Why Guys Quit on the Mountain

Joined
Jan 15, 2022
Messages
1,563
.... attitude is everything from day 1 until the hunt is over.


From a guide's perspective, it seems that nowadays, a lot of clients don't possess this character trait. Too much YouTube. Too much internet hunting forums. Too much magazine portrayals. Too much television shows. The perspective of reality has been lost, to a large degree.
 

ReaptheHeat

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
238
Location
CO
From a guide's perspective, it seems that nowadays, a lot of clients don't possess this character trait. Too much YouTube. Too much internet hunting forums. Too much magazine portrayals. Too much television shows. The perspective of reality has been lost, to a large degree.
That's for sure... Everyone thinks you'll just be on elk all day long.
 

Marble

WKR
Joined
May 29, 2019
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From what I have seen, people quite for a lot of reasons. Basically it boils down to how badly the hunter wants to kill and what they will endure to be successful.

The more experienced hunters learn what to do and use to be comfortable enough to endure.

Some people can withstand a lot of discomfort and discouraging experiences, most can't.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
 

bsnedeker

WKR
Joined
May 17, 2018
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MT
I've had to quit two elk hunts.

Two years ago a bug flew in my eye and I had to get it extracted at the eye doctor.... that sucked. Eye needed about 2 weeks to heal.

This year I had to head home on day 10 of a planned 15 days because my wife fell down the stairs and broke her wrist.

If there isn't an emergency I'm staying with the elk.

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PaBone

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
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Western Pa.
Let's face it hunting can be tough and physically demanding, whether your hunting elk on a mountain out West or hunting whitetails miles back in a National Forest in the East. Lugging gear or tree stands up a mountain like a jackwagon can break your spirit and turn the fun into work if you don't have the passion. You have to want it and enjoy the adventure more than the kill.
 

PaBone

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
Messages
169
Location
Western Pa.
I've had to quit two elk hunts.

Two years ago a bug flew in my eye and I had to get it extracted at the eye doctor.... that sucked. Eye needed about 2 weeks to heal.

This year I had to head home on day 10 of a planned 15 days because my wife fell down the stairs and broke her wrist.

If there isn't an emergency I'm staying with the elk.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk
I started carrying a small unbreakable camping mirror and Q-tips in my pack for that very reason. I've had stuff in my eyes especially bark when climbing a tree stand and it's impossible to get out by yourself without a mirror.
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2022
Messages
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I think in todays world most can't slow down and be on natures time which is a snails pace ....

I hear this from younger clients who are in their 20's, 30's and even 40's:

"How come we haven't left camp yet";

"Why are you going so slow";

"How come we can't just race over there and get them";

"Why sit here all day";

"When are we going to go over there and look";

"What's taking so long";

"We're not seeing anything here and I don't know why you won't go over there and look";

"That trophy that's supposed to be here hasn't showed up and I don't think it actually exists".

blah, blah, blah (add nauseum) .....

Typically my response to such questions is; "Because we're on animal time, not human time".

Today's American hunter is a reflection of American society and its culture - quick, easy, convenient, and entitled.
 

IdahoElk

WKR
Joined
Oct 30, 2014
Messages
2,500
Location
Hailey,ID
I hear this from younger clients who are in their 20's, 30's and even 40's:

"How come we haven't left camp yet";

"Why are you going so slow";

"How come we can't just race over there and get them";

"Why sit here all day";

"When are we going to go over there and look";

"What's taking so long";

"We're not seeing anything here and I don't know why you won't go over there and look";

"That trophy that's supposed to be here hasn't showed up and I don't think it actually exists".

blah, blah, blah (add nauseum) .....

Typically my response to such questions is; "Because we're on animal time, not human time".

Today's American hunter is a reflection of American society and its culture - quick, easy, convenient, and entitled.
Funny the look I get when the thermals start swirling at 9am and I say ok lets back off until 6 tonight, Ha!
 
Joined
Nov 27, 2013
Messages
1,773
They quit because let’s face it elk hunting is boring.

Wake up at 4, climb hill 500-1000 feet for a 20 minute encounter if you’re lucky. Watch check……it’s 8:30am, now what? Well elk are in timber, quiet….. do we stumble around hoping or go back to camp?


Back at camp……. Sleep 3 hours (which Never helps you get up at 4am) make a coffee, head back out. Wait until 6pm, thermals set, hopefully we hear something.

Next day repeat….. #boringashell!

At some point you kill an elk, but looking back, boring as hell. As a self taught elk hunter that’s my day…… on pack in hunts it’s even worse.
 
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Messages
7,407
Location
S. UTAH
They quit because let’s face it elk hunting is boring.

Wake up at 4, climb hill 500-1000 feet for a 20 minute encounter if you’re lucky. Watch check……it’s 8:30am, now what? Well elk are in timber, quiet….. do we stumble around hoping or go back to camp?


Back at camp……. Sleep 3 hours (which Never helps you get up at 4am) make a coffee, head back out. Wait until 6pm, thermals set, hopefully we hear something.

Next day repeat….. #boringashell!

At some point you kill an elk, but looking back, boring as hell. As a self taught elk hunter that’s my day…… on pack in hunts it’s even worse.
My August weekend archery deer hunts here are so damn boring. Its hunting travel routs so sit and wait. Its sit for a few hours then sit all day, long...hot...August day, until evening. I try to read. Its too hot to lay in the tent for a nap. Its mentally brutal.
 
Joined
Sep 24, 2019
Messages
923
I've had guys wanting out because they're addicted to their stupid phones and not being "Connected" was driving them nuts.
I think in todays world most can't slow down and be on natures time which is a snails pace, a week in the woods is an eternity to some.
That’s one of the motivators to go hunting for me. No work calls or emails, no news about the crazy shit happening in the world, no monitoring investments, etc. Cliff talks about the stress, and all I can think about is the stress relief.
 
OP
trophyhill
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
2,591
Location
Tijeras NM
Let's face it hunting can be tough and physically demanding, whether your hunting elk on a mountain out West or hunting whitetails miles back in a National Forest in the East. Lugging gear or tree stands up a mountain like a jackwagon can break your spirit and turn the fun into work if you don't have the passion. You have to want it and enjoy the adventure more than the kill.
Once you do it, it becomes quite apparent that there is alot of work involved. But if you love what you're doing, its not work. Even the packout is fun and adventurous
 

Cliffy65

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 26, 2020
Messages
117
That’s one of the motivators to go hunting for me. No work calls or emails, no news about the crazy shit happening in the world, no monitoring investments, etc. Cliff talks about the stress, and all I can think about is the stress relief.
100%
 
Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
828
So I headed up solo this year and at the last minute I had another young man come with me. Thirty-three years old. I got him started bow hunting a year ago. We work at the same company and my employer asked me to take this young man along and my employer asked the young man to ask to go with me to make sure I didn’t die up in the mountains alone. We hunted some rough country. Saw lots of animals. He got to experience in 9 days what probably took me six years to see. I was impressed with his tenacity and ability to persevere and hang in there on the trip. I was told I was “insane” and “crazy” to hunt such a tough area and that at 62 I was a “#%*¥|#%^ OLD MOUNTAIN GOAT!!!”. I have a new hunting buddy and the young fellow is addicted! He gets it! Gets in your soul!
 
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