LAST UPDATED: May 1st, 2015
As my buddy shook my hand and wished me luck under the pale light of a pre-dawn moon, I couldn’t help but feel excited. I had never hunted this section of “private” land before; although I had longed to do so for quite some time. And so, as fate would have it, on this cool October morning, the perks of friendship had finally gained me access to nirvana. Consequently, I wanted to make the most of my opportunity.
Not more than 15 minutes into my sit, I slowly turn to the sound of rustling leaves and find a large bodied 3×3 making his way closer to my position. When he pauses I send an arrow through both of his shoulders. The shot cracks—-like wood in a raging campfire. With a staggering, violent death run, the surprised buck quickly scampers away. The trauma from my arrow is severe as the crashing timber in the distance announces that his sprint is over. With hands still shaking, I sit down and replay the shot over and over in my head until I am convinced it is not a dream. I can hardly contain myself as I pass the time, waiting to meet up with my buddy and share my excitement with him.
Hours later, when we regroup, I begin my exuberant tale of success. Unfortunately, he is not as thrilled as I am. While he had been to this “undisclosed” spot on several occasions, he had yet to punch his tag on a buck. Perhaps it was envy, gnawing at his pride; much the way a gray squirrel labors on the new season’s mast crop. I don’t really know. What I do know, is the atmosphere was much different than it had previously been that morning. Sadly, with the velvety shine of the instrument panel being the only cheerful detail of the dark ride home, I somehow knew we would never hunt together again.
What To Look For
Unfortunately, when I think of that trip, what I remember most are the negative feelings that surfaced after I released my fateful arrow. Many seasons have come and gone since that day and as a result of additional “unenthusiastic” situations, I have learned exactly what to look for in a hunting partner. Oddly enough….. it is me.
A good starting point to finding a hunting partner is to look for someone who reminds you of…..you!
When choosing a hunting companion you should start by finding someone that has a passion and a fire that burns as hot as your own. What I mean is hook up with someone who loves the sport as much as you do; or at least close to your intensity. Because, like any good relationship, the two parties involved must have a common bond, otherwise all is surely doomed. However, the search doesn’t end there.
Goals and Philosophies
When looking over perspective candidates it’s important to understand exactly what their objective is. For example, are they primarily a trophy hunter, or do they just want to fill the freezer each fall? Obviously there is nothing wrong with choosing either pursuit. However, if you and your buddy each have different goals in mind, problems could arise.
Trophy hunting requires more time, more sacrifice, more attention to detail; more everything….except friction. Most of the tactics used to simply put deer on the ground usually do not overlap with those vital to “trophy hunting”. Meat hunting isn’t typically that difficult; although I have had more than a few seasons when I couldn’t buy a deer.
To make the partnership the best it can be, make sure you and your hunting buddy both have the same goals when it comes to the type of animals you want to hunt.
Nevertheless, to avoid any misunderstandings, make sure you both have the same perspective when it comes to what you wish to accomplish during your time afield. If so, you will each stand a greater chance of getting what you want.
The Sweet Smell Of Success
One thing my hunting partners and I have in common is a strong belief in odor management. Now you might be thinking, “What does that have to do with who I go hunting with?” Well, plenty; especially if you plan on hunting anywhere near one another. Effectively controlling your odor while pursuing a wild animal, especially a whitetail, isn’t easy. In fact, it’s down right hard. The last thing you want to do is hunt near someone who doesn’t share the same scent conscious principles as you. Simply put, it has the potential to undermine your hard work and decreases your chances of success. Make no mistake….scent control really is that important.
Work Ethic
During my high school and college football days I had plenty of teammates who possessed outstanding work ethics. If there was anything extra that these individuals could do to improve the overall strength of the team, they were doing it…..no questions asked. However, there were always a handful of guys that desired the glory, but wanted nothing to do with the sweat and tears required to achieve it; and there was little I could do about it. I was stuck with my teammates…for better or worse. Luckily, when it comes to choosing a new hunting partner, you have options.
Hard work always pays. Just make sure you aren’t the one doing the majority of it whether it is training for the hunt or fine-tuining your shooting skills.
Don’t team up with the guy who isn’t going to pull his weight when it comes time to do some pre-season scouting, plant food plots, hang scouting cameras, pitch a tent, gather fire wood, help quarter and pack out an animal, research for an upcoming out of state trip, hang treestands, cut shooting lanes, etc. Choose the guy who shares your same desire for preparation; not the jokers who only show their face when it is time to hunt.
Positive or Negative
Whether you are chasing bull elk in the Rocky Mountains, or trying to coral a rut stupid whitetail in the Ohio valley, the odds are good that you are going to face some hard times. The outdoors is indeed an unforgiving environment. It only stands to reason that if we spend enough time engaged with nature; those unsympathetic circumstances are going to find us. Nothing makes a hard time harder than having someone around who reeks of negativity. Most times, if they aren’t complaining about what animals they aren’t seeing, they are belly-aching over what everyone else is. Over time, it starts to sound like a broken record.
When adversity finds you, and it will, how will you and your parnter react?
True, we can’t be happy-go-lucky all the time, but someone who is pessimistic by nature must be passed on when it comes time to saddle up and head for the hills. Don’t kid yourself; their negative attitude will slowly but surely erode your positive outlook until you both are wallowing in misery. And we all know what misery loves.
Secret Agent Man
Everybody’s got a “top-secret” place. You know what I mean, the one spot that you can always count on to produce when the chips are down. The reason this location happens to be so good, is because no one else knows about it. And that’s exactly how you want to keep it. However, unless your partner is schooled the fine art of cloak-and-dagger, you can kiss that “honey-hole” goodbye because it won’t be a secret come next fall. Especially if he decides it is ok to invite the uninvited. Having a loud-mouth for a hunting partner can be annoying, teaming up with someone who, on top of spilling the beans, also invites “his” buddies to come along on the hunt with or without you —— is a nightmare. To avoid such a dreadful experience, look for the type of person who can take a secret to the grave.
Jealousy
This term also falls under “what to look for” but I felt that it needed its own space due to its amazing ability to destroy everything around it. The funny thing about jealousy is that most of the time you can’t even detect it. For whatever reason, trophy animals, especially those sporting big antlers, have a way of changing people. I’m not sure why that is. I think maybe it is the result of the society we are living in. Quite often, the most admired guy in any hunting circle is usually the one with the largest horn on his wall. If that is the case, it is only a matter of time until those feelings of admiration from friends and partners turns to resentment. Then, everything falls apart.
Several years ago, while still-hunting with one of my favorite hunting partners and friends, I missed a beautiful 160 class buck, not once, but 5 times! Within minutes of my “choke-of-a-lifetime”, my buddy fired one round and claimed the big woods giant as his own (see pic below). It was indeed a bitter-sweet moment for both of us. Although I was thrilled for my friend, I was sick with myself. I literally mourned over that deer for a solid 2 weeks. I wanted it for my own so badly that it hurt. Truthfully, it was difficult to even smile for the pictures, but I tried.
Big antlers change everything. Choose your hunting partner wisely.
Understandably, the situation probably wasn’t any easier on my partner; even though I told him exactly how I felt; assuring him I was happy for his accomplishment but disappointed in my own performance. It was obvious that I had blown the chance-of-a-lifetime, and he was reaping the rewards of my inaccuracy. If ever there was a situation with the potential to tear a friendship apart—-this was it. But you know what? It didn’t. Because, not once did I think to myself, “man, I wish he had never shot that deer”. I just wished I could have held it together long enough to have taken it myself. I won’t try to convince you that I was glad it was him instead of me; I wasn’t. But, during the entire time I never wanted it NOT to be him.
Looking back on it now, I learned some valuable lessons from that buck; not only about myself, but about my friend and teammate as well. Yeah, I learned them the hard way, but sometimes that is the best way. Like I said, jealousy may never have been an issue with you and your friends in the past, but put a big buck or bull on the ground and stand back and watch. Hopefully, they will be genuinely happy for you. If not, trust me, you will know it; even when they try to fake their joy.
Of course, my wife would have to be my favorite hunting partner.
Conclusion
By now you should realize what a significant impact hunting partners can have on all aspects of your hunt. With that thought in mind remember this: Enjoying your time afield is often the result of the company you keep, not what is laying on the ground at the end of the blood trail. My advice —- choose your hunting partner wisely. Because no matter what transpires, good or bad, the wrong one will make you wish you were never there.
