I regularly hunt chukar 50-75 miles from the nearest town for 3-4 days at a time but I'm not really alone cause I have my bird dog. I've done 2 big game hunts by myself, archery elk and late archery mule deer. Being alone wasn't the problem, hunting off of horses and worrying about going down under a horse was my biggest concern.
With the way draws are set up these days, if you're serious, you'll be hunting alone or have to have a dedicated hunting buddy that will apply every year. About 50% of my applications are with a partner and 50% by myself.
My best hunting partner spent up to 60 days a year bird hunting with me in the late 70's and through the 80's. Duck, goose, pheasant, chukar, whatever. Spent another 30-45 days a year commercial salmon fishing together. Solid, dedicated, trustworthy!
In about 98 we drew the first late Rubys deer hunt since the winter of 92/93. Season went to Nov 11 that year. 5 days into the hunt he tells me he wants to be back in time for the pheasant opener on Nov 9 in Kali, meaning we have to leave on the 8th. I took a 26" buck on the 8th but wanted something better and didn't feel like I gave that hunt justice. We quit applying together for some years and just huntd birds.
In "04" we applied and drew a controlled elk hunt in Idaho. I hunted with my son on a youth hunt for 10 days, got home and 36 hours later we were on the way to Idaho. Scouted hard for 4 days and hunted 4. Lying in the tent that night (Mon) he told me he wanted to be back for the NE Kali waterfowl opener the following Sat. I'd passed lesser bulls 3 of the 4 days. I laid in my bed and thought it over. My truck, horses, wall tent, equipment, I could just refuse to leave and lose a great friend. I came to the conclusion that although I had 2 more weeks off and the season ran 3 more, I'd take the next bull I saw and avoid hard feelings. If by Thursday I hadn't filled, we'd revisit the issue. I took a small 5 point the next morning and avoided a confrontation. Since then we haven't hunted together. We talk about 4-5 times each hunting season about his duck hunting and my chukar hunting but never discuss big game.
I look back at the great times we had and am thankful for them. I also realize his priority was carrying a shotgun and mine is carrying a rifle.
Damn that was long, and the SAT phone is a great idea.