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Growing Older and Past Experiences

Coker

Coker

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As I grow older (turning 50 in March), the more I like to hunt by myself. Turkey Hunting is no exception (unless my daughter is with me). One on One in the woods with any game is incredible, especially turkeys. I have hunted with small groups and larger groups and it does not compare to being by myself. If I make a mistake and spook a turkey or get lucky and kill one, there is nobody to blame or congratulate but me. There is something special about listening to mother nature wake up in the morning, feeling blessed to be there, and having it all to yourself.
As I look back on past hunting experiences and reflect, I have grown to be somewhat of a loner. I am not sure why but I don't mind it at all. I do enjoy company and have many friends and family that enjoy hunting. I believe that being by myself is a stress reliever from the daily grind that helps me unwind and relax. Stepping away from it all and stepping into the woods.
There is a special place in my heart for hunting and being outdoors. It draws me closer to God as I see the wonders of his works and how much cant be explained but only enjoyed. If you have spent any time hunting, you know exactly what I am talking about. Its hard to explain in words but I know most of you understand.

All this to say, take the time to enjoy this Turkey Season. Go by yourself at least once and enjoy mother nature as she intended. You will be amazed at what you see, hear and learn.
 
I too hunt solo. Not that I'm anti hunting or enjoying hunting with others but it's just something about going on your own.
My dad was the only one that I'd hunt with every chance I got. But he taught me and we hunted alike. Hard to hunt with others when you disagree on how to go about hunting a certain bird.
 
What's that saying, "The more I know about people the more I like dogs?"

More seriously, I'm a solo runner (even though I belong to running clubs) and a solo turkey hunter (even though I've called in 1st birds for quite a few people over the years). The older I get the less compelled I feel to do either activity with companion(s). I spend enough time with people all day every day and simply don't care to spend my leisure time with'em too.
 
Agree 100%.

Although I still feel guilty when I'm secretly glad my kids say I'm too tired to go hunting this morning as I wake them at 5am. Does that make me a bad father?

Also, does it make me a bad father when I come home with a tom and tell them 'you should have seen the show he put on!' when they were too tired to get out of bed earlier that morning?

Love my kids to death! But there are no freebies when it comes to turkey hunting anymore. When they were 7, 8, 9, 10... sure. But after that, Daddy isn't holding their hand and setting them up for a slam dunk... if they WANT me to help, I'm glad to assist... but I'm not teeing up a bird for them any more.

Again, does that me a bad father? 😀
 
Y'all need new friends…and mega needs new kids! 😂
I enjoy the camp aspect of most hunts. Whitetail hunting to me is most solo of my hunting endeavors, I enjoy solo Turkey hunting but it's also hard to beat stomping around the woods with a good buddy. Tag teaming one with a like minded hunting partner can be a like a well oiled machine. When you both have the same intuition and know how to make the right moves and calls at the right time, when neither of you cares who pulls the trigger. That's an experience.
Same thing with glassing up one of the many western big game, if you have the right hunting partner it makes the adventure epic.

But yes, those solo hunts where you can reflect on life are absolutely a beautiful thing. Something more people should experience.

On the flip side of this. I could not imagine hunting with a group of people like some of the pictures I've seen lately. Some dude sitting behind a deer or Turkey with 10 people behind him…if you need a crew of special op hunters to get you a critter you might want to rethink your purpose as a hunter😛
 
I like to ride to where I am hunting and then meet up with them back at the truck when I'm done, but when I am hunting I like to be alone. I like knowing someone else is out there if something goes on and I need help, but I like the solo aspect of hunting. I love a good breakfast or early lunch after a successful hunt.
 
clwg97 said:
I like to ride to where I am hunting and then meet up with them back at the truck when I'm done, but when I am hunting I like to be alone. I like knowing someone else is out there if something goes on and I need help, but I like the solo aspect of hunting. I love a good breakfast or early lunch after a successful hunt.
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Same for me, we go separate ways but meet back for lunch. I rarely hunt with anyone anymore
 
There is something about being alone and experiencing nature. When you are in the outdoors, you feel small in comparison and that puts things in the right perspective. We are small and God is big, yet He still knows the hairs on our head and when a sparrow falls. I think this is the essence of why we love the outdoors. We are part of something real big, much bigger than us.

I like to hunt alone but I enjoy the shared experiences too. There's a time for both. I've heard that we forget about the things we buy but remember the experiences. Therefore, living is more about experiences than what we accumulate in life. I don't know about you but I can vividly recall special hunts and outdoor outings. They give life color. I feel sorry for people who never get out in the outdoors. They are really missing out.
 
megalomaniac said:
Agree 100%.

Although I still feel guilty when I'm secretly glad my kids say I'm too tired to go hunting this morning as I wake them at 5am. Does that make me a bad father?

Also, does it make me a bad father when I come home with a tom and tell them 'you should have seen the show he put on!' when they were too tired to get out of bed earlier that morning?

Love my kids to death! But there are no freebies when it comes to turkey hunting anymore. When they were 7, 8, 9, 10... sure. But after that, Daddy isn't holding their hand and setting them up for a slam dunk... if they WANT me to help, I'm glad to assist... but I'm not teeing up a bird for them any more.

Again, does that me a bad father? 😀
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No, it doesn't, quite the opposite. You are training them for life and there's a time for them to pick up the ball. My son shot a old trophy gobbler on our first hunt and wasn't interested in going more because it was too easy. I told him when he got one on his own it would be more difficult. He never tried much after that. But he enjoyed deer hunting and duck hunting more. To each his own but he caught the bug about the outdoors and that's what counts. There are no gimmes in life and shouldn't be in the outdoors either.
 
Dang dude…50?!?!…you should take me with you once this year to commemorate the first turkey I ever killed and you called it in. 😁

Guess I'm the odd man out but I enjoy sharing it with somebody whether it's deer or turkey hunting. I don't mind hunting by myself especially for deer but like having others at camp to hangout with afterward. This past deer season saw me in the woods hunting on 3 days. My buddies on the lease also had a lease in Illinois so spent their time there and it's no fun at camp by yourself. One guy is dropping out this year and my brother is joining us so will be fun to share camp and hunt with him this fall. As far as turkeys I enjoy having a buddy there. One of us as the shooter and the other capturing it on video.
 
fairchaser said:
By the way Coker, 50 ain't old!!!!
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Thats what my mind says but my body says otherwise. 😂

Gravey,
I remember that hunt like it was yesterday. The house we stayed at, roosting the bird the evening before and killing it the next morning. As Fairchaser said, its the memories we remember. That was a good hunt.
If the farm I hunt doesn't sell by turkey season, we will go for sure.
 
For me, the fun in turkey hunting is 80% calling the bird and 20% woodsmanship. I'm lucky in that 90% of the time when I hunt with someone else, they keep their calls in their pocket. The 10% of the time they dont, every note they hit is like nails on a chalkboard to me. I don't care about where they want to set up, whether they want to get closer on the roost, which ridge to take, etc... but I just HAVE to be the one talking to the bird when I'm hunting with another.... that makes me a BAD partner :)

I spent the first 10 years learning the ropes solo. The next 20 years trying to teach others and guiding others. The past 5 years I've become salty and full of myself and noone learns fast enough for my tastes, and I'd rather hunt solo once again... and im having the time of my life!
 
Coker said:
Thats what my mind says but my body says otherwise. 😂

Gravey,
I remember that hunt like it was yesterday. The house we stayed at, roosting the bird the evening before and killing it the next morning. As Fairchaser said, its the memories we remember. That was a good hunt.
If the farm I hunt doesn't sell by turkey season, we will go for sure.
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That was my great grandparents farm. When my grandmother passed my uncle and mom ended up with about 40 acres and it was the section where we killed that bird. Unfortunately they sold it so haven't been on that property in years.
 
I'm hunting alone probably 90% of the time. I prefer having a hunting buddy that splits and goes their own way but we meet up at the truck or wherever. I just don't have a serious hunting buddy to do that with very much anymore. My non-serious buddy that goes the 10% of the time does have 1000 acres to my 200 though 😂

What I miss from being younger is hunting with my dad. We used to hunt so much. Going our own ways once I was old enough. He moved about 2 hours away and pretty much lost interest in hunting. I kind of understand it because living around Knoxville would suck for a hunter but I do wish he was interested to at least come up and hunt some.
 
I hunt alone also, me and another member on here do help each other out and try to hunt the same areas together but it doesn't always work out.
 
Great thread! In the "spirit of the woods" is a beautiful place to be. I often hunt alone and it is a blessing to sit in awe of what God has created. Since my father passed, I really miss sharing the stories of my adventure with him. My best friend is an awesome hunting partner. We have taken many hunts together and each offer different hunting strategies. We enjoy sharing the time afield and each other's success. I am focusing now on mentoring my grandchildren outdoors.
 

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