Earlier this week I took part in an interview of an applicant for my Masonic lodge. He just moved here and settling in. While waiting for the formal interview to start we had time to chat a bit about shooting and hunting. Afterward I got to thinking about what makes a good hunting partner. The easy answer is compatabilty. This might mean several things to different people so I thought I would see what others think. So what do you look for when you meet a potential hunting partner?

Safe firearms handling skills. His poltics and views of life itself do not matter. It just adds fodder to the campfire discussions...

good manners (please and thankyou)
safe firearms skills
trustworthy

To be honest, all of my hunting partners have been family. Father, brother, cousin, brothers-in-law, nephews, and son.

None of my friends growing up hunted. I have since made adult friends who hunt, but we do not hunt together. They prefer to hunt different areas, different seasons, or different species.

That being said I wouldn't want a hunting partner that didn't meet the following criteria.
Safe firearms handling
Strong ethics
Willing to share expenses/No mooching
Motivated

I don't want a hunting parter that I'm nervous around because he keeps sweeping me with his muzzle. I don't want to hunt with someone who sound shoots at a moving bush or who has no qualms with breaking game laws. I don't want a partner who never offers to reimburse for gas, lodging, food, etc. And I don't want a partner who asks to come but then has to be dragged out of bed or isn't packed/ready when it's time to go.

Compatibility in thoughts are good to have.
Safe firearms skills are important .
Sense of humor too.

You all seem to make things rather difficult. Here when you are young, female and drink beer, you're a very good candidate.
And as for all things about safety and ethics, it's my experience that you 're not going to have problems with female youngsters, they are willing to learn and afraid to make mistakes. The biggest problem comes with the beer-drinking part, but on the other hand: it's always nice to have a driver who doesn't drink alcohol...
So better don't look at such things with a negative mind. Always look at the bright side of live...
so Geland, your last request says it all: a good sense of humor!

English is a second language which quickly followed the first divorce.


Suz

Criteria for a hunting partner...

Easy going
Easy to get on with
Safety conscious
Not prone to "over the top buck fever"
Happy to share costs
Good sense of humour
Enjoys a beer at the right time, but not excessively
Not opinionated or judgemental
Is considerate of others - shares the shot opportunities (one of my pet hates...nothing worse that lining up a shot and BOOM, your partner cuts loose without telling you)

There are many other attributes , both desired and not wanted, that can be included, but those above are the basics.

All good points. I agree that my hunting partners need to be safe gun handlers, good company and fun to be with. The share ammo, jokes and common sense. All the best...
Gil

I have only had two hunting partners my whole life. My first partner and I hunted pheasant and ducks in the farmlands of the Kent valley - now owned primarily by Boeing and malls.
My other hunting partner was and is my brother. we have different styles and techniques but we are intuitive to each other and do well together. He is one of two hunters that I have seen sneak up on a deer to withing spitting distance, spook the animal at the last second and then run to where the deer comes out of the brush for a kill. I hunt like a bear - crashing through the timber and then standing silent for a time before I crash forward again. John is like a cat. He moves silently and fluidly through areas that I could never traverse without a bull dozer. I consider him an ultimate hunter - and I have told him so many times.

He uses fast light bullets that explode for head and neck shots and though I can make those same shots I prefer the brute force of larger bullets into the vitals. We get along well and enjoy our differences.

Gonna be a sad day when I have to find a new hunting partner .....No one's gonna be able to fill those shoes !!!

Hope it never happens chambered. Because I moved around a lot I had to find several hunting partners over the years. Learned not to be too picky.

I'm sure many have said to themselves. "Why am I hunting with him? He's wierd and off the wall."

Good huning parners are hard to fine. Perfect ones...Impossible.