From its inception, hunting has been a shared experience. The difference from then to now is it was once necessary to feed and clothe groups of people. Today, the food is an optional justification for hunting and the communal component is more about the fellowship. I imagine there was some camaraderie involved in the early days too. I can visualize tribes of Indians and groups of pioneers breaking down deer into their meaty parts and carefully preparing their hides – with not only a sustenance mindset but with mixed chatter. After all, sport was involved and the sense of community great.
I like deer camp. Scratch that, I love deer camp. In my younger days, deer leases meant libations deep into the night, fire pit strategizing, and gatherings at the skinning shed. And lest we forget the good food. Great stuff, no doubt.
For me these days, there’s a lot more of said strategizing and much fewer late nights. Hunting alone has materialized into perhaps my favorite undertaking. No, I haven’t turned antisocial, rather the solitary hunting life has just proven to be a good approach on a few levels. After all, while I get to enjoy outdoor spaces most people will never experience, I’m also blessed with a fantastic wife at home and a good life.
While absent of fellowship, solo hunting has many advantages.
The idea of solo hunting often brings to mind treks deep into the backcountry expanses or even national forests. However, my solo hunting adventures mean everything from a one-hour drive for a single sitting to sleeping in my truck for days at a time. It can also mean going from one property to the next, sometimes out of the blue. And for me, they take place on private grounds, usually small to medium in size. They’re still wild places and hunting them alone means a different kind of challenge and self-sufficiency.
Independent deer hunting journeys, no matter the duration, afford me a lot of rewards. Here are a few of them.
Efficiency
There are a lot of things going on at deer camp. Football games blaring, cooking, and debating hunting stands and other options. I call all this bustling activity micro-chaos.
Don’t misunderstand me, these are good things on their own. However, for me, they often result in misplaced gear and stressful last-minute jaunts to the stand. Don’t get me wrong, I can be disorganized all on my own but solo hunting allows me to thoughtfully pack my gear – and when it’s time to hunt, just go. By the way, this translates to timely and orderly trips to the stand – quiet ones absent of hurried feet and cracking sticks. Heck, I can even arrive early and stay late. Less chaos also provides clarity for devising and changing game plans.
Solo hunting usually means not only a lot of alone time in the woods, but on the highway.
Hunting Smart
Simply put, solo hunting allows me to hunt the way I want. I’m a cautious deer hunter, preferring to avoid disturbing my hunting grounds, particularly buck sanctuaries. Being a one-man team means no lease members tromping through the brush, arriving at their stands late, or taking mid-day ATV trips. It also means I can dedicate blocks of sanctuary cover to hunt around only when conditions are right. One man, one vote.
Most of us are lucky that our hunting camps are made up of like-minded individuals that celebrate hunting and the outdoor lifestyle. Assembling a group of hunters that share the same hunting philosophies and goals is more difficult to pull off. Solo deer hunting allows me to apply the basics of hunting and not have it compromised by other hunters. Consistent hunting practices on my hunting grounds means hunting smarter.
Rest
For me, hunting alone equates to more hours of sleep. No late-night poker games or firepit sessions solving the world’s problems. No foghorn snorer in the bunk next to you either. Early morning deer hunts take their toll, especially when done multiple days in a row. Maybe I’m getting old, but I find that going solo keeps me fresher and sharper during my hunts. This particularly comes in handy during the rut when longer sits can pay off. In any case, it results in more focus which comes in handy when reacting to conditions, formulating a plan, or drawing my bow on a cagey buck undetected.
Serenity and Personal Inventory
There is an episode of the Andy Griffith Show where stressed to the hilt, Andy decides he needs to temporarily get away from the people around him. Aunt Bea packs him some food and he heads to the woods to camp and be alone. I get it. And that occurred in the fictitious small town of Mayberry, North Carolina – a place that doesn’t exactly scream stress or chaos.
If you’re anything like me, you are called to wild places. In these rural spaces, bustling traffic, political commentary, and social media are easily trumped by the deafening sound of interesting bird sounds, a running creek, or the subtle tending grunt of a whitetail buck.
It never takes me long to remember why I’m out there in the first place.
Hunting alone is an opportunity to sharpen skills as well as do some self-examination.
When in the deer woods alone, my blessings become crystal clear. Gratitude ensues. It’s also great for my humility, as self-serving thinking dissipates. For example, I can pray for guidance, benefit from self-examination, or even see my part in a recent dispute. It reminds me of the power greater than myself that is God. It’s like a spiritual audit and reboot stemming from Creation and the very animals I hunt.
Sure, there are a few challenges to contend with when hunting alone. For one, the pack out is more challenging even if it only entails loading a deer into the bed of a truck or ATV. While you’re disturbing less of your hunting area, you also can’t cover as much ground. Of course, short of a phone call or string of texts, there is also nobody to bounce ideas off of or, for that matter, share stories at the end of the day. Regardless, the trials of solo hunting provide a true test to your hunting skills, physical ability, and mindset – even to your very being.
To me, the value of sharing hunting camp (or for that matter, a stand) with others is undeniably a great opportunity. However, by taking a solitary approach, you will eventually exit the woods a better hunter, woodsman, and with a little self-examination, person. Your relationship with the animals, habitat, and Creator will improve. Your relationship with the people in your life will take a turn for the better as well. You may have to trade out backstrap steaks over a fire amongst friends for a bologna sandwich in the truck or fast food on the way home. Still, on balance, it’s a win. Give it a try.
