September 2021 - 23

when we found a lone buck. My husband,
Josh, and our daughter stayed in the truck. I
went out on my own. I wasn't ever more than
800 yards from the truck, but it was up to me
to decide when to crawl and when to stand,
when to duck my head behind a sagebrush
and ultimately when to shoot. I never pulled
the trigger outside of upland bird and goose
season without someone next to me telling
me when. It was liberating and terrifying. But
I knew Josh could see me the whole time.
The following season I was much more on
my own. We found a herd well over one mile
from the road, and I stalked up a drainage
after them. I spooked them more than once,
too quick to move from behind a tree, not
crouching down far enough behind a rock.
Those familiar feelings of awkwardness
crept up again. Those feelings of not
belonging. But I reminded myself that no
one else was out there with me. Only I knew
I startled the herd. Only I knew I stopped
to get my bearings more than once. Only I
knew I muttered a pep talk to myself under
my breath.
When I finally lined up a shot, a couple
hours and as many miles after I left the truck,
it truly was my hunt and mine alone. It was
only me and the pronghorn in the prairie. I
tried any variety of rolling, scooting, crawling
and crab-walking. If the eagles soaring above
could judge, I'm sure they were.
I had a buck at 180 yards, then 160, then
140. I'm certain Josh would have told me to
shoot at 140 yards. We both knew I could
make the shot. I waited and scooted another
10, then 20 yards. I wanted to be sure. This
was my hunt.
I pulled the trigger and the buck dropped.
The emotions were mine to absorb. The fielddressing
mine to begin.
When our daughter is old enough to stay
quiet and come along, she surely will. When
we have someone in camp to stay with her, I
will still hunt with my husband, family and
good friends.
But perhaps McWhirter is right: hunting
alone - with the right precautions and safety
- may be an important part of not only
the journey to becoming a hunter but also
staying one.
- Christine Peterson has spent nearly a decade
writing about Wyoming's fish, wildlife, outdoors and
environment. She is a regular contributor to Wyoming
Wildlife.
Stay safe
hunting alone
At some point most hunters will likely
hunt alone. We may hunt alone because we
want to decompress, connect with nature
or just get away. Often it's out of necessity.
It's also not recommended.
" Best practice is to not hunt alone, " said
Tara Hodges, Wyoming Game and Fish
Department's Cody region information
and education specialist. " And there are a
thousand reasons for that. Best practice is
to hunt with a buddy. "
But some of those risks can be mitigated.
So before you head into the woods by yourself,
read through these safety tips offered
by Hodges and Jim Dawson, a hunter safety
instructor and former search and rescue volunteer,
to know how to stay safe out there.
Note your location: You likely know to
tell someone where you are going and what
time you'll return, but Dawson said you
should also tell a friend or family member
where your vehicle will be parked.
Communicate any changes: Make sure
you relay details if you change plans on
the fly. If you can, bring along a satellite
communication device and use it to report
back home.
Stick to a return time: If you said you'd
return or check in by 8 p.m., make sure you
check in by 8 p.m. That also means being
aware of where you are.
Pack and carry an emergency bag:
Even if you're only planning to hunt for a
couple hours, make sure you're bringing
everything you need to spend the night
outside including an emergency blanket
and shelter, fire starter, first-aid kit, food
and water.
Learn to read maps and compass:
GPS devices have revolutionized hunting
for many, but they can fail. Batteries die.
Satellites go down. Be sure you carry a
secondary method for determining your
location - and know how to use it.
When hunting alone it is important to tell people where
you will be and where your vehicle will be parked.
(Photo by Sara DiRienzo/WGFD)
Be confident and don't panic: Know
there will be perils, but also know you're
prepared. When the unexpected happens
- because it will - stay calm and think
through your next move. " Sometimes you
have to say 'I am disoriented, and I have
to wait until someone finds me.' That is a
tough pill to swallow, " Dawson said. But
it may be what keeps you alive.
Know your abilities and limitations:
Before you shoot a bull elk 5 miles from
your truck by yourself, be sure you have a
plan for packing it out alone or calling for
backup. Know your shooting distance and
your physical and emotional limitations,
Hodges said.
Wear layers: Dressing in layers of
wool, not cotton, is critical. So is knowing
the signs of hypothermia. " It's called the
silent killer because oftentimes we cannot
detect the signs and symptoms. Learn to
recognize them in yourself, " Hodges said
- Christine Peterson
Wyoming Wildlife | 23
September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2021
