Hunting alone

[smkunder]

Just curious, maybe this has been asked already. How many folks feel comfortable hunting alone. I have not been able to find a hunting partner in my area , and sometimes do not feel comfortable going to what I think would be productive sites, as these sites are sometimes located in less that stellar areas.

 

[Craig]

I hunt alone quite a bit. I am retired and it seems most of the people I know are still working. I have one friend, I sometime hunt with but his shoulder is giving him trouble. When I go to a less than stellar area I make sure it is in the morning and other people are there in my age range walking there dogs or just walking for exercise. If there is a bunch of unsavory looking types I'll just skip the area and go some place else

 

[MNCoinhunter]

I generally hunt alone, but I do have a friend who I hunt with on occasion. No worries about encountering thugs up here. They may find themselves buried in a swamp before any law enforcement may come to their aid....lol.

 

[Lizz]

Get some Grizzly Pepper spray. I was fumbling through my purse years ago and somehow hit the trigger and accidentally sprayed myself in the face with pepper spray. It was awful! Believe me, if that don't stop a predator, both 4 leg and 2 leg, nothing will. I never where headphones either when I hunt alone. I do this so I can be aware of my surroundings at all times. I've been metal detecting over 20 years now, a lot of times alone, and knock on wood have never had a problem. Keep your cell phone handy too.

 

[Jim West Pa]

i like to see what they find and how much they enjoy doin it.
Besides that. My wife gits a wee bit green if i go tectin without 'er.
It's a kind o' thing here all the way

I can see your point tho.
I spose i would feel much better knowin that we'd have each others backs.

 

[Elton]

In todays world it pays to be very cautious no matter where you are.. Your safety isn't worth a few old coins..or for that matter a good expensive find either..

Have you checked to see if any clubs are near you..or thought about buying a backup detector and letting someone else use it while out with you..

Up till a couple years ago I didn't worry much about hunting anywhere in my area.. Well that Sir has changed a lot.. Even in our parks your vehicle gets broken into while you detect....so just use your own good judgement and if it doesn't feel right don't detect ...

 

[jim tn]

I hunt alone most of the time. Not necessary my preference, but being retired and one that hunts almost daily, just the way things are. Although I do carry on occasion, I would rather avoid situations then have to defend myself. HH jim tn

 

[BR549]

I never hardly ever hunt with anybody.
That way if they find something better than me I don't have to worry bout having to take it from them ,or
just never ask them back.

 

[edjcox]

I carry my Colt Commander and my permit... That big old Leshce is pretty intimidating as well. Talk to yourself out load and that seems to turn a lot of folks away... Carry your cell.

 

[robo]

I always hunt alone. Don't care to but thats the way it is. I do have a 9mm "Friend" that tags along with me though. This way I am never alone.

 

[dewcon4414]

I hunt some dangerous parks in Indy and almost always alone. One time not more than a few min. after i left a park there was a shooting exactly where i had been hunting. You just kind of hope you look too poor to bother with. When asked i never find anything but junk and even pull a little out. You always get that uneasy feeling thou when they ask you how much a detector like that costs. I carry a big ole knife to cut plugs that is visible.... but the Army tought me never bring a knife to a gun fight. Its a shame several of us would like someone to hunt with and cant seem to find that person. Im even in a club and rarely hunt with someone. Seems everyone thinks you are just detecting with them to steal their spots. I guess you arent much better if there are two of you and a guy just has to steal from you.

Dew

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

I prefer hunting with friends but I go out during the week and my two detecting buddies usually go out on the weekends. Most of the parks these days have some undesirables hanging around. Been detecting since 1999 and only had real trouble one time and that was on an empty lot. Pretty sure if you stick to detecting during the day, you're aware of your surroundings, and you don't go lookig for trouble you'll be just fine. When I go somewhere to detect if I feel uncomfortable with what I see or what's happening around me I move on. Just trust what your gut is telling you.

 

[Mtnmn]

I almost always hunt alone, but am glad I'm not a woman. Last year while out with my girl friend, we were detecting an isolated fire tower site which also had a cabin there, when these 3 guys pulled in while I was out of sight from them, but not them from me. Two were just skinny kids in their late teens, but the freaky older guy jumps out and makes a beeline for my girlfriend and then gets in her face and starts asking her some stupid questions. In the meantime I start double-timing over to him and the young guys in the truck start laughing like h*ll when they see me coming because they know that the freaky one doesn't have clue that I'm there. My girlfriend tells the freaky one: You'll have to ask my boy friend and points at me and he literally almost jumped out of his skin when he saw me almost on top of him. He then tried to ask me something, but thought the better of it and jumped in his truck and took off. I don't even want to think what would have happened if I hadn't been there. Of course she would have never been there in the first place without me, but it was my fault for getting us in that situation to start with. I do carry pepper spray, but had intended it just for the four-legged critters, not the two-legged variety. My girl friend is both big and tall, so the freaky one might have had more than he could handle the way it was....

 

[Big Red]

The voices in my head keep me company.

 

[marbien]

Just close the door and shut the lights... you will be ok in the morning Trust me

 

[Jim West Pa]

n/t

 

[darrenb]

I always hunt alone... not by choice, but I don't have any friends with an interest. I avoid the really bad parts of town, and always have personal protection with me. I have never had a problem, knock on wood. I wish I could find a hunting buddy to watch my back, because the bad areas of town have some amazing old churches and parks... I just feel like I'd probably get mugged if I went there alone!

 

[dixiedigger57]

as a retired cop, i had to put my shooting iron in a drunken perverted thief's face one night downtown on a ripped out sidewalk. he did not recognize me in civies, but he got the message real quick. another notch it can be although i try to avoid those things. he had an empty beer bottle in his hip pocket. known to roll the bar patrons.
i left mad, and my friends who were not available that night came back and got nice 1800's silver and a very nice script I confederate button. i have found new friend to hunt with as soon as remodel of house complete. no, i do hunt alone in some places like the freshwater beach around people, but some places, including the wood can be dangerous. another friend overheated and had hidden med condition, and it could have been fatal. there is safety in numbers for many reasons.

 

[jmaryt]

not if ya have "personal protection!"
just sayin!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[jmaryt]

me too!.always reminding me to be "alert"
for anything suspicious!..just sayin!

(h.h.!)
j.t.