10 Important Rules Of The Hunting Partner Code

Throughout life, we encounter countless people that influence our lives in one way or another.

- Phil Bondurant

These relationships vary greatly based on the emotional and physical value we give them. Our appreciation and love for our families places them at the top of our list. We place value in other relationships, like an honest car mechanic or a familiar face at the local sporting goods store, but these tend to find rank lower on the list (although they can climb the ranks rather quickly if your truck has problems the day before the opener). Regardless of the connection or value, the rules to a successful relationship require a few simple ground rules, sometimes referred to as “The Code.”

One person that should rank high on the list for any hunter is their hunting partner. Hunting partners are much more than buddies roaming the hills looking for animals. It is a bond between friends that is forged through blood, sweat and tears. These are the people that have seen you at your highest of highs and, if you’re like me, have seen you at your lowest of lows. Good hunting partners are right alongside you to celebrate the crowning moments of your hunting career and they are the first ones to pick you up off the ground when you miss the big one for the second time. You spend hours in the hills laughing, joking and teasing one another about everything, yet find time to talk about serious issues like religion and family. In no other relationship would you answer nature’s call with only a few small bushes and trees separating each of you while you ask if they still have an eye on that buck or bull. There is no doubt that a good hunting partner has enough dirt on you to blackmail you for life, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.