Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

I' ll post this here as the big game hunters are more likely to have a hunting camp, though the question applies to deer hunting as well.

A recent conversation with friends we started kicking around the idea of having someone pack us into the Sierra Nevadas and camp/hunt/fish for 5 days. While I' ve never done it I do have some small knowledge of what it might be like. I was explaining how you' d take a filter bottle, drink stream water, maybe freeze-dried food, etc. It became clear that he was thinking that we' d pack in a bunch of booze with us. This got me to thinking about what you experienced hunters do.

Seems that most camping and/or fishing trips involve massive alcohol consumption. On more than one trip folks have been to hung-over to fish the next day. Kind of a waste if you ask me. I' m thinking that getting up well before dawn to get into position by sunrise, I' d be pissed if my hunting partner couldn' t get his butt out of the sleeping bag. I' m not opposed to drinking, just don' t drink that much. When on vacation I tend to drink even less.

What are your experiences/camp policies regarding alcohol?

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

We are in camp for up to 12 days and we always bring some beer, wine and liquor to mix with hot chocolate or coffee. We absolutly do not ever drink until we are back at camp for the night and we certainly do not get drunk by any means. We simply like to enjoy two or three beers or a couple glasses of wine with dinner and before we turn in for the night. We are all responsible adults and act like it. A cold beer that has been chilled in a natural cold spring is great with dinner.

Be responsible and drink responsibly. And never go hunting if you are intoxicated even from the night before. Sleep in if you need to. Just don' t be stupid while hunting and around guns.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

Well, fishing is an entirely different story; as long as you' re not operating a boat, the worst you could do is fall on your face and drown.

However, hunting and alcohol definitely, 100% do not mix. Stories of ' I was too drunk to...' are exactly what non-hunters need to hear to believe we' re all morons. I have too much respect for hunting to do something like that, to say nothing of the inherent dangers of having loaded firearms.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

I keep a flask with me to mix with Country Time lemonade after a cold, wet ride back to camp. A cup of thet will put life back into you. I also like a snort to celebrate a successful day' s hunt. Gettin' drunk ain' t in the cards, and is what gives hunters a bad name. Also, very hard to function in my country with a hangover. I got no problem with alchohol in camp, jus' drunks.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

I myself drink socially, but I will not in hunting camp at all. By the time I get up in the morning, hunt all day, and do the chores around camp, I am ready for bed. Alcohol, believe it or not keeps me awake at night, so I stay away from it. My hunting partners are the same as me (except for alcohol keeping them awake). So there is never any alcohol in our camp.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

At the end of the day, we may have a beer or two with our meal; the rule is that if you act stupid by getting drunk, you get a one way ride back to civilization and no invites in the future. Hunting safely is important without adding drunkeness to the situation.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

We never really drink in camp either. It' s just the way it has always been with our group. Once in a while someone brings a little bottle of something or other but it generally never gets opened. We hunt pretty hard and by the end of a long days hunt, dinner and clean up we generally have a coffee around the fire and are in bed within an hour.
Also, who wants to haul a bunch of booze in somewhere when you are already pressed for space.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

I guess you need to sit down and ask yourself what is your objective.
Some peoples main objective on a hunting trip is to get away the guys drink a bunch and hunt a little, social trip mostly.

Other guys objective is to hunt as hard as possible before sunup to after sundown,
get back to camp well after dark scramble a quick meal and hit the rack because 4:00 wakeups come early. This is the hard core trophy hunter, he is all about getting a nice animal.

Groups with a mix of these two types of people do not work well.

For my camps alcohol is never an issue. Nobody every drinks more than two beers at night when we are camping by our vehicles. When we pack in there is never room for alcohol it is definitely not a priority.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

Never seen a good use for it other than cooking while hunting. I hunt all day long so I need my rest at night and I certainly don' t need a hangover when hitting the hill the next morning. It only takes one guy who drinks a little too much to slow everyone else down. I guess if you only had a beer or two or a small mixed drink it wouldn' t really matter but I can stand to live without it on my hunting trips.

RE: Hunting Camp & Alchohol
 

I thought everyone would reply saying something how they would go just to get drunk of have a good time. I was wrong, something new every day huh, lol. Last elk season, our hunting party downed 2 half gallons of BV and 4 half gallons of Cordial (sp)(its vodka mixed with sugar and any fruit.. tastes like kool aid or juice but gets you drunker then a skunk) by 3 o' clock in the afternoon on opening day. Carazy hunters aye. I' m only 15 and I haven' t drank but seems like our hunting party just likes to have a lot of fun.. Oh yeah, the next day everyone showed up for breakfast and no one had a hang over. I guess you guys should drink more so you can handle your booze better, lol.