunt, I may be back to my solo trips. I really like it and I almost always towed my tub trailer behind the old 350 foretrax. It carried the gear I would need to deal with the tags I had in pocket.

I haven't hunted Bears but I think with bears, you double think about your prey and where your are chasing that prey lol.


Best thing is someone needs to know where you will be hunting and the area. I can tell a couple friends I'm going to be around "Chicken Pipeline" or Mr Big Cut line and so one and they could find me out there 14 k off the road because they have hunted there with me. I have even made a rough map showing the areas i like to go and leave it in the truck glove box. If I am down and out and they check my truck parked off the main road, at least it gives them a place to begin looking.

[CF8889]

A little preperation and bush smarts and you'll be fine.

Let someone know

When you will leaving and when you'll be back.
Which WMU you are hunting (and which 1/4 of it if you can).
What Vehicle you are driving out
+ any situational things that you think are important

[Bushmaster]

I hunted (archery) and baited bears alone for several years. Early on I always carried a shotgun but as time passed I came to realize the bears weren't too interested in eating me and carrying the gun was a pain. In the end I quit carrying the gun and while I had a few exciting encounters I was never afraid for my life. I ended up with 9 bears, several color phases, 7 taken with the bow and 3 measured P & Y. This was in the early '80's, long before the advent of cell phones. Give them some respect and you'll be fine.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

lazy man's hunting. Just put the bait in the back of the truck, drive to spot, wait. If you are lucky, the body stays in the back of the truck. LOL

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by st99

You're over thinking, just go out there and have fun. Learn basic bush navigation skills, carry a first aid kit and a survival kit. Analyze the situation before doing something risky and you'll be alright.

x2, It'll make your self confidence grow as well. Might consider a Spot.

Grizz

[catnthehat]

I regularly hunted alone for years , from rabbits to bears to moose - no issues
Cat

[beaver hunter]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

lazy man's hunting. Just put the bait in the back of the truck, drive to spot, wait. If you are lucky, the body stays in the back of the truck. LOL

Lol

[Bushmaster]

"lazy man's hunting. Just put the bait in the back of the truck, drive to spot, wait. If you are lucky, the body stays in the back of the truck. LOL"

Lol, actually it was the last day of the season, so I drove my truck fairly close to the bait. As I was unloading it, a sow and 3 cubs came in, so I climbed up into my stand. While there, a big boar and the sow that is in my truck appeared....it amazed me that they didn't even look at the bait but went straight to my truck. The boar pulled a obx of bait out of the truck while the sow jumped right in. I yelled at her to get out, which is why she turned to look at me.

[1899b]

Be prepared with sling and come along. Those oil leases are greasy and soft during spring bear season.

[bb356]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I regularly hunted alone for years , from rabbits to bears to moose - no issues
Cat

+ 1

[bb356]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

"lazy man's hunting. Just put the bait in the back of the truck, drive to spot, wait. If you are lucky, the body stays in the back of the truck. LOL"

Lol, actually it was the last day of the season, so I drove my truck fairly close to the bait. As I was unloading it, a sow and 3 cubs came in, so I climbed up into my stand. While there, a big boar and the sow that is in my truck appeared....it amazed me that they didn't even look at the bait but went straight to my truck. The boar pulled a obx of bait out of the truck while the sow jumped right in. I yelled at her to get out, which is why she turned to look at me.

Cool ... Thank's !!!

[sweld]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

"lazy man's hunting. Just put the bait in the back of the truck, drive to spot, wait. If you are lucky, the body stays in the back of the truck. LOL"



Lol, actually it was the last day of the season, so I drove my truck fairly close to the bait. As I was unloading it, a sow and 3 cubs came in, so I climbed up into my stand. While there, a big boar and the sow that is in my truck appeared....it amazed me that they didn't even look at the bait but went straight to my truck. The boar pulled a obx of bait out of the truck while the sow jumped right in. I yelled at her to get out, which is why she turned to look at me.

We were pipelining by slave lake a few years back. The boss was sitting on the right a way in his truck when a black bear hopped in the box. And I had one that would come into my fab tent every nite. Set up a trail cam and got some pretty good footage of him.


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[Brbpuppy]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Be prepared with sling and come along. Those oil leases are greasy and soft during spring bear season.

Yeah I carry a tow chain, sling, and jack all. I really don't want to get my truck stuck lol. Call me crazy, but that's actually the main reason I'm not totally comfortable going alone. It would be nice to have a hand if I got stuck. Although, I may just walk the roads if they're that bad.


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[pikeman06]

Part of the thrill...good to be scared a bit. Watch your step and check your back trail once in a while just like the rest of the critters in predator country. Let some one know the area you in put a lighter or two in your gear. If you get lost or hurt for gods sake swallow your pride and just stay put and get a big fire going. Don't burn up all your energy in a panic. I been there. It's real bad when you convince yourself to keep going the wrong way. Tuff to admit you are lost. More scared of cougars then bears myself.

[bessiedog]

Son.... I mean this nicely

But grow a pair and get out there.

You'll learn more about yourself out there alone for a day than you'll learn in 5 years.

Trust me.

[Brbpuppy]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Son.... I mean this nicely

But grow a pair and get out there.

You'll learn more about yourself out there alone for a day than you'll learn in 5 years.

Trust me.

Yeah you're right... I'm going to go. Relying on other people to come along to do the things I want to do, is just getting old. I appreciate all the feedback.


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[JD848]

I hunted solo for most of my hunting life,when I finished guiding ,I just liked the solo part.No such thing as grow up and go do it,for some being in heavy timber or swamps all days can get you in some real jackpots.

So take your time learn your area well,if you plan on going far in ,get a sat phone and good compass plus gps ,plus good eye protection,one wrong turn and a branch in the eye can get you in big trouble,a good pack with few day's of stuff to keep you going if you twist a knee or just get hurt.Tell someone you trust where you are headed and keep that plan,if you change your mind once there ,phone in and let the person know where you are,i use to spend at least 3 weeks at a time by myself,good gear,and learn the bush and fall in love with it.
The greatest love is to be free and alone and learning to depend on your self,hunters that need to bond are way off my map,nothing worst than some idiot that needs to tell you all his problems on a hunting trip.Go alone and never look back,it will reward you more than you ever think.Remembering your way back is the biggest part.

[KegRiver]

I started hunting when I was preteen and have hunted alone for the most part ever since.
A good part, most in fact, of my hunting time was in bear country and a good many hours of that I was hunting small game and only carried a .22.

I've never had reason to fear anything in nature and I know I probibly never will.

The overwhelming majority of people who get in trouble in the bush, do so because they get lost or get too close to a momma anything protecting her babies.

If you are not experianced in bush navigation, managing wildlife encounters and basic survival techneques, Do not go without a GPS a cell phone and a survival kit.

Overconfidance in the bush is a killer. More so then a whole herd of angry bears.

Do what you have to to feel safe, and dont be afraid to back out if you are unsure of anything.

There is no shame in learning, or even in learning the hard way.

The only shame is in making fun of someone who is learning and in not lending a helping hand.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Brbpuppy

Hey, just wondering what some of you experienced guys think about hunting bears alone, or just hunting alone in the bush in general? I realize its situational. But lets just say for fun, roughly 3 hour drive from home, and with cell reception.

Appreciate any feedback, thanks gents.

Be prepared.
People have been doing this for thousands of years, a tuffer bunch not looking for an app to get them out of trouble though.

[Dick284]

I'm more scared to be alone in some parts of the city, than I've ever been in the bush.

Don't let the ursaphobia get the better of you.

[Lornce]

I feel at home in the bush a, hunted and fished alone for the last 35 years. Everything from Deer and moose to Bear. As was previously stated, I'm more nervous in some city areas.

[wildwoods]

Originally Posted by Lornce

I feel at home in the bush a, hunted and fished alone for the last 35 years. Everything from Deer and moose to Bear. As was previously stated, I'm more nervous in some city areas.

I'm going to have to agree here 100%^^^^
OP, it doesn't mean you go off all cocky into the bush. You still need to respect the power of nature and that if you choose to play in their playground, there can be consequences. Take reasonable precautions and you'll be fine. I do not fear bears and baiting when I am alone. But darn rights I respect them.

[Suzukisam]

I have done it for 30 years. Have acquired equipment to handle moose by myself. It is a great thing for your mind to be able to relax without others input. Just practice all the best safety habits. I even walk with gun unloaded. And don't take any chances go around objects not over. And if problem happens remain calm.

[Capt. awesome]

I usually go out in the bush alone because its just more relaxing. Just make sure you know where you're going, people know where you are and that you have some stuff packed in case you need it. I usually make sure I have a basic first aid kit, food, and always carry a lighter. Better have it and not need it.