What would you do?

[markomoose]

Got an old friend who I took deer hunting last fall.He's a newb and now wants to come moose hunting with my son and I.He was a pain in the ass.Smoking dope (I don't).Woke up like 5 times a night to piss and kept overfilling woodstove.I woke up sweating my ass off.Says he will help cook and clean.Didn't happen.I should just" lay it out " for him but will sound like an asshole.Or just give him some bullshit excuse?I'm sure some of you folks have had the same dilemma?What would you do? Mark

[squamishhunter]

Do you work/have to interact with him in any other way?

If not, tell him to pound sand.

[Wentrot]

Just tell him you and your kid are going solo.

[Keta1969]

Well you either lay it out and take him,may not change his ways. Lay it out and don't take him, probably won't be happy. If it was me I'd tell him this hunt is important to me as I get to spend time with my son and enjoy each others company(the truth I hope). Why let a third party maybe ruin your hunt.

[Pioneerman]

Yup I would just say this is a hunt for me and my son, hope to make it a family tradition .

[sakohunter]

It sounds pretty clear that it is not a good fit for you and your family. I would tell him that and wish him luck going forward. At some point unless it is a totally positive hunting partnership all new hunters should be cut loose to find their own way.

[tinhorse]

Yep father and son solo hunt.

[warnniklz]

It's easier breaking up with a hot sugar mamma than a hunting buddy. But breaking up with a hunting buddy is a lot more common. I hunt with different guys for different reasons, depending on what type of adventure i'm looking for.

I maybe wouldn't cut buddy out of all future hunting trips. But he may make the trip for your kid and yourself more of a chore than an experience.

Can't blame a man for a small bladder, but the dope and stove is a different story.

[nature girl]

Like others have said.
You just want it to be a father and son hunt.

[tipper]

I don't know maybe it's just me but if it was a true old friend of mine it wouldn't bother me. He smokes some pot ok big deal..better than the knee walking drunk guys I run into occasionaly....pisses a lot not his fault and he's probably just trying to be a good guy by keeping the fire going. Maybe he doesn't know how to cook?

[russm]

If he's an old friend chances are you knew he smoked weed and still invited him, that shouldn't be an issue, you say he's new, did he know he was over filling the stove? Was anything said or did you let him keep doing it? Would it be an issue if it was you or your kid getting up to piss? Sounds like a bigger issue than it needs to be, let him know how you feel rather than lie to an old friend, maybe you'll get lucky and he won't want to hunt with you.

[IslandWanderer]

Yup I would just say this is a hunt for me and my son, hope to make it a family tradition .

I like this one the best.

[two-feet]

I get so little time to pursue hunting,my favourite hobby. This makes it very important to me to do it the way i like, which means that not every hunting partner is the right fit for every trip. I hate the feeling of resentment that i get when people are not conforming to my ideals, realizing that they are hunting the way they want.

A long winded way of saying choose your partners carefully.

[Jelvis]

Say hay Bud, we're going to go again, just you and me, but this time, me and the boy are doin it .
-- next time we will make a draw together for moose anywhere you want to go brah
Then leave it alone,
Jel -- don't lose any person you call a friend, a real friend is rare, at least treat him like another hunter.

[adriaticum]

Just tell him you and your kid are going solo.

What he said.
Life is short to waste time

[boxhitch]

I'm with tipper russ and jel
If he's a true friend you should be able to sort things out with out BS lies
If he doesn't fit, so be it, but be straight up about it

[albravo2]

I don't think the fire or bladder are good reasons to break up with a buddy. Ask yourself if you don't like that he smokes weed or how he is when is high.

I have some friends that smoke and I can't tell, others that get obviously stupid. I never mind the former getting high but I don't want to be around the other guys if they are smoking pot.

I like a beer and/or a glass or red wine and/or a scotch but it doesn't change my personality. I'd be cranky if someone said they didn't want to go hunting with me because I drink alcohol. Different if I got drunk and started picking fights or shooting at the COs truck;-)

Up to you... always a good option to say you want this to be a solo hunt with your son.

[Asco]

Be straight. The truth hurts for a second. Most people, even if their initial reaction is resentment will come to appreciate your honesty.

Id tell the guy: you smoke and I don't like that on hunting trips, you f'ed up the stove, I didn't like that, you got up too many times to piss, I couldn't sleep. My kid and I are going alone this time. Maybe you can come next time.

Next time he will be different, OR he will realize you're not the hunting partner for HIM.

[brig]

Sounds like you aren't looking forward to having him along which likely means a lot less enjoyable trip for your u and your son if he tags along. Just tell him it doesn't work this time.

[Kill-da-wabbit]

Uh, drugs and guns? And you need to ask?

[DallasCruz]

Be the asshole. Tell him the truth, straight up.

[Bernie O]

Friend or not. It's your trip to enjoy. Never be scared to speak the truth.

[PKernohan]

Uh, drugs and guns? And you need to ask?

Do you not allow any alcohol on your hunts? You know, the whole guns and drugs thing....

[sumonda]

Uh, drugs and guns? And you need to ask?

^^ this!^^

[PKernohan]

^^ this!^^

Then I'll ask you as well, do you not allow alcohol in camp or are you another one of those reefer madness believing hypocrites?

[skibum]

What is it about hunting that strains friendships? Happened to me too.

Go with the family hunt.

[lovemywinchester]

Give him one more chance after having a discussion about your concerns. Some guys need to be told before they understand. He might turn into a great asset if he learns from you. Good friends are very valuable as you get older. I guess it depends on the scope and length of the hunt.
I have a friend that I hunt with occasionally that drives me nuts but we still go(road hunting for grouse). No way I'd take him overnight anywhere. He showed up for a mountain hike a few years ago looking like a grade schooler on a field trip. Jean cuffs rolled up, boy scout pack pack, T shirt and heavy jacket. We separated for a bit and he almost had a panic attack waiting beside my truck for me.

As far as the dope, I'm not sure I know too many people that don't smoke or eat it these days. Welcome to BC.

[tayleoscar]

A father and son hunt is hard to beat, my best hunting trips have been with my son

[markomoose]

Some real good advice on hear.Some not great.Smoking weed is fine after the hunt not during it.I'm not a hypocrite.Used to smoke weed 25 years ago.The guy is just too much work for me.As mentioned by lots of you I'm there to enjoy ourselves not babysit.Gonna call him and tell him its my son and I this time.I'll take him some other time.Thanks to all for your suggestions!Good and Bad. Cheers Mark

[DarekG]

Then I'll ask you as well, do you not allow alcohol in camp or are you another one of those reefer madness believing hypocrites?

Made me think of Harold and Kumar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbsBj8NRufw).

[PKernohan]

Made me think of Harold and Kumar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbsBj8NRufw).


Haha, ya. Crazy to think that some people's belief of it are still so distorted. I'd be willing to bet the majority of hunting camps have alcohol in them, and nobody blinks an eye. Alcohol scares the shit out of me, I'd way rather have some people relaxing by smoking some joints around the campfire, than people drinking in camp.

[Bustercluck]

I wouldn't wreck another hunting trip by inviting him.

I hunted with with my brother in law in 2014. We're obviously not compatible and I don't think either of us had a good time. He hasn't been invited back. I'm going hunting with my two brothers this week and the brother in law was a little bit put out he wasn't invited. He asked to come but we told him it was just the three of us going. Didn't give him an explanation.

[Kill-da-wabbit]

Do you not allow any alcohol on your hunts? You know, the whole guns and drugs thing....
No, I don't drink on hunts. No, you can't drink while hunting with me. Booze or drugs don't mix with firearms. Save it for a successful and safe return home.

[PKernohan]

No, I don't drink on hunts. No, you can't drink while hunting with me. Booze or drugs don't mix with firearms. Save it for a successful and safe return home.


Good on ya.

[AlexPdHJ]

Yeah, if you're organizing the trip you decide who gets to come. This guy is OTC (Outta The Club) as Rinella would say.

[BStrachan]

I would have to agree with with the rest of the people that I would tell him him sorry he can't go this time. If you didn't enjoy his company last time more than likely you won't enjoy his company this time.

[markomoose]

I would have to agree with with the rest of the people that I would tell him him sorry he can't go this time. If you didn't enjoy his company last time more than likely you won't enjoy his company this time.^^^^This is what will happen.Tried calling tonight but no response.I'm not gonna be spineless and text him!He will get the truth directly from myself.

[finaddict]

Yah made the right choice. My favourite hunting partner is my son and I consider that time to be damn near sacred. I sure as hell would not it ruined bringing a cling on. I have had far too many trips ruined by friends who are just looking for you to entertain them and want the experience but are not prepared to make the time and dollar investment to take it seriously. If he is serious about hunting he will invest in the necessary gear, and accommodations to be self sufficient. Those are the people I like to hunt with. I actually end up just socialising with them around the campfire as we all tend to go off in different directions in a semi coordinated effort to cover all the ground.