My ability to sit and enjoy changes at times. For weekend/day hunts around work, I have a hard time unwinding enough to just sit and watch nature. However, when I go away for a week, the further into the week the easier it is to just sit and watch nature, I have unwound from the stress of work.

In the meantime, I read, try to never sleep in a treestand [8D] When I read, I just look around everywhere, at least every page. When its a quiet/snow/wet day, i don't read, but on the corn flake like oak leaves, a chipmunk sounds like an elephant

I just sit and watch all the critters in the woods. I find that very relaxing after working all week. I have been known to get so relaxed that I would take a nap. Can't do that now that I have started to hunt from trees. Do any of you fall asleep in the trees? I have not figured out a way to nap in the tree because I am afraid I would fall out.

I spend immense amounts of time all year long scouting and researching and tuning my equipment....I go hunting for a purpose. The ultimate goal of my outing is to kill a whitetail deer. Reading a book or playing a video game or doing crossword puzzles is not hunting and has no place in the deer woods. I'm there to hunt, not read or write or play games. I pay attention to the woods and all the critters in them....I learn about my quarry.....I become a better hunter. I can work on my reading comprehension or vocabulary somewhere else at a time that's more appropriate. We live in such a fast paced world and half you guys want to multitask when you're trying to relax....rediculous if you ask me![:@]

Most of the time I get down from 11 to 1 to meet up with my Dad and brothers to eat and compare notes. When the bucks really start getting into rut I stay all day, dark to dark. During that time, if I get a little restless I'll just close my eyes and use my ears only. See how long you can do this. When you finally do open your eyes it's like you just got some good sleep and everything is new. Make sure your safety belt is good and tight though. One thing I never do on stand........DRINK ANYTHING!!!

Ah, you're being too critical. Hey, hunting is all about the enjoyment of being out in the woods. If someone wants to read a book, the more power to them.

I'll second that. I have lofty aspirations but little discipline I guess, because when I'm on stand, whatever I feel like doing at the moment I do. I don't make my hunting day like a work day. I have enough work days. I let the day take me where it will. Like an animal, maybe?

Maybe I am being too critical, but it's my opinion. Reading a book or playing games is not hunting....that is a fact. I just don't understand why someone would put the time into "the enjoyment of being out in the woods" only to clutter it up with something you can do after dark, at home on the couch, in bed, on the toilet, etc. I like a good book now and again, but I take my hunting too seriously to bring a possible distraction into it on purpose. I'm not insunuating that 'readers' don't take their hunting seriously, but why take the chance if you don't have to? If someone is bored on stand then mybe stand hunting is not for them....try still hunting!

this is eth best thread ever. i love to just get out into the woods and listen to things. i like to close my eyes and imagine whats going on around me y just the sounds i hear. i also try to se how many times i can count the same squirel walking right past me not even a clue that im there. thats the fun part. that and watching squirel yearlings bounce around and play, tackle each other. i think its probably the best relaxation i get, next to a body mesage

Hey,Hey, you might have to leave that stuff at home......

Is eating aloud?

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I read, sleep, I sometimes bring electronic card games and such. One note of caution tho....if yer gonna sleep, get outta the tree and on da ground......ouch! [X(]