all day hunts
 

I've decided this year I'm gonna try spending the entire day in my stand. The problem is I get very restless and bored and have such a hard time standing past four hours. During the rut though esp. with the full moon I need to stick it out all day and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to make time go by a little better. Or any other advise for an all day hunt in a tree stand. thanks.

RE: all day hunts
 

day dreaming and sleeping.. but you might miss the buck of a lifetime!! I usually just stick it out and stay deep in thought. Mostly about what kind of deer is going to show up and from where. Then I day dream a little more about taking the deer and differentsenarios. Might want to bring a book (not as noisey as a magazine) and read that while in the woods. Just keep your ears out for deer.

RE: all day hunts
 

ITS HARD TO STAY ALERT ALL DAY BUT MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE A NON SLEEPING PILL, LIKE THE TRAILER DRIVERS DO I SAW SOME ON THE GAS STATION AT A CIRCLE ""K"";)MAYBE THAT WILL HELP

RE: all day hunts
 

Was thinking of taking my sony psp and turn the sound off. I can only do about 4hrs in the stand.

RE: all day hunts
 

I only hunt all day because it is so hard to get to and from my stand in the swamp (a half mile walk through knee high water, most of the time, with 50 pounds of gear on my back). Once I get there, I tend to stay there until it's time to come back. I also mostly see deer in the morning and evening because that's when it is the coolest out. I usually stand up the first couple of hours and the last couple (ie prime time), then in between I alternate sitting and standing. I usuallybring a book and read in the middle of the day. That does two things for me: 1) it keeps me from nodding off as much, and 2) it does help pass the time. I can still listen, and I stop every couple of pages or so to look around. Works for me anyway.

RE: all day hunts
 

Only way to do it. I day dream and go over my long life and remember the past .Talk to my love ones that died,Pray ,and Plan the future and even a cap nap.

RE: all day hunts
 

First suggestion would be to get the most comfortable stand you can afford. I have found that since I bought my Summit Revolution (lounge style climber) that I can stay on stand much longer than before.

Second, and don't laugh, I have taken up birdwatching as a way to pass the time in between deer sightings. You have to basically drag me from the stand some days. :)

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RE: all day hunts
 

Ok, you guys are going to think that i am crazy, but my mom bought me one of those little hand held yahtzee games and put camo tape on it. Yeah so that is what i do when the deer arnt moving and im bored in the stand. That and think about a 200" typical whitetail under me.:D

RE: all day hunts
 

If I know I am hidden in my stand well enough I take a magazine to read.Or make some kind of cover for it and read.Either magazine or book.Helps pass the time.Everything is quiet when you read so you can hear if something apporaches.

RE: all day hunts
 

play wid your self?
lol jk
i have no idea but the 15th is on a saturday and ill be bored 2

RE: all day hunts
 

I used to read Maxim in my stands, but now that they soak it with cologne testers..I take a book on a subject that I'm interested in to keep me awake.

A friend of mine uses a hand-held game device..not sure which one. Another guy I know uses an MP3 player, and keeps the volume down VERY low. I figured that would hurt his chances at getting a deer..but he fills his tags before most of us. He says he keeps the volume so low it doesn't affect his ability to hear deer coming. For that reason alone, I plan on taking my g/f's MP3 out with me this fall..especially on the HOT days (like we've been having this year).

RE: all day hunts
 

I just say to myself, self, :D I'll give it a half hour more than go. After the half hour is up I'll say to myself, maybe one more half hour. You'll be surprised, it's easier to pass by a half hour than to think , Only 5 more hours and I can get out of here. By the time 3 o'clock comes you might as well stay for the night post as it only gets better.

RE: all day hunts
 

i do almost every hunt i hunt.....i play games on the cell phone, this year i might play on the internet,(no sound)...pluck the wings and legs off the misquito's:D, play football with lil broken twigs......good luck......

RE: all day hunts
 

Just remember, its like work.

DON'T LOOK AT THE CLOCK!!!!!:D

It will make the a whole lot longer.;)

RE: all day hunts
 

I spent a good 8 1/2 hours in my stand last Sat. I have an el-cheapo ladder stand, and I have to say I didn't exactly feel like I was in a Lazy Boy. I did knock out a good portion of a novel that I'm reading. Also, it's a great time to just think life over. I can really hear God's voice when there's nothing else to distract me. It's good time to make decsisions about life, and always stick some white tails.

RE: all day hunts
 

Good suggestions here. I have a few more. Bring a couple of those handheld, electronic card games, checkers, yatzee, whatever. Turn the sound off. Bring your camera, and take pictures of birds and whatever wildlife you see. Make it a goal to get a picture of certain birds, that will give your mind something to do. Relax. Think about life, the things that bring you down, and overcome them. Think about things you have done good in the past, and things you have done bad in the past. Make peace with the Lord if you need to. Tree stand time is a GREAT time of reflection. Don't forget to bring some good snacks, like deer sausage, nutty bars and apples. That is an awesome combination, seriously. Don't forget some water, too.

Here's the thing though. If you can't do it, don't. This is suppose to be fun. If you just keep forcing yourself, you will resent it, and eventually will become a burden and you won't want to do it anymore.

RE: all day hunts
 

I build a range card. I also make notes on how to improve the site for next season. I usually take a book and then take a nap. I've stayed on stand from dark to dark. By theend of the day my eyes are so outa wack I have to douse them with Vizene just to focuson the deer around me and make it back to the cabin without walking into stuff.

RE: all day hunts
 

Dark to dark hunts are must during the Rut and I agree going by half-hours really helps !

RE: all day hunts
 

I agree with Iron Archer, don't look at your watch! If you must bring one, then put in your bag where it's not easy to reach without making a lot of movement.

RE: all day hunts
 

yeah id say bring a book or a magazine and read..just make sure its covered well and dont make a lot of noise flippin through the pages..i also bring some food along in my bag to eat..lil fat boys like me need that..:D

RE: all day hunts
 

The second deer I got, I sat 11 hours in the stand for it. It was a little boring, but I got a lot of school assignments done. Always a good way tojustify spending so much time in the woods. :D

RE: all day hunts
 

i hunt from dark to dark but always around 8:30 or so i'm ready to pass out...i guess it's cause i'm sooooooo relaxed and at peace that i just can't help it....if my eye lids get too heavy then i fall asleep for 20-30 minutes and then i'm good until about 2 ish....then it's time for another nap.:Dtry to bring high enery snacks, you can buy a bladder and fill it up with coffee...it'll stay warm., or you can start dippin'....have you ever fallen asleep with a dip in you lip while wearing a face mask? it'll only happen once....lmao...you'll be soooo traumatized that you won't do it again.....(that was a joke; don't start dippin')....day dreamin' works too...try getting a good nights sleep beforehand too...best of luck to you!!

RE: all day hunts
 

A large paperback novel is the only thing to pass the hours away. I'm am doing some premarriage counseling for a young couple before I wed them Oct 1. I used the time to read the books we were talking about. Self help books are good...like how to "Romance Your Wife"...I figure I will need some of that after being gone for hunting season.

The key to staying in your stand is comfort, comfort and more comfort. Bad seat and you will want to come down. COLD!!! and you will want to come down. The wind started blowing last Saturday and I had all my clothes on and I was still freezing...I came up with excuses why NOT to sit there and climbed down early [:'(]. I drink therefore I peee so make sure you have a bottle otherwise you won't want to stay up that tree. Make sure you are not facing the sun. As mentioned you will need snacks and lunch. Make sure they are noise free. I like to take diet meal bars or energy bars for snacks. I take them out of their noisy wrapper and put them in a zip-lock bag. Jerky is a hunting stable. I will fess-up to taking my PDA with me this weekend. It is a cheap model so it doesn't have a lot of games but it did help to run the time away. Be sure to practice putting away the book or PDA or whatever and getting into shooting position before the animal shows up. Practice.

Comfort, comfort, comfort...is the key

RE: all day hunts
 

Sony Walkman, an earbud and COLLEGE FOOTBALL. Just try not to get too excited and jump out of your stand. The noon-5 doldrums will be no more. If no football, get into some talk radio.

Count the leaves falling. Watch the clouds move. Read a book. Play a hand-held game (gameboy or PSP). Send text messages on your phone. Paint your face. Take a journal. Try to get a bird to land on you. Look around with your bino's and watch the wildlife (or the neighbors). Or, perhapsmy favorite - shoot deer.

RE: all day hunts
 

You assume all of us can hear.[&:][&:] I can watch a deer gallop through foot deep hickory leaves after a month of drought and not hear a thing from 40 yards away. SO, I have touse the eyes. I'm one of those poor souls that has to swivel his head like a bobble head doll. I NEVER EVER hear a deer first. If I could hear, I"m sure I'd be the ultimate killing machine. I have to rely on blue jays and the occasional squirrel I can sometimes hear to tip me off to the hidden critters. Deer hunting is just to easy and the season too long to beat myself up by sitting in one spot all day. REally, you don't need to do that to kill a deer. On the occasions where I do spend the day in the woods, I"ll get down and take a stroll or move to another tree about 11 or 12 and then sit until dark. Gives me time to empty the bladder and bowels and stretch the old muscles out. By the time I get settled in I'm good for another few hours of Bobble Heading.