Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    	Well I will start off, even though I am not that experienced.
    
    	My number one thing is don't shoot at me or my dog!  I would
    	discuss the shooting zones, but also say don't shoot anything
    	on the ground because the hound may be close behind it.

     Great topic, Linda.  I usually look for someone who impresses me
    as the type of person who is responsible.  I don't like it if they
    project a "Ramabo" type image.  It is more of a gut feeling them
    anything else.  Things I discuss before we actually start hunting
    mainly revolve around safety and the dogs.  I make SURE that they
    know that I don't like shooting birds on the ground.  That is my
    biggest rule.  Also that they make sure the bird is high enough
    so as not to present a danger to the dog before shooting. Usually
    after the first half hour of hunting you can tell if you want to
    hunt with that particular person again.  Im out there to enjoy myself
    so I won't hunt with people who make me uncomfortable.  As an
    additional note, I've found that people who have there own dogs
    tend to be pretty good hunters.  Mayby it comes from the dedication
    thatt is needed to train a dog.  Nothing against those that don't
    won dogs.
    
    Jeff

    I have had a few friends who I no longer hunt with because of the
    following reasons:
    
    1. If someone has to bring booze along he/she goes without me!
    2. If the person is unfamiliar/nervous of being in the woods,many
       times you hear them calling you for reassurance. (Not during
       deer hunting season would I allow such).
    3. Undependable people who are always late stinks! Nothing is worse
       than planning a trip out at 6:00 A.M. only to wait for someone
       who is not ready till 6:30 or someone who decides not to go at
       the last second.
    4. Many people do not stay in the woods all day, I do stay till
       it is dark, and don't want someone bugging me to leave earlier.
    
    Summary:Finding a good hunting partner who you are familiar with
    is very hard. Also,watch others habits in the woods (ie:Which way
    does the barrel of a gun aim when they walk,crouching under tree
    limbs or crossing brooks/streams).
    
    Finally make sure you don't go in the woods with someone who is
    so anxious, that he/she is going to shoot at the first brush pile
    that moves. Be safe not sorry!
    
    Good Luck!
    

    re: things that would make me never hunt with someone again
    
    1. Handling the gun in an unsafe or irresponsible manner
    
    2. Littering
    
    3. Shooting non-game animals; exceeding bag limits
    
    4. disregard for the owner's property
    
    5. gut feeling that they guy/girl is a jerk
    
    The Doctah

    How about people that "click" the safety on and off?
    
    

    One thing which I forgot to add in an earlier reply, was to listen
    to people on how they hunt.
    
    Example: One guy I know of was telling me that when he is on a stand
             he takes the safe off the gun. Not, 2two minutes later
    	     he mentions that he notices someone in the woods and see's
    	     who it is by looking through his scope.
    
    	     Needless to say that I would never want to even be in the
    	     same section of the woods, thinking that someone may be
    	     looking at me through a scope of a loaded gun!!!
    
    

    I never hunt with anyone that is non-family or not a very good
    friend/acquaintance.  It's simply too difficult to gauge how
    responsible a person is.  I also make every conscious effort to
    abide by hunting laws and ethics to the letter, therefore there
    are some hunters who simply don't agree with my tactics and are
    thus better off hunting on there own.  I'm not trying to toot my
    own whistle, but trying to explain why I refuse to hunt with people
    I don't know very well.
    
    Even with the people I know, there exists a list of MUSTS:
    
    1. Safety first 
    
    This includes where he or she points the barrel, leaving the safety
    on at all times unless actually making a shot, position relative
    to myself and other hunters, experience, etc.
    
    2. Ethics
    
    Not filling other people's tags, abiding by laws on limits, no ground,
    tree, or water shots; taking turns in the blind, respect for landowners
    and other hunters, etc.
    
    3. Woodsmanship
    
    Knowledge about the maps, compasses, survival, etc.
    
    4. Hunting knowledge (not skill, but knowledge of game, hunting
    techniques, etc).
    
    5. Courtesy
    
    6. Common Sense
    
    No booze, drugs, etc.
    
    I realize this may sound a little excessive, but with the seasons
    so short, and the amount of free time being so precious, it's better
    for me and other hunters in my party if we are assured of a safe,
    sporting hunt, with minimal distractions for whatever reasons.

    Mark.

 Two good ways to pickout a hunting partner.
    
    1. go fishing with him/her. If they'er careless casting a hook,
    think how they'll be with a gun. Also, when you start to get a
    bite do they rush to get their line next to yours? If so, its a
    sure sign that if game comes between you, they'll take
    the chance of shooting at it, regardless of the risk to you.

    2. Go trap shooting together. If the other people have to hit the
       deck because of this partner, your answer to the question of
       his this a good partner will be answered.

    The biggest quality a partner can have is loyalty. There's nothing
    that irks me more than,( next to being shot at), is when a partner  doesn't 
    know when to quit, and wonders off on their own, leaving you waiting
    for them at the truck.

    A good hunting partner is a treasure to behold.
    
    Jim

         I think you should talk hunting, a lot, before you decide to
         hunt with someone. If someone is a slob hunter, just keep
         talking and eventually it will be revealed in one of their
         hunting stories. I came very close to joining a duck hunter
         at his favorite spot until he knocked me over with, "I've
         taken 15 ducks out of that place in a single morning." After
         hearing a bit about legal limits he replied, "Hey, it makes
         up for the days when I don't get any."

         And ask a lot of innocent questions. Ask a hunter how he
         cooks sea ducks and you might learn that he just trashes his
         birds. Talk about areas were hunters often run afoul, like
         steel shot, dogs running deer, and the new sunrise to sunset
         waterfowl hunting hours. A hunter who doesn't give a damn
         about a certain law will often let you know.

         Doug

    
    Linda, Glad you put this in!!!
    
    	I ask but one question when trying to decide on a hunting partner.
    
    		DO I TRUST THIS PERSON WITH MY LIFE??!!??!!??!!
    
    	IF I have ANY doubts I don't go with them.
    
    	The person can appear to have all the safe, responsible attributes
    and in the heat of excitement descard all caution to the wind and
    put you in jepordy of injury or death.
    
    	I hunt very cautiously the first few times out with someone
    even if the answer to the question was yes. The true test of ones
    iron is always under fire.
    
    	The only other consideration is, Is the person compatible with
    me and will we get along? 
    
    	If you read the story in the official pheasant entry that I wrote
    you'll see where I talk about a chess game my father (that other
    person) and I play to out position each other for the best chance
    of a shot. He is the only hunter I have ever hunted with that I
    trust to the extent where I NEVER have to worry if I am safe!! We
    have hunted together for 20+ years.
    
    	One important topic you must talk to your hunting buddy about
    is the rules of the hunt.
    
    	A. Never shoot at birds on the ground.
    	B. Never shoot at a low flying bird. hunter or dog could get
    	   hurt.
    	c. What to do if visual contact is lost with each other? My
    father and I call to each other and tell what we plan on doing, ie;
    YO PA! he answers YO, I speak, I'm going to work down the hill 
    and to your right, meet you at the old oak tree near the stream. 
    Then he replies in the same fashion. (this is done during small 
    game hunting, I don't hunt with anyone during big game season, 
    that is in the same general immeadiate area.)
    
    	Keep some of this in mind and remember it's the only life you
    have so protect it. 
    
    	Good luck and good hunting.

    The best hunting buddy I ever had........ has a fur coat, walks
    on all fours, is always ready to hunt and never complains.
    
    The biggest thing I look for in a human is not to point your gun at
    me or my dog loaded or unloaded. Don't break the game laws and
    dependability. 
    
    Rich 

    
    re: .11
    
    	Ahhhh, Rich you beat me to it :-) ;-)... I was going to say
    the same thing... What's good about talking to your dog is you
    can swear all you want at him/her and they're not gonna talk back ;-)
     Especially when you get the "look" after you "missed"...
    
    	Seriously though, I think alot has been said in the previous
    replies which makes sense and I won't "rehash" what's been already
    there, however
    
    
    			SAFETY is the KEY ingredient!!!!
    
    
    
    					~Mike~

    My biggest thing around safety is two fold.
    
    Does the person *always* point the gun ina safe direction (i.e.
    not at my feet.....not at a huge bouled next to him/her...etc.)
    
    Second, I always ask a person now and then if they have thier
    safety on.  A quick check and a good defensive "no" from them
    helps to re-assure me.
    
    My dog is my best hunting buddy too, but the game warden thinks
    otherwise when I take him deer hunting with me.
    
    ;-)

    I agree with .9.  The best way to gauge a possible hunting partner
    is to spend a lot of time swapping hunting stories.  Talking about
    good and bad days afield will pretty quickly tell you what the
    person values in a day afield.  I only hunt with a few people
    regularly, but trust them entirely when I'm afield.
    
    Mark,
    

    
    Good Question!
    
    If I am interested in hunting with someone, I look for the following:
    
    o Safety - are the individuals safe to hunt with?
    
    o Compatibility, Basicly the same type of attitude about hunting
      as I Have.
    
    o A true sportsmen - Has a hunting background, including knowledge
      in the field.
               
    o We always let the others in the camp know the location of where
      we are going to hunt each day. even more so in the deep woods
      of Maine.
    
    o Respects other rights.
    
    o Does thier share at the camp, pays their own way!
    
    o Ok to have a drink or two at the camp at nite talking about the
      days hunt, If they feel its alright to have even a nip in the
      field, I suggest that they look for another place to stay fast! 
    
    o Don't brake the law.
    
    o Good clean fun.
    
    o Are they NRA members, if they hunt out of my camp and are not,
      I ask why not!
    
    o And if you score on big game , we have a habit of sharing in 
      our camp.
    
    o For those that are invited to my camp in Maine, they respect 
      the residents around my place, since I feel that we are guests
      of that state.
    
    
    Also, A rule of thrumb! we hunt at least in two's out of my camp
    and I highly I suggest you never hunt alone! To many people feel 
    that nothing can happen to them and guess what ! Also, I'd like 
    to see the 4 legged critter go for help or call for an ambulance 
    if this need should occur and I hope it never does! I happened to
    know an individual that came across a hunter in Maine that was 
    wounded. If my friend did not happen to stroll through this area
    at the time, this individual would of been in deep S@$T!!! 
    guess what, he was hunting alone!!!!
    

    Re: hunting alone.
    
      I have to confess that I often go hunting alone.  This really
    bothers my wife.  I know it is not the smartest thing to do, but
    there are lots of times when I have a couple of free hours that
    I feel like getting out in the woods.  I do make a point of telling
    her exactly where I am going and when I 'll be home.  At least she'll
    know where to start looking.
                                            
    Jeff

    To echo others' sentiments, outstanding topic!
    
    I'm *extremely* particular about who I chose to hunt or shoot with.
    The yardstick I use is the answer to the question "Would I be
    comfortable turning my back on this person if (s)he has a loaded
    gun?"  Bullets shot toward me cause an allergic reaction :-)
    
    In order of importance, then I rate:
    
    o Safe gun handling.  Where is the muzzle of the gun when the game
      is coming by?  Anybody can be safe when walking the field, but
      when the game comes around, does the muzzle of the gun start
      swinging around?
    
    o Similar hunting philosophies.  If I were to ever go out with the
      "shoot anything that moves" type, I'd never come back.
    
    o Similar general philosophies.  The majority of your time is spent
      in a duck blind or some similar habitat.  Being there with somebody
      who talks incessantly about stuff that you disagree with can make
      you want sit in the truck.
    
    o Somebody whom you would trust anyway.  At some point, your partner
      is probably going to say "I want to bring along somebody who wants
      to learn".  You have to have confidence that the new hunter is
      not a dunce.
    
    I've got to say that I've been very lucky.  I'm a fairly new hunter
    who has a lot to learn about game recognition and the usual stuff
    that old timers take for granted.  My hunting partner has taken
    the time to teach me what he knows, and in return I have learned
    to shut my mouth when he is talking.
    
    I would hope that you would be as kind to the new hunters that you
    would take out as he is to me.  I guess this brings me to my last
    point:
    
    o Is the person you are going to take out going to listen to what
      you say, or do they "Know it all"?  This point probably belongs
      at the top of the list.
    
    						Dave()
    

    
    Seems that all the replys sofar have hit the nail on the head of
    which I agree and have always and will always support fully.
    
    I myself only hunt with family and VERY close friends.
    
    Theres one thing missing though. And thats and I guess would pertain
    more to deer hunting than birds is that your hunting partner will
    wait for you till hell frezzes over. Let me explain.
    
    While hunting the northern part of N.H.,VT.ME.  the woods are big
    larger than one might think if there not from the North-East. One
    time I met a hunter on a tote-road about 6:30pm,I asked if he were
    lost and he said no but his hunting partner the owner of the truck
    seemed to have left and his camp was about 3 miles from where i
    found him. You see darkness comes about 5pm and this guy came out
    way above the truck and had walked about an hour to where the truck
    was parked. I ended up giving this guy a ride and when we got to
    his camp his partner said he was cold and figured he'd come along
    sooner than later. I did'nt say a word and drove off to my own camp.
    Could you imagine! I would never hunt with that guy again.
    
    My hunting party would never never leave. If it was real late one
    guy would stay where the truck is and the other would drive looking
    and listening. One must assume that maybe your partner is dragging
    a deer or at least he's on a road making his way back-its always
    longer by road than the woods.
    This has never happened to my party but a few times 6:30pm to 7:pm
    one of us has strolled in. But we were all there waiting sitting
    with the windows opened and leaning on the fender quietly listening.
    
    nougf said , Make sure that your partner would wait no matter what
    til you were saftly back at the car.
    
    Also if someone says I;ll meet you at the oak at such a time You
    make certain that you do just that. Even when theres two or more
    vehicles in route from home to camp or vice-vera we stay together.
    
    Good-Hunting,
    
       RICK

    RE: all
    
    ditto...  assuming that the guy/guys I hunt with have fullfilled
    all the safety requirements.. I only have a couple of others.
    
    he must have a nice truck ;^) and a wife that can cook :^).....
    
    The guys I hunt with will and have; dragged out deer, driven deer,
    washed dishes, vaccumed, cooked, waited in the woods, looked in
    the woods, tracked, gutted, and stayed later at camp to help
    with the aforementioned on more than one occasion for the others,
    and in return have recieved the same courtesy.
    
    On more than one occasion, someone has shot a deer late in the day,
    not found it, and others will stay the extra night to help locate
    it the next morning.... we always wait, like Rick stated earlier...
    but go one step further and bark them out of the woods...         
    
    Fra
    

    Re .18
    
    Rick,
    
    Point well taken!! This happened to me once, never happened again
    since those it happened with hunt elsewhere now.
    
    Stan
    

    Linda,
    
    I'm not sure what state you are from, but in Massachusetts, if you
    take the Hunter Safety course, you will see some excellent films
    which deal with hunter ethics.  Gaining an appreciation of these values
    will help you determine what to look for in a hunting partner. 
    Also, if you get involved with members from Rod & Gun clubs, you
    should have an opportunity to make acquiantance with many sportsmen
    and women.  This should help in your learning process, both from
    what type of person you would want to hunt with and what type you
    would not want to hunt with.  I'm not saying that all members of
    clubs are good hunters by default, but at least there should be
    some common interests and dialogue to help you get to know this
    sport better.  In 20+ years of hunting, I have had some great times
    due primarily to some great hunting companions.  Good luck and I
    hope your hours afield are pleasant ones.
    

    I just found this note and I think it's GREAT!!
    
    I never really thought about it before but I guess I've just been very
    lucky!! The folks I have hunted with have always been FUN and SAFE
    to hunt with. Maybe thats because, for the most part, I've spent
    many hours at the gun club with them before we ever went into the
    field. 
    
    Some of them may have a drink while we are on a hunting trip but
    it is after the hunting is done for the day and the guns are put
    away. I'm not much of a drinker myself but putting some Irish Cream
    in a cup of coffee and enjoying good friends around the campfire
    seems OK to me. 
    
    Hunting, fishing, camping, etc. are fun and, for most of us these
    days, a good way to REALLY unwind from the stress of our jobs and
    everyday wear and tear. As long as hunting partners are SAFE to
    be hunting with, concerned about everybodys wellfare (including
    the animals in the woods... where you ever with somebody who shot non-game
    critters because they "..just wanted to see if they could hit it!",
    thats one sure way to make sure I'll never go hunting with them
    again, ... anyway...) hunting can be a great way to learn about
    yourself, nature, and your fiends.
    
    Well that my two cents...
    
    

    Speaking of seeing if you can hit it, another hunter told me
    I should put a bigger bell on my dog, because someone might
    mistake it for a cat.  I didn't know it was open season on
    cats!
    	Linda

    The few folks that I hunt with are very close and trusted friends.
    I, like others have stated here, tend to make my mind up about
    a potential hunting partner by listening or watching them.
    Generally I do not hunt during the seasons or on land where it
    is crowded, ie. stocked pheasant on public land etc. Its just
    too crowded and uncomfortable for me. Thus, I will take a week
    here and there during the bow seasons etc. when the probability
    of running into someone is slim to none. Also, from the various
    replies, comments and discussions in this file I would welcome
    most if not all folks to come with me to hunt Ohio for next years
    mixed bag week/ camping trip. Maby we can put something together
    along these lines, meet face to face, and continue the discussions.
    
    Dick

    The best piece I've seen on hunting partners is in Havilah Babcock's
    book Tales of Quails 'n Such, entitled "Good Hunters go to Heaven"
    (or something like it.)
    He has his classification down pat.
    
    The classic thing I like to do to "game hog" is not to shoot;
    when he claims the shot I break my gun and blow the smoke out the
    barrel.  Faces fall at this manouever!
    
    Safe hunting,
    
    Bill