Solo backpackers ???

[Doodle]

Ask yourself a few first-aid questions:
Am I trained to take care of severe wounds?
Do I trust myself to maintain calm in a trauma situation likely to induce shock?
Do I know how to treat shock?

Other questions to ask yourself:
If I get lost (or immobilized), do I have with me and know how to use various tools to get found?
Am I able to read weather, and do I know how to avoid the worst weather scenarios? ( like what to do if a huge lightening storm shows up suddenly)

if you answer yes to all of the above questions and have an InReach, then you are about as safe as can be in the woods....Likely safer than pretty much any city on the planet.

In my experience, it's the people back home (my wife) that worry more than I do. As other people have mentioned, be mindful of the fact that you are indeed alone and very far away from help, and use appropriate caution skinning, climbing ankle-twisting slopes, etc.
I'm with you; I love hunting alone and experiencing the zen of the wilderness and all of its solitude, silence, and the lack of the outside world invading my thoughts. The only thing that unnerves me are mountain lions...

 

[Treeslug]

Ask yourself a few first-aid questions:
Am I trained to take care of severe wounds?
Do I trust myself to maintain calm in a trauma situation likely to induce shock?
Do I know how to treat shock?

Other questions to ask yourself:
If I get lost (or immobilized), do I have with me and know how to use various tools to get found?
Am I able to read weather, and do I know how to avoid the worst weather scenarios? ( like what to do if a huge lightening storm shows up suddenly)

if you answer yes to all of the above questions and have an InReach, then you are about as safe as can be in the woods....Likely safer than pretty much any city on the planet.

In my experience, it's the people back home (my wife) that worry more than I do. As other people have mentioned, be mindful of the fact that you are indeed alone and very far away from help, and use appropriate caution skinning, climbing ankle-twisting slopes, etc.
I'm with you; I love hunting alone and experiencing the zen of the wilderness and all of its solitude, silence, and the lack of the outside world invading my thoughts. The only thing that unnerves me are mountain lions...

Ah, mountain lions are ***** cats. As for shock, I would put my feet up, cover myself with a nice warm blanket, and have a bourbon and coke with glacial ice. Just kidding. The glacial ice might be hard to come by, and the bourbon would cause me to bleed out faster. Anyway, what about the bears, snakes, and idiots that followed you out there to get all of your neat wilderness toys? Do you hate my attempted humor, yet?

I know this was not solo hunting, but my son and I used to like to listen to the wolves howl at night. Even with two people and a pump 12 gauge riot shotgun in camp, those wolves can send a chill up your spine. These days I have to settle for coyotes barking at the moon and studying the fire pretty much by myself, as the boys are all grown and gone. Thank goodness for that. I know you guys are right about all the preparation and safety measures, but try to remember why you are out there solo to begin with. Have a large time.

 

[Doodle]

Ah, mountain lions are ***** cats. As for shock, I would put my feet up, cover myself with a nice warm blanket, and have a bourbon and coke with glacial ice. Just kidding. The glacial ice might be hard to come by, and the bourbon would cause me to bleed out faster. Anyway, what about the bears, snakes, and idiots that followed you out there to get all of your neat wilderness toys? Do you hate my attempted humor, yet?

I know this was not solo hunting, but my son and I used to like to listen to the wolves howl at night. Even with two people and a pump 12 gauge riot shotgun in camp, those wolves can send a chill up your spine. These days I have to settle for coyotes barking at the moon and studying the fire pretty much by myself, as the boys are all grown and gone. Thank goodness for that. I know you guys are right about all the preparation and safety measures, but try to remember why you are out there solo to begin with. Have a large time.

Hahaha, I always appreciate sarcasm

I guess the point I was driving at was that once you're prepared, there's nothing to worry about.
Glacial ice is indeed hard to come by, but the little flask of pappy van winkle in my pack is most certainly not! Always nice to have a little tipple after a long cold day.

Yea wolves can be a little spooky....

happy hunting.

edit: Rip van winkle, not pappy....boy that stuff is pricey.

 

[Mustang72]

I prefer it most of the time. Hunting and fishing. Getting ready for solo mule deer in NM next month. The downside is nobody to spilt gear with or help pack out. I do want to get an unreachable sometime. I guess I can't really say I go solo though. I take my pit bull with me. He might not be able to provide first aid but I have no doubt he would buy me some time for any 2 or 4 legged critter that came around!

 

[KSB209]

Hahaha, I always appreciate sarcasm

I guess the point I was driving at was that once you're prepared, there's nothing to worry about.
Glacial ice is indeed hard to come by, but the little flask of pappy van winkle in my pack is most certainly not! Always nice to have a little tipple after a long cold day.

Yea wolves can be a little spooky....

happy hunting.

edit: Rip van winkle, not pappy....boy that stuff is pricey.

And where do you find Pappy??? Haha

I do a lot of solo day trips and pretty comfortable by myself. never gone over night by myself in the back woods but I think I can handle it considering I might only be 8-10 miles from civilization. Sure long distance but I know what I can do and the supplies I need to bring (pappy if I can would be nice).

heading out on Tuesday for at least 1 night and will report back later.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Well I'm heading into the Sierras next week and looks like a solo trip. Hopefully I can post something with a dead animal in it.

I turned in my X12 tag this year. Got my points back and one for this year. Supposed to get partial refund for non res tag. Minus resident fee. I didn't want to be limited to just Bodie. What zone you hunting .

 

[WYO300RUM]

And where do you find Pappy??? Haha

I do a lot of solo day trips and pretty comfortable by myself. never gone over night by myself in the back woods but I think I can handle it considering I might only be 8-10 miles from civilization. Sure long distance but I know what I can do and the supplies I need to bring (pappy if I can would be nice).

heading out on Tuesday for at least 1 night and will report back later.

First night you won't sleep much. Listening to all the bears, mt. Lions coyotes etc. Lol. At least you won't have griz and wolves. 2nd night you will be tired cause of the first and sleep better. A dog is good to take . My dog goes hunting with me everywhere and every state . He's my ears and ears. Male Chesapeake. Warm food. Warm drink. A little radio. A book. A warm bag and pad. I use a little solo tent to keep rain or snow off. It gets easier . I've packed in 10 miles a few times for 5 days. The longer you go the more you will have to carry in. And hopefully carry more out with your buck. Be extra careful. Don't take chances . Lightning get low quick. Good luck and have fun. Take a lot of pics too !

 

[73driver]

First night you won't sleep much. Listening to all the bears, mt. Lions coyotes etc. Lol. At least you won't have griz and wolves. 2nd night you will be tired cause of the first and sleep better. A dog is good to take . My dog goes hunting with me everywhere and every state . He's my ears and ears. Male Chesapeake. Warm food. Warm drink. A little radio. A book. A warm bag and pad. I use a little solo tent to keep rain or snow off. It gets easier . I've packed in 10 miles a few times for 5 days. The longer you go the more you will have to carry in. And hopefully carry more out with your buck. Be extra careful. Don't take chances . Lightning get low quick. Good luck and have fun. Take a lot of pics too !

LOL I took my Lab on an overnight along with my 4yr old son. We hiked 1 hour down my back pack hunting trail. It was too much, the lab popped up on alert like every 20 or 30 min made it hard to sleep.

 

[IanCo]

I hunt solo most of the time. I use the Garmin InReach as well. I try to take my first aid kit with ample stuff to stop bleeding too. Benadryl is another thing to always try to have in the first aid kit.

One thing I will add is have extra clothes in your pack. If you do have to hit the SOS button it could be hours before rescue help arrives. You need to have insulation to survive whatever temps are in a 24 hour period. I also carry the little Kifaru sheep tarp too.

I do know after quartering my cow elk last week that I never want to solo hunt in grizzly country. And I started carrying a 10mm in a chest holster too. I did have a bear that was much closer than I wanted when I was quartering up my bear a couple of years ago. A rifle 15' away is too far if the situation escalates quickly.

Watch your step and be super careful with knives and arrows, and guns for that matter.

 

[KSB209]

I've been backpacking for 30 years just never by myself on a hunting trip. I know the risks but the rewards of going back where most wont is just something I'm willing to do.
I'll be hunting D5 in CA which can get crowded with road hunters so I figure 7-10 miles a day is doable in an area I'm not farmilar with. Have maps, food, water, and my favorite 270. I am in pretty good shape/conditioning so I feel pretty confident in my mileage abilities. The altitude might be a little challenging since I basically live at sea level and going up to around 7000' but it's nothing I haven't done before while hiking this summer.
Unfortunate my Labrador is 12 years old and is pretty much retired now so I won't have my buddy with me on this trip.

 

[73driver]

LOL I took my Lab on an overnight along with my 4yr old son. We hiked 1 hour down my back pack hunting trail. It was too much, the lab popped up on alert like every 20 or 30 min made it hard to sleep.

 

[bachekermooni]

You have not lived until you walk one mile back to your car thru northern MN woods starting 30 min after sunset when you have been trying to attract bears into your stand the later half of the day. Add a cloud of mosquitos and a net over your head to protect your face.

NEVER again.

 

[KMLampson]

I really enjoy backpacking and hunting solo. I go in prepared, and don't take stupid chances. I think there is a higher likely hood of an accident during the 1k mile trips to and from a hunting area, than while hunting solo.

 

[KSB209]

Thanks for the insight y'all. Made it out this week and clocked about 25 miles in 3 days. No shots fired but a lot of tracks and poop. Might make it out next week but season one CA closed 11/1.