Your day in the woods
 

I've tried to title this so a flame war wouldn't erupt.This an informal conversation about how you pass your time in the woods.Your success or lack of is for you to determine.

I've talked w/many hunters and some act like reading or intentional napping while hunting is no big deal.I was taught to always keep my eyes and ears open in the woods.What are your thoughts on this and have you been "given the slip" from a deer for doing the above?

I've never been one to read on stand. I just "zone out" and try to remain alert as to my surroundings.

I have never carried a book with me as I want to be alert and ready even thou bordom does set in. I have dozed off from eye and mental fatigue and have occasionaly woke up only to have deer within range. A few years back that happened in Kansas and the deer in range was a 150 class 10 point. Because I was caught sitting down I was never able to get up and take the shot. But it seems the older I get the harder it is not to doze off on an all day sit.

Using earphones I have listened to football games on a small radio, but usually I just watch the wildlife. There is usually something around.

The only thing I bring is an Ipod on an all day sit during bow season. The majority of the deer I see while in the stand are at farther distances. Those are the deer that keep me out in the woods, because I know they are in the area, and could be close soon. Last year I got my biggest buck, due to the fact that I kept scanning thru the brush looking for movement. He was there the entire time I was, but did not see him till the sun got low enough to shine off his rack at the moment he turned his head.

I pretty much am on the look out the whole time im on stand... I dont get to hunt multible weeks and every week end like most on this forum get to do... So when I'm on stand I'm huntin...

Plus I dont get on stand to early in the evenings so sitting for 3 or 4 hours aint to tough...

In my younger but not so far away days, there might have been a doobie involved. Now that im done with all that mess, I like to go out in the woods and just chill out. Especially when Im stressed. Its like your thought have conversation with each other and everything just sorts itself out. I have killed a few deer where I just zoned out for a while and I just snapped back to reality at the perfect moment. Not saying you are a bad hunter, it is your business what you do in the woods, but if you have to bring music or a book to pass the time, are you really enjoying it. I am going out at some point this week to put my food plot in. I cant wait. With the new baby and extra hours at work I feel like it has been an eternity since Ive been in the woods. Try going out without a ipod next time, take notice to how annoyingly loud the world is when you come back.

i know this probably isnt the smartest but when it gets real dead, i talk to my dad because we hunt side by side also i watch birds and squirrels, ad other animals running around to prevent boredom

I listen to the sounds of animals and try to identify species and their location.I like the sound of ruffling leaves.I scan for deer and bodyparts of deer.Sometimes if you can locate their antlers,the rest of the animal may materialize.

The power of silence is what I zone in on after I get settled in and begin to scan the woods for any deer movement. But when the sun gets to a certain point the squirrels,birds and an ocasional coyote and such break the silence ever so slowly until the deer start to move through hopefully in large numbers. If not I have little problem staying on stand all day during the rut out of the hope that that day will be my day of success.All last year I think I noded one time for a few seconds,it for me is a wonderful time of the year so I stay pretty caught up in the sights,smells and cool breezes I've longed for all year. I do meditate some and pray prayers of thanksgiving for the Creators handy work because it is a feast for the soul for me personally.

I pray often too... for so many things. The whole experience out there in the woods is a Blessing for me. I don't have to kill anything.

"I was taught to always keep my eyes and ears open in the woods."

"...but if you have to bring music or a book to pass the time, are you really enjoying it."

I think most people know to keep their eyes and ears open when they are hunting. I also think if someone wants to bring a book, iPod, iPhone, whatever, out to the field when they are hunting, then surely they must be "enjoying it". Why? Because they made the decision to do it.

One man's hunt isn't necessarily a similar experience or desire for another. Each spend their own time in the woods as they please. My nephew use to bring his music headphones in the woods while he hunted deer. It killed me! Looking back, he chose to hunt that way and that's his choice, not mine. He was happy. He's also never killed a deer doing that either. LOL!

iSnipe

Perfection, perfection, where is it found
 

There is no perfection in life or in people just because they call themselves a -hunter.

Some are better; some are more prepared; some get in shape; some spend time at scouting; some will scout new areas; some will get good at target shooting; some can sit, as motionless as they can, on a stand; some will change hunting areas; some can gauge the population of the deer in the area; some will hunt solo when they have no choice or no one will come.

As a hunter you do your best. After awhile, some just go by the wayside. Life changes during the life of a hunter. Some make a long trek; some in a couple of decades; some in a few short years.

iSnipe and valetine, thank you for those wise words, valetine, i especailly liked what you said, where we all do diffedrent things to be successful

I don't bring reading material anymore
but sometimes a quick nap just can't be avoided.

Hey, naps are GOOD!

I just watch and listen to what Mother Nature has to show me.

I sleep and listen to my cd player.

Good post, once upon a time, when Podunk was a little fellow, an uncle put me on a stand over a feeder that the pigs were hitting constantly. At daylight I dozed off, woke up but didnt think Id napped but a minute, no corn on the ground. Sat another hour still no corn, got down and met uncle Wade. Told him the feeder didnt throw, he came back and tested it, sure enough it threw. Later upon examination of trtail cam pics I had slept right through 4 hogs eating all the corn.

I have always been dumbfounded by the idea of a radio or cd player. Why are we in the woods in the first place? No better place to contemplate liife and the good things. I never worry about dozing off. It means I am still and relaxed.

I try to watch the woods and closely scrutinize the cover for any sign of a deer. I do tend to nod off at times, though not because I want to. Prayers occasionally, though more when stillhunting. It helps me to slow down if I take a step, say a prayer and watch, then take a step.

I don't read books in stands, I try not to nap, but going to bed late, and waking up early, and being active all day etc...sometimes a nap is in order!

I'd much rather be napping or reading in the field while hunting than back at the motel room snoozing...sure your odds go down napping in the field, but they're better than back at the motel/house.

I don't mind dozing off, because I can't sleep in treestands:s3: if I do its for a minute or so at a time and usually doesn't affect anything (I don't snore:s2:)

BigBuck95

I bring out my portable dvd player.

Makes sense to watch deer dvd's while hunting deer.



bb

I'm so glad I hunt in the Rocky Mountains. When I am there, it's all about the hunt and the experience. I wouldn't even think about listening to music, playing a game or reading a book. Those are things I can do anytime. I try to enjoy God's country while I am there. I have been known to catch a quick nap though!!:wink:

well I wish I did read, cause it would help pass the time a little. I do carry a small radio with me for football games. I have been so tired before I climbed down and layed right there on the ground and slept. And didn't even feel bad about it... I say, do whatever it takes to stay in your stand longer, you just have to accept missing something while you are not paying attention 100%. But thats how you personally enjoy the day.

I read some. I think being still is very important and if that helps me do that it's worth the risk. I do scan the area often. I think being still is why so many folks report waking up and seeing deer nearby. Sleep kept them still.

The first thing I do is tye myself in and then go to sleep. I snore like a grizly and the big bucks come to investigate all the noise. I also read a book while sleeping and dream of the work i'm getting out of at home. After a while of reading I wake up and kill my deer.:barmy::barmy::arms::s2:

During gun season I wear my Walker Game Ears.The sounds it picks up is amazing.

I love the peace and quiet when im hunting but i always keep my witts about me and try to make the hunt worthwhile but when i get back to the hut i relax and look forward to the next days hunting we have a great sport and its worth appreciating.

When I doze it's never to the point where I am asleep enough not to hear what's going on. As my dad would say to my mom when she'd catch him sleeping in church, "I'm just resting my eyes." Man she'd get ticked when he said that!

I wouldn't have a problem reading a book or whatever if it was a dry, crispy day for the leaves, but when the leaves are wet, deer can be completely silent when they walk, so my eyes become the only tool. I don't understand using headphones while hunting. For me, that would be too distracting and too far remove my hearing from the situation. If you're reading, it only takes a millisecond to dart your eyes in another direction.

Uncle Ted..
 

Funny thing.. I was reading this thread earlier today, then this evening I watched Uncle Ted's "Spirit of the Wild".. During one of his segments he was saying that they did not take a lot of footage of this hunt (in South Africa for Waterbuck, so not hunting in a treestand for Whitetail, but still..) because he was writing articles and his wife was texting and what not.. But I just found this humorous because of having read this topic earlier in the day..

That being said, I have never read a magazine or book while on stand.. I don't get to spend as much time as I would on stand, so I try to make the most of the time I have there, but I see no problem with the people that do.. I believe iSnipe said it best that they are doing something they enjoy and if they are enjoying what they are doing I am not one to spoil it for them.. Although I agree with the people who are talking about the iPhone.. I personally have a BlackBerry, so I often check the weather/radar/wind and I find it to be very useful, this is also the communication tool we use to communicate with other hunters in the area (texting and the occasional call if someone has a BBD).. So I guess I am "reading" on stand, but mainly I just take in the beauty and sounds of West "By God" Virginia.. As far as dozing off, I am guilty of this one, but as 7.62NATO stated, I'm more "resting my eyes".. I've never falling asleep in stand, but sometimes on those all day hunts, that midday warm sun can lall you to sleep..

Pretty much as long as you're enjoying what you're doing out there, that's what matters.. If you're not enjoying yourself what's the point of doing it..

i never sleep while in my stand,never read or listen to my ipod.i just think,mostly about life and possible situations that could happen while deer hunting,i do however txt people on my cell phone it hasnt got me busted so why not.

I take my little video camera and will video a squirell or bird or somethin. its the kind that uses a memory card and not a tape, so I stick my trail camera card in there and look at the bucks I have pics of. That usually snaps me right back into high alert.

Watching and listening to my surroundings takes up a good chunk of my time. Reflecting on life and being thankful for everything and everyone I have really keeps me alert too. Then again, daydreaming about the future gets me pumped and keeps me ready.

I like to read on stand and I've killed several p&y bucks while doing it. I guess I just enjoy being in the woods and when I read I sit still longer, I admit I've looked up and had deer almost within bow range, I just figure the longer I'm in my stand the less I'm out wandering through the woods screwing things up. Maybe a few deer sneak by but I still have a chance at them, If I'm not in my stand I have no chance at them. I don't read all the time, just when things are slow. Reading works best when the leaves are good and crunchy, or the snow is noisy. I Don't read on windy days.

thanks for share good sharing

I don' t have a tree stand and hunt from the ground, and I usually hunt all day. I usually have to get up around 3:30-4am to get to my spot before twilight. I don’t know a whole lot of people who can get up at that time and sit in the woods from sun up to sun down without getting the sleepies. If I get an overwhelming sense of sleepiness that I can’t fight, I will get up and begin to still hunt. If the conditions aren’t right for still hunting or I’m in a spot I surely don’t want to leave, I will go ahead and lay down on the ground and take a little nap. It beats sitting against a tree with your head bobbing for hours as you attempt to fight it, and it SURELY beats getting up and leaving the woods for “lunch”, ensuing the deer know you are there. The nap usually lasts about 20 minutes and then I’m good to go…though I’ve had a couple naps last for an hour and once for 3 hours! But that time I was getting sick and didn’t realize it yet. I was shocked when I awoke and figured out how much time had passed!

If I get tired I tend to still hunt. I have taken books to read on a few occasions but I never have taken them out. I do occasionally send a text message from my phone to pass the time, especially if other friends are hunting to see what they're seeing.
-Jake

I try to pay 100% attention while I'm hunting. There's no way I would have even seen my buck from last fall if I wasn't constantly scanning for deer.

My first ever opening day of gun season, the one I had looked forward to going with my Dad for years, I fell asleep in the stand. I was in a climber with a shooting rail, laid my gun down across the rail, crossed my arms, laid my head down and fell asleep. When I woke up, I opened my eyes and was staring at a doe (I was 12 and I didn't care about big racks yet;))50 yards away. That was the only lesson I needed, and it hasn't happened again since.

Since then, I feel a little like I'm too observant in the stand in that I look too hard and move around too much. I'm sure I've been busted dozens of times without even knowing, but it's paid off plenty of times so I'm content.